Method for thermoforming sheet articles
US5928597A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 9, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jul 27, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 9, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T156/1044
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method of thermoforming sheet articles includes: a) heating a sheet article to be thermoformed; b) inserting the heated sheet article into a pressure vessel having first and second vessel halves, wherein each vessel half includes a liquid chamber and a thin shell configured for forming the sheet article to a desired shape; c) closing the pressure vessels such that the sheet article is captured between the thin shells; and d) providing liquid of equal pressure in each liquid chamber to force the thin shells together to form the sheet article to the desired shape and to draw heat away from the thin shells for cooling the sheet article.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.