Thermoplastic sheet forming apparatus and method
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsBryan Bergsma, Tom Courrier, W. Frantz, John Hennessy
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Abstract
There are provided apparatuses and related methods for forming sheets. The formed sheets can be formed of a thermoplastic material, such as flat sheets of reinforced thermoplastic, which can be lightweight, strong, and perform well in flammability, smoke, and toxicity tests. The apparatus includes a heater for heating the sheet to a processing temperature and a structure for configuring the sheet to a desired shape using one or more rollers, shapers, longitudinal members, and/or support members.
Claims13
A method of forming a thermoplastic sheet, the method comprising:
- disposing the thermoplastic sheet on a first side of an elastically flexible shaper;
- rotating a longitudinal roller connected to the shaper in a first direction and thereby advancing a first edge of the shaper at least partially circumferentially around the roller with the first side directed toward the roller and the thermoplastic sheet disposed between the roller and the shaper such that the thermoplastic sheet is bent to a predetermined shape;
- and
- heating the thermoplastic sheet to a processing temperature less than a glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic sheet.
A method of forming a thermoplastic sheet, the method comprising:
- providing at least two support members defining at least one space therebetween;
- disposing an elastically flexible shaper on the support members, such that the shaper extends across at least one space between the support members with a first side of the shaper directed away from the support members and a second side of the shaper disposed against the support members and the shaper bends partially around the support members to define a predetermined shape of the thermoplastic sheet;
- disposing a thermoplastic sheet on the first side of the shaper;
- and
- heating the thermoplastic sheet to a processing temperature less than a glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic member while the thermoplastic sheet conforms to the shape of the shaper.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.