Patent ID: 6478926
Filing Date: 2002-11-12
Classification: B29C

Abstract:
Apparatus for manufacturing structural preforms, comprising:a first forming station comprising a support structure having a plurality of horizontal and vertical members; a first movable horizontal platen disposed within the interior of said forming station; a second movable horizontal platen disposed within the interior of said forming station and above said first movable horizontal platen; said first horizontal platen being vertically movable between a raised and a lowered position, and comprising a first frame having a first top surface with a first plurality of vacuum ports disposed on said first top surface, said first frame surrounding and supporting a first elastomeric diaphragm which is substantially transparent to electromagnetic energy; said second horizontal platen being vertically movable between a raised and a lowered position, and comprising a first plurality of arms connected to and extending downwardly from said second movable horizontal platen; a plurality of first electromagnetic energy emitters disposed at a distal end of each of said first plurality of arms; a cooling device operatively disposed for cooling said first elastomeric diaphragm; a first lay-up station comprising a support structure having a plurality of horizontal and vertical members, wherein the proximal end of said first lay-up station is attached to a first side of said first forming station; a shuttle table slidingly-connected to said first lay-up station and slidingly5 connected to said first forming station, whereby said shuttle table can be moved bidirectionally from a first position disposed on said first lay-up station to a second position disposed within the interior of said first forming station and back to said first position, wherein said second position is disposed beneath said first movable platen; a locking device for selectively securing said shuttle table at said first or said second position; a first forming tool disposed on said shuttle table, wherein said first forming tool comprises a first outer surface disposed on a first interior portion; and a vacuum surge tank operatively connected to said first plurality of vacuum ports for applying vacuum contemporaneously with emission of said electromagnetic energy.