Process for curing a porous muffler preform
AssigneeOCV Intellectual Capital, LLC
InventorsNorman T. Huff, Janakikodandaram Karra
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process for curing a porous muffler preform defined by a plurality of glass fibers and a heat-curing thermoset or thermoplastic materials applied to the plurality of glass fibers is disclosed herein. The process includes the step of enclosing the muffler preform in a chamber. The process also includes the step of surrounding the muffler preform with steam. The process also includes the step of causing steam to enter the muffler preform from multiple directions.
Claims19
A process for curing a porous muffler preform defined by a plurality of glass fibers and a heat-curing thermoset or thermoplastic materials applied to the plurality of glass fibers, the process comprising the steps of:
- enclosing the muffler preform in a chamber;
- surrounding the muffler preform with steam;
- and
- causing steam to enter the muffler preform from at least two directions.
A process for curing a porous muffler preform defined by a plurality of glass fibers and a heat-curing thermoset or thermoplastic materials applied to the plurality of glass fibers, the process comprising the steps of:
- enclosing the muffler preform in a chamber at a first pressure;
- and
- injecting steam into the chamber through an inlet port after the enclosing step wherein the steam is directed by baffling surfaces inside the chamber so as to not directly impinge the steam on the muffler preform.
A process for curing a porous muffler preform defined by a plurality of glass fibers and a heat-curing thermoset or thermoplastic materials applied to the plurality of glass fibers, the process comprising the steps of:
- enclosing the muffler preform at a first temperature in a chamber at first pressure;
- surrounding the muffler preform after the enclosing step with steam at a second pressure greater than atmospheric and the first pressure and at second temperature substantially at the boiling point of water based on the second pressure;
- and
- causing steam to enter the muffler preform wherein water is condensed on the muffler preform thereby imparting heat to the heat-curing thermoset or thermoplastic materials.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.