Apparatus for consolidating composite materials

Fiber-reinforced resin deposits or other materials are consolidated in a noncontact-frictionless manner through the use of a pressurized plenum chamber (20) of a fluid bearing (10). The fluid bearing (10) is flexible and floats relative to the material (16) to be consolidated so that ply drop-offs a...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author KNOLL; FREDERICK L
Format Patent
LanguageEnglish
Published 29.12.1987
Edition4
Subjects
AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
PERFORMING OPERATIONS
SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR
SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS
TRANSPORTING
WORKING OF PLASTICS
WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL
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Summary:Fiber-reinforced resin deposits or other materials are consolidated in a noncontact-frictionless manner through the use of a pressurized plenum chamber (20) of a fluid bearing (10). The fluid bearing (10) is flexible and floats relative to the material (16) to be consolidated so that ply drop-offs and other variations in the thickness or surface contour of the material are easily accommodated. While within the plenum chamber, the material is locally heated by radiant energy from a source (30) positioned within the chamber. This localized heating enables the material to solidify in cooler zones of the plenum chamber under a uniform pressure.
Bibliography:Application Number: US19850813645