Continuous process and apparatus for fabricating fiber reinforced plastic grating articles
AssigneeFibergrate Corporation
InventorWilliam C. Coonrod
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process and apparatus for the continuous production of fiber reinforced plastic grating articles and other elongated structures of varying cross section configurations are provided wherein continuous strands of fibers are coated with a thermosetting plastic resin material and woven into a pattern defined by upper and lower molding teeth arranged on continuous upper and lower molding tracks. The molding tracks rotate and cause the molding teeth to mesh, forming a molding cavity, wherein heat is applied to set the plastic resin. The fiber reinforced plastic grating articles formed by this process and apparatus have a unique cross-sectional configuration and arrangement of fibers providing for increased strength and reduced resin usage.
Claims9
A process for producing elongated fiber reinforced structures which include transverse members comprising:
- (a) coating continuous strands of reinforcing fibers with a thermosetting plastic resin;
- (b) introducing said strands into the space between upper and lower endless molding tracks, at least one of said tracks comprising molding teeth;
- (c) rotating said upper and lower endless molding tracks to form a molding cavity having said continuous strands contained longitudinally therein along a portion of the length of said molding tracks;
- (d) allowing said transverse members to be formed from a flow of excess resin carried into said molding cavity by said continuous strands;
- and
- (e) heating said molding cavity to set said thermosetting resin and form said structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.