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US 10,647,042 B2Granted
Articulated molding insert
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorEverette D. Gray
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for forming a part having a cavity with a complex contour is presented. The molding apparatus comprises a mold cavity and a molding insert. The mold cavity is formed by a first mold portion and a second mold portion. The molding insert is within the mold cavity, wherein the molding insert has a forming surface, and wherein the molding insert is configured to move in more than one direction relative to the first mold portion.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- agitating a shaft, wherein the shaft is connected to a molding insert by an articulating joint, and wherein the molding insert has a forming surface;
- pulling the forming surface of the molding insert from a formed part while agitating the shaft;
- closing a first mold portion and a second mold portion to form a mold cavity containing the molding insert, wherein the shaft extends through the first mold portion, wherein the articulating joint is associated with a second end of the molding insert;
- aligning the molding insert relative to the first mold portion into an aligned position using an alignment feature associated with the second end of the molding insert;
- and
- locking the molding insert relative to the first mold portion while the molding insert is in the aligned position using a restraint, wherein the first mold portion is between the restraint and the second mold portion, wherein the first mold portion and the second mold portion are configured to move in opposite directions toward and away from each other;
- and wherein longitudinal axis of the shaft is parallel with the opposite directions.
4 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a molding insert having a forming surface;
- a shaft connected to the molding insert by an articulating joint;
- a first mold portion;
- a second mold portion, wherein the first mold portion and the second mold portion form a mold cavity, and, wherein the molding insert is positioned within the mold cavity;
- and
- a restraint on the shaft, wherein the first mold portion is between the restraint and the molding insert and wherein the first mold portion and the shaft are between the restraint and the second mold portion, wherein the first mold portion and the second mold portion are configured to move in opposite directions toward and away from each other and wherein a longitudinal axis of the shaft is parallel with the opposite directions.
3 more elements
A molding apparatus for forming a part having a cavity with a complex contour comprising:
- a mold cavity formed by a first mold portion and a second mold portion;
- a restraint;
- and
- a molding insert within the mold cavity, wherein the molding insert has a forming surface, and wherein the molding insert is configured to move in more than one direction relative to the first mold portion, wherein the molding insert is connected to a shaft by an articulating joint, wherein the first mold portion is between the restraint and the molding insert, wherein the first mold portion and the shaft are between the restraint and the second mold portion, and wherein the first mold portion and the second mold portion are configured to move in opposite directions toward and away from each other;
- and wherein a longitudinal axis of the shaft is parallel with the opposite directions.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.