US5266259A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Molding a reinforced plastics component
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
•
Filing: 1992-09-17
•
Granted: 1993-11-30
•
Expires: 2012-09-17
Abstract
Abstract In order to mold structural components where a resin is introduced into a mold containing a fibrous preform 24, the mold or tool halves 10, 12 are made as shells and have individually controllable heating circuits 34, 38, 52 around the mold surface. Different parts of the mold can therefore be held at different temperatures in order to ensure adequate resin flow to wet the whole of the preform.
Inventors
- 👤 Alan R. Harrison
- 👤 Kenneth Kendall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 06:01
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C37/00; B29C37/006; B29C37/0064; B29C33/00; B29C33/02; B29C70/00; B29C70/04; B29C70/28; B29C70/40; B29C70/42; B29C70/46; B29C70/48; B29C70/54; B29C70/546; B29C33/0011
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of molding a reinforced plastics component, the method comprising the steps of placing a fibrous reinforcement preform in the mold cavity of a shell tool, introducing a liquid plastics resin to the mold cavity through a gate and maintaining the gate and the edge of the mold at temperatures above the temperature of the body of the mold, so that the resin is able to flow freely at the edges of the mold to wet the preform.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of molding a reinforced plastics component, the method comprising the steps of placing a fibrous reinforcement preform in the mold cavity of a shell tool, introducing a liquid plastics resin to the mold cavity through a gate and maintaining the gate and the edge of the mold at temperatures above the temperature of the body of the mold, so that the resin is able to flow freely at the edges of the mold to wet the preform.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said placing step comprises providing a shell tool which comprises two tool halves which meet around an edge region, said edge region being arranged to leave a passage through which air can be dispelled from said mold cavity, said passage being in the form of a narrow gap between the surfaces of the tool halves themselves.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein said maintaining step comprises providing said edge region with heating means so that the temperature of said tool in said edge region can be raised.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein said placing step comprises providing in the passage between said tool halves, in the edge region and working outwards from said mold cavity, a very narrow gap through which air can flow and through which resin can just flow, followed by an expansion space, followed by a controlled mating face through which air can flow but through which resin cannot flow.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method according to claim 3, wherein said placing step comprises providing in the passage between said tool halves, in the edge region and working outwards from said mold cavity, a very narrow gap through which air can flow and through which resin can just flow, followed by an expansion space, followed by a controlled mating face through which air can flow but through which resin cannot flow.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein said placing step comprises providing tool halves mounted in case aluminum frames.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 3, wherein said placing step comprises providing tool halves mounted in case aluminum frames.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 4, wherein said placing step comprises providing tool halves mounted in case aluminum frames.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 5, wherein said placing step comprises providing tool halves mounted in case aluminum frames.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB584932A
Cited
GB911647A
Cited
US3122598A
Cited
US3761560A
Cited
GB1341213A
Cited
US3843289A
Cited
GB1474148A
Cited
US4030953A
Cited
JPS52125565A
Cited
US4201612A
Cited
JPS5653032A
Cited
JPS57212022A
Cited
US4385955A
Cited
US4466848A
Cited
JPS607136A
Cited
JPS6073824A
Cited
JPS60100437A
Cited
US4563149A
Cited
JPS6154633A
Cited
JPS6168214A
Cited
JPS61175011A
Cited
GB2172542A
Cited
US4784814A
Cited
JPS62124917A
Cited
JPS62128721A
Cited
JPS62134223A
Cited
US4735758A
Cited
US4940563A
Cited
JPS6315707A
Cited
JPS63255925A
Cited
JPS6431427A
Cited
JPH01165132A
Cited
GB2216841A
Cited
JPH01238915A
Cited
JPH01262107A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-11-29 | 1997-05-31 | 1997-11-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-11-29 | 2001-05-31 | 2001-11-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-11-29 | 2005-05-31 | 2005-11-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |