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US 4,230,521 AGranted
Foam impregnating apparatus
AssigneeComposite Technology, Inc.
InventorsA. Lawrence Cobb, Leland D. DuBrock
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for forming continuous lengths of composite material comprised of a core of resilient and open-cell foam material impregnated with an uncured thermosetting resin and which core element is overlaid with at least one outer layer of a reinforcing material.
Claims9
An apparatus for forming continuous lengths of uncured, resin-impregnated, laminar sheet structure, said apparatus comprising a source of open-cell, resilient, foam sheet;
- means for feeding said foam sheet from said source;
- a first means for supporting said foam sheet as it is fed from said source;
- a first liquid resin metering device adapted to discharge a first film of uncured, thermosetting resin upon one side of said foam sheet as it passes over said first supporting means, said foam sheet feeding means including first roller means for engaging and compressing said foam sheet against the first supporting means and causing said uncured resin to impregnate the open cells of a first portion of said sheet;
- second means for supporting the partially resin-impregnated foam sheet;
- a second liquid resin metering device adapted to discharge a second film of uncured resin upon the other side of said partially resin-impregnated foam sheet, said foam sheet feeding means including second roller means for engaging and compressing said foam sheet against said second foam sheet supporting means and causing the second resin film to impregnate the remaining open cells of said foam sheet;
- and means for applying a continuous sheet of reinforcing material to each side of said foam sheet, said reinforcing sheets being adhered to said foam sheet by said uncured resin.
3 more elements
An apparatus for forming continuous lengths of resin-impregnated, laminar sheet structure, said apparatus comprising a source of open-cell, resilient foam sheet;
- means for feeding said foam sheet from said source;
- a first means for supporting said foam sheet as it is fed from said source;
- a first liquid resin metering device adapted to discharge a first film of uncured thermosetting resin upon one side of said foam sheet as it passes over said first supporting means, said foam sheet feeding means including first roller means for engaging and compressing said foam sheet against the first supporting means and causing said uncured resin to impregnate the open cells of a first portion of said sheet;
- a first source of reinforcing sheet material;
- a first roller element for guiding said reinforcing sheet material into abutting engagement with said one side of said sheet of foam material as said foam material exits from said first compression roller means;
- means for inverting said partially impregnated foam sheet to expose the other side thereof;
- second means for supporting the partially resin-impregnated foam sheet upon the reinforcing material side thereof;
- a second liquid resin metering device adapted to discharge a second film of uncured resin upon the other side of said partially resin-impregnated foam sheet, said foam sheet feeding means including second roller means for engaging and compressing said foam sheet against said second foam sheet supporting means and causing the second resin film to impregnate the remaining open cells of said foam sheet;
- a second source of reinforcing sheet material;
- and a second roller element for guiding the reinforcing material from said second source into abutting engagement with said other side of said sheet of foam material as said foam material exits from said second compression roller means, said reinforcing sheets being adhered to said foam sheet by said uncured resin.
7 more elements
An apparatus for forming continuous lengths of resin-impregnated, laminar sheet structure, said apparatus comprising a source of open-cell, resilient foam sheet;
- means for feeding said foam sheet from said source;
- a first continuously moving means for supporting said foam sheet as it is fed from said source;
- a first liquid resin metering device adapted to discharge a first film of uncured thermosetting resin upon one side and across the width of said foam sheet as it passes over said first supporting means, said foam sheet feeding means including a first pair of adjacently disposed roller elements for sequentially engaging and compressing said foam sheet against the first supporting means and causing said uncured resin film to impregnate the open cells of a first portion of said sheet;
- a first source of reinforcing sheet material;
- a first roller member for guiding said reinforcing sheet material into abutting engagement with said one side of said sheet of foam material as said foam material exits from said first compression roller means;
- means for inverting said partially impregnated foam sheet to expose the other side thereof;
- a second continuously moving means for supporting the partially resin-impregnated foam sheet upon the reinforcing material side thereof;
- a second liquid resin metering device adapted to discharge a second film of uncured resin upon the other side and across the width of said partially resin-impregnated foam sheet, said foam sheet feeding means including a second pair of adjacently disposed roller elements for sequentially engaging and compressing said foam sheet against said second foam sheet supporting means and causing the second resin film to impregnate the remaining open cells of said foam sheet;
- a second source of reinforcing sheet material;
- and a second roller member for guiding the reinforcing material from said second source into abutting engagement with said other side of said sheet of foam material as said foam material exits from said second compression roller means, said reinforcing sheets being adhered to said foam sheet by said uncured resin.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.