Patent ID: 8764428

Claim:
Device for the preparation of preforms of carbon fiber-reinforced components comprising a preforming mold ( 2 ) that can be immobilized on a work bench ( 14 ); a leak-tight compacting membrane ( 5 ) with high elongation that is elastically deformable due to the action of a pneumatic force, such that it is capable of adapting to the outer geometry of a preform ( 3 ) arranged on the mold ( 2 ); a compacting device with a fixing frame ( 7 ) in which the membrane ( 5 ) is assembled and which can be coupled to a lifting device ( 1 ) through a coupling system ( 15 ) to shift the compacting device ( 6 ) between a withdrawn position and a compacting position in which the membrane ( 5 ) is superimposed on the preform ( 3 ) arranged on the mold ( 2 ); pneumatic connection means connectable to a pneumatic system and connected to the compacting device to generate a pneumatic force on the membrane ( 5 ) in said compacting position, forcing the membrane ( 5 ) to adapt to said outer geometry exerting a compacting force on the preform ( 3 ); an anchoring system to anchor the compacting device to the work bench ( 14 ) when the membrane ( 3 ) is in the compacting position; a heating system to activate a binder present in the preform ( 3 ) by means of heating; wherein the heating system is a resistive heating system comprising at least two electrodes ( 4 ) connectable to an electric power supply and assembled in the mold ( 2 ) in positions in which, at least when the membrane ( 5 ) exerts said pneumatic force on the preform ( 3 ), they contact opposite end areas of the preform ( 3 ) to generate a resistive electrical circuit through the carbon fibers ( 3 . 1 ) of the preform ( 3 ) and to thus heat said binder to its activation temperature; at least the parts of the mold ( 2 ) which are in contact with the preform ( 3 ) and with the electrodes ( 4 ) are made of an electrically insulating material; the mold ( 2 ) is electrically insulated from the work bench ( 14 ).