# US 2018/0021983 A1 · Pultrusion apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0021983 A1 - Document ID: US20180021983A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/548,903 - Filed: 2016-02-10 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2015-02-13 - Assignees: Hexcel Composites Limited - Applicants: Hexcel Composites GMBH & Co KG; Hexcel Composites Limited - Inventors: Johannes Moser; Marco Arcidiacono; Francesco De Giorgi; Vithaldas Guru; Owen Hung - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180021983A1 ## CPC - B29B 15/122: {with a matrix in liquid form, e.g. as melt, solution or latex} - B29C 70/523: {and impregnating the reinforcement in the die} - B29B: PREPARATION OR PRETREATMENT OF THE MATERIAL TO BE SHAPED; MAKING GRANULES OR PREFORMS; RECOVERY OF PLASTICS OR OTHER CONSTITUENTS OF WASTE MATERIAL CONTAINING PLASTICS - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) ## Abstract The present invention defines a pultrusion apparatus. The apparatus comprises a portion for receiving fibres, a portion for injecting resin into the fibres, a portion for impregnating the resin injected fibres, and a portion for shaping the impregnated fibres, wherein the fibres, following their passage through the receiving portion, converge in the resin injection portion to receive the resin and the resin flows outwards following injection as the fibres progress from the injection portion through the impregnation portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pultrusion apparatus comprising: a) a portion for receiving fibres, b) a portion for injecting resin into the fibres, c) a portion for impregnating the resin injected fibres, and d) a portion for shaping the impregnated fibres, wherein the fibres, following their passage through the receiving portion, converge in the resin injection portion to receive the resin, and the resin flows outwards following injection as the fibres progress from the injection portion through the impregnation portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the resin injection portion comprises a resin injection device, wherein the fibres converge in an injection zone adjacent the injection device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the injection portion and the impregnation portion are integrated to form a chamber. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the impregnation portion reduces in cross-sectional area along its length extending to the shaping portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein at least two opposing walls of the impregnation portion converge in a generally continuous curve along its length. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein at least two opposing walls of the impregnation portion converge in a series of two or more linear segments of different angles with respect to the axis of the impregnation portion along its length. ### Claim 7 (canceled) ### Claim 8 (canceled) ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein at least two opposing walls of the impregnation portion each include a wall section that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the impregnation portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the substantially perpendicular wall sections are located substantially at the end of the impregnation portion and adjacent to the shaping portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the substantially perpendicular wall sections are located partially along the length of the impregnation portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the injection portion comprises a resin injection device, positioned centrally within the injection portion and wherein the shaping portion comprises a shaping device and/or the receiving portion comprises an inlet for locating the fibre in relation to the injection portion, and wherein the shaping device and/or inlet is centrally positioned in relation to the injection portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the injection portion comprises at least one resin injection nozzle and wherein the at least one resin injection nozzle is flat, wide, large aspect ratio, circular or slot-like in shape. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fibre receiving portion comprises an inlet comprising openings of varying size in an oscillating lattice arrangement, wherein the inlet comprises oscillating combs arranged at 90° to one another. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises an aperture for inserting surfacing material into one or more portions. ### Claim 16 An inlet or inlet plate for a pultrusion apparatus, wherein the inlet comprises one or more openings of varying size, said openings being arranged in an oscillating lattice, wherein the inlet or inlet plate comprises oscillating combs arranged at 90° to one another. ### Claim 17 A process for manufacturing pultruded resin reinforced fibres, comprising the steps of a) receiving fibres in a fibre receiving portion of an apparatus, b) injecting resin into the fibres in a resin injection portion of said apparatus, c) impregnating the resin injected fibres in an impregnation portion of said apparatus, and d) shaping the impregnated fibers into a pultrusion in a shaping portion or die portion, wherein the received fibres converge in the resin injection portion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The process of claim 17, wherein the resin flows from the injection zone outwards as fibres progress from the injection portion through the impregnation portion. ### Claim 19 (canceled) ### Claim 20 (canceled) ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The process according to claim 17, wherein the process further comprises adding surfacing material to the fibre before shaping the resin impregnated fibre, wherein the impregnated fibre is fully covered in surfacing material. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The process of claim 21, wherein the surfacing material comprises a veil or peel ply. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The process of claim 22, wherein resin is injected into the fibres through veil or peel ply ### Claim 24 (depends on 17) A pultruded product obtainable from the process according to claim 17, wherein the product comprises 55 to 85% fibre volume fraction and 15 to 45% resin content, as determined by ASTM D3171; and/or wherein the product comprises one or more of the following properties: (i) average thickness of 1.5 to 15.5 mm; and/or (ii) fibre alignment of −2° to 2°; and/or (iii) mean modulus tension and compression of at least 133 GPa according to ISO 527 and ISO 14126; and/or (iv) compression modulus of at least 127 GPa according to ISO 14126; and/or (v) linear tensile strain to failure of at least 0.94% according to ISO 527; and/or (vi) linear compression strain to failure of at least 0.69% according to ISO 14126; and/or (vii) inter laminar shear strength of at least 52 MPa according to ISO 14130. ### Claim 25 (canceled)