Polymeric moldings reinforced with tows of fibers
AssigneeApplied Research of Australia Pty. Ltd.
InventorsEdward P. Thicthener, Peter J. Hastwell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Elongate products are molded in a die from fiber reinforced plastics by drawing a bundle of tows through a bath of resin and between two portions of an open die, which is closed under high pressure, and heated to cure the resin. The die is opened and the product is then partly withdrawn lengthwise, to draw further wetted tows between the die portions, and the die is again closed, clamping the tail end of the already cured product which still projects into the die space, or clamping blocks at its downstream end. Cold clamping blocks also clamp the tows at the die upstream end. The products are subsequently severed externally of the die by cutter wheels.
Claims12
A method of forming a plurality of elongate molded products of settable resin reinforced with fibers, comprising the following steps:
- (a) drawing a bundle of tows of fibers through a bath of fluid settable resin mix and between cavities of die portions of an open die,
- (b) applying pressure to close the die portions to conform the shape of said tows and said resin entrained and wetted thereby to the shapes of surfaces which define said cavities, retaining pressure on said tows and applying heat to said die portions to accelerate curing of said resin therebetween,
- (c) opening said die portions and partially withdrawing a molded product lengthwise therefrom, thereby drawing a further bundle of tows wetted with said resin between said die cavities, the further bundle of wetted tows being a trailing extension of said molded product,
- (d) repeating said steps (b) and (c) to form successive molded products, and
- (e) separating said molded products externally of the die.
A method of forming a plurality of elongate molded products of settable resin reinforced with fibers, comprising the following steps:
- (a) drawing a bundle of tows of fibers through a bath of a settable resin to coat said tows with said resin,
- (b) drawing said coated bundle of tows into die cavities defined by a die,
- (c) applying pressure to said coated bundle of tows in the die to conform said coated bundle of tows to the shape of said cavities,
- (d) at least partially curing said resin to form a first molded product,
- (e) partially removing said first molded product from the die to form a plug in the die,
- (f) drawing into the die cavities a further bundle of tows coated with said resin,
- (g) applying pressure to said further coated bundle of tows, while inhibiting expulsion of resin from the die with a plug in the die, to conform said further coated bundle of tows to the shape of said die cavities,
- (h) at least partially curing said resin to form a further molded product as an extension of a previously molded product, and
- (i) removing molded products from the die.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.