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US3654002A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Fiber preform and method and apparatus for making same

Assignee: Structural Fibers Inc
•
Filing: 1968-07-05
•
Granted: 1972-04-04
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Expires: 1988-07-05
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Abstract

Abstract A preform suitable for the bag molding of fiber glass articles such as tanks or the like is disclosed. The preform includes a tubular portion and an integrally formed end wall at one end. The wall of the preform consists of a mat formed by a multitude of short lengths of fibers randomly oriented in the wall and bonded by a setable resin which does not fill the voids between the fibers. The form is free of overlaps and seams. A machine and a method for forming this preform is also disclosed. The machine includes a perforated form rotated about its longitudinal axis while vacuum is applied internally. Choppers deposit short lengths of fibers on the rotating form and resin is sprayed onto the fibers as they are deposited. An oven is provided to cure the resin while the preform remains on the form. Power means are provided to remove the preform from the machine. Because the form is rotating while the cutters traverse the length to deposit the fibers, the dominant orientation of the fibers is in a spiral direction. According to a further aspect of the invention, the preform is wound with a continuous filament so that the preform will have additional reinforcing strength characteristics and so that the outside diameter of the preform will be dimensioned to fit within a tubular mold with minimum clearance.

Inventors

  • 👤 Arthur J Wiltshire
  • 👤 Henry U Ranallo
  • 👤 Frank E Czumber

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-25 17:29
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C33/00; B29C33/76; B29C41/00; B29C41/02; B29C41/08; B29C41/085

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 150 words
A method of manufacturing a preform for fiber reinforced plastic articles comprising rotating about its longitudinal axis, an elongated cylindrical hollow tube having a closed end and having perforations in its entire outer surface including said end, applying vacuum to the inside of said form to draw air through said perforations, and, while said vacuum is applied, directing a large number of randomly oriented short pieces of fiber against the outside surface of said rotating form by uniformly traversing the length of said form with a source of fibers to produce a uniform mat on the exterior surface thereof, stopping the traverse of said source adjacent said closed end and depositing fibers on said end, spraying said fibers with a thermosetting resin to bind said fibers together to form a preform without filling the voids between said fibers, and curing said resin while said preform remains on said form. Pg,21
Claim 2
Independent Claim 150 words
A method of manufacturing a preform for fiber reinforced plastic articles comprising rotating about its longitudinal axis, an elongated cylindrical hollow tube having a closed end and having perforations in its entire outer surface including said end, applying vacuum to the inside of said form to draw air through said perforations, and, while said vacuum is applied, directing a large number of randomly oriented short pieces of fiber against the outside surface of said rotating form by uniformly traversing the length of said form with a source of fibers to produce a uniform mat on the exterior surface thereof, stopping the traverse of said source adjacent said closed end and depositing fibers on said end, spraying said fibers with a thermosetting resin to bind said fibers together to form a preform without filling the voids between said fibers, and curing said resin while said preform remains on said form. Pg,21
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 46 words
A method of manufacturing a preform as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fibers are deposited on said rotating form by traversing the length of said form more than once with a source of fibers to insure an even distribution of fibers on said form.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 42 words
A method of manufacturing a preform as set forth in claim 2 wherein the form is traversed along its length in one direction and in an opposite direction with said source of fibers while said form is rotated in the same direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 65 words
A method of manufacturing a preform as set forth in claim 2 wherein said fibers are deposited on said rotating form my traversing the length of said form in one direction while said form is rotated in a first direction and rotating said form in a second direction while again traversing the length of said form with said source of fibers in said one direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 31 words
A method of manufacturing a preform as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least two sources of fibers are provided and both sources traverse said form in the same direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 25 words
A method of forming a preform as set forth in claim 5 wherein long strands of fibers are cut into short pieces by said source.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 24 words
A method of forming a preform as set forth in claim 1 wherein said form is subsequently collapsed to permit removal of said preform.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 26 words
A method of forming a preform as set forth in claim 1 including winding a continuous filament about the exterior of said preform prior to curing.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2614058A Cited
US3084088A Cited
US3137898A Cited
US3210229A Cited
US3193440A Cited
US3185182A Cited
US3449188A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1975-04-04 1975-10-04 1976-04-04 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1979-04-04 1979-10-04 1980-04-04 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1983-04-04 1983-10-04 1984-04-04 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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