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US 9,802,371 B2Granted
Apparatus for molding composite materials
AssigneeH-Prec SAS
InventorDominique Crassous
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for shaping, compacting, and supporting a composite material (C) contained between two flexible membranes (G, F) and capable of being stretched over a porous mold (A) are described. The apparatus enables the use of inexpensive mold despite the high pressures used. A counter-mold (M) having the same characteristics as the mold can be used in certain instances. The equipment enables the use of a plurality of molds and counter-molds during one manufacturing cycle.
Claims12
An apparatus to form and compact a composite provided with a matrix, said apparatus comprising:
- first and second flexible stretchable membranes able to contain the composite and to hold the composite on a forming mould during polymerisation of the matrix, the mould comprising one or more materials resistant under compression to a pressure applied by the first membrane to the composite,
- a chassis holding the first and second membranes and the mould at their periphery and relative to each other,
- a top chamber and a device configured for varying a first pressure of fluid in the top chamber,
- a bottom chamber and device configured for regulating a second pressure of the fluid in the bottom chamber so as to vary a third pressure of fluid on a bottom surface of the mould and consequently to control a deformation level of the mould while the first pressure of the fluid varies in the top chamber, and the mould is held at the periphery thereof relative to the chassis,
- a volume of the mould made from porous or microporous material, said volume extending along a dimension in a thickness of the mould from a surface on which the composite is able to be conformed to the bottom surface of the mould, configured to eliminate any fluid contained between the mould and the second membrane by an isobaric pressure gradient when the composite is formed on the surface of the mould, a countermould, wherein a volume of the countermould is made from porous or microporous material, said volume extending along a dimension in a thickness of the countermould, and
- a reinforcement held at the periphery by the chassis having a tensile strength such that elongation when the fluids are pressurised in the apparatus is in all cases less than a tensile strength limit of material or materials constituting a volume of the mould on which the composite is able to be formed when the apparatus is at service temperature and pressure range, wherein the reinforcement is integrated in the bottom surface of the mould and is configured to provide the tensile strength of the mould and comprises a matrix and carbon fibre composite.
3 more elements
An apparatus to form and compact a composite provided with a matrix, said apparatus comprising:
- a forming mold,
- first and second flexible stretchable membranes able to contain the composite and to hold the composite on the forming mould during polymerisation of the matrix, the forming mould comprising one or more materials resistant under compression to a pressure applied by the first membrane to the composite,
- a chassis holding the first and second membranes and the mould at a periphery of the first and second membranes and the mold and relative to each other,
- a top chamber and a device configured for varying a first pressure of fluid in the top chamber, and
- a bottom chamber and device configured for regulating a second pressure of the fluid in the bottom chamber so as to vary a third pressure of the fluid on a bottom surface of the mould and consequently to control a deformation level of the mould while the first pressure of the fluid varies in the top chamber,
- wherein the forming mould is held at a periphery thereof relative to the chassis and wherein a volume of the forming mould is made from porous or microporous material, said volume extending along a dimension in a thickness of the forming mould from a top surface on which the composite is able to be conformed to the bottom surface of the forming mould, configured to eliminate any fluid contained between the forming mould and the second membrane by an isobaric pressure gradient when the composite is formed on the surface of the forming mould, a countermould, wherein a volume of the countermould is made from porous or microporous material, said volume extending along a dimension in a thickness of the countermould, and a reinforcement held at the periphery by the chassis having a tensile strength such that elongation when the fluids are pressurised in the apparatus is in all cases less than a tensile strength limit of material or materials constituting a volume of the mould on which the composite is able to be formed when the apparatus is at service temperature and pressure range, wherein the reinforcement is integrated in the bottom surface of the mould and is configured to provide the tensile strength of the mould and comprises a matrix and carbon fiber composite.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.