Method for binding fibers in a fiber reinforced preform using an electromagnetic field to melt binding fibers
AssigneeThe Budd Company
InventorBruce N. Greve
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for binding the fibers of a fiber reinforced plastic preform. A fiber reinforced plastic preform is created in a preselected geometry from a mixture of reinforcing fibers and binding fibers, the binding fibers being responsive to a high frequency electromagnetic field to melt thereby binding the reinforcing fibers. The fiber reinforced plastic preform is then exposed for a short period of time to a high frequency electromagnetic field, with the high frequency electromagnetic field causing the binding fibers to melt thus binding the reinforcing fibers of the preform.
Claims14
A method for binding fibers in a fiber reinforced plastic preform comprising:
- (a) creating a preform from a mixture of reinforcing fibers and binding fibers having a matrix material and a filler material with ferromagnetic properties which are meltable in response to a high frequency electromagnetic field to thereby bind the reinforcing fibers together, and
- (b) exposing the preform to an electromagnetic field to thereby melt the binding fibers and bind the reinforcing fibers of the preform.
A method for binding fibers in a fiber reinforced plastic preform comprising:
- (a) placing a screen shaped to a preformed configuration near the bottom of a tank filled with a liquid;
- (b) adding reinforcing fibers to the liquid to create a slurry;
- (c) adding meltable binding fibers responsive to a high frequency electromagnetic field tot he slurry;
- (d) raising the screen to the top of the tank causing the reinforcing and binding fibers to be deposited on the screen thereby creating a preform;
- (e) melting the binding fibers by subjecting the preform to a high frequency electromagnetic field thereby binding the reinforcing fibers together into a more easily handled unit;
- and
- (f) removing the preform unit from the screen.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.