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US 6,280,551 B1Granted
Method and system for producing a 3-D deep-drawn article using a thermoplastic sandwich material
AssigneePatent Holding Company
InventorLloyd R. Hilligoss
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Abstract
A method and system for producing an article using a thermoplastic sandwich material such as, for example, a 3-D deep-drawn article is disclosed. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, two reinforced thermoplastic skins surround a generally planar honeycomb structure. During the manufacturing process, the skins and the honeycomb structure are bonded together by means of a thermocoupling process.
Claims11
A method for forming a vehicle component part, comprising the steps of:
- providing a cellular core of thermoplastic material that has a generally planar shape;
- creating at least one fold line in a first and a second thermoplastic skin, said at least one fold line defining at least first and second portions of said first and second thermoplastic skins;
- forming a stack that includes said first thermoplastic skin, said cellular core, and said second thermoplastic skin, wherein said cellular core is sandwiched between the first portions of said first and second thermoplastic skins, and wherein the second portions of said first and second thermoplastic skins are adjacent to each other and are disposed at an angle with respect to said cellular core;
- and
- subjecting said stack to a thermocompression process so that said first portions of said first and second thermoplastic skins are bonded to said cellular core to form a generally planar member, and so that the second portions of said first and second thermoplastic skins are bonded together to form at least one wall portion that is disposed at an angle with respect to said generally planar member.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.