Apparatus for processing composite materials
AssigneePDA Engineering
InventorJohn N. Border
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for bonding together at least two composite tapes comprising a tape head, a support surface adjacent the tape head and a supply system for supplying first and second composite tapes between the tape head and the support surface. The tape head includes a heating section and a pressure section pivotally coupled to the heating section. The heating section includes a heater for heating the tapes, and the pressure section includes a system for applying a force for urging the tapes against the support surface.
Claims17
An apparatus for use in processing composite material which includes plastic material, said apparatus comprising:
- an endless flexible belt circumscribing a zone;
- means defining a support surface confronting a region of the belt and adapted to have the composite material pass between the support surface and said region of the belt;
- a heating section including an induction heater in said zone;
- a pressure section including pressure applying means in said zone for urging a section of the belt toward the support surface;
- and
- means for pivotally coupling the heating section to the pressure section for pivotal movement about a pivot axis whereby the angular orientation of the induction heater and the pressure applying means in said zone can be varied relative to each other.
An apparatus for use in processing composite material which includes plastic material, said apparatus comprising:
- a heating section having a heating surface, said heating section including a heater for heating the heating surface, the heating surface and the composite material being relatively movable;
- a pressure section having a pressure surface, the pressure surface and the composite material being relatively movable;
- said pressure section including pressure applying means for applying a force to the pressure surface;
- said pressure applying means including a flexible member defining the pressure surface and a plurality of independently movable pressure plates acting against the flexible member;
- and
- cooling passage means in the pressure section and the pressure plates for supplying a cooling gas to the pressure section to cool the composite material.
An apparatus for processing composite material which includes plastic material, said apparatus comprising:
- a tape head;
- means defining a support surface adjacent the tape head;
- means for supplying the composite material between the tape head and the support surface;
- said tape head including a heating section, a pressure section and means for pivotally coupling the heating section to the pressure section for pivotal movement about a pivot axis whereby the heating section and the pressure section can be moved toward and away from the support surface;
- said heating section including a heater for heating the composite material and said pressure section including pressure applying means for applying a force for urging the composite material against the support surface;
- and
- the pressure applying means including a plurality of pressure plates and the apparatus including a source of cooling gas and a cooling gas passage in the pressure section and in said pressure plates for supplying the cooling gas to the pressure section to cool the composite material and means for supplying gas under pressure for urging the pressure plates toward the support surface to thereby apply a compressive load to the composite material.
An apparatus for use in processing composite material which includes plastic material, said apparatus comprising:
- a heating section having a heating surface, said heating section including a heater for heating the heating surface, the heating surface and the composite material being relatively movable;
- a pressure section having a pressure surface, the pressure surface and the composite material being relatively movable;
- said pressure section including pressure applying means for applying a force to the pressure surface;
- said pressure applying means including a flexible member defining the pressure surface and a plurality of independently movable pressure plates acting against the flexible member;
- the pressure section including means defining a chamber in which the plates are movable and a passage leading to the chamber whereby a gas under pressure can be supplied to the chamber to urge the plates against the pressure surface;
- and
- each of the pressure plates having an opening and a groove leading from said opening for the flow of cooling gas.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.