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US 6,805,546 B2Granted
Vacuum assisted molding apparatus
AssigneeThyssenKrupp Budd Company
InventorsRon Brown Hahn, Kim Robert Hamner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Vacuum assisted molding apparatus provides reliable sealing about the mold cavity while minimizing the area of the plant floor space occupied by the mold. The apparatus includes an upper die, a lower die, a vacuum source, and a sealing assembly. The upper die includes a generally horizontal molding surface and vertically extending sides. The lower die includes a generally horizontal molding surface cooperating with the upper die to form a mold cavity. The sealing assembly is operable to create a vacuum surrounding the mold cavity.
Claims14
Apparatus for molding parts comprising:
- an upper die having a generally horizontal molding surface and vertically extending sides;
- a lower die having a generally horizontal molding surface cooperating with the upper die to form a mold cavity;
- a vacuum source;
- and
- a sealing assembly for creating a vacuum chamber surrounding the mold cavity, said sealing assembly including;
- a first member located adjacent the sides of the upper die, said first member being a generally rectangular tube having long sides thereof generally paralleling the sides of the upper die, said first member having upper and lower short sides;
- a generally hollow second member fixed laterally adjacent the lower die and vertically aligned with the first member;
- a flexible seal on one of the members;
- and
- a device located adjacent inboard portions of the first member and the seal for restricting movement of the seal when the vacuum source is activated to create a vacuum in the vacuum chamber thereby maintaining sealing engagement between the upper and lower members.
7 more elements
Apparatus for molding parts comprising:
- an upper die having a generally horizontal molding surface and vertically extending sides;
- a lower die having a generally horizontal molding surface cooperating with the upper die to form a mold cavity;
- a vacuum source;
- and
- a sealing assembly for creating a vacuum chamber surrounding the mold cavity, said sealing assembly including;
- a first member located adjacent the sides of the upper die, said first member being a generally rectangular tube having long sides thereof generally paralleling the sides of the upper die and having upper and lower short sides;
- a generally hollow second member fixed laterally adjacent the lower die and vertically aligned with the first member;
- a flexible seal located on the lower short side of the first member having a generally P-shaped body including a bulbous portion and a leg portion;
- and
- an L-shaped angle iron located adjacent an inboard lower corner of the first member and above the bulbous portion of the seal for restricting movement of the seal when the vacuum source is activated to create a vacuum in the vacuum chamber thereby maintaining sealing engagement between the upper and lower members.
7 more elements
Apparatus for molding parts comprising:
- an upper die having a generally horizontal molding surface and vertically extending sides;
- a lower die having a generally horizontal molding surface cooperating with the upper die to form a mold cavity;
- a vacuum source;
- and
- a sealing assembly for creating a vacuum chamber surrounding the mold cavity, said sealing assembly including:
- a first member located adjacent the sides of the upper die, said first member being a generally rectangular tube having long sides thereof generally paralleling the sides of the upper die and having upper and lower short sides;
- a generally hollow second member fixed laterally adjacent the lower die and vertically aligned with the first member;
- a flexible seal located on the lower short side of the first member having a generally P-shaped body including a bulbous portion and a leg portion;
- an L-shaped angle iron located adjacent an inboard lower corner of the first member and above the bulbous portion of the seal for restricting movement of the seal when the vacuum source is activated to create a vacuum in the vacuum chamber thereby maintaining sealing engagement between the upper and lower members;
- and
- a plate for securing the leg portion of the seal to the lower short side of the first member.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.