# US 9,751,239 B2 · Method and device for molding fiber-reinforced plastic member > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,751,239 B2 - Document ID: US9751239B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/291,214 - Filed: 2014-05-30 - Published: 2014-12-04 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2013-06-04 - Assignees: Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation - Applicants: Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation - Inventors: Tomohiro Murai; Hiroshi Tokutomi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9751239B2 ## CPC - B29D 99/0003: {Producing profiled members, e.g. beams} - B29C 33/00: Moulds or cores; Details thereof or accessories therefor - B29C 70/462: {Moulding structures having an axis of symmetry or at least one channel, e.g. tubular structures, frames} - B29C 70/48: and impregnating the reinforcements in the closed mould, e.g. resin transfer moulding [RTM] {, e.g. by vacuum} - B29C 33/38: characterised by the material or the manufacturing process (B29C33/44 takes precedence) - B29K 2105/06: containing reinforcements, fillers or inserts - B29K 2905/02: Aluminium - B29K 2905/12: Iron - B29K 2995/0012: having particular thermal properties - B29L 2031/003: {having a profiled transverse cross-section} - B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00) - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES ## Abstract The molding method of the present invention configures: a mandrel 2 being a mold for molding the material of a fiber-reinforced plastic 1 and having multiple pieces 21 to 24 adjacent to one another in a longitudinal direction D; and an angle material 3 formed of a material having a linear expansion coefficient approximate to the linear expansion coefficient of the fiber-reinforced plastic, and aligning the pieces 21 to 24 along the longitudinal direction D. The method includes: a mandrel disposing step S2 of disposing the pieces 21 to 24 with gaps G1 to G3 between one another; an angle material disposing step S3 of disposing the angle material 3 on the pieces 21 to 24; and a heating to cure and molding step S5 of molding the fiber-reinforced plastic by heating the material of the fiber-reinforced plastic while aligning the pieces 21 to 24 by the angle material 3. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for molding a fiber-reinforced plastic member having a longer dimension in a longitudinal direction than in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the method configuring: a first molding jig which is a mold for molding a fiber-reinforced plastic material and has multiple pieces adjacent to one another in the longitudinal direction; and a second molding jig which is formed of a material having a linear expansion coefficient approximate to the linear expansion coefficient of the fiber-reinforced plastic, and which aligns the pieces of the first molding jig along the longitudinal direction, wherein the method comprises: a first molding jig disposing step of disposing the pieces of the first molding jig with a gap between one another; a second molding jig disposing step of disposing the second molding jig on the first molding jig; and a molding step of molding the fiber-reinforced plastic by heating the fiber-reinforced plastic material while aligning the pieces by the second molding jig. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method for molding a fiber-reinforced plastic member according to claim 1, wherein the pieces disposed at both ends in the longitudinal direction are retained by the second molding jig in the longitudinal direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method for molding a fiber-reinforced plastic member according to claim 2, wherein the pieces disposed at both ends in the longitudinal direction are retained in the longitudinal direction, while being allowed to shift relative to the second molding jig in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method for molding a fiber-reinforced plastic member according to claim 1, wherein the piece is configured with a first block and a second block which sandwich the fiber-reinforced plastic material, the first block and the second block are each formed with a first slope surface which is continuous in the longitudinal direction, and forms a substantially L-shape with the other first slope surface when the first block and the second block are joined, and the second molding jig is formed with a second slope surface which is continuous in the longitudinal direction and follows the first slope surface of the first block, and another second slope surface which is continuous in the longitudinal direction and follows the first slope surface of the second block. ### Claim 5 A method for molding a fiber-reinforced plastic member having a longer dimension in a longitudinal direction than in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the method configuring: a first molding jig which is a mold for molding a fiber-reinforced plastic material and has multiple pieces adjacent to one another in the longitudinal direction; and a second molding jig which is formed of a material having a linear expansion coefficient approximate to the linear expansion coefficient of the fiber-reinforced plastic, and which aligns the pieces of the first molding jig along the longitudinal direction, wherein the method comprises: a first molding jig disposing step of disposing the pieces of the first molding jig with a gap between one another; a second molding jig disposing step of disposing the second molding jig on the first molding jig; and a molding step of molding the fiber-reinforced plastic by heating the fiber-reinforced plastic material while aligning the pieces by the second molding jig, wherein the dimension of the piece corresponding to a place where the shape of the fiber-reinforced plastic member changes in the longitudinal direction is set to be shorter than the pieces corresponding to other places.