The Budd Company

Rostone Corporation

Larose Rf Systems, Inc.

Robert E Wilkinson

Joseph N Epel

Kenneth A Iseler

Malcolm K McDougall

Probir K Guha

Albert S Crandon, Jr

Harry M Cargile

Horst F Mach

Rueben L Smith

Maurice G Knoy

Lorenz K Duerr

Kenneth W Johansen

Sheet molded compound (SMC) charges are preheated before being molded into exterior automotive body panels using compression molding techniques under vacuum.

Vacuum compression molding method using preheated charge

A method and apparatus is disclosed for bonding fiber reinforced plastic automotive body parts to reinforcement members using dielectric heating.

Method for bonding FRP members via dielectric heating

A method and apparatus is disclosed for bonding fiber reinforced plastic exterior automotive body panels to reinforcement members using dielectric heating.

Method for bonding reinforcement members to FRP panels

A method for making a part with a smooth surface, such as an exterior automotive body panel, by compression molding a charge containing a curable resin. The charge is placed on the molding surface of one of the dies of a compression mold so that the charge covers 40%-80% of the surface area of the molding surface. The molds are moved to a partially closed position and the mold cavity is quickly evacuated. The mold is then closed so that the dies compress the charge to cause it to fill the mold cavity and, after the resin cures, the part is removed from the mold.

Compression molding a charge using vacuum

A method and apparatus for making a charge used in molding a fiber reinforced part. Continuous strands of fibers are impregnated with resin and then cut into segments of predetermined lengths. The segments are collected so that the resin impregnated fiber segments are piled together to form the charge. In one embodiment, the fibers are collected in a controlled manner to provide preselected fiber orientation for the molded part. Also a cutter mechanism is provided for cutting resin impregnated fiber strands pulled over a first rotating drum.

A cutter for cutting resin impregnated strands and a method and

A method and apparatus for impregnating strands of fibers with resin are disclosed. The resin is recirculated through the interior of a substantially closed container. The strands are pulled through the interior of the container in essentially a straight line manner. The fibers in each strand are spread by running them across a plurality of transversely extending bars in the interior of the container while the fibers are immersed in the resin.

Method and apparatus for impregnating fiber strands

A method is disclosed for making a part with a smooth surface, such as an exterior automotive body panel, by compression molding a charge containing a curable resin. The charge is placed on the molding surface of one of the dies so that the charge covers 40%-80% of the surface area of the molding surface. The molds are moved to a partially closed position and the mold cavity is quickly evacuated. The mold is then closed so that the dies compress the charge to cause it to fill the mold cavity and, after the resin cures, the part is removed from the mold.

Apparatus is disclosed for compresseion molding a part from a charge having a curable resin therein. Provision is made for defining a vacuum chamber surrounding the mold cavity when the upper and lower dies are brought to a partially closed position. The vacuum chamber includes a vertically movable ring surrounding the upper die which is urged into sealing engagement with a surface surrounding the lower die. The ring has a wiper blade mounted in a position to contact the side wall of the upper die thereby permitting relative vertical movement between the ring and die. The mold cavity is rapidly evacuated and then the upper die is brought into a fully closed position while the resin cures.

Compression molding apparatus having vacuum chamber

Apparatus is disclosed for compression molding a part from a charge having a curable resin therein. Provision is made for defining a vacuum chamber surrounding the mold cavity when the upper and lower dies are brought to a partially closed position. The vacuum chamber includes a vertically movable ring surrounding the upper die which is urged into sealing engagement with a surface surrounding the lower die. The space between the ring and the upper die is sealed with a flexible diaphragm having an inner edge rigidly attached to the upper die and an outer periphery rigidly attached to the ring member thereby permitting relative vertical movement between the ring and die. The mold cavity is rapidly evacuated and then the upper die is brought into a fully closed position while the resin cures.

A swingable impact tool and a method of making it wherein the tool has a metal head fastened both chemically and mechanically to a handle made of a composite of materials including a pultrusion of fiberglass filaments in a matrix of polymerized thermosetting resin covered by elastomeric urethane form which protects the core member from impact loads and absorbs the transfer of shock loads to the hands of the user. Metal or plastic members are used to reinforce critical areas of the handle adjacent the head and the stem member disposed within the socket in the head.

Swingable impact tool

An energy attenuator for absorbing impact of a foreign object against a body to be protected. The energy attenuator comprising a plurality of layers in a desired form or shape and each layer may be separated from the adjacent layer by films of high temperature resistant thermoplastic materials, which are neither soluble in nor compatible with or modified by the molding conditions encountered in processing the laminates or layers. The energy attenuator may be manufactured by either a buildup process whereby each layer is formed, then separated by a separating material, another layer is then deposited upon the material forming a laminate structure which may be made to the desired thickness by continually forming layers with separators between each layer or the separate layers may be formed individually and then assembled by stacking them into a laminated structure.

Energy attenuator and method of manufacturing thereof

Mineral-filled thermosetting molding compositions having both precision-molding or low-shrink characteristics and also high abrasion resistance, plus other desirable properties. 'Low profile' molding compositions, known to give smooth surface configurations, have low-shrink properties which also give precision molding characteristics of value in mechanically interfitting molded parts, but have such poor abrasion resistance as to be unusable for desirable applications. Both low-shrink and high abrasion resistance are obtained, with other desired properties, by including a known abrasion-improving polyolefin and by using a long-fiber asbestos as the reinforcing fiber, particularly either chrysotile asbestos or that known as blue asbestos or crocidolite.

Precision-moldable abrasion-resistant molding composition and moldings

An integrally bonded composite structure of a substrate part or layer of metal or the like, an elastic interface layer, and a thermoset plastic wall or layer molded in place against it is formed by: (1) coating the substrate, as by spraying, with a thin coating of a thermosetting soluble elastomer, such as a chloroprene rubber (Neoprene), formulated to chemically bond to the substrate surface, and also containing a coupling agent which will react with the thermoset plastic layer during curing of the latter; (2) heating the coating to dry and stabilize the same on the substrate so as to withstand transfer flow of molding composition but without completely curing the coating composition; and (3) molding the plastic layer against the coated substrate under heat and pressure as in a heated molding die while the coating is in incompletely cured state, and thereby completing the curing of the coating as the molded plastic layer is cured and producing an integral chemical bond from the molded layer through the interface layer to the substrate. This gives an impervious seal between the substrate and the plastic and a bond with very high resistance to separation. The parts and the interface between them may be of either simple or complex shape.

Growing community of inventors

Birmingham, MI, United States of America

Robert E Wilkinson