Abstract:
A system and method for forming an article from thermoplastic material and fiber. The method includes heating thermoplastic material to form a molten thermoplastic material for blending with the fiber. The molten thermoplastic material is blended with the fibers to form a molten composite material having a concentration of fiber by weight. The molten composite material may then be extruded through dynamic dies to deliver discrete controlled material that is gravitated onto a lower portion of a mold. The lower portion of the mold may be moved in space and time while receiving the flow of composite material to deposit a predetermined quantity of molten composite material thereon conforming to mold cavities of the lower and an upper portion of the mold. The upper portion of the mold may be pressed against the predetermined quantity of molten composite material and closing on the lower portion of the mold to form the article.
Abstract:
A heat exchange panel (1) that includes a lower plate (11 ) and an upper plate (14) that together define a plurality of channels (51 ) there-between, which are in fluid communication with a plurality of upper plate extension passages (72), is described. The lower plate (11) includes a plurality of lower plate extensions (20) that extend upwardly from the interior surface (17) of the lower plate. Each channel (51) has at least one lower plate extension (20) extending upwardly therefrom. The upper plate (14) includes a plurality of upwardly extending hollow upper plate extensions (32). The aperture (42) and interior hollow space (48) of each upper plate extension (32) is aligned with and receives an upper portion (69) of a single lower plate extension (20) therein. A portion of the interior surfaces (45) that define the interior hollow space (48) of the upper plate extension (32), and a portion of the exterior surfaces (23) of the upper portion (69) of the lower plate extension (20) received within the interior hollow space (48) together define, in each case, an upper plate extension passage (72). Each upper plate extension passage (72) is in fluid communication with a channel (51 ) residing there-under. In operation, a fluid introduced into a terminal inlet (54) of a channel (51) passes through each upper plate extension channel (72) in fluid communication with that channel, and passes out from the terminal outlet (57) of the channel. The combination of a plurality of upper plate extension passages (72) and channels (51 ) in common fluid communication provide the heat exchange panel of the present invention with improved heat exchange efficiencies.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method and molding system (1) for forming a molded plastic article by wireless control. The molding system includes a primary controller (12) that is adapted to engage in wireless communications with the carriage controller (45) of one or more self-propelled carriages (15). Each carriage (15) includes a carriage location indicator (62) that determines the location of the carriage, which is transmitted substantially continuously to the carriage controller (45), and then communicated substantially continuously and wirelessly from the carriage controller to the primary controller (12). The primary controller (12) wirelessly communicates position directives (e.g., a polymer introduction station position directive) to each carriage controller (45), which correspondingly provides operational position instructions to each carriage's respective propulsion system (30), so as to re-position at least one carriage. The primary controller also provides directives to other secondary controllers in the molding system, depending on the status of, and in particular the location of the various carriages within, the molding system. For example, with a carriage (15) positioned in the polymer introduction station (18), the primary controller (12) communicates one or more polymer introduction directives to a polymer introduction controller (68), which then provides operational polymer introduction instructions to a polymer introduction apparatus (71 ), such as an extruder, thus resulting in the introduction of a polymer composition into contact with the interior mold surface (27) of the mold (24), and accordingly formation of a molded article.
Abstract:
A solid molded polymer composite beam is described that includes at least a first flange; a second flange; at least one web extending between the two flanges wherein the first and second flanges are configured normal to the at least one web; the first flange and the second flange each contains an in-molded rigid insert in the plane of the flanges normal to the at least one web. The method of manufacture and insertion of the in-molded rigid inserts is also described.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method of forming a molded article (e.g., 141) from first and second heated and thermoformable thermoplastic sheets (75, 78), which are each respectively formed in situ from first and second thermoplastic compositions (e.g., by means of extrusion). The heated first and second thermoformable sheets are each drawn by reduced pressure into contour matching contact with the interior mold surfaces (14, 32) of separate first and second mold portions (11, 29), so as to form separate first and second profiled thermoplastic sheets (129, 144) within the separate mold portions. The first and second mold portions (11, 29) are positioned towards each other (e.g., together) so as to bring into contact and fuse together contact portions (159, 163) of the first and second profiled thermoplastic sheets (129, 144). Fusion between the contacted contact portions (159, 163) is achieved by means of (e.g., exclusively by means of) residual heat of sheet formation residing in each of the first and second profiled thermoplastic sheets (129, 144). The present invention also relates to a mold apparatus (e.g., 1 ) that includes a mold assembly (3, 5) that further includes a first mold portion (11 ) and a second mold portion (29) that reside between and are rotatably attached to laterally spaced first and second longitudinal supports (171, 174). At least one mold portion is longitudinally repositionable, between the first and second longitudinal supports, relative to the other mold portion.
Abstract:
A molded support beam (1, 2, 3) that includes an elongated lower portion (11 ) an elongated upper portion (14) and at least one elongated flange (17,18) extending upwardly from the elongated upper portion, is described. The elongated lower portion (11) includes at least three separate downwardly extending supports (e.g., 29, 32, 35) which together define at least two open-bottomed transverse openings (e.g., 41, 44), at least one of which being an arched open-bottomed transverse opening (e.g., 219, 234, 249). The elongated upper portion (14) includes a longitudinal passage (68), and a ledge (92) that extends horizontally outward from a second vertical side (56) thereof. An elongated hollow support tube (74) resides within the longitudinal passage (68) of the elongated upper portion (14). The elongated lower portion (11), elongated upper portion (14) and the elongated flange(s) (17, 18) are substantially continuous and together form a substantially unitary structure.
Abstract:
A solid molded polymer composite beam is described that includes at least a first flange; a second flange; at least one web extending between the two flanges wherein the first and second flanges are configured normal to the at least one web; the first flange and the second flange each contains an in-molded rigid insert in the plane of the flanges normal to the at least one web. The method of manufacture and insertion of the in-molded rigid inserts is also described.
Abstract:
A system for forming an article from composite polymeric material reinforced with fibers and other additives utilizing an extrusion system to heat and deliver the molten composite polymeric material onto a lower mold body riding on an x-y controlled structure. The combination of the x-y control of a lower mold and a volumetrically controlled extrusion device allow a "near net shape" deposition of molten composite material into the cavities of the lower mold, which is then moved over a conveyance system to a press containing the upper mold half which is used to compress and form the composite material into a final part under moderate pressures.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method and molding system (1) for forming a molded plastic article by wireless control. The molding system includes a primary controller (12) that is adapted to engage in wireless communications with the carriage controller (45) of one or more self-propelled carriages (15). Each carriage (15) includes a carriage location indicator (62) that determines the location of the carriage, which is transmitted substantially continuously to the carriage controller (45), and then communicated substantially continuously and wirelessly from the carriage controller to the primary controller (12). The primary controller (12) wirelessly communicates position directives (e.g., a polymer introduction station position directive) to each carriage controller (45), which correspondingly provides operational position instructions to each carriage's respective propulsion system (30), so as to re-position at least one carriage. The primary controller also provides directives to other secondary controllers in the molding system, depending on the status of, and in particular the location of the various carriages within, the molding system. For example, with a carriage (15) positioned in the polymer introduction station (18), the primary controller (12) communicates one or more polymer introduction directives to a polymer introduction controller (68), which then provides operational polymer introduction instructions to a polymer introduction apparatus (71 ), such as an extruder, thus resulting in the introduction of a polymer composition into contact with the interior mold surface (27) of the mold (24), and accordingly formation of a molded article.
Abstract:
A method of forming a shaped thermoplastic sheet includes providing a mold apparatus that includes a first mold portion having a contoured and perforated interior mold surface, and a perimeter edge. At least one sheet retainer attaches to the upper surface of a frame the surrounds at least a portion of the first mold portion perimeter edge. Each sheet retainer includes a clamp portion that is positionable relative to the perimeter edge of the first mold portion. With a first portion of a heated thermoplastic sheet retained within the clamp portion a step of the method includes independently, reversibly and laterally moving each sheet retainer, towards and/or away from the perimeter edge of the first mold portion. Sheet retainer positioning allows localized control over the contacting of the interior mold surface and heated thermoplastic sheet thickness which controls the thickness of vanous portions of the final molded article