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US 12,466,140 B2Granted
Fabrication apparatuses and methods
AssigneePlastics Unlimited, Inc.
InventorsTravis Kieffer, Ben Clarke, Mike Rederer, Jason Gregorich, Terry Kieffer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
One embodiment of a method according to the present disclosure may use a fixture with one or more boot recesses formed therein. An embedded member may be engaged with a boot and placed in a boot recess. Substrate lay-up may be placed around all or a portion of the embedded member and an outer member may be positioned over the substrate lay-up. A cover may be positioned over the outer member and engaged with the fixture. The pressure within an interior portion of the fixture may be reduced to less than ambient pressure and resin may be introduced to interact with the substrate lay-up and allowed to cure.
Claims21
A fabrication apparatus comprising:
- a. a table having a top surface, said table comprising:
- a.i. a table contour formed in said top surface;
- a.ii. a table cavity formed in said top surface;
- b. a bag comprising:
- b.i. a bag contour, wherein said bag contour corresponds to said table contour in shape, size, and relative position;
- b.ii. a seat, wherein said seat corresponds to said table cavity in shape, size, and relative position;
- c. a caul plate having a resin side and a bag side, said caul plate comprising:
- c.i. an aperture extending through said caul plate from said resin side to said bag side, wherein said aperture corresponds to the relative position of said seat;
- c.ii. a contour, wherein said contour corresponds to said bag contour in shape, size, and relative position;
- and,
- d. a cover having an interior surface, wherein said interior surface forms a seal between said interior surface and said bag;
- e. wherein said caul plate further comprises a first feature extending along a border of said caul plate;
- f. wherein said bag further comprises a second feature extending along a border of said bag wherein said first feature is configured to align with said second feature.
10 more elements
A fabrication apparatus comprising:
- a. a table having a top surface, said table comprising:
- a.i. a table contour formed in said top surface;
- a.ii. a table cavity formed in said top surface;
- b. a bag comprising:
- b.i. a bag contour, wherein said bag contour corresponds to said table contour in shape, size, and relative position;
- b.ii. a seat, wherein said seat corresponds to said table cavity in shape, size, and relative position;
- c. a caul plate having a resin side and a bag side, said caul plate comprising:
- c.i. an aperture extending through said caul plate from said resin side to said bag side, wherein said aperture corresponds to the relative position of said seat;
- c.ii. a contour, wherein said contour corresponds to said bag contour in shape, size, and relative position;
- and,
- d. a cover having an interior surface, wherein said interior surface forms a hermetic seal between said interior surface and said bag;
- wherein said caul plate further comprises a wave feature around a border of said caul plate.
9 more elements
A fabrication apparatus comprising:
- a. a table having a top surface, said table comprising:
- a.i. a table contour formed in said top surface;
- a.ii. a table cavity formed in said top surface;
- b. a bag comprising:
- b.i. a bag contour, wherein said bag contour corresponds to said table contour in shape, size, and relative position;
- b.ii. a seat, wherein said seat corresponds to said table cavity in shape, size, and relative position;
- c. a caul plate having a resin side and a bag side, said caul plate comprising:
- c.i. an aperture extending through said caul plate from said resin side to said bag side, wherein said aperture corresponds to the relative position of said seat;
- c.ii. a contour, wherein said contour corresponds to said bag contour in shape, size, and relative position;
- and,
- d. a cover having an interior surface, wherein said interior surface forms a hermetic seal between said interior surface and said bag;
- wherein said caul plate further comprises a first feature around a border of said caul plate;
- wherein said bag further comprises a second feature around a border of said bag, and wherein said second feature corresponds to said first feature in said border of said caul plate in size, shape, and relative position.
10 more elements
A fabrication apparatus comprising:
- a. a table having a top surface, said table comprising:
- a.i. a table contour formed in said top surface;
- a.ii. a table cavity formed in said top surface;
- b. a bag comprising:
- b.i. a bag contour, wherein said bag contour corresponds to said table contour in shape, size, and relative position;
- b.ii. a seat, wherein said seat corresponds to said table cavity in shape, size, and relative position;
- c. a caul plate having a resin side and a bag side, said caul plate comprising:
- c.i. an aperture extending through said caul plate from said resin side to said bag side, wherein said aperture corresponds to the relative position of said seat;
- c.ii. a contour, wherein said contour corresponds to said bag contour in shape, size, and relative position;
- and,
- d. a cover having an interior surface, wherein said interior surface forms a hermetic seal between said interior surface and said bag;
- wherein said caul plate further comprises a vacuum port, wherein said vacuum port extends through said caul plate from said resin side to said bag side,
- wherein said bag further comprises a bag vacuum port, and wherein said vacuum port corresponds to said bag vacuum port in size, shape, and relative position.
10 more elements
A method for forming a part, said method comprising:
- a. providing a table, said table comprising:
- a.i. a top surface, a table contour formed in said top surface;
- a.ii. a cavity formed in said top surface;
- b. positioning a bag on said table, said bag comprising:
- b.i. a bag contour, wherein said bag contour corresponds to said table contour in shape, size, and relative position;
- b.ii. a seat, wherein said seat corresponds to said table cavity in shape, size, and relative position;
- c. ensuring said seat is positioned adjacent said cavity;
- d. positioning a caul plate on said bag, said caul plate comprising:
- d.i. an aperture extending through said caul plate from said resin side to said bag side, wherein said aperture corresponds to the seat in relative position;
- d.ii. a contour, wherein said contour corresponds to said bag contour in shape, size, and relative position;
- d.iii. a wave feature around a border of said caul plate;
- e. positioning an extending portion of an embedded member through said aperture and into said seat;
- f. positioning a frame of said embedded member adjacent said resin side of said caul plate;
- g. placing a first portion of substrate lay-up on said caul plate;
- h. positioning an outer member over said first portion of substrate lay-up, wherein said outer member includes a flange around a periphery of said outer member;
- i. positioning a cover over said outer member, wherein said cover has an interior surface, wherein said interior surface forms a seal between said interior surface and said bag;
- and
- j. reducing the pressure within a space between said outer member and said resin side of said caul plate to an amount less than ambient pressure;
- k. introducing a resin into said space, wherein said resin is introduced into said space via said bag inlet;
- l. controlling the temperature between said cover and said bag;
- and,
- m. allowing said resin and said first portion of substrate lay-up to cure into a substrate lay-up/resin medium.
19 more elements
A fabrication apparatus comprising:
- e. a bag having a bag contour and a seat;
- f. a caul plate having a resin side and a bag side, said caul plate comprising:
- f.i. an aperture extending through said caul plate from said resin side to said bag side, wherein said aperture corresponds to the relative position of said seat;
- f.ii. a contour, wherein said contour corresponds to said bag contour in shape, size, and relative position;
- and,
- g. a cover having an interior surface, wherein said interior surface forms a seal between said interior surface and said bag;
- h. wherein said caul plate further comprises a first feature extending along a border of said caul plate;
- i. wherein said bag further comprises a second feature extending along a border of said bag wherein said first feature is configured to align with said second feature.
5 more elements
A fabrication apparatus comprising:
- a. a table having a top surface, said table comprising:
- a.i. a table contour formed in said top surface;
- a.ii. a table cavity formed in said top surface;
- b. a bag comprising:
- b.i. a bag contour, wherein said bag contour corresponds to said table contour in shape, size, and relative position;
- b.ii. a seat, wherein said seat corresponds to said table cavity in shape, size, and relative position;
- c. a caul plate having a resin side and a bag side, said caul plate comprising:
- c.i. an aperture extending through said caul plate from said resin side to said bag side, wherein said aperture corresponds to the relative position of said seat;
- c.ii. a contour, wherein said contour corresponds to said bag contour in shape, size, and relative position;
- and,
- d. a cover having an interior surface, wherein said interior surface forms a seal between said interior surface and said bag;
- and
- wherein said caul plate further comprises a wave feature around a border of said caul plate.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.