Patent GB-933993-A (GB)
Title: Method and apparatus for forming fibre reinforced resin articles
IPC: B29C33/60
Filed: 1961-07-04
Abstract: 933,993. Laminates and laminating; agglutinated fibrous fabrics. UNIVERSAL MOULDED FIBER GLASS CORPORATION. July 7, 1961 [July 20, 1960], No. 24127/61. Addition to 908,753. Classes 42 (2) and 140. [Also in Group V] In a modification of the invention the subject of the parent Specification for forming continuous lengths of articles of fibrereinforced thermo-hardening resin materials, the continuous lengths of film reinforcement used are drawn into the entrance portion of the forming channel through a resin bath one wall of which comprises the structure surrounding the entrance portion. As shown in Fig. 6, which comprises vertically arranged parallel forming apparatus D, D<SP>1</SP> for making down spouts and gutters, respectively, webs R1, R2 of glass fibre mat are clamped at the lower end of the apparatus in reciprocatable clamps V, VI, and are drawn thereby through the apparatus. The webs pass through or over shaping guides M1, M2 into a hopper-shaped resin bath RP the walls of which form the flared inlet to the forming apparatus D, D1. The latter, shown in connection with D, comprises an outer channel of appropriate shape and a core C. Rovings SP of glass or other fibres are supplied through tubular guides T.G. to the external surfaces of the webs R1, R2. Resin is supplied from a tank T. The core C is tapered at the n rance and so that excess resin is pressed out of the webs as they pass down the upper part of the forming channel and flows back into the bath RP. The channel members D, D1 are so bolted to the frame of the apparatus as to permit limited angular adjustment thereof in any direction in relation to the direction of pull of the webs through the apparatus. The core C and the channel D are each formed with channels for circulation of water or other cooling liquid at their entry and delivery ends, and with heating means such as electric heating elements in their mid-regions. Another modification is shown in Figs. 12, 13, 14, 16 and 18 wherein Fig. 12 is an overall elevation of the apparatus, Fig. 13, is an enlarged elevation of the resin pan, forming device and part of the puller mechanism, Fig. 14 is a plan view corresponding to Fig. 13, Fig. 16 is a further enlarged elevation of the forming device and part of the puller mechanism and Fig. 18 is a plan view corresponding to Fig. 16. In this modification, the puller mechanism comprises crawl tread apparatus CT having upper and lower mating shoes 84 and 85. Strips of glass fibre reinforcement 74 are fed from supply rolls 75 into resin pan 73 under guide 83. The forming device FD is adapted to form a channel piece (Fig. 15) having a base 78 and side flanges 79, and comprises upper and lower mating die parts 80 and 81 between which a channel-shaped passage is formed. The entrance end portion of upper die part 80 is tapered at 82 to provide an enlarged opening. The entrance end portion of forming device FD constitutes a part of the wall of the resin bath 73, and in use the level of resins is kept at least as high as the uppermost portion of the tapered entrance end of the confining passage in the die. Crawl tread shoes 84 and 85 engage the upper and lower surfaces of the channel-piece formed in the forming device and thereby move the piece through the forming device and feed the reinforcement from the supply rolls and through the resin bath. Forming device FD is mounted on bracket 72 which is connected to thrust-plate 71 by bolts 92 having heads engaged in plate 71, together with angle adjusting screws 93 threaded in bracket 72 in positions to bear against the surface of plate 71. By adjustment of the screws 93 and bolts 92 the angle between the die axis and the line of pull of the puller mechanism may be varied in any plane. By means of this adjustment any tendency of the channel piece to warp (as shown in Figs. 15 and 17) may be corrected. Figs. 16 and 18 show adjustment of the angle in a vertical and horizontal plane respectively.