Vortex control in slurry molding applications
AssigneeMaterials Innovation Technologies, LLC
InventorErvin Geiger
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A molding head is especially adapted for vacuum molding or forming of structures and, in particular, fibrous composite structures in an adjustable, controllable three dimensional orientation before, during and after molding. Such a molding head includes a mold plate with narrow slots in the mold surface thereof and wider channels in the back surface thereof, with such slots and channels intersecting one another. A control system of servomotors or other actuators permits movement and orientation of the mold head during forming, thereby creating the ability to vary the material properties based on gravity and particle or suspension grain, thickness and other now controllable properties.
Claims9
A process for forming a molded part comprising:
- providing a container for holding a material to be molded;
- placing a mold head into said material wherein said mold head has at least one element selected from a vortex generator and a fence to expand or intensify vortex spin and said molding head has a mold screen thereon;
- applying a reduced pressure to said molding head to draw said material through said mold head to form a vortex;
- and
- moving said mold head with three degrees of freedom thereby selectively altering said vortex to drawn said material onto, or repel said material from, said mold screen.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.