Apparatus for molding composite articles
AssigneeVEC Technology, Inc.
InventorsRobert P. McCollum, Gene E. Kirila, II
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for molding composite articles includes a pair of opposed matched-tool mold sections, each having a rigid housing and a thin, semi-rigid membrane removably and sealably mounted on the housing so as to define a fluid-tight chamber therein. The chamber of each mold section is filled with a noncompressible heat-conductive fluid to provide fluid backing to the portions of each membrane defining the molding surfaces of each mold section. A system of temperature control coils extending within each chamber are connected to an external heater/chiller unit to permit circulation therethrough of a suitable temperature control fluid, whereby positive control of the temperature of the backing fluid and, correlatively, the molding surfaces of the membranes.
Claims15
An injection molding apparatus comprising a pair of opposed mold sections, wherein each of said mold sections includes a rigid housing and a semi-rigid membrane removably mounted to the housing so as to define a fluid-tight chamber within each of said mold sections, the membranes of each of said mold sections defining a molding surface thereof, the opposed molding surfaces of said mold sections defining a mold plenum;
- a first non-compressible fluid disposed within and filling the chamber of each of said mold sections;
- an expansion chamber in fluid communication with the chamber of one of said mold sections, and valve means for isolating said expansion chamber from the chamber of one of said mold sections;
- wherein the molding surfaces define a plenum zone that forms a resin and fiber composite into a shape.
An injection molding apparatus comprising a pair of opposed mold sections, wherein each of said mold sections includes a rigid housing and a semi-rigid membrane removably mounted to the housing so as to define a fluid-tight chamber within each of said mold sections, the membranes of each of said mold sections defining a molding surface thereof, the opposed molding surfaces of said mold sections defining a mold plenum;
- a first non-compressible fluid disposed within and filling the chamber of each of said mold sections;
- means defined by the molding surfaces for containing and molding a resin and fiber composite under pressure within the mold plenum;
- temperature control means for controlling the temperature of said first fluid within the chamber of each of said mold sections;
- an expansion chamber in fluid communication with the chamber of one of said mold sections;
- and valve means for isolating said expansion chamber from the chamber of one of said mold sections.
An injection molding apparatus comprising:
- a) a pair of opposed mold halves;
- b) each of said pair of mold halves being a rigid housing having a semi-rigid membrane removably attached thereto in a fluid tight engagement;
- c) a first substantially non-compressible fluid disposed in and filling each of said pair of mold halves;
- d) said semi-rigid membrane of each of said pair of mold halves defining a molding surface and said molding surface of each of said pair of mold halves together defining a mold plenum;
- e) means defined by the molding surfaces to contain and mold a resin and fiber composite within said mold plenum;
- and
- f) an expansion chamber for the non-compressible fluid in fluid communication with at least one of said pair of opposed mold halves;
- and
- g) valve means for isolating said expansion chamber from said at least one of said pair of opposed mold halves.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.