US 2007/0182065 A1 · Method and mold for making non-metallic fiber reinforced parts

Abstract

A mold and a method for molding high strength, non-metallic fiber reinforced composite parts having a variety of (e.g., cylindrical) shapes that are lighter in weight than similar parts manufactured from metal. An unmolded non-metallic pre-form having long continuous fibers is placed around a mandrel, and a segmented, adjustable diameter compression ring is disposed in surrounding engagement with the pre-form at an upper position within an inwardly tapered compression ring support. The compression ring is formed from a plurality of loose compression ring segments that are initially spaced circumferentially from one another at the upper position of the compression ring support. The mandrel and the pre-form are first heated and then located in a press. The press is closed to push the compression ring and the heated mandrel from the upper position of the compression ring support, at which the compression ring has an open configuration and a wide diameter, to a lower position, at which the compression ring has a closed configuration and a narrow diameter. As the compression ring is pushed to the lower position, the compression ring segments slide along the inwardly tapered compression ring support so as to be moved end-to-end one another to apply a compressive force for consolidating and shaping the heated pre-form into the molded part.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A mold for making a non-metallic molded part, said mold comprising:

a mandrel around which an unmolded non-metallic pre-form is located;
a compression ring support for surrounding said mandrel and having a wide inside diameter at a first position thereof, a narrow inside diameter at a second position thereof, and a sloping inside wall running between said first and second positions;
and
an adjustable diameter compression ring disposed within said compression ring support so as to surround the unmolded non-metallic pre-form around said mandrel and slide along the sloping inside wall of said compression ring support,
said mandrel and said adjustable diameter compression ring moving through said compression ring support from the first position thereof, at which said compression ring has an open configuration and a wide diameter for applying a relatively small compressive force against the unmolded non-metallic pre-form around said mandrel, to the second position thereof, at which said compression ring has a closed configuration and a narrow diameter for applying a relatively large compressive force against the pre-form for consolidating and shaping the pre-form to become the molded part.

2 more elements

A method for molding a non-metallic part, comprising the steps of:

placing an unmolded non-metallic pre-form around a mandrel within a compression ring support, said compression ring support having a wide inside diameter at a first position thereof, a narrow inside diameter at a second position thereof, and a sloping inside wall running between said first and second positions;
locating a compression ring within the compression ring support to surround the unmolded non-metallic pre-form around said mandrel, said compression ring having an open configuration and a wide diameter at the first position of said compression ring support, and said compression ring having a closed configuration and a narrow diameter at the second position of said compression ring support;
heating said mandrel and said unmolded non-metallic pre-form located therearound;
moving said heated mandrel and said compression ring through said compression ring support from the first position thereof, at which said compression ring has said open configuration and said wide diameter for applying a relatively small compressive force against the pre-form around said mandrel, to the second position thereof, at which said compression ring has said closed configuration and said narrow diameter for applying a relatively large compressive force against the pre-form for consolidating and shaping said pre-form into the molded part;
cooling said mandrel and the molded part;
and
removing the molded part from the mandrel.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and mold for making non-metallic fiber reinforced parts

Life of this patent

Method and mold for making non-metallic fiber reinforced parts

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17