US 11,731,181 B2
Spiral forming
Eric D. Smith, Denver, CO (US); Rosalind K. Takata, Denver, CO (US); Daniel Ainge, Boulder, CO (US); and Loren Daniel Bridgers, Golden, CO (US)
Assigned to Keystone Tower Systems, Inc., Denver, CO (US)
Filed by Keystone Tower Systems, Inc., Denver, CO (US)
Filed on Nov. 30, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/537,588.
Application 17/537,588 is a continuation of application No. 16/248,106, filed on Jan. 15, 2019, granted, now 11,213,872.
Application 16/248,106 is a continuation of application No. 15/191,841, filed on Jun. 24, 2016, granted, now 10,493,509, issued on Dec. 3, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/185,064, filed on Jun. 26, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2022/0080484 A1, Mar. 17, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B21C 37/12 (2006.01); B21C 37/18 (2006.01); F03D 13/20 (2016.01)
CPC B21C 37/128 (2013.01) [B21C 37/12 (2013.01); B21C 37/122 (2013.01); B21C 37/124 (2013.01); B21C 37/185 (2013.01); F03D 13/20 (2016.05); F05B 2240/912 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
a plurality of rollers positioned relative to one another to bend a continuous material moving through the plurality of rollers into a curved form of the continuous material having an edge-to-edge abutting relationship of a first edge region and a second edge region of the continuous material along a spiral joint;
a first pusher actuatable to move relative to the continuous material to impart a first normal force on an inner surface of the continuous material along the spiral joint; and
a second pusher actuatable to move relative to the continuous material to impart a second normal force on an outer surface of the continuous material along the spiral joint, the first pusher and the second pusher movable in cooperation with one another to control out of plane alignment of the first edge region relative to the second edge region along the spiral joint.