Hollow reinforced fiber structure formed by resin transfer molding
AssigneeThe Budd Company
InventorRichard B. Freeman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of forming a hollow reinforced fiber structure includes the steps of providing fiber reinforced material around a flexible expandable member and placing the resulting package inside of a mold which includes inner surfaces conforming to the shape of the structure being formed. A second expandable means is included in the mold on both sides of the package. After the mold is closed, pressure is applied to force the second expandable means against the fiber reinforced material. Resin is injected into the fiber reinforced material. The pressure is then decreased in the second expandable means as inflatable member is expanded to force the fiber material to conform to the inner surfaces of the mold. The fiber material is then cured to form the structure.
Claims10
A method of forming a hollow fiber structure comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a two-piece mold in open positions having inner cavity surfaces conforming to said fiber structure to be formed;
- b. providing a flexible expandable member
- c. placing fiber material around said expandable member;
- d. inserting expandable means in said mold and securing at the mold surfaces outside the mold cavity;
- e. inserting said fiber material with said expandable member into said mold in proximity to said expandable means to position said fiber material between said expandable member and said expandable means;
- f. closing said mold;
- g. applying pressure to force said expandable means against said fiber reinforced material;
- h. injecting resin into said fiber material,
- i. decreasing the pressure applied to said expandable means and applying pressure to expand said expandable member and move said fiber material to conform to said inner cavity surfaces of said mold, and
- j. curing said fiber material to form said hollow fiber structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.