US4836765A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Molding apparatus for composite materials
Assignee: RTX Corp
•
Filing: 1987-12-03
•
Granted: 1989-06-06
•
Expires: 2007-12-03
Abstract
Abstract Permanent magnets embedded within the periphery of a vacuum bag seal the bag to rigid mold during the curing of composite laminate lay-ups.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael A. Kornitzky
- 👤 Alexander C. Dublinski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 08:26
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C33/00; B29C33/20; B29C33/202; B29C43/00; B29C43/32; B29C43/36; B29C43/3607; B29C43/3642; B29C70/00; B29C70/04; B29C70/28; B29C70/40; B29C70/42; B29C70/44; B29C70/54; B29C70/544; B29C2043/3644; B29C43/02; B29C43/10; B29C70/30; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S425/00; Y10S425/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
In an apparatus for the molding of composite laminates, said apparatus comprising a cavity defined by a rigid mold over which a lay-up of said composite laminates is formed, and a vacuum bag adapted for sealed engagement with said rigid mold, over said lay-up; said apparatus further comprising means for applying negative pressure to the interior of said cavity, the improvement characterized by: magnetic means disposed at the location of engagement of said vacuum bag with said rigid mold for sealing said vacuum bag thereto, thereby easing the assembly of said vacuum bag to, and disassembly of said vacuum bag from said rigid mold while maintaining an airtight seal therebetween; said magnetic means comprising a plurality of juxtaposed ferromagnetic members, peripherally aligned about the outer edge of said vacuum bag; said ferromagnetic members having inwardly sloping adjacent surfaces which define angular clearances therebetween to allow relative pivotal movement between adjacent members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
151 words
In an apparatus for the molding of composite laminates, said apparatus comprising a cavity defined by a rigid mold over which a lay-up of said composite laminates is formed, and a vacuum bag adapted for sealed engagement with said rigid mold, over said lay-up; said apparatus further comprising means for applying negative pressure to the interior of said cavity, the improvement characterized by: magnetic means disposed at the location of engagement of said vacuum bag with said rigid mold for sealing said vacuum bag thereto, thereby easing the assembly of said vacuum bag to, and disassembly of said vacuum bag from said rigid mold while maintaining an airtight seal therebetween; said magnetic means comprising a plurality of juxtaposed ferromagnetic members, peripherally aligned about the outer edge of said vacuum bag; said ferromagnetic members having inwardly sloping adjacent surfaces which define angular clearances therebetween to allow relative pivotal movement between adjacent members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 1 characterized by said vacuum bag including at a location thereon interiorly of said magnetic means, an extensible portion which allows sliding movement of said vacuum bag over said mold to reduce the risk of permanent distortion of said vacuum bag and the bridging by said vacuum bag of discontinuities defined by said rigid mold surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 1 characterized by at least one magnet embedded in said rigid mold, said ferromagnetic members being disposed around the periphery of said vacuum bag in alignment with said embedded magnet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 3 characterized by said magnet comprising an electromagnet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized by said magnetic means comprising at least one permanent magnet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 5 characterized by said permanent magnet comprising a ceramic.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 5 characterized by said permanent magnet being embedded within an outer portion of said vacuum bag and by said rigid mold including a ferromagnetic peripheral portion aligned with said permanent magnet.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2805974A
Cited
US3173066A
Cited
US3198047A
Cited
US3666600A
Cited
US3665355A
Cited
US3700226A
Cited
US3837084A
Cited
US4078031A
Cited
US4287015B1
Cited
US4287015A
Cited
US4280804A
Cited
US4312829A
Cited
US4562033A
Cited
US4451321A
Cited
US4484745A
Cited
US4698115A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-06-05 | 1992-12-05 | 1993-06-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-06-05 | 1996-12-05 | 1997-06-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-06-05 | 2000-12-05 | 2001-06-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |