Apparatus and method for making molded products
AssigneeComposite Technologies International, LLC
InventorStephen S. Gleason
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for making molded products for marine, automotive, recreational, and other applications. The apparatus and method for making the molded products generally includes a closed mold and an inline mixer for adding a catalyst to a filled resin. The method may include adding a fiber material to a resin to create the filled resin, adding a catalyst to the filled resin, and mixing the catalyst and the filled resin to create an uncured catalyzed, filled resin. The method may also include adding the uncured catalyzed, filled resin to a mold and allowing the uncured catalyzed, filled resin to harden in the mold.
Claims26
A method of making a molded part, comprising:
- withdrawing a filled resin from a container, the filled resin including a flock fiber material, wherein the flock fiber material includes one or both of a natural flock fiber material and a synthetic flock fiber material, and wherein the natural flock fiber material and the synthetic flock fiber material include one or more of nanofibers, microfibers, and short-strand fibers having a length ranging between 200 μm and 600 μm;
- adding a catalyst to the filled resin;
- mixing the catalyst and the filled resin to create an uncured catalyzed, filled resin;
- adding the uncured catalyzed, filled resin to a mold;
- and
- allowing the uncured catalyzed, filled resin to harden in the mold.
A method of applying resin, comprising:
- withdrawing a filled resin from a container, the filled resin comprising a flock fiber material, wherein the flock fiber material includes one or both of a natural flock fiber material and a synthetic flock fiber material, and wherein the natural flock fiber material and the synthetic flock fiber material include one or more of nanofibers, microfibers, and short-strand fibers having a length ranging between 200 μm and 600 μm;
- adding a catalyst to the filled resin;
- mixing the catalyst and the filled resin to create an uncured catalyzed, filled resin;
- spraying the uncured catalyzed, filled resin onto a surface;
- and
- allowing the uncured catalyzed, filled resin to harden.
A method of making a molded part, comprising:
- pumping a filled resin from a container into a hose to create a flow of filled resin, the filled resin comprising a polyester resin and a flock fiber material, the hose having an end coupled to a spray gun, wherein the flock fiber material includes one or both of a natural flock fiber material and a synthetic flock fiber material, and wherein the natural flock fiber material and the synthetic flock fiber material include one or more of nanofibers, microfibers, and short-strand fibers having a length ranging between 200 μm and 600 μm;
- adding a catalyst to the flow of the filled resin;
- mixing the catalyst and the filled resin using an inline, static mixer coupled to the hose to create an uncured catalyzed, filled resin;
- pumping the uncured catalyzed, filled resin to the spray gun;
- spraying the uncured catalyzed, filled resin into an empty cavity of a mold;
- and
- allowing the uncured catalyzed, filled resin to harden in the mold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.