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US3736086A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Apparatus for making fiber preform

Assignee: Structural Fibers Inc
•
Filing: 1971-07-01
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Granted: 1973-05-29
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Expires: 1991-07-01
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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

  • 👤 A J Wiltshire
  • 👤 H U Ranallo
  • 👤 F E Czumber

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 18:48
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C41/00; B29C41/02; B29C41/08; B29C41/085

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 113 words
A machine for making preforms for fiber reinforced plastic articles comprising a frame, an elongated form journaled on said frame for rotation about its longitudinal axis, said form having a cylindrical sidewall and an end wall and being provided with perforations in its outer surface, a pump connected to apply a vacuum to said perforations, fiber chopping means mounted to traverse the length of said form along a path which is uniformly spaced from the cylindrical sidewall of said form and deposit fibers on the outer surface thereof, means to drive said fiber chopping means along said path, and means to coat said fibers with a settable resin without filling the voids therebetween.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 113 words
A machine for making preforms for fiber reinforced plastic articles comprising a frame, an elongated form journaled on said frame for rotation about its longitudinal axis, said form having a cylindrical sidewall and an end wall and being provided with perforations in its outer surface, a pump connected to apply a vacuum to said perforations, fiber chopping means mounted to traverse the length of said form along a path which is uniformly spaced from the cylindrical sidewall of said form and deposit fibers on the outer surface thereof, means to drive said fiber chopping means along said path, and means to coat said fibers with a settable resin without filling the voids therebetween.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 29 words
A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said resin is therMosetting, and heating means are provided to cure said resin while said fibers remain on said form.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 21 words
A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said form is collapsible to permit said preform to be removed therefrom.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 26 words
A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said machine is provided with filament winding means to wind a continuous filament over the fiber preform.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 43 words
A machine as set forth in claim 4 wherein said filament winding means includes metering roll means to deliver said filament to said preform under a predetermined tension so that said preform has an outer diameter which snugly fits in a hollow mold.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 27 words
A machine as set forth in claim 5 wherein the metering roll has a diameter which is slightly less than the inside diameter of said hollow mold.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 31 words
A machine as set forth in claim 4 wherein said form is mounted on a form support, and power means are provided to remove said form and preform from said support.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 17 words
A machine as set forth in claim 4 wherein power means are provided to collapse said form.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 26 words
A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fiber chopping means includes two cutters operable to sequentially traverse said form in the same direction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 40 words
A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means to coat said fibers is a spray device which traverses said form with said fiber chopping means and coats fibers deposited on said form by said fiber chopping means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 58 words
A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said form includes two mating parts joined together along a diagonally extending plane which cooperate to form a cylindrical outer surface when in one position, said two parts being longitudinally movable relative to each other to reduce the diameter of said form and permit removal of a preform thereof.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1497190A Cited
US662091A Cited
US3206533A Cited
US3102319A Cited
US3170197A Cited
US3497413A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1976-05-28 1976-11-27 1977-05-29 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1980-05-28 1980-11-27 1981-05-29 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1984-05-28 1984-11-27 1985-05-29 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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