Molding apparatus

Claim 1

Apparatus for compression molding of thermosetting plastics rocket nozzles wherein a nozzle insert ring is integrally molded to the nozzle comprising: a. an elongated female mold having a longitudinally extending cavity therethrough that is of a substantially larger diameter at one end than at the other end and uniformly tapered along the major length thereof, b. a thermal jacket circumferentially secured about said female mold and provided with an inlet and an outlet for circulating a thermal fluid therethrough, c. a tubular forming ring having an external tapered contour and slidably disposed within the female mold cavity adjacent the smaller end thereof; d. a tubular pot ring having an external tapered configuration and a straight internal contour releasably secured in the other end of the female mold cavity and adapted to abut against the tubular forming ring; e. a first force plug slidably received by said pot ring and adapted to form a hermetic seal therewith, said first force plug having an elongated reduced uniform diameter portion spaced from a base portion thereof and an inwardly tapering portion disposed between the base and reduced diameter portion; f. a second force plug slidably received by the small end of the female mold cavity and adapted to form a hermetic seal therewith, said second force plug being provided with a longitudinally extending opening to receive the reduced diameter portion of said first force plug, and g. said second force plug being provided with an inwardly tapered exterior surface over the major length thereof so as to be spaced from the interior of the female mold cavity surface along this length, and h. means for receiving a nozzle insert ring disposed on the interior of said pot ring in such position as to extend into a nozzle shaped cavity defined by said first and said second force plugs and said pot and said forming rings.