Method of fabricating a preform in a resin transfer molding process
AssigneeBrunswick Corporation
InventorsRobert G. Pearce, Samuel J. Osten
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of fabricating a preform for use in a resin transfer molding process. The method includes the steps of locating a transport member on a mandrel. A dry fiber layer is filament wound about the mandrel over the transport member. A tackifier is applied to the dry fiber layer at least in the area of the transport member. The filament wound dry fiber layer is cut about the transport member to provide a preform thereon. The preform is transported to a resin transfer mold by use of the transport member. The preform then is resin transfer molded in the mold.
Claims37
A method of fabricating a preform for use in a resin transfer molding process, comprising the steps of:
- locating a transport means on a mandrel;
- filament winding a dry fiber layer about the mandrel over the transport means;
- applying a tackifier to the dry fiber layer at least in the area of the transport means;
- cutting the filament wound dry fiber layer about the transport means to provide a preform thereon;
- transporting the preform to a resin transfer mold by means of the transport means;
- and
- resin transfer molding the preform in the mold.
A method of fabricating a preform for use in a resin transfer molding process, comprising the steps of:
- forming an inner shell of a composite material laid-up and cured on the mandrel, the inner shell including a plurality of sections, with a transport section being one of the sections, and the periphery of the transport section defining a cut line for cutting a preform thereabout;
- forming an outer shell of a composite material laid-up and cured over the cured inner shell, the outer shell including a plurality of sections including a cover section of the same shape and in registry with the transport section of the inner shell;
- removing the outer shell;
- filament winding a dry fiber layer about the mandrel over the inner shell at least in an area including the transport section;
- positioning the outer shell over the filament wound dry fiber layer with the cover section thereof in registry with the transport section of the inner shell to sandwich the filament wound dry fiber layer between the shells;
- cutting the filament wound dry fiber layer through the shells about the peripheries of the cover section of the outer shell and the transport section of the inner shell to provide a preform therebetween;
- transporting the preform to a resin transfer mold by means of at least the transport section of the inner shell;
- and
- resin transfer molding the preform in the mold.
A method of fabricating a preform for use in a resin transfer molding process, comprising the steps of:
- locating a transport means on a mandrel;
- filament winding a dry fiber layer about the mandrel over the transport means;
- locating a cover means of the same peripheral shape as the transport means over the filament wound dry fiber layer in registry with the transport means beneath the filament wound dry fiber layer;
- cutting the filament wound dry fiber layer about the transport means and cover means to provide a preform sandwiched therebetween;
- transporting the preform to a resin transfer mold by means of at least the transport means;
- and
- resin transfer molding the preform in the mold.
A method of fabricating a preform for use in a resin transfer molding process, comprising the steps of:
- locating a transport means on a mandrel;
- filament winding a dry fiber layer about the mandrel over the transport means;
- cutting the filament wound dry fiber layer about the transport means to provide a preform thereon;
- transporting the preform to a resin transfer mold by means of the transport means;
- and
- resin transfer molding the preform in the mold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.