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US 12,043,003 B2Granted
Assemblies and methods for forming fiber reinforced thermoplastic structures
AssigneeRohr, Inc.
InventorsJonathan S. Huang, Jeffrey D. Woods, Michael Van Tooren, Noushin Bahramshahi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for forming a fiber reinforced thermoplastic part may comprise the steps of locating a thermoplastic material over a mold tool, heating the thermoplastic material to a pliable forming temperature, conforming the thermoplastic material to a mold surface of the mold tool, and depositing a plurality of fiber strips over the thermoplastic material.
Claims14
A method for forming a fiber reinforced thermoplastic part, the method comprising:
- locating a sealing member around a perimeter of a thermoplastic material;
- locating the thermoplastic material over a mold tool, wherein the mold tool comprises a mold surface and wherein the mold surface comprises at least one planar surface and at least one curved surface;
- prior to heating, forming an airtight seal between the thermoplastic material and the mold tool via the sealing member, the sealing member configured to couple the thermoplastic material to the perimeter of the least one planar surface and the at least one curved surface the mold tool such that the thermoplastic material is spaced apart from the mold surface of the mold tool;
- heating the thermoplastic material to a pliable forming temperature;
- conforming the thermoplastic material to the mold surface of the mold tool;
- and
- depositing a plurality of fiber strips over the thermoplastic material.
4 more elements
A method for forming a fiber reinforced thermoplastic part, the method comprising:
- locating a thermoplastic material over a mold tool such that the thermoplastic material is spaced apart from a mold surface of the mold tool, wherein the mold surface comprises at least one planar surface and at least one curved surface;
- prior to heating, forming an airtight seal between the thermoplastic material and a plurality of attachment frames located around and surrounding a perimeter of the mold surface of the mold tool, wherein the plurality of attachment frames comprise at least one planar attachment frame and at least one curved attachment frame such that the plurality of attachment frames conforms to the mold surface of the mold tool, wherein forming the airtight seal between the thermoplastic material and the plurality of attachment frames includes the use of a sealing member between the thermoplastic material and the plurality of attachment frames, the sealing member configured to couple the thermoplastic material to the plurality of attachment frames;
- heating the thermoplastic material to a pliable forming temperature;
- evacuating air from between the thermoplastic material and the mold surface;
- and
- depositing a plurality of fiber strips over the thermoplastic material.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.