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:
Jun. 26, 2007
Filed:
Dec. 10, 2002
Michael D. Wood, South Bend, IN (US);
Mark L. Laforest, Granger, IN (US);
Neil Murdie, South Bend, IN (US);
Dean S. Kriskovich, Avon, IN (US);
Vernon R. Hudalla, Charlotte, NC (US);
Thaddeus W. Gonsowski, Osceola, WI (US);
Michael D. Wood, South Bend, IN (US);
Mark L. LaForest, Granger, IN (US);
Neil Murdie, South Bend, IN (US);
Dean S. Kriskovich, Avon, IN (US);
Vernon R. Hudalla, Charlotte, NC (US);
Thaddeus W. Gonsowski, Osceola, WI (US);
Honeywell International Inc., Morris Township, NJ (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for combining raw fibrous and binding materials in a single mixing step (Step S), followed by consolidation (Step S) so as to greatly shorten the overall cycle time to a finished fiber-reinforced composite part. Chopped fibrous materials and binder materials are deposited sequentially onto a belt conveyor (Step S) so that the materials are successively layered, one on top of each other in a predetermined ratio, and subsequently mixed (Step S) to achieve uniform dispersion throughout. The mixed materials are then deposited into a rotating mold (Step S) to further ensure uniform dispersion of fibrous and binder materials. Impregnation of the fibrous materials with the binder material occur in-situ as the uniformly mixed materials are heated and subsequently compacted in the mold (Step S) to obtain the desired shape of the fiber-reinforced composite part.