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US 4,976,812 AGranted
In-line consolidation of braided structures
AssigneeE. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
InventorsRonald F. McConnell, Peter Popper
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A braided insitu consolidated structure of fiber reinforced thermoplastic resin strands is formed by braiding the strands on a mandrel and then advancing the mandrel and the braided structure as it is formed continuously through a heating zone to heat the resin to a flowable condition then cooling the structure as it leaves the zone. Pressure may be applied or developed against the braided structure during its formation.
Claims2
A method of building and consolidating a composite structure from melt impregnated fiber reinforced thermoplastic resin strands comprising:
- advancing said strands toward a mandrel;;
- converging said strands under tension in a braiding pattern around a location on said mandrel to form a braided composite structure thereon;
- heating said strands to a temperature which will cause the thermoplastic resin to soften and flow prior to their contacting the mandrel for braiding around said location;
- advancing said braided structure while continuing to heat said structure to cause continuing softening and flow as the structure advances, said temperature being below the degradation temperature of the resin;
- and cooling said structure.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.