Method for forming fiber-reinforced composite member
First Claim
1. A method for forming a fiber-reinforced composite member, comprising the steps of(a) placing a shape-retention means adjacent to at least one projection of a preform made of a fiber-reinforced composite material;
- (b) completely sealing said preform and said shape-retention means with a bagging film; and
(c) forming said preform into a fiber-reinforced composite member by heating under pressure;
said shape-retention means comprising a plurality of soft unit members having simple cross-sectional shapes selected from the group consisting of a triangular prism, a rectangular parallelepiped, and a flat plate, wherein said unit members are reuseable;
wherein said plurality of soft unit members substantially covers the surface of said pre-form to provide a gradually changing contour to prevent said at least one projection from being subjected to deforming during pressing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A novel fiber-reinforced composite member having at least one projection is formed by (a) disposing a preform made of a fiber-reinforced composite material on a forming plate; (b) placing a shape-retention means composed of a plurality of soft unit members adjacent to each projection of the preform; (c) completely covering the preform and the shape-retention means with a bagging film having a sealant attached to the periphery; (d) adhering the sealant to the forming plate such that the preform and the shape-retention means are completely sealed by the bagging film; (e) evacuating the inside of the bagging film; and (f) heating the preform under pressure to form a fiber-reinforced composite member.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for forming a fiber-reinforced composite member, comprising the steps of
(a) placing a shape-retention means adjacent to at least one projection of a preform made of a fiber-reinforced composite material; -
(b) completely sealing said preform and said shape-retention means with a bagging film; and
(c) forming said preform into a fiber-reinforced composite member by heating under pressure;
said shape-retention means comprising a plurality of soft unit members having simple cross-sectional shapes selected from the group consisting of a triangular prism, a rectangular parallelepiped, and a flat plate, wherein said unit members are reuseable;
wherein said plurality of soft unit members substantially covers the surface of said pre-form to provide a gradually changing contour to prevent said at least one projection from being subjected to deforming during pressing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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3. A method for forming a fiber-reinforced composite member having at least one projection, comprising the steps of
(a) disposing a preform having projections and made of a fiber-reinforced composite material on a forming plate; -
(b) placing a shape-retention means adjacent to each projection of said preform;
(c) completely covering said preform and said shape-retention means with a bagging film having a sealant attached to a periphery thereof;
(d) adhering said sealant to said forming plate such that said preform and said shape-retention means are completely sealed by said bagging film;
(e) evacuating an inside of said bagging film; and
(f) heating said preform under pressure to form said fiber-reinforced composite member;
wherein said shape-retention means comprises a plurality of soft unit members having simple cross-sectional shapes selected from the group consisting of a triangular prism, a rectangular parallelepiped, and a flat plate, wherein said unit members are reuseable;
wherein said plurality of soft unit members substantially covers the surface of said pre-form to provide a gradually changing contour to prevent said at least one projection from being subjected to deforming during pressing. - View Dependent Claims (5, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for forming a fiber-reinforced composite member, comprising the steps of
(a) placing a shape-retention means comprising a plurality of soft, reuseable unit members having simple cross-sectional shapes adjacent to at least one projection of a preform made of a fiber-reinforced composite material; -
(b) completely sealing said preform and said shape-retention means with a bagging film; and
(c) forming said preform into a fiber reinforced composite member by heating under pressure;
wherein said plurality of soft unit members substantially covers the surface of said pre-form to provide a gradually changing contour to prevent said at least one projection from being subjected to deforming during pressing.
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Specification