Manufacturing thermoplastic container with internal baffle(s)
AssigneeRohr, Inc.
InventorDaniel O. Ursenbach
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method is provided for manufacturing a container. During this method, a baffle is provided. The baffle is configured from or otherwise includes baffle thermoplastic material. A sidewall is formed using an additive manufacturing device. The sidewall is bonded to the baffle during the forming of the sidewall. The sidewall circumscribes the baffle. The sidewall is configured from or otherwise includes sidewall thermoplastic material. The container includes an internal chamber, the baffle and the sidewall. The sidewall forms an outer peripheral boundary of the internal chamber. The baffle is arranged within the internal chamber.
Claims20
A method for manufacturing a container, comprising:
- disposing a stamp-formed baffle with a mandrel, the baffle comprising baffle thermoplastic material;
- forming a sidewall using an additive manufacturing device, the sidewall bonded to the baffle during the forming of the sidewall, the sidewall circumscribing the baffle and the mandrel, the sidewall comprising sidewall thermoplastic material, and the mandrel supporting the sidewall thermoplastic material during the forming of the sidewall;
- and
- removing the mandrel from within an internal bore of the sidewall following the forming of the sidewall;
- wherein the container includes an internal chamber, the baffle, and the sidewall, the sidewall forms an outer peripheral boundary of the internal chamber, and the baffle is arranged within the internal chamber.
A method for manufacturing a fuel reservoir, comprising:
- stamp forming baffle thermoplastic material to form a baffle of the fuel reservoir;
- wrapping fiber-reinforced thermoplastic material around the baffle using an in-situ fiber placement device to form a sidewall of the fuel reservoir, the fiber-reinforced thermoplastic material comprising fiber reinforcement within sidewall thermoplastic material, and the baffle disposed with a mandrel during the forming of the sidewall;
- heating the sidewall thermoplastic material as the fiber-reinforced thermoplastic material is being wrapped to bond the sidewall thermoplastic material to the baffle thermoplastic material;
- and
- removing the mandrel from within an internal bore of the sidewall following the heating of the sidewall thermoplastic material.
A method for manufacturing a fuel reservoir, comprising:
- providing a stamp-formed baffle of the fuel reservoir, the baffle comprising baffle thermoplastic material;
- providing a mandrel, the baffle arranged with and supported by the mandrel;
- wrapping fiber-reinforced thermoplastic material around the mandrel and the baffle using an in-situ fiber placement device to form a sidewall of the fuel reservoir, the fiber-reinforced thermoplastic material comprising fiber reinforcement within sidewall thermoplastic material;
- heating the sidewall thermoplastic material as the fiber-reinforced thermoplastic material is being wrapped to bond the sidewall thermoplastic material to the baffle thermoplastic material;
- and
- removing the mandrel from within an internal bore of the sidewall following the heating of the sidewall thermoplastic material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.