Apparatus for forming fiber preforms

Abstract

Abstract A fiber preform for use in bag molding, fiber-reinforced molded resin articles is disclosed. The preform is a unitary, seamless, porous structure comprising short lengths of fibers which are bonded together by a resin binder. The preform has thickened areas which define zones of greater reinforcement for a finished structure. A machine for fabricating such a preform is also disclosed. The machine includes a screen form which is mounted within a surrounding vacuum chamber for rotation about its longitudinal axis. A fiber dispenser or cutter is mounted for movement in an axial direction with respect to the screen form but in a path corresponding to but spaced from the inner longitudinal profile of the screen form. The cutter is movable at a predetermined variable rate so that the wall thickness of the fibers may be varied to provide zones of greater fiber reinforcement. A resin binder spray gun follows the cutter along its path. The fibers are thrown against the screen by the cutter and are held in place by suction and by the binder. The binder is then cured by heat and the cured preform is removed from the screen by raising the screen from the vacuum chamber and then tilting the screen for easy access by an operator.

Inventors

• 👤 Arthur J Wiltshire

Bibliographic Details