Granulated material used in a liquid composite moulding process

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9914246-B2
Application number	US-201414333605-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 17, 2014
Priority date	Jul 23, 2013
Publication date	Mar 13, 2018
Grant date	Mar 13, 2018

Abstract

A system for liquid composite molding includes a first rigid tool part onto which a semi-finished fiber material is positioned, a first vacuum foil arrangeable on the first rigid tool part to provide a first gastight chamber therebetween having a first port, a second vacuum foil and the first vacuum foil providing a second gastight chamber, and granulated material arranged in the second gastight chamber. The semi-finished fiber material is infusible with a matrix material via the first port. A second port is provided at the second gastight chamber for applying a negative pressure thereto. Therein, the granulated material is adapted for forming a second rigid tool part when negative pressure is applied to the second port. I.e. the first vacuum foil, the second vacuum foil and the granulated material function similarly to a vacuum mattress and may be stiffened and collapsed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for liquid composite moulding, the system comprising:
a first rigid tool part;
a second tool part configured to be selectively stiffened and collapsed, the second tool part comprising:
a first vacuum foil;
a second vacuum foil; and
a granulated material;
wherein the first vacuum foil is arrangeable in such a way on the first rigid tool part that a first gastight chamber is provided between the first vacuum foil and the first rigid tool part;
wherein a first port is provided at the first gastight chamber in such a way that a semi-finished fiber material positioned between the first rigid tool part and the first vacuum foil is infusible with a matrix material via the first port;
wherein between the first vacuum foil and the second vacuum foil a second gastight chamber is provided in which the granulated material is arranged;
wherein a second port is provided at the second gastight chamber for applying a negative pressure to the second gastight chamber; and
wherein the granulated material is adapted for stiffening the second tool part when negative pressure is applied to the second port.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the granulated material comprises at least one of the following materials: fired clay, glass beads, glass sand, rice, coffee powder, metal ball bearings and plastic granulate.

3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the granulated material comprises at least two different sizes of granulate particles.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the granulated material is provided in a flexible casing.

5. The system according to claim 4 ,
wherein the flexible casing comprises a first cavity and a separate second cavity; and
wherein the particles of the granulated material in the first cavity have a smaller size than the particles of the granulated material in the second cavity.

6. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a pressurized supply of matrix material;
wherein the pressurized supply of matrix material is connected to the first port.

7. The system according to claim 6 ,
wherein the pressurized supply of matrix material is operable in a pulsating manner; and
wherein the pressurized supply of matrix material comprises a peristaltic pump and/or a periodically opening valve.

8. The system according to claim 1 , wherein a flow channel for matrix material is provided on the outside of the second gastight chamber due to the form of the granulated material while negative pressure is applied at the second port.

Assignees

• Airbus Operations Gmbh

Inventors

• Seegel Hauke
• Fastert Claus
• Winkelmann Lionel
• Fideu Siagam Paulin

Classifications

• B29C43/3642

  Bags, bleeder sheets or cauls for isostatic pressing · CPC title

• B29K2911/00

  Use of natural products or their composites, not provided for in groups B29K2801/00 - B29K2809/00, as mould material · CPC title

• B29K2303/00

  Use of resin-bonded materials as reinforcement · CPC title

• B29C70/443

  and impregnating by vacuum or injection · CPC title

• B29C2043/561

  under vacuum conditions · CPC title