Berkshire Hathaway. has been granted a patent for a system that manufactures a chopped roving thermoplastic composite sheet. This system utilizes a double belt mechanism to compress and saturate a web of chopped rovings with thermoplastic resin, allowing for effective molding without mechanical bonding or additional binders. GlobalData’s report on Berkshire Hathaway gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.

According to GlobalData’s company profile on Berkshire Hathaway, was a key innovation area identified from patents. Berkshire Hathaway's grant share as of July 2024 was 67%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.

Chopped roving thermoplastic composite sheet manufacturing system

Source: United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Credit: Berkshire Hathaway Inc

The patent US12070933B2 describes a novel system for manufacturing a chopped roving thermoplastic composite sheet. Central to this system is a double belt mechanism that compresses a chopped roving web or mesh, which is formed by dispersing chopped rovings onto a lower belt. This process occurs before the application of thermoplastic resin, which is subsequently applied by a resin applicator positioned above the lower belt. The system includes an oven designed to melt the thermoplastic resin, allowing it to saturate the chopped roving web or mesh as it passes through. Notably, the system does not utilize any entangling devices or binder application devices, ensuring that the composite sheet remains free of unpolymerized resin materials and is not mechanically bonded.

Additional features of the system include a cooling mechanism to cool the composite after pressing, and various configurations for the fiber and resin applicators, such as fiber choppers and powder application devices. The system allows for the incorporation of multiple types and sizes of rovings, including polymer and reinforcing fibers, to create a hybrid chopped roving web. Furthermore, the resin applicator can take various forms, including extruders and rollers, to apply the thermoplastic resin effectively. The composite sheet can also be treated with a sizing composition to enhance bonding between the fibers and the resin. The patent outlines a comprehensive approach to producing high-quality thermoplastic composite sheets suitable for various applications, emphasizing the versatility and efficiency of the manufacturing process.

To know more about GlobalData’s detailed insights on Berkshire Hathaway, buy the report here.

Data Insights

From

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Blending expert knowledge with cutting-edge technology, GlobalData’s unrivalled proprietary data will enable you to decode what’s happening in your market. You can make better informed decisions and gain a future-proof advantage over your competitors.

GlobalData

GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.

GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.