Patent · US Expired

Performance of vibration welded thermoplastic joints

US5874146A · kind A · utility

14Cited by
20References
29Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 1, 1996
Grant dateFeb 23, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 1, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T428/2495
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

The invention provides an improved method of vibration welding of thermoplastic joints. Such welding is conducted by vibrating two fiber reinforced thermoplastic parts under pressure along their common interface to generate frictional heat to melt and fuse their surfaces together. Fibers from at least one surface penetrate both into the weld and into the other surface. As a result, the welded, fiber reinforced thermoplastic surfaces have increased tensile strength than heretofore achievable. Vibration welds of reinforced thermoplastic surfaces according to this invention achieve a maximum tensile strength as high as about 120% of a weld formed by the unreinforced surfaces of corresponding thermoplastic materials.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.