Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
273 words
In combination, for production of cored molded panels, a pneumatic mandrel assembly, which comprises a mandrel in the form of a hollow rigid tube, a flexible fluid permeable sleeve of substantial thickness positioned around and adhesively secured to the outer periphery of said tube, a thin outer flexible elastomeric non-permeable sheet adhesively secured around the outer periphery of said sleeve, said tube being apertured and providing fluid communication between said tube and said sleeve, and first pneumatic means connected to said tube to apply fluid pressure or a vacuum to the interior of said tube and said sleeve; a pneumatic bellows assembly comprising a flexible nonpermeable corrugated outer member, a plurality of permeable flexible plastic foam segments in said bellows assembly disposed between individual corrugations of said flexible corrugated outer member, a flexible permeable tensioning sheet bonded to adjacent said plastic foam segments, a contact plate mounted on one end of said bellows assembly and second pneumatic means connected to said bellows assembly to apply fluid pressure or a vacuum to the interior of said bellows assembly; means forming a casting cell and means positioning said pneumatic mandrel assembly in operative association with said pneumatic bellows assembly in said casting cell, whereby said mandrel assembly and said bellows assembly are selectively pneumatically expandable into contact with a casting material during pouring and initial setting of said casting material in said casting cell, and selectively pneumatically deflatable out of contact with said casting material following said initial setting thereof, to provide a cored panel having cores provided by said mandrel assembly and an outer surface of a predetermined contour formed by said bellows assembly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
273 words
In combination, for production of cored molded panels, a pneumatic mandrel assembly, which comprises a mandrel in the form of a hollow rigid tube, a flexible fluid permeable sleeve of substantial thickness positioned around and adhesively secured to the outer periphery of said tube, a thin outer flexible elastomeric non-permeable sheet adhesively secured around the outer periphery of said sleeve, said tube being apertured and providing fluid communication between said tube and said sleeve, and first pneumatic means connected to said tube to apply fluid pressure or a vacuum to the interior of said tube and said sleeve; a pneumatic bellows assembly comprising a flexible nonpermeable corrugated outer member, a plurality of permeable flexible plastic foam segments in said bellows assembly disposed between individual corrugations of said flexible corrugated outer member, a flexible permeable tensioning sheet bonded to adjacent said plastic foam segments, a contact plate mounted on one end of said bellows assembly and second pneumatic means connected to said bellows assembly to apply fluid pressure or a vacuum to the interior of said bellows assembly; means forming a casting cell and means positioning said pneumatic mandrel assembly in operative association with said pneumatic bellows assembly in said casting cell, whereby said mandrel assembly and said bellows assembly are selectively pneumatically expandable into contact with a casting material during pouring and initial setting of said casting material in said casting cell, and selectively pneumatically deflatable out of contact with said casting material following said initial setting thereof, to provide a cored panel having cores provided by said mandrel assembly and an outer surface of a predetermined contour formed by said bellows assembly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
The combination as defined in claim 1, said flexible fluid permeable sleeve of said mandrel assembly and said flexible plastic foam segments of said bellows assembly comprising flexible open-cell polyurethane foam, said flexible Permeable tensioning sheet of said bellows assembly being a fiberglass scrim, and said corrugated outer member of said bellows assembly being a non-permeable rubber corrugated member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
184 words
The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said outer flexible sheet of said mandrel assembly is substantially coextensive with the length of said flexible sleeve, said sleeve and said outer sheet extending substantially the entire length of said tube, the apertures in said tube being spaced along the length of said tube, and including a plurality of said pneumatic mandrel assemblies, said first pneumatic means connected to the tubes of all of said mandrel assemblies and comprising a first header in fluid communication with all of said tubes, said pneumatic mandrel assemblies being mounted on said header, and including a pair of said bellows assemblies, means mounting said pair of bellows assemblies in spaced relation in said casting cell with said contact plates of said respective bellows assemblies spaced from each other, and wherein said second pneumatic means connected to said bellows assembly comprises a second header mounted on the end of each of said bellows assemblies opposite said contact plate thereon, said second header of each of said bellows assemblies being apertured for fluid communication with the interior of said bellows assemblies.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
193 words
The combination as defined in claim 1, including a perimeter frame positioned in said casting cell and defining the outer perimeter of said molded panel, a plurality of said pneumatic mandrel assemblies, said first pneumatic means comprising a first header, said mandrel assemblies mounted on said first header which is connected in fluid communication with the tubes of said mandrel assemblies, means mounting said first header on said frame and permitting introduction and withdrawal of said mandrel assemblies to and from the interior of said perimeter frame, means mounting a pair of said bellows assemblies adjacent the open ends of said frame, with their respective contact plates adjacent each other, whereby on expansion of said respective bellows, said contact plates are substantially in contact with the sides of said frame and defining the opposite sides of a panel to be molded in said frame, with said plurality of expandable mandrel assemblies forming the cores of said panel to be molded in said frame, and means for flowing casting material into said frame in said casting cell and into contact with said expandable mandrel assemblies and the contact plates of said expandable bellows assemblies.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The combination as defined in claim 4, including reinforcing roving strung across said perimeter frame for incorporation into a molded panel to be cast in said frame, said means mounting said pair of bellows assemblies comprising a second frame positioned adjacent the opposite sides of said perimeter frame.