The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 06, 2001
Filed:
Jan. 08, 1999
Bari W. Brown, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Steven P. Ireland, Delta, OH (US);
UT Automotive Dearborn, Inc., Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
This process and apparatus use at least two chopper units. The fiber choppers may be laser beam choppers or existing standard chopper units. The process and apparatus for producing a fiber-reinforced molded composite comprises providing a moldable composition, a first fiber chopper providing chopped fibers to the apparatus from a first direction, a second fiber chopper providing chopped fibers to the apparatus from a second direction, wherein the first direction is different from the second direction and molding the moldable composition and fibers in the apparatus under heat and pressure to form the molded composite. One industrial application for these choppers is compression molding of interior trim panels for automobile doors. The choppers spray chopped glass fiber strands into a resin mixture. The glass and a polyol, isocyanate (—NCO) urethane resin mixture at the proper glass loading, distribution and pattern is fed to the mold.