Back to results
US 2009/0026659 A1Published application
Hybrid Mandrels
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsJohn H. Vontell, SR., Carl Brian Klinetob, Christopher John Feeney
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mandrel comprising a rigid inner core and an elastomeric outer layer that at least partially surrounds the rigid inner core, wherein the elastomeric outer layer is adapted to expand during a molding process to seal a cavity to prevent incursion of material injected during the molding process.
Claims20
A mandrel for use in sealing a cavity during a molding process, the mandrel comprising:
- a rigid inner core;
- and
- an elastomeric outer layer that at least partially surrounds the rigid inner core, wherein the elastomeric outer layer is adapted to expand during the molding process to seal the cavity to prevent incursion of material injected during the molding process.
An injection molding apparatus comprising:
- a tooling in which material is to be injected to form a component;
- a pre-formed part disposed within the tooling and comprising a cavity that is to be sealed;
- and
- a hybrid mandrel disposed within the pre-formed part cavity, the hybrid mandrel including a rigid inner core and an elastomeric outer layer that at least partially surrounds the rigid inner core, wherein the elastomeric outer layer is adapted to expand during the molding process to seal the cavity to prevent incursion of material to be injected.
1 more element
An injection molding process comprising:
- providing a hybrid mandrel including a rigid inner core and an elastomeric outer layer that at least partially surrounds the rigid inner core within a cavity of a pre-formed part;
- providing the pre-formed part along with the hybrid mandrel into a tooling;
- injecting liquid material into the tooling at an elevated temperature, the elevated temperature causing the elastomeric outer layer to expand and seal the cavity;
- curing the liquid material such that a solid component results;
- removing the solid component from the tooling;
- removing the rigid inner core using a melt-out process in which at least a portion of the rigid core is melted and flows out from the cavity;
- and
- removing the elastomeric outer layer.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.