Apparatus for resin transfer molding composite parts
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsMarc R. Matsen, Kim E. Peterson, William Dykstra
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A composite fabrication apparatus which may include a first tooling die and a second tooling die movable with respect to each other; a temperature control system having induction coils disposed in thermal contact with the first tooling die and the second tooling die; a first die susceptor provided on the first tooling die and a second die susceptor provided on the second tooling die and connected to the induction coils; and a cooling system disposed in thermal contact with the first tooling die and the second tooling die. A resin transfer system delivers resin from a resin source to the tooling dies to allow resin transfer molding. A composite fabrication method is also disclosed.
Claims21
A resin transfer molding apparatus, comprising:
- a first tooling die and a second tooling die each tooling die comprising a plurality of stacked metal sheets positioned in generally perpendicular position relative to a contoured surface of each tooling die, the plurality of stacked metal sheets configured substantially adjacent to each other and having air gaps between individual stacked metal sheets, the air gaps forming a plurality of cooling passageways for passing a cooling medium therethrough;
- first and second susceptors respectively mounted on the first tooling die and second tooling die, the first and second susceptors including the contoured surfaces in facing configuration and defining a mold cavity for molding a part;
- a temperature control system including induction coils inductively coupled with the first and second susceptors;
- a resin transfer system for delivering resin from a resin source to the mold cavity;
- and
- means for introducing said cooling medium into the cooling passageways.
A resin transfer molding apparatus, comprising:
- a first tooling die and a second tooling die, each tooling die comprising a plurality of stacked metal sheets positioned in generally perpendicular position relative to a contoured surface of each tooling die, the plurality of stacked metal sheets configured substantially adjacent to each other and having air gaps between individual stacked metal sheets, the air gaps forming a plurality of cooling passageways configured to pass a cooling medium therethrough, the contoured surface of each tooling die comprising matching contoured faces and the plurality of passageways extending generally transverse to the contoured faces;
- first and second susceptors respectively mounted on the contoured faces of the tooling dies and including contoured surfaces defining a mold cavity for molding a part;
- a temperature control system including
- induction coils inductively coupled with the first and second susceptors for heating the first and second susceptors, and
- means for delivering coolant through the passageways to cool the first and second susceptors;
- and,
- a resin transfer system coupled with the tooling dies for delivering resin from a resin source to the mold cavity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.