US3610563A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mandrel for forming fiber-reinforced plastic articles
Assignee: Structural Fibers Inc
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Filing: 1969-08-20
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Granted: 1971-10-05
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Expires: 1989-08-20
Abstract
Abstract Hollow, reinforced plastic articles are molded in a closed molding chamber by employing an internal expandable bag to define the inside surface of the article to be molded. A nonstretchable sleeve surrounds at least a portion of the bag so that, when the bag is inflated during the molding operation, the sleeve accurately establishes the wall thickness of the article to be molded.
Inventors
- 👤 Phillip E Allen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 17:07
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29D; B29D22/00; B29D22/003; B29C; B29C33/00; B29C33/44; B29C33/48; B29C33/50; B29C33/505; B29C70/00; B29C70/04; B29C70/06; B29C70/08; B29C70/28; B29C70/40; B29C70/42; B29C70/44; B29C70/446; B30; B30B; B30B5/00; B30B5/02; B29C43/00; B29C43/02; B29C43/10; B29C43/12; B29K; B29K2105/00; B29K2105/06; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/712; B29L2031/7126; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S425/00; Y10S425/019
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
237 words
An apparatus for molding elongated hollow fiber reinforced tanklike articles comprising a closed rigid mold casing assembly defining the exterior of a molded article, the mold casing assembly including elongated, longitudinally extending circumferentially continuous sidewall portions and associated end wall portions, one of said wall portions including an opening therethrough, a flexible inflatable mold core adapted to be positioned within said mold casing to compress prepositioned reinforcing fibers of an article against said wall portions upon inflation thereof, said core providing a mouth portion adapted to receive pressurized fluid through said opening for its inflation, said core having an inflated configuration corresponding to the desired general shape of the articles to be formed and generally following the configuration corresponding to the desired general shape of the articles to be formed and generally following the configuration of said sidewall and end wall portions, said mold core comprising at least two portions, a first of said core portions being associated with said longitudinal sidewall portions and a second of said core portions being associated with said end wall portions, said second one of said core portions being substantially more elastic than said first core portions, said second one of said core portions being adapted to expand to suitably compress adjacent reinforcing fibers in response to inflation pressure adjustments and said first relatively inelastic core portion being adapted to maintain a constant configuration without appreciable expansion during such pressure adjustments.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
237 words
An apparatus for molding elongated hollow fiber reinforced tanklike articles comprising a closed rigid mold casing assembly defining the exterior of a molded article, the mold casing assembly including elongated, longitudinally extending circumferentially continuous sidewall portions and associated end wall portions, one of said wall portions including an opening therethrough, a flexible inflatable mold core adapted to be positioned within said mold casing to compress prepositioned reinforcing fibers of an article against said wall portions upon inflation thereof, said core providing a mouth portion adapted to receive pressurized fluid through said opening for its inflation, said core having an inflated configuration corresponding to the desired general shape of the articles to be formed and generally following the configuration corresponding to the desired general shape of the articles to be formed and generally following the configuration of said sidewall and end wall portions, said mold core comprising at least two portions, a first of said core portions being associated with said longitudinal sidewall portions and a second of said core portions being associated with said end wall portions, said second one of said core portions being substantially more elastic than said first core portions, said second one of said core portions being adapted to expand to suitably compress adjacent reinforcing fibers in response to inflation pressure adjustments and said first relatively inelastic core portion being adapted to maintain a constant configuration without appreciable expansion during such pressure adjustments.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sidewall portions define a cylindrical wall and said end wall portions form outwardly curved domed surfaces at opposite ends of said cylindrical wall
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
159 words
In combination with a molding apparatus for forming hollow fiber-reinforced articles by fluid pressure including a closed rigid mold casing defining the exterior of a molded article having cylindrical sidewalls and integral end walls with an aperture through one of said walls, said mold casing including a wall portion having an opening therethrough to be aligned with said aperture, and a flexible inflatable expandable envelope adapted to be positioned within said mold casing to compress reinforcing fibers of an article against said mold casing, said envelope providing a mouth portion adapted to receive pressurized fluid through said opening and aperture, the improvement which comprises a flexible nonstretchable sleeve means positioned over said expandable envelope, said sleeve means having an inflated configuration which determines the desired interior configuration of the cylindrical sidewalls of the finished article and prevents expansion of said envelope at said sidewalls beyond said desired configuration while permitting unrestricted movement of said envelope at said end walls.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
159 words
In combination with a molding apparatus for forming hollow fiber-reinforced articles by fluid pressure including a closed rigid mold casing defining the exterior of a molded article having cylindrical sidewalls and integral end walls with an aperture through one of said walls, said mold casing including a wall portion having an opening therethrough to be aligned with said aperture, and a flexible inflatable expandable envelope adapted to be positioned within said mold casing to compress reinforcing fibers of an article against said mold casing, said envelope providing a mouth portion adapted to receive pressurized fluid through said opening and aperture, the improvement which comprises a flexible nonstretchable sleeve means positioned over said expandable envelope, said sleeve means having an inflated configuration which determines the desired interior configuration of the cylindrical sidewalls of the finished article and prevents expansion of said envelope at said sidewalls beyond said desired configuration while permitting unrestricted movement of said envelope at said end walls.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
An improvement in molding apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said sleeve means is formed of a straight-weave nonstretchable fabric.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
An improvement in molding apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said sleeve is a cylinder constructed from a sheet and has a longitudinal seam formed by the edges of said sheet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
An improvement in molding apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said end walls are outwardly convex.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-10-04 | 1975-04-05 | 1975-10-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-10-04 | 1979-04-05 | 1979-10-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-10-04 | 1983-04-05 | 1983-10-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |