US4762740A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Resin transfer molding core, preform and process
Assignee: Ford Motor Co
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Filing: 1987-06-15
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Granted: 1988-08-09
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Expires: 2007-06-15
Abstract
Abstract The invention provides a preform for a resin transfer molding process and a preform core for same. The invention further provides a resin transfer molding process employing such preform. A surface portion of the core having a concavity therein, the core comprises a flexible web secured to its surface forming a convexity over such concavity. The convexity formed by the web is deformable into the concavity during the resin transfer molding operation, but prior to the molding operation is sufficiently firm to support, without substantial deformation, oriented continuous fibers applied under tension onto the surface of the core.
Inventors
- 👤 Carl F. Johnson
- 👤 Norman G. Chavka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 12:50
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C53/00; B29C53/80; B29C53/82; B29C33/00; B29C33/76; B29C45/00; B29C45/02; B29C53/8008; B29C53/8016; B29C70/00; B29C70/04; B29C70/28; B29C70/40; B29C70/42; B29C70/46; B29C70/48; B29C70/54; B29K; B29K2105/00; B29K2105/06; B29K2105/08; B29K2105/0809; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/23; Y10T428/233; Y10T428/239; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24058; Y10T428/24074; Y10T428/24091; Y10T428/24479; Y10T428/24488; Y10T428/24521; Y10T428/24777; Y10T428/24785
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
57 words
A core for a resin transfer molding preform, a selected surface portion of said core having a concavity therein, wherein said core comprises a flexible web secured thereto forming a convexity over said concavity, said convexity being deformable into said concavity and being sufficiently firm to support, without substantial deformation, oriented continuous fibers applied thereover under tension.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
57 words
A core for a resin transfer molding preform, a selected surface portion of said core having a concavity therein, wherein said core comprises a flexible web secured thereto forming a convexity over said concavity, said convexity being deformable into said concavity and being sufficiently firm to support, without substantial deformation, oriented continuous fibers applied thereover under tension.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The core of claim 1, wherein said web comprises material selected from the group consisting of metallic screen, plastic screen and imperforate plastic sheet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
The core of claim 1, wherein said web is resin impervious.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
The core of claim 1, wherein said core comprises polyurethane foam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The core of claim 1, wherein said core comprises a pressurized bladder.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The core of claim 1, wherein said core comprises a hollow plastic shell.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The core of claim 1, wherein the surface area of said convexity is substantially equal to the surface area of said concavity.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
78 words
A preform for a resin transfer molding process, said preform comprising a core and fiber reinforcement material, a selected surface portion of said core having a concavity therein and said core comprising a flexible web secured thereto forming a convexity over said concavity, said convexity being deformable into said concavity and being sufficiently firm to support, without substantial deformation, oriented continuous fibers applied thereover under tension, said fiber reinforcement material comprising oriented continuous fibers positioned over said convexity.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
78 words
A preform for a resin transfer molding process, said preform comprising a core and fiber reinforcement material, a selected surface portion of said core having a concavity therein and said core comprising a flexible web secured thereto forming a convexity over said concavity, said convexity being deformable into said concavity and being sufficiently firm to support, without substantial deformation, oriented continuous fibers applied thereover under tension, said fiber reinforcement material comprising oriented continuous fibers positioned over said convexity.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The preform of claim 8, wherein said fiber reinforcement material further comprises chopped fibers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The preform of claim 8, wherein said concavity in the surface of said core is a concavity relative the geodesic path of said oriented continuous fibers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The preform of claim 8, wherein said oriented continuous fibers comprise at least one sheet of nonwoven continuous fibers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The preform of claim 8, wherein said oriented continuous fibers comprise at least one sheet selected from a group consisting of woven continuous fibers, knitted continuous fibers and braided continuous fibers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The preform of claim 8, wherein said oriented continuous fibers comprise continuous fibers woven onto said core.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of making a resin transfer molding preform for a product having a surface concavity, said method comprising positioning oriented continuous fibers under tension onto a selected surface of a core, said selected surface having a concavity therein and a flexible web secured thereto forming a convexity over said concavity, said convexity being deformable into said concavity and being sufficiently firm to support said oriented continuous fibers, without substantial deformation, while being positioned under tension onto said selected surface.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of making a resin transfer molding preform for a product having a surface concavity, said method comprising positioning oriented continuous fibers under tension onto a selected surface of a core, said selected surface having a concavity therein and a flexible web secured thereto forming a convexity over said concavity, said convexity being deformable into said concavity and being sufficiently firm to support said oriented continuous fibers, without substantial deformation, while being positioned under tension onto said selected surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of making a resin transfer molding preform according to claim 14, wherein at least one sheet of nonwoven continuous fibers is positioned under tension onto said selected surface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of making a resin transfer molding preform according to claim 14, wherein at least one sheet selected from the group consisting of woven continuous fibers, knitted continuous fibers, and braided continuous fibers is positioned under tension onto said selected surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of making a resin transfer molding preform according to claim 14, wherein continuous fibers are woven onto said selected surface.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of making a resin transfer molding preform according to claim 14, wherein continuous fibers are applied to said selected surface by filament winding.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of making a resin transfer molding preform of claim 14, wherein said method further comprises applying to a surface of said core fibrous reinforcement material comprising chopped fibers.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
113 words
A resin transfer molding process comprising: (A) positioning a preform in a cavity of a resin transfer molding tool, said preform comprising a core and fiber reinforcement material, a selected surface portion of said core having a concavity therein and said core comprising a flexible web secured thereto forming a convexity over said concavity, said fiber reinforcement material comprising oriented continuous fibers positioned over said convexity, said convexity and said continuous oriented fiber reinforcement material being deformable into said concavity; (B) closing said molding tool on said preform, said molding tool pressing said convexity and said oriented continuous fibers into said concavity; and (C) introducing resin into said cavity of said molding tool.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
113 words
A resin transfer molding process comprising: (A) positioning a preform in a cavity of a resin transfer molding tool, said preform comprising a core and fiber reinforcement material, a selected surface portion of said core having a concavity therein and said core comprising a flexible web secured thereto forming a convexity over said concavity, said fiber reinforcement material comprising oriented continuous fibers positioned over said convexity, said convexity and said continuous oriented fiber reinforcement material being deformable into said concavity; (B) closing said molding tool on said preform, said molding tool pressing said convexity and said oriented continuous fibers into said concavity; and (C) introducing resin into said cavity of said molding tool.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
The resin transfer molding process of claim 20, wherein said molding tool cavity has a surface convexity which registers with said concavity of said core.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
The resin transfer molding process of claim 20, wherein said resin comprises thermosetting resin.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
32 words
The resin transfer molding process of claim 20, wherein said process further comprises removing at least a portion of said core subsequent to introducing resin into said cavity of said molding tool.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-08-09 | 1992-02-08 | 1992-08-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-08-09 | 1996-02-08 | 1996-08-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-08-09 | 2000-02-08 | 2000-08-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |