Method and apparatus for molding a composite material article
US5322661A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 17, 1992 |
| Grant date | Jun 21, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 17, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB29C2043/3644
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus of molding articles from composite materials are disclosed in which a stack of prepregs are placed on a first forming surface of a former, which forming surface has a surface configuration matching that of one side of the composite article, placing a semi-rigid molding shelf onto the former such that a second forming surface of the molding shell, which matches the surface configuration of an opposite side of the composite article, bears against the stack of prepregs and urging the molding shell towards the former, thereby compressing the plies of prepregs by drawing a vacuum between an impermeable membrane covering the molding shell and the former. The assembly of the former, the molding shell, the stack of prepregs and the impermeable membrane are placed in an autoclave such that it may be heated while the vacuum is drawn between the membrane and the former to compress the stack of plies of prepregs.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.