Thermoplastic sheet forming apparatus and method
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsBryan Bergsma, Tom Courrier, W. Forrest Frantz, John Hennessy
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Abstract
There are provided apparatuses and related methods for forming sheets. The formed sheets can be formed of a thermoplastic material, such as flat sheets of reinforced thermoplastic, which can be lightweight, strong, and perform well in flammability, smoke, and toxicity tests. The apparatus includes a heater for heating the sheet to a processing temperature and a structure for configuring the sheet to a desired shape using one or more rollers, shapers, longitudinal members, and/or support members.
Claims13
An apparatus for forming a thermoplastic sheet, the apparatus comprising:
- a rotatable roller extending longitudinally;
- an elastically flexible shaper having first and second sides and extending from a first edge to a second edge;
- and
- a heater configured to heat the thermoplastic sheet to a processing temperature less than a glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic member;
- wherein said shaper is configured to receive the thermoplastic sheet on said first side such that rotation of said roller in a first direction advances said first edge at least partially around said roller with said first side directed toward said roller and the thermoplastic sheet disposed between said roller and said shaper, thereby bending the thermoplastic sheet.
An apparatus for forming a thermoplastic sheet, the apparatus comprising:
- at least three support members defining spaces therebetween;
- an elastically flexible shaper having first and second sides and extending from a first edge to a second edge, said shaper configured to be disposed with said second side against said support members such that said shaper extends across the spaces between said support members;
- and
- a heater configured to heat the thermoplastic sheet to a processing temperature less than a glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic member,
- wherein said shaper is configured to receive the thermoplastic sheet on said first side and bend partially around said support members such that the thermoplastic sheet is formed to a predetermined shape.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.