Molding system with a plurality of vents
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorStephen R. Dark
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A molding system for forming a composite structure having trapped volumes is presented. The molding system comprises a plurality of removeable inserts, a bottom tool assembly, and a plurality of vents formed at a parting line of the molding system. Each removeable insert of the plurality of removeable inserts comprises a plurality of pieces configured to be disassembled for removal from the composite structure. Each removeable insert is configured to be placed in contact with the bottom tool assembly.
Claims17
A compression molding system for forming a composite structure having trapped volumes, the compression molding system comprising:
- a plurality of removeable inserts, each removeable insert of the plurality of removeable inserts comprising a plurality of pieces configured to be disassembled for removal from the composite structure;
- a bottom tool assembly, wherein each removeable insert is configured to be placed in contact with the bottom tool assembly;
- and
- a plurality of vents present at a parting line of the compression molding system, wherein the plurality of vents take the form of at least one of indentations in the bottom tool assembly or indentations in a compression chamber configured to form the parting line of the compression molding system with the bottom tool assembly;
- wherein each of the plurality of vents has a length and a thickness configured to allow gases to escape from a composite material during compression molding of the composite material and configured to protect against the composite material escaping during compression or dwell periods in a molding process.
A compression molding system for forming a composite structure having trapped volumes, the compression molding system comprising:
- a plurality of removeable inserts, each removeable insert of the plurality of removeable inserts comprising a plurality of pieces configured to be disassembled for removal from the composite structure;
- a bottom tool assembly, wherein each removeable insert is configured to be placed in contact with the bottom tool assembly;
- a parting line of the compression molding system formed by the bottom tool assembly and a compression chamber;
- and
- a plurality of vents on a first side and a second side of the compression molding system along the parting line, wherein the first side and the second side are opposing sides of the compression molding system;
- wherein each of the plurality of vents has a length and a thickness configured to allow gases to escape from a composite material during compression molding of the composite material and configured to protect against the composite material escaping during compression or dwell periods in a molding process.
A method of forming a composite structure having trapped volumes using a molding system, the method comprising:
- placing a plurality of removeable inserts against a bottom tool assembly of the molding system, each removeable insert of the plurality of removeable inserts comprising a plurality of pieces configured to be disassembled for removal from the composite structure;
- placing a compression chamber of the molding system in contact with the bottom tool assembly to form a parting line of the molding system with a plurality of vents formed at the parting line, wherein each removeable insert is configured to be placed in contact with the bottom tool assembly, and wherein the plurality of vents take the form of at least one of indentations in the bottom tool assembly or indentations in a compression chamber configured to form the parting line of the compression molding system with the bottom tool assembly;
- compressing a composite material within the molding system;
- and
- venting the composite material using the plurality of vents at the parting line during compression of the composite material, wherein each of the plurality of vents has a length and a thickness configured to allow gases to escape from the composite material during compression molding of the composite material and configured to protect against the composite material escaping during compression or dwell periods in a molding process.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.