US 4,043,721 A · Composite body molding apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for molding composite articles by first rotationally molding a shell-like body with a reinforcing member or frame extending through the body and supported by the walls of a mold. The hollow shell is formed of a liquid or powdered resin or other suitable material disposed in the mold per se or containing reinforcing elements which become encapsulated within the molding material. A second molding material may be injected into the hollow shell to partly or completely fill the volume interior thereof. The second material may comprise a resin containing a blowing agent which causes the resin to expand and form a cellular mass filling the hollow body or forming a shell thereagainst as the mold is rotated. The filler material may be introduced through one or more of the reinforcing members disposed within or across the mold cavity. In another form of the invention, hot and/or cold gases may be injected into the interior of a rotational mold containing a molding material so as to react on the molding material and transfer heat thereto or receive heat therefrom so as to accelerate or effect the setting or solidifying of the material in situ against the wall of the mold or a previously deposited material. The alternate injection or spraying of molding materials and gases into the mold may be employed to form composite hollow or solid articles of predetermined compositions and physical characteristics.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A molding apparatus comprising:

a multiple-part mold defined by at least first and second mold members shaped to close together and to define a molding cavity therebetween in which cavity an article may be molded to shape,
first support means for rotatably supporting said multiple-part mold for rotation about a first axis,
means for varying the attitude of said first support means during the rotation of said mold thereon,
an elongated tubular member,
means for supporting said elongated tubular member fixed within said cavity of said multiple-part mold with said tubular member being detachably secured to said mold and extending from one wall of said mold,
supply means for a fluent molding material, said supply means being connected to said tubular member,
means for causing the flow of said fluent molding material to said tubular member from said supply means,
said tubular member having an opening therein to permit molding material to flow therefrom into said mold cavity, and
means for power rotating said mold about said first axis to distribute molding material about the surface of said mold cavity wall and the portion of said tubular member adjacent said wall of said mold to permit said molding material to solidify in situ on the wall of the mold and against said tubular member so as to form a composite molding defined by said hollow body with the tubular member integrally secured to the wall of said hollow body by the soldified molding material surrounding same near the mold wall and wherein both said hollow body and said tubular member are removeable from said mold.

6 more elements

A molding apparatus comprising:

a multiple-part mold defined by a plurality of mold members which are operable to close together and define a molding cavity when the mold is closed, in which cavity an article may be molded to shape,
first support means for rotatably supporting said multiple-part mold for rotation about a first axis,
means for varying the attitude of said first support means during the rotation of said mold thereon,
an elongated tubular member,
means for supporting said elongated tubular member fixed within said cavity of said multiple-part mold with said tubular member being detachably secured to said mold and extending into said cavity,
means for flowing a first molding material to said mold cavity,
means for power rotating said mold about said first axis to distribute said first molding material about the surface of said mold cavity wall and the portion of said tubular member adjacent said wall of said mold to permit said molding material to solidify in situ on the wall of the mold and against said tubular member so as to form a composite molding defined by said hollow body with the tubular member integrally secured to the wall of said hollow body by the solidified molding material surrounding same near the mold wall, and
means for flowing a second molding material into the interior of said hollow body and solidifying said second molding material in situ against the inside surface of said hollow body to form a composite molding of said first and second molding materials.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Composite body molding apparatus

Life of this patent

Composite body molding apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16