System and method for thermoforming an object
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsEdward John Castillo, Jesse Edward Schrimpf
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for thermoforming an object is provided. The system includes a mold and a pressure-box. The mold has a surface that defines a shape of the object and includes two or more portions of differing porosities. The pressure-box is operative to generate a pressure differential across the surface. The two or more portions apply the pressure differential at different loads, based at least in part on the differing porosities, to a material disposed onto the surface so as to form the object by deforming the material into the shape.
Claims19
A system for thermoforming an object comprising:
- a mold having a surface that defines a shape of the object and includes two or more portions of differing pore sizes and porosities;
- a pressure-box operative to generate a pressure differential across the surface;
- wherein the two or more portions apply the pressure differential at different loads, based at least in part on the differing porosities, to a material disposed onto the surface so as to form the object by deforming the material into the shape;
- and,
- wherein the mold comprises at least one of a metal and a polymer.
A method of thermoforming an object comprising:
- disposing a material onto a surface of a mold, the surface defining a shape of the object and including two or more portions of differing pore sizes and porosities;
- generating a pressure differential across the surface via a pressure-box;
- forming the object by applying the pressure differential to the material via the two or more portions at different loads, based at least in part on the differing porosities, so as to deform the material into the shape;
- and,
- wherein the mold comprises at least one of a metal and a polymer.
A mold for thermoforming an object comprising:
- a surface defining a shape of the object and including two or more portions of differing pore sizes and porosities;
- a mounting portion operative to fluidly connect the surface to a pressure-box that generates a pressure differential;
- wherein the two or more portions are operative to apply the pressure differential at different loads, based at least in part on the differing porosities, to a material disposed onto the surface so as to form the object by deforming the material into the shape;
- and,
- wherein the surface defining the shape of the object comprises at least one of a metal and a polymer.
A system for thermoforming an object comprising:
- a mold having a surface that defines a shape of the object and includes two or more portions of differing pore sizes and porosities;
- a pressure-box operative to generate a pressure differential across the surface;
- and,
- wherein the two or more portions apply the pressure differential at different loads, based at least in part on the differing porosities, to a material disposed onto the surface so as to form the object by deforming the material into the shape;
- wherein the mold comprises at least one of a metal and a polymer;
- and,
- wherein the polymer is at least one selected from the group of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polycarbonate, and polytehylenimine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.