Method and apparatus for heat bonding

• US 3,996,091 A
• Filed: 09/11/1974
• Issued: 12/07/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Daunt, John E., Kise, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kittle, John E.
• Application Number:
  US05/504,902
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 156/96, 156/104, 156/105, 156/197, 156/210, 156/272, 156/285, 156/381, 156/382, 156/394 FM, 156/583, 264/22, 264/88, 264/93, 264/313, 264/314, 264/316, 264/248, 425/387-389, 425/174, 425/342, 425/405, 181/50, 181/71, 161/39, 161/68, 161/69, 100/211
• US Class Current: 156/285
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2035/0211 resistance heating B29C2035/0811 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/02 with incorporated heating or cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/44 using isostatic pressure, e.g. pressure difference-moulding, vacuum bag-moulding, autoclave-moulding or expanding rubber-moulding
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 24/008 the structure having hollow ridges, ribs or cores
• CPC Class Codes: B30B 5/02 wherein the pressing means is in the form of a flexible element, e.g. diaphragm, urged by fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2260/021 Fibrous or filamentary layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2260/046 Synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/102 Insulating
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2607/00 Walls, panels
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/26 characterised by a particular shape of the outline of the cross-section of a continuous layer; characterised by a layer with cavities or internal voids foam layer B32B5/18; layer of synthetic resin characterised by fillers that create voids or cavities B32B27/205; characterised by an apertured layer
• 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: B32B 37/10 characterised by the pressing technique, e.g. using action of vacuum or fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/26 with at least one layer which influences the bonding during the lamination process, e.g. release layers or pressure equalising layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/26 another layer next to it also being fibrous or filamentary relative arrangement of fibres or filaments of different layers B32B5/12

Abstract

A plurality of cooperating members of an article are heat bonded at interface surfaces through use of a bonding material at such surfaces and fluid pressure, such as through a resilient, single- or multi-compartment closed member, applied through a flexible heating blanket. Heat is applied at least partially through the heating blanket and preferably through the blanket and through a backing member, such as a mold, which carries heating means.

Claims

1. Apparatus for making a substantially rigid heat bonded article from a plurality of cooperating members comprising:

a rigid backing member including a workpiece cavity therein having a rigid article receiving surface;

a rigid top member adapted for pivotal movement with respect to the backing member;

a flexible heating blanket comprising a flexible, resilient rubber-like material having embedded therein an electric resistance heater, the blanket being preshaped to reflect contour of the article to be made, being positioned in spaced apart relationship with the article receiving surface, and being adapted to contact and to provide heat to at least one of the cooperating members of the article; and

fluid pressure means comprising a resilient sponge member having a plurality of discrete cells closed one from another to retain in each compartment a compressible fluid, the fluid pressure means being carried by the top member and including a pressure transmitting surface for location in juxtaposition with the workpiece cavity when the top member is pivoted toward the backing member to press toward one another the heating blanket and the article receiving surface.

2. A method for bonding into a substantially rigid article a plurality of cooperating members, each having an interface surface which cooperates with an interface surface of another of the members, comprising the steps of:

placing cooperating interface surfaces in juxtaposition one with the other with a bonding material at the interface surfaces to provide a preliminary assembly;

placing a first portion of the preliminary assembly on a rigid backing member surface;

forming a flexible heating blanket preshaped to reflect contour of the article to be bonded, the blanket comprising a flexible, resilient rubber-like material having embedded therein an electric resistance heater;

placing the flexible heating blanket over a second portion of the assembly opposite the first portion;

applying fluid pressure to the heating blanket through compression of a resilient sponge member having a plurality of discrete cells closed one from another and retaining a compressible fluid, thereby deforming the heating blanket to the contour of the second portion of the assembly, to press;

a. the heating blanket against the assembly,

b. the first portion of the assembly against the backing member surface, and

c. the interface surfaces together;

while at the same time,

applying heat to the assembly sufficient to bond the surfaces with the bonding material.