STRUCTURAL POLYMER CORE ASSEMBLY, METHOD OF MANUFACTURE AND METHOD OF USE

• US 20110061792A1
• Filed: 11/19/2010
• Published: 03/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovative Composites, Inc. (Innovative Composites International, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Innovative Composites, Inc. (Innovative Composites International, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stoll, John R., Panik, Keith, Simmons, Richard A., Simmons, F. Arthur
• Granted Patent: US 8,449,707 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 156/219
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/28 characterised by a layer comprising a deformed thin sheet , i.e. the layer having its entire thickness deformed out of the plane, e.g. corrugated, crumpled B32B29/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1039 Surface deformation only of sandwich or lamina [e.g., embossed panels]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24322 Composite web or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24331 including nonapertured component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24661 Forming, or cooperating to form cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24678 Waffle-form
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24694 Parallel corrugations

Abstract

A composite structure, and method of manufacturing it, having a specified width, length, and height defining a top and bottom the composite structure. The composite structure includes a three dimensional structural core constructed of a polymer with a first series of a geometric pattern repeated along its length. The structural core also has a second series of the geometric pattern repeated along the width thereof. The geometric patter may be a sinusoidal curve or a substantially pyramidal shape. The composite structure also includes a first reinforcement layer made of a polymer positioned above the structural core and bonded thereto. It also includes a second reinforcement layer made of a polymer that is positioned below the structural core and bonded thereto. The composite structure may also include a decorative layer above the first reinforcement layer, an acoustical batting layer positioned between the first reinforcement layer and the structural core, and may include fire retardant chemicals.

Claims

1. -46. (canceled)

47. A method of manufacturing a structural composite, the method comprising:

preheating a sheet of thermoplastic polymer;

continuously feeding said preheated sheet of thermoplastic polymer into a forming apparatus comprised of two opposing portions, each opposing portion having respective raised areas configured to intermesh when said two opposing portions are brought together;

forming said sheet into a structural core with a pyramidal geometric pattern repeated along a length and a width thereof;

attaching a first reinforcement layer constructed of a polymer onto a top of said structural core; and

attaching a second reinforcement layer constructed of a polymer onto a bottom of said structural core.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein said pyramidal geometric pattern comprises a plurality of pyramidal shapes, each of the pyramidal shapes having at least four side-faces intersecting at respective edges.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein each of said edges includes a respective radius.

50. The method of claim 48, wherein each of said pyramidal shapes is symmetric about a neutral axis of said structural core.

51. The method of claim 48, wherein said pyramidal geometric pattern provides a series of peaks having flat tops and a series of troughs having flat bottoms.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein said first reinforcement layer is bonded to said flat tops of said peaks, and wherein said second reinforcement layer is bonded to said flat bottoms of said troughs.

53. The method of claim 47, further comprising:

positioning a layer of acoustical batting between said structural core and at least one of said first and second reinforcement layers.

54. The method of claim 47, further comprising:

attaching a decorative layer to one of said first and second reinforcement layers, said decorative layer being positioned on a side of said one reinforcement layer opposing said structural core.

55. The method of claim 47, wherein said sheet of thermoplastic polymer is infused with a fibrous material.

56. The method of claim 47, further comprising:

applying a fire-retardant chemical to at least one of said first reinforcement layer, second reinforcement layer, and structural core.

57. A method of manufacturing a multi-layer structural composite, the method comprising:

preheating a sheet of thermoplastic polymer;

continuously feeding said preheated sheet of thermoplastic polymer onto a forming apparatus comprised of an array of raised areas situated on a single, one-sided surface;

forming said sheet into a structural core with a pyramidal geometric pattern repeated along a length and a width thereof by way of assisted molding;

attaching a first reinforcement layer constructed of a polymer onto the top of said structural core; and

attaching a second reinforcement layer constructed of a polymer onto the bottom of said structural core.

58. A method of manufacturing a multi-layer composite structure having a width, length, and height, the method comprising:

heating a sheet of fiber-infused thermoplastic polymer;

forming said heated sheet of fiber-infused thermoplastic polymer into a structural core having a pyramidal geometric pattern, wherein said pyramidal geometric pattern repeats along a length and a width of said structural core, is symmetric about a neutral axis of said structural core, and is comprised of a plurality of pyramidal shapes, and wherein each of said pyramidal shapes has at least four side-faces intersecting at respective edges, each of said edges including a radius;

thermally bonding a first thermoformable reinforcement layer to a top of said structural core, said first reinforcement layer being constructed of the same fiber-infused thermoplastic polymer as said structural core; and

thermally bonding a second thermoformable reinforcement layer to a bottom of said structural core, said second reinforcement layer being constructed of the same fiber-infused thermoplastic polymer as said structural core.

59. The method of claim 58, further comprising:

treating at least a portion of the composite structure with at least one fire retardant chemical.

60. The method of claim 58, further comprising:

placing a layer of acoustical batting between said structural core and at least one of said first and second reinforcement layers.

61. The method of claim 58, wherein at least one of said first and second reinforcement layers contains repeated openings along the length and width thereof.