US 7,025,913 B2 · Delivery of pitch/thermoplastic/thermoset resins in RTM systems

Abstract

Resin or pitch is melted in a melt blender apparatus (11) and then loaded, into a heated jacketed holding tank (12). A pair of feed lines (14, 16) receives resin from the holding tank (12) and feeds an upper gear pump (15) and a lower gear pump (17). A mixing enhancement such as a static mixer (18, 19) is located in each of the feed lines (14, 16) between the gear pumps (15, 17) and the resin delivery ends (25, 26) of the feed lines. The resin-melt feed lines may be equipped with pressure indicators (27, 28, 32, 34) and pressure relief valves (23, 24). The resin-melt feed lines may also be equipped with pump accumulators (31, 33). Resin melt pressure created by the gear pumps (15, 17) forces a piston inside the accumulator back to the desired position. The accumulators (31, 33) can also be used to maintain constant pressure in the feed stock. Resin can be recycled from the accumulators (31, 33) into the melt blender (11).

Claims18

Dependent claims

A rapid resin or pitch transfer molding apparatus which comprises:

means for melting and conveying a resin or pitch, said means comprising a holding tank for melted resin or pitch, a pair of gear pumps and/or a pair of piston pumps disposed to deliver pressurized melted resin or pitch through a pair of static mixers to a mold, and pressure indicator gauges and pressure relief valves downstream of said static mixers;
a melt blender disposed between the conveying means and the holding tank, said melt blender being connected by resin feed lines and a gear pump to said holding tank;
a mold arranged to receive melted resin or pitch that is conveyed from the static mixers into the mold;
an accumulator disposed between the conveying means and the mold;
means disposed at the mold to constrain the mold during supply of the resin or pitch into the mold;
and
means for recycling melted resin or pitch from the conveying means into said holding tank.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Delivery of pitch/thermoplastic/thermoset resins in RTM systems

Life of this patent

Delivery of pitch/thermoplastic/thermoset resins in RTM systems

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18