Process for curing a porous muffler preform
First Claim
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1. A process for curing a porous muffler preform defined by a plurality of glass fibers and a heat-curing thermoset or thermoplastic material applied to the plurality of glass fibers, the process comprising:
- retaining the muffler preform in a perforated mold;
enclosing the muffler preform and the perforated mold in a chamber having a baffle positioned therein;
introducing steam into the chamber at a temperature in the range of about 330°
F. to about 390°
F. and at a pressure in the range of about 90 p.s.i. to about 190 p.s.i.; and
causing the steam to impact the baffle and change directions prior to entering the muffler preform through the perforated mold.
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Abstract
A process for curing a porous muffler preform defined by a plurality of glass fibers and a heat-curing thermoset or thermoplastic materials applied to the plurality of glass fibers is disclosed herein. The process includes the step of enclosing the muffler preform in a chamber. The process also includes the step of surrounding the muffler preform with steam. The process also includes the step of causing steam to enter the muffler preform from multiple directions.
51 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A process for curing a porous muffler preform defined by a plurality of glass fibers and a heat-curing thermoset or thermoplastic material applied to the plurality of glass fibers, the process comprising:
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retaining the muffler preform in a perforated mold; enclosing the muffler preform and the perforated mold in a chamber having a baffle positioned therein; introducing steam into the chamber at a temperature in the range of about 330°
F. to about 390°
F. and at a pressure in the range of about 90 p.s.i. to about 190 p.s.i.; andcausing the steam to impact the baffle and change directions prior to entering the muffler preform through the perforated mold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 16, 17)
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3. A process for curing a porous muffler preform defined by a plurality of glass fibers and a heat-curing thermoset or thermoplastic material applied to the plurality of glass fibers, the process comprising:
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retaining the muffler preform in a mold; enclosing the muffler preform and the mold in a chamber at a first pressure, said chamber including at least one baffling surface; injecting steam into the chamber through an inlet port after the enclosing step, said steam injected into the chamber at a temperature in the range of about 330°
F. to about 390°
F. and at a pressure in the range of about 90 p.s.i. to about 190 p.s.i.; andwherein a direction of the steam is altered by the at least one baffling surface inside the chamber such that the steam does not directly impinge on the muffler preform. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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12. A process for curing a porous muffler preform defined by a plurality of glass fibers and a heat-curing thermoset or thermoplastic material applied to the plurality of glass fibers, the process comprising:
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retaining the muffler preform in a perforated mold; enclosing the muffler preform and the perforated mold at a first temperature in a chamber at a first pressure, said chamber including at least one baffling surface; introducing steam into the chamber at a second pressure greater than atmospheric and the first pressure and at a second temperature substantially at the boiling point of water at the second pressure; and causing the steam to impact the at least one baffling surface and change directions prior to entering the muffler preform through the perforated mold within the chamber, wherein water is condensed on the muffler preform and imparts heat to the heat-curing thermoset or thermoplastic material. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification