Cellular materials based molds with lower cycle time

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9688009-B2
Application number	US-201414497081-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 25, 2014
Priority date	Sep 25, 2014
Publication date	Jun 27, 2017
Grant date	Jun 27, 2017

Abstract

A mold comprising a scaffolding support structure including a base member, a top member and side members defining an enclosure. The scaffolding structure further includes a plurality of interconnected and elongated support members interspersed within the enclosure between the base member and the top member so as to define open space within the enclosure for ease of heating and cooling fluid flow, and a plurality of flow partitions within the enclosure. An intermediate layer is formed on the top member and a working surface layer is formed on the intermediate layer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mold comprising:
a scaffolding support structure including a base member, a top member, and a plurality of angled support members interspersed between the base member and the top member so as to define open space for a heating or cooling fluid;
a working surface layer positioned on the top member;
an intermediate layer formed on the top member and beneath the working surface layer, where the intermediate layer includes heat spreading pads provided between the top member and the working surface layer, and at least one of the heat spreading pads has a two-dimensional star shape when viewed normal to the working surface layer; and
at least one heat transfer bar interconnecting at least two of the heat spreading pads.

2. The mold according to claim 1 wherein the scaffolding support structure is a single unit formed of metal.

3. The mold according to claim 1 wherein the scaffolding structure further includes a plurality of partitions defining fluid flow paths.

4. The mold according to claim 1 wherein at least some of the support members have channels providing heating and cooling fluid flow.

5. The mold according to claim 1 further comprising a heating and cooling spray nozzle integrated within or among the support members.

6. The mold according to claim 1 wherein the heat spreading pads are formed in recesses in the top member.

7. The mold according to claim 1 wherein the heat spreading pads are formed on top of the top member.

8. The mold according to claim 1 wherein the spatial distribution, geometry, orientation, and cross-sectional dimensions of the support members are chosen to meet structural and thermal performance requirements of the mold.

9. The mold according to claim 1 wherein the scaffolding support structure includes side members, and wherein the base member, the top member and the side members define an enclosure.

10. The mold according to claim 1 wherein the mold is an injection mold for a vehicle part.

11. A mold comprising:
a scaffolding support structure including a base member, a top member and side members defining an enclosure, said scaffolding structure further including a plurality of support members interspersed within the enclosure between the base member and the top member so as to define an open space within the enclosure, said scaffolding structure further including a plurality of flow partitions within the enclosure, wherein the base member, the top member, the side members, the support members and the partitions are a single unit;
an intermediate layer formed on the top member;
a working surface layer formed on the intermediate layer;
two or more heat spreading pads formed in the top member and contacting the intermediate layer, where at least one of the heat spreading pads has a two-dimensional star shape when viewed normal to the working surface layer, and at least one of the heat spreading pads is in direct thermal contact with a cooling circuit node in the scaffolding structure; and
at least one heat transfer bar interconnecting at least two of the heat spreading pads.

12. The mold according to claim 11 wherein at least some of the support members have channels that allow heating and cooling fluid flow.

13. The mold according to claim 11 further comprising a heating and cooling spray nozzle integrated within or among the support members.

14. The mold according to claim 11 wherein the scaffolding support structure is a single unit formed of metal.

15. A mold for molding a vehicle part, said mold comprising:
a scaffolding support structure including a base member, a top member and side members defining an enclosure, said scaffolding structure further including a plurality of support members interspersed within the enclosure between the base member and the top member so as to define open space within the enclosure, said scaffolding structure further including a plurality of flow partitions within the enclosure, wherein the base member, the top member, the side members, the support members and the partitions are a single unit, wherein at least some of the support members have channels that allow heating and cooling fluid flow, and wherein the spatial distribution, geometry, orientation and cross-section dimensions of the support members are chosen to meet structural and thermal performance requirements of the mold;
a plurality of heat spreading pads formed in recesses in the top layer and interconnected by heat transfer bars, where at least one of the heat spreading pads has a two-dimensional star shape when viewed normal to the working surface layer, and at least one of the heat spreading pads is in direct thermal contact with a cooling circuit node in the scaffolding structure;
a heating and cooling spray nozzle integrated within or among the support members;
an intermediate layer formed on the top member; and
a working surface layer formed on the intermediate layer.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Mankame Nilesh D
• Mourou Julien P
• Osbourn James E

Classifications

• B29C45/7312 Primary

  Construction of heating or cooling fluid flow channels · CPC title

• B29K2905/00

  Use of metals, their alloys or their compounds, as mould material · CPC title

• B29L2031/30

  Vehicles, e.g. ships or aircraft, or body parts thereof {(vanes or blades B29L2031/08, air bags B29L2022/027)} · CPC title