Patent ID: 6627142
Filing Date: 2003-09-30
Classification: B29C

Abstract:
An apparatus for fabricating fiber reinforced plastic structures comprising:a fluid impervious outer sheet; a resin inlet in said fluid impervious outer sheet; a mold surface upon which can be supported a lay-up of one or more layers of a fibrous material, and over which said fluid impervious outer sheet is placed and its edges marginally sealed upon said mold surface to form a chamber; a vacuum outlet for drawing a vacuum upon said chamber; and a resin distribution medium for location between the fabric lay-up and said fluid impervious sheet, said resin distribution medium comprising: a resin distribution sheet for distributing resin throughout the lay-up, said resin distribution sheet having a first permeability; and at least one resin distribution strip comprising a resin-permeable material in the form of a flat sheet covering a portion of said resin distribution sheet and coupled to said inlet port for distributing resin throughout said resin distribution medium; said at least one resin distribution strip having a second permeability equal or greater than said first permeability of said resin distribution sheet.