Method for producing fiber-reinforced plastic components

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10857743-B2
Application number	US-201715672447-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 9, 2017
Priority date	Mar 9, 2015
Publication date	Dec 8, 2020
Grant date	Dec 8, 2020

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for producing components from fiber-reinforced thermoplastic. The method involves manufacturing a multitude of semifinished products, each of which includes a plurality of impregnated fabric layers that are joined to one another only locally, as well as a frame structure having at least one cutout. The semifinished products are consolidated using a consolidation device, an inlay element being placed in each cutout before the semifinished products are consolidated.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for producing components from thermoplastic fiber-reinforced plastic, the method comprising the acts of:
producing a multiplicity of semi-finished products which each have a plurality of impregnated textile layers which are interconnected in a thickness direction only in a localized manner at punctiform connection points, wherein the semi-finished products in each case have a frame shape with at least one clearance; and
consolidating the semi-finished products via a consolidation installation,
wherein prior to consolidating the semi-finished products, in each case one internal insert element is disposed in the clearances,
wherein the semi-finished products are at least partially interconnected during consolidation,
wherein the interconnected semi-finished products, after consolidation, are singularized via a separation installation, and
wherein, prior to consolidation, in each case one or a plurality of external insert elements are disposed between two directly neighboring semi-finished products.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the semi-finished products during consolidation are moved through a multiplicity of heating zones within the consolidation installation in a continuous process.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the semi-finished products for consolidation are disposed in the consolidation installation by way of a fully automated process.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein disposing of the internal insert elements in the clearances is carried out in a fully automated manner.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the internal insert elements are fixedly connected to a belt of the consolidation installation.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the belt of the consolidation installation is an endless belt.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the internal insert elements in terms of shape and/or size thereof are adapted to the clearances, in each case, of the semi-finished products.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the internal insert elements, after being disposed in the clearances, have on all sides a spacing from the semi-finished products of at most 5 mm.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the internal insert elements comprise polytetrafluoroethylene or are composed of polytetrafluoroethylene.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the semi-finished products for consolidation are disposed in the consolidation installation such that the semi-finished products are in direct mutual contact.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the external insert elements, in terms of shape and/or size thereof, are adapted to the directly neighboring semi-finished products.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the consolidation installation is configured as a combined pressing and heating installation.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the consolidation installation is configured as a dual-belt press.

Assignees

• Bayerische Motoren Werke Ag

Inventors

• Beck Juergen
• Heim Daniel

Classifications

• B32B2038/1891

  Using a robot for handling the layers · CPC title

• B32B37/30

  Partial laminating · CPC title

• B32B37/182

  one or more of the layers being plastic · CPC title

• B32B37/1027

  Pressing using at least one press band · CPC title

• B32B5/28

  impregnated with or embedded in a plastic substance {(not used)} · CPC title