Mould and method for vacuum assisted resin transfer moulding

• US 7,980,840 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2009
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy A/S (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Stiesdal, Henrik, Nørlem, Michael, Burchardt, Claus, Olesen, Bendt, Hurup, Allan
• Primary Examiner(s): Wyrozebski; Kat
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sultana; Nahida
• Application Number:
  US12/383,959
• Publication Number:
  US 20090250847A1
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: 264/257, 264/258, 264/261, 264/102, 264/511, 425/117, 425/129.1, 425/120, 425/504, 425/405.1
• US Class Current: 425/129.1
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/0061 characterised by the configuration of the material feeding channel sprue channels for injection moulding B29C45/27
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/443 and impregnating by vacuum or injection
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/48 and impregnating the reinforcements in the closed mould, e.g. resin transfer moulding [RTM] , e.g. by vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/548 using distribution constructions, e.g. channels incorporated in or associated with the mould
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/08 Blades for rotors, stators, fans, turbines or the like, e.g. screw propellers
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/085 Wind turbine blades
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 1/0675 of the blades
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

A mold and method for vacuum assisted resin transfer molding of a fiber reinforced laminated structure are provided. The mold includes a first mold part and a second mold part. The first mold part defines a negative impression of the laminated structure, being structurally stable and forming a support for fiber reinforcement layers of the laminated structure. The second mold part connectable to the first mold part for closing the mold and defines together with the first mold part an enclosed space which can be evacuated. The mold further includes a flow duct for guiding a liquid polymer which is formed as a recess in the first mold part and/or a recess in the second mold part that is open towards the enclosed space and extends along a section of the periphery of the first mold part and/or the second mold part.

Claims

1. A mould for vacuum assisted resin transfer moulding of a fibre reinforced laminated structure, comprising:

a first mould part defines a negative impression of the fibre reinforced laminated structure, the first mould part structurally stable and forms a support for fibre reinforcement layers of the fibre reinforced laminated structure;

a second mould part connectable to the first mould part in order to close the mould and together with the first mould part defines an enclosed space to be evacuated;

a flow duct that guides a liquid polymer, the flow duct is open towards the enclosed space and is formed as a recess in the first mould part extending along a section of a periphery of the first mould part and/or a formed as a recess in the second mould part and extending along a section of the periphery of the first mould part; and

a spacer element forming a portion of the flow duct, said spacer element configured to prevent the second mould part from entering the flow duct after the enclosed space has been evacuated.

2. The mould as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the first mould part defines the negative impression of a laminated structure having an elongated shape with a leading edge and a trailing edge,

wherein the flow duct includes a first flow duct and a second flow duct,

wherein the first flow duct is in the first mould part and in the second mould part at a location where the leading edge is to be formed, and

wherein the second flow duct is in the first mould part and in the second mould part at a location where the trailing edge is to be formed.

3. The mould as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first mould part defines the negative impression of a laminated wind turbine rotor blade.

4. The mould as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second mould part is a structurally stable mould part.

5. The mould as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

a first recess formed in the first mould part; and

a second recess formed in the second mould part,

wherein the first recess and the second recess are located in the respective first and second mould part that an open part of the first recess aligns with an open part of the second recess when the mould is closed.

6. The mould as claimed in claim 4,

wherein the second mould part further defines a negative impression of the fibre reinforced laminated structure, and

wherein a mould core is defined having outer dimensions of which are smaller then the inner dimensions of the first and the second mould parts.

7. The mould as claimed in claim 5,

wherein the second mould part further defines a negative impression of the fibre reinforced laminated structure, and

wherein a mould core is defined having outer dimensions of which are smaller then the inner dimensions of the first and the second mould parts.

8. The mould as claimed in claim 6, wherein the mould core is surrounded by an inflatable member.

9. The mould as claimed in claim 1,

wherein flow duct is formed as a recess in the first mould part;

and

wherein the second mould part is a vacuum bag.

12. The mould as claimed in claim 9,

wherein flow duct is formed as a recess in the first mould part;

and

wherein the second mould part is a vacuum bag.

10. A mould for vacuum assisted resin transfer moulding of a fibre reinforced laminated a structure which is a laminated wind turbine rotor blade, comprising:

a first mould part defines a negative impression of the wind turbine blade having an elongated shape with a leading edge and a trailing edge, the first mould part structurally stable and forms a support for fibre reinforcement layers of the wind turbine blade;

a second mould part connectable to the first mould part in order to close the mould and together with the first mould part defines an enclosed space to be evacuated;

a plurality of flow ducts that guides a liquid polymer, each flow duct is open towards the enclosed space and is formed as a recess in the first mould part extending along a section of a periphery of the first mould part and/or a formed as a recess in the second mould part and extending along a section of the periphery of the first mould part; and

a spacer elements forming a portion of at least one flow duct, said spacer element configured to event the second mould art from entering the flow duct after the enclosed space has been evacuated;

wherein the plurality of flow ducts includes a first flow duct and a second flow duct,

wherein the first flow duct is in the first mould part and in the second mould part at a location where the leading edge is to be formed; and

wherein the second flow duct is in the first mould part and in the second mould part at a location where the trailing edge is to be formed.

11. The mould as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

a first recess formed in the first mould part; and

a second recess formed in the second mould part,

wherein the first recess and the second recess are located in the respective first and second mould part that an open part of the first recess aligns with an open part of the second recess when the mould is closed.