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US 10,328,643 B2Granted
Apparatus for fabricating composite fasteners
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsAaron William Bartel, Nathan A. Muntz
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Abstract
Composite fasteners have a high fraction of discontinuous, randomly oriented reinforcing fibers. A charge of thermoplastic fiber flakes are heated to melting temperature within a reservoir, flowed into multiple mold cavities and compression molded. The molded fasteners have high strength, exhibit quasi-isotropic properties and may be produced in high volume.
Claims13
Apparatus for producing a plurality of composite fasteners, comprising:
- a mold having a plurality of mold cavities respectively defining fasteners and a wall separating a reservoir from the mold cavities;
- the reservoir for containing thermoplastic infused fiber flakes, the reservoir having a substantially open top, wherein the reservoir is coupled with the plurality of mold cavities, wherein the reservoir is integrally formed within the mold, and wherein the reservoir is adapted to be heated to melt the thermoplastic infused fiber flakes;
- and
- a flow region formed in the space between the wall and the plurality of mold cavities and through which melted fiber flakes are distributed to the plurality of mold cavities, wherein the wall includes an opening therein through which the melted fiber flakes flow from the reservoir into the flow region.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.