Method and apparatus for composite rib and sheet molding II
AssigneeArris Composites Inc.
InventorsRiley Reese, Erick Davidson, Ethan Escowitz, J. Scott Perkins
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Some embodiments of a compression mold for forming a rib-and-sheet part includes a mold cavity and a mold insert. A sheet is placed in the mold cavity, and the mold insert is placed on the sheet. A preform assemblage is placed in a gap that is formed between the mold insert and the wall of the mold cavity. A mold core is biased above the preform assemblage, prior to molding operations, via a compression spring.
Claims18
A compression mold for forming, via compression molding, a part using a preform assemblage and a sheet as feed constituents, wherein the preform assemblage comprises a plurality of fiber-bundle-based preforms, and wherein the part comprises a sheet portion and a rib, and wherein the rib has a first width, the compression mold comprising:
- a cavity-defining member, the cavity-defining member having an internal wall defining a perimeter of a cavity;
- and
- a mold insert, wherein the mold insert is dimensioned to be received within the perimeter of the cavity, the mold insert having a shelf-defining portion and a main body, wherein the shelf-defining portion extends beyond a width and a length of the main body, thereby defining a shelf that extends beyond a perimeter of the main body, and wherein a height of the main body defines side walls at the perimeter of the main body;
- a first gap defined between the sidewalls of the mold insert and the internal wall of the cavity-defining member, wherein the first gap is dimensioned to receive and retain the preform assemblage;
- a second gap defined between a perimeter of the shelf of the mold insert and the internal wall of the cavity-defining member, wherein the second clap defines the first width of the rib, and wherein the second gap is smaller than the first gap, and wherein the second gap is in fluidic communication with the first gap and with the sheet which, during compression molding operations, is disposed under the shelf-defining portion of the mold insert.
A compression mold for forming, via compression molding, a part using a preform assemblage and a sheet as feed constituents, and wherein the part comprises a sheet portion and a rib, the rib having a first width, the compression mold comprising:
- a cavity-defining member, the cavity-defining member having an internal wall defining a perimeter of a cavity;
- a mold insert received within the perimeter of the cavity, the mold insert having a main body and a marginal region extending beyond a perimeter of the main body, the main body having sidewalls at the perimeter thereof;
- a first gap defined between the sidewalls of the mold insert and the internal wall of the cavity-defining member, wherein the first gap is dimensioned to receive and retain the preform assemblage;
- and
- a second gap defined between a perimeter of the marginal region of the mold insert and the internal wall of the cavity-defining member, wherein the second gap defines the first width of the rib.
A compression mold for forming, via compression molding, a part using a preform assemblage and a sheet as feed constituents, and wherein the part comprises a sheet portion and a rib, and wherein the rib has a first width, the compression mold comprising:
- a cavity-defining member, the cavity-defining member having an internal wall defining a perimeter of a cavity;
- a mold insert received within the perimeter of the cavity, the mold insert having a main body and a marginal region extending beyond a perimeter of the main body;
- a first gap defined between the perimeter of the main body and the internal wall of the cavity-defining member, wherein the first gap is dimensioned to receive and retain the preform assemblage;
- a second gap defined between a perimeter of the marginal region of the mold insert and the internal wall of the cavity-defining member, wherein the second gap is in fluidic communication with the first gap;
- and
- a mold core, wherein a first portion of the mold core is dimensioned and physically configured to be received by the first gap.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.