Device and method for continuously blow molding fiber-reinforced thermoplastic hollow profiles having a constant or changing cross-section
AssigneeHerone GmbH
InventorsDaniel Barfuss, Alexander Rohkamm, Philipp Schwanemann, Veit Würfel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to a device and a method for semi-continuous blow moulding of fiber-reinforced, thermoplastic, endless, hollow-profile-shaped components with longitudinally constant or varying cross-sections, consisting of at least one consolidation tool, which, in its closed state, encloses a preform enclosing an elastically moldable pressure chamber.
Claims15
A device for the semi-continuous blow moulding of fiber-reinforced, thermoplastic, endless, hollow-profile components with cross sections that are constant or varying in a longitudinal direction, comprising at least one consolidating tool which, in a closed state, encloses a preform, which encloses an elastically deformable pressure chamber, wherein:
- a) a preforming unit and the at least one consolidating tool are arranged directly one after another;
- b) the preforming unit provides the preform;
- c) the preform enclosed by the at least one consolidating tool is a preform segment;
- d) a central axis of the preforming unit, the at least one consolidating tool, the preform segment, and the pressure chamber are arranged congruently;
- e) the at least one consolidating tool is designed in at least two parts;
- and
- f) the at least one consolidating tool corresponds to a contour of the component;
- wherein:
- the at least one consolidating tool has at least two independently isothermal-tempered tool segments, and in that the tool segments are arranged along a middle axis;
- dimensions of the at least one consolidating tool, the pressure chamber, and the preform segment for processing are identical along the central axis;
- the device has a feed device which is capable of repeatedly moving the preform by an amount of a length of one of the tool segments into a machining direction directed along the central axis;
- the pressure chamber is formed from:
- an endless, deformable pressure membrane and sealing elements, or
- a pressure membrane that is a deformable hose firmly attached to sealing elements;
- and
- the pressure chamber is pressurizable.
A method for semi-continuous blow moulding of fibre-reinforced thermoplastic hollow profiles with cross-sections that are constant or varying in longitudinal direction, comprising at least the steps:
- a) providing a tubular pressure membrane which is coated or enclosed with a preform comprising thermoplastic matrix material;
- b) providing a device for the semi-continuous blow moulding of fiber-reinforced, thermoplastic, endless, hollow-profile components with cross sections that are constant or varying in the longitudinal direction, comprising at least one consolidating tool which, in a closed state, encloses a preform, which encloses an elastically deformable pressure chamber;
- c) positioning of the tubular pressure membrane and the preform such that it extends over an entire length of the at least one consolidating tool and covers sealing elements,
- d) closing the at least one consolidating tool;
- e) compressing a preform segment by enlarging a diameter of the tubular pressure membrane through pressurization, and nestling the preform segment against an inner wall of the least one consolidating tool;
- f) heating a first preform segment in the first tool segment of the at least one consolidating tool to a temperature below a melting temperature of the thermoplastic, heating a second preform segment in the second tool segment of the at least one consolidating tool to a temperature which at least reaches the melting temperature of the matrix material, cooling and shaping a third preform segment in a third tool segment of the at least one consolidating tool to a temperature which is below a solidification temperature of the matrix material;
- g) terminating the pressurization of the tubular pressure membrane;
- h) opening the at least one consolidating tool and, subsequently, advancing the preform by the length of one tool segment and subsequently closing the at least one consolidating tool;
- and
- i) repeating steps e) to h).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.