Patent ID: 6203749
Filing Date: 2001-03-20
Classification: B29C

Abstract:
A method of flowing resin from an inlet opening in an at least partially sealed mold into a lay-up, said lay-up comprising:(1) a weave of non-absorbent material defining a layer of material having a plurality of channels for passage of resin and having an upper surface defining an upper area and a lower surface defining a lower area, said non-absorbent layer located below a top resin absorbent reinforcement layer said top resin reinforcement layer having a bottom reinforcing area and wherein said non-absorbent layer is located above a bottom resin absorbent layer,(2) a passage extending from an inlet opening of said mold through the bottom reinforcing area of said top resin reinforcement layer said passage comprising a tube mounted therein, said non-absorbent layer having a cutout, wherein said top resin absorbent reinforcement layer is in contact with said bottom resin reinforcement layer within said cutout; said method comprising the following steps:(A) flowing said resin through said tube from the inlet opening to the non-absorbent layer;(B) flowing said resin from the non-absorbent material through the plurality of channels defined by the non-absorbent material to the top resin absorbent reinforcement layer and bottom resin absorbent reinforcement layer and flowing said resin through said cutout thereby joining and securing the top resin absorbent reinforcement layer to the bottom resin absorbent reinforcement layer.