METHOD OF COMPRESSION MOLDING MOTOR VEHICLE COMPONENTS AND PARTS MADE THEREFROM

• Main Authors: CONNETT JERRY J, STEINER JERRY L, OLIVER STEVEN A, VOORS PETER J, ETZLER FLOYD A
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 06.11.2008
• Subjects: AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING; LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS; MOTOR VEHICLES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; TRAILERS; TRANSPORTING; WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL

The invention is a method to make compression molded motor vehicle parts from a charge of composite material with resin and fibers, such as sheet molded compound. The parts have voids, such as holes and gaps, that form in the compression mold under heat and pressure and not in secondary processing steps. The resin in the charge is melts in a reservoir in the mold to form resinous material from the charge. A flow front of resinous material is allowed to flow into a flow path around a restriction corresponding to the shape of the void from the reservoir. The flow front carries sufficient reinforcing fibers into the flow path. At least part of a border for the void forms in the flow path. The configuration is allowed to at least partially set.