Fender beam and method for making same
AssigneeCompagnie Plastic Omnium
InventorsLuc Uytterhaeghe, Francis Cordebar, Olivier Cornet
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to a bumper beam obtained by molding a moldable thermoplastic material and a drapeable thermoplastic material having continuous fibers and presented in the form of sheets. The cross-section of the beam presents a developed length that is constant. The invention also relates to a method of making such a beam.
Claims8
A method of manufacturing a bumper beam presenting an open cross-section of constant length, including the steps of:
- a. providing a mold with a cavity having a cross-section which presents a constant developed length;
- b. placing in said mold two rectangular sheets of drapeable thermoplastic material having continuous fibers with separate patches of thermoplastic material having continuous fibers being sandwiched between said sheets;
- c. said mold having two parts, their coming together not being limited by any stop;
- d. delivering moldable thermoplastic material into the open mold, on a side of one of said rectangular sheets opposite the side adjacent the patches;
- e. closing the mold to compress all the thermoplastic materials and to fill the mold cavity with said materials.
A method of manufacturing a bumper beam having an open cross section of a constant developed length, comprising:
- providing a mold with a cavity having a cross section that presents the constant developed length;
- placing at least one sheet of drapeable thermoplastic material, comprising continuous fibers in a thermoplastic material, in the mold when open, the sheet having a width that corresponds to the constant developed length;
- and
- delivering moldable thermoplastic material into the mold.
A bumper beam, comprising:
- at least one sheet of drapeable thermoplastic material, comprising continuous fibers in a thermoplastic material, the at least one sheet having an open cross section of a constant developed length;
- and
- a moldable thermoplastic material molded to the at least one sheet, the moldable thermoplastic material having an open cross section and a constant developed length corresponding to the open cross section and the constant developed length of the at least one sheet.
A bumper beam, comprising:
- at least one sheet of drapeable thermoplastic material, comprising continuous fibers in a thermoplastic material, the at least one sheet having an open cross section of a constant developed length;
- and
- a moldable thermoplastic material molded to the at least one sheet, the moldable thermoplastic material having an open cross section and a constant developed length corresponding to the open cross section and the constant developed length of the at least one sheet, the bumper beam manufactured by a method comprising:
- providing a mold with a cavity having a cross section that presents the constant developed length;
- placing at least one sheet of drapeable thermoplastic material, comprising continuous fibers in a thermoplastic material, in the mold when open, the sheet having a width that corresponds to the constant developed length;
- and
- delivering moldable thermoplastic material into the mold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.