Method of retaining a molded-in insert in a fiber reinforced thermoplastic composite material

• Main Authors: Carter, Brian Allen, Fisher, Jr., Edward McMurray
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 06.11.2018
• Subjects: AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING; BLASTING; DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS ORMACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS,CLIPS, WEDGES, JOINTS OR JOINTING; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; HEATING; INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; TRANSPORTING; WEAPONS; WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL

A method of retaining a molded-in insert in a fiber reinforced thermoplastic composite material and forming a high strength mechanical locking mechanism is provided. The method includes fixing a molded-in insert in a mold cavity. The insert has a cylindrical body and at least one circumferential groove formed in the cylindrical body, and has a substantially concave configuration, and the groove has a groove radius of 0.025 inch or greater, and greater than or equal to a groove depth. The method includes introducing a fiber reinforced thermoplastic composite material into the mold cavity and around the molded-in insert, enclosing the mold cavity, heating and compressing the material in the mold cavity to consolidate the material around the molded-in insert and to form a consolidated fiber reinforced thermoplastic composite structure with the molded-in insert, cooling the structure, and removing the structure with the molded-in insert from the mold cavity.