Patent ID: 6485668
Filing Date: 2002-11-26
Classification: B29C,B29L

Abstract:
The process for making a composite vessel, having at least one closed end, comprising the steps of:A) fabricating a thermoplastic liner for the vessel; B) overlaying onto the thermoplastic liner a layer comprising commingled fiber and thermoplastic material to obtain a composite intermediate structure; C) pressing and heating the composite intermediate structure to effect at least partial consolidation of the components thereof in pressing and heating apparatus comprising: 1) an upper bag; and 2) a lower bag; 3) the upper and lower bags being of such dimensions that, when in operative pressing and heating mutual positions, their facing peripheral regions abut to substantially encompass the composite intermediate structure; D) placing the at least partially consolidated composite intermediate structure in a mold; E) heating the composite intermediate structure in a mold while applying at least one force thereto tending to urge the composite intermediate structure against and into the shape of the interior walls of the mold; F) continuing step E) until the thermoplastic liner and the overlaid layer fully consolidate to form a composite vessel; G) cooling the mold and composite vessel until the composite vessel is solidified; and H) removing the formed composite vessel from the mold.