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US 10,538,051 B2Granted
Extruded molds and methods for manufacturing composite truck panels
AssigneeWabash National, L.P.
InventorsTravis Smith McCloud, Scott M. Lewit
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Extruded molds and methods for manufacturing composite structures using the extruded molds are disclosed. The molds may include recessed or raised longitudinal features to impart a corresponding shape to the molded composite structures. The composite structures may be panels used to construct cargo vehicles, for example.
Claims30
A method of manufacturing a composite structure comprising:
- providing a mold body having a mold surface with:
- a first portion that is flat;
- a second portion that is flat;
- and
- a third portion that deviates from being flat;
- forming a fiber-reinforced plastic composite structure upon the mold surface, a molded surface of the composite structure having:
- a first portion corresponding to the first portion of the mold surface;
- a second portion corresponding to the second portion of the mold surface;
- and
- a third portion corresponding to the third portion of the mold surface, wherein the third portion extends across an entire length of the composite structure;
- and
- directing a heat exchange fluid through a substantially hollow interior of the mold body,
- wherein the mold body includes a plurality of individually extruded segments that are coupled together and cooperate to define the mold surface.
10 more elements
A method of manufacturing a composite structure comprising:
- providing an extruded mold body having a mold surface by coupling together a plurality of individually extruded segments that cooperate to define the mold surface;
- forming the composite structure upon the mold surface, the composite structure comprising:
- a first end;
- a second end;
- and
- a molded surface including:
- a first portion that is flat;
- a second portion that is flat;
- and
- a third portion that deviates from being flat, wherein the third portion extends entirely from the first end to the second end;
- and
- directing a heat exchange fluid through a substantially hollow interior of the mold body.
9 more elements
A method of manufacturing a composite structure comprising:
- providing an extruded mold body having a mold surface by coupling together a plurality of individually extruded segments that cooperate to define the mold surface;
- forming the composite structure upon the mold surface, wherein the mold surface includes:
- a first portion that is flat;
- a second portion that is flat;
- and
- a third portion that deviates from being flat, wherein the third portion extends parallel to a longitudinal axis of the extruded mold body;
- and
- directing a heat exchange fluid through a substantially hollow interior of the mold body.
5 more elements
A method of manufacturing a composite structure comprising:
- providing an extruded mold body having a mold surface by coupling together a plurality of individually extruded segments that cooperate to define the mold surface, wherein the providing step comprises providing the mold surface having:
- a first portion that is flat;
- a second portion that is flat;
- and
- a third portion that deviates from being flat;
- and
- forming the composite structure upon the mold surface, wherein the forming step comprises forming a molded surface of the composite structure having:
- a first portion corresponding to the first portion of the mold surface;
- a second portion corresponding to the second portion of the mold surface;
- and
- a third portion corresponding to the third portion of the mold surface, wherein the third portion extends across an entire length of the composite structure;
- and
- directing a heat exchange fluid through a substantially hollow interior of the mold body.
10 more elements
A method of manufacturing a composite structure comprising:
- providing a mold body formed by extrusion and having a mold surface with:
- a first portion that is flat;
- a second portion that is flat;
- and
- a third portion that deviates from being flat;
- forming a fiber-reinforced plastic composite structure upon the mold surface, a molded surface of the composite structure having:
- a first portion corresponding to the first portion of the mold surface;
- a second portion corresponding to the second portion of the mold surface;
- and
- a third portion corresponding to the third portion of the mold surface, wherein the third portion extends across an entire length of the composite structure;
- and
- directing a heat exchange fluid through a substantially hollow interior of the mold body.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.