Process for making thick molded fiber parts

Claim 1

A PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURE OF THICK, MOLDED FIBROUS ARTICLES WHICH COMPRISES SUBJECTING A WET, FIBROUS PREFORM TO MECHANICAL COMPRESSION OF 25-100 P.S.I.G. BETWEEN A PAIR OF DRYING DIES, EACH OF WHICH IS HEATED TO A TEMPERATURE IN THE RANGE OF 250*F. TO 500*F., EVAPORATING MOISTURE FROM SAID WET PREFORM SUFFICIENT TO FORM AN INCOMPLETELY DRIED PREFORM WITH DRIED SURFACE SKINS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID PREFORM, THE COMPRESSED PREFORM HAVING A THICKNESS OF AT LEAST 5/32 INCH, EACH SKIN HAVING A DEPTH OF ABOUT 1/32 INCH TO ABOUT 1/16 INCH, THE INNER PORTION OF SAID INCOMPLETELY DRIED PREFORM BETWEEN SAID SKINS BEING A WET, FIBROUS LAYER, THE PERIOD OF TIME IN WHICH SAID PREFORM IS IN SAID DRYING DIES BEING IN THE ORDER OF ABOUT 2-10 MINUTES, REMOVING THE SO-FORMED, PARTIALLY DRIED PREFORM FROM SAID DRYING DIES, AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER REMOVAL OF THE PREFORM FROM SAID DIES COMPLETING THE DRYING OF SAID PREFORM WITH THE LATTER IN A FREE STATE.