IP Library Granted Patent US 10,532,522
Granted Patent B2
US 10,532,522 · App. 14/293,230 · Granted Jan 14, 2020

Method and device for molding fiber-reinforced plastic member

Inventor: Tomohiro Murai (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: MITSUBISHI AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
B29C70/48B29C70/443
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,532,522
App. No.
14/293,230
Granted
Jan 14, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for molding a fiber-reinforced plastic member involves disposing a reinforced-fiber base material 2 inside a molding space S, which is created between a mold 1 and a bag film 6 , and then depressurizing the inside of the molding space S and curing a resin composition R contained in the reinforced-fiber base material 2 , wherein a flat pressure plate 5 made of spring steel is disposed between the reinforced-fiber base material 2 and the bag film 6 . The pressure plate 5 elastically deforms along the shape of the reinforced-fiber base material 2 while the inside of the molding space S is being depressurized, and returns to its original flat shape when depressurization is stopped and the bag film 6 is removed after curing of the resin composition R.

Claims (43)

1. A method for molding a fiber-reinforced plastic member, comprising the steps of:

disposing a fiber-reinforced plastic raw material inside a molding space, which is created between a mold and a covering material, so as to face the mold, and disposing a flat pressure plate made of spring steel between the fiber-reinforced plastic raw material and the covering material;

applying a molding load to the inside of the molding space; and

curing a resin composition contained in the fiber-reinforced plastic raw material,

wherein the mold has a molding surface, at least a portion of which is substantially arcuate in shape, and in the step of applying the molding load to the inside of the molding space, the pressure plate elastically deforms along the molding surface of the mold.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the spring steel is constituted of a stainless steel having at least one of the following mechanical properties:

a yield strength of 500 N/mm 2 or higher;

a hardness of 300 Hv or higher; and

a longitudinal elastic modulus of 180×10 3 N/mm 2 or higher.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the spring steel is constituted of a stainless steel having a mechanical property of a hardness of 350 Hv or higher.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the spring steel is constituted of a stainless steel having at least one of the following mechanical properties:

a yield strength of 700 N/mm 2 or higher;

a hardness of 350 Hv or higher; and

a longitudinal elastic modulus of 190×10 3 N/mm 2 or higher.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the spring steel is constituted of a stainless steel having the following mechanical properties:

a yield strength of 700 N/mm 2 or higher;

a hardness of 350 Hv or higher; and

a longitudinal elastic modulus of 190×10 3 N/mm 2 or higher.

6. A method for molding a fiber-reinforced plastic member, comprising:

a disposing step of placing a reinforced-fiber base material on a mold;

a covering step of covering the reinforced-fiber base material placed on the mold with a covering material;

a depressurizing step of depressurizing the inside of the molding space, which works as a molding load;

a resin impregnating step of supplying a resin composition in a fluidized state into the depressurized molding space and impregnating the reinforced-fiber base material with the resin composition; and

a resin curing step of heating and curing the resin composition, wherein

in the covering step, a flat pressure plate made of spring steel is disposed between the reinforced-fiber base material and the covering material,

wherein the mold has a molding surface, at least a portion of which is substantially arcuate in shape, and in the step of applying the molding load to the inside of the molding space, the pressure plate elastically deforms along the molding surface of the mold.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the spring steel is constituted of a stainless steel having at least one of the following mechanical properties:

a yield strength of 500 N/mm 2 or higher;

a hardness of 300 Hv or higher; and

a longitudinal elastic modulus of 180×10 3 N/mm 2 or higher.

8. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the spring steel is constituted of a stainless steel having a mechanical property of a hardness of 350 Hv or higher.

9. A method for molding a fiber-reinforced plastic member, comprising:

a disposing step of placing a pre-preg, which contains a fiber base material and a matrix resin composition, as a fiber-reinforced plastic raw material, on a mold;

a covering step of covering the pre-preg placed on the mold with a covering material;

a depressurizing step of depressurizing the inside of the molding space and exhausting the air; and

a resin curing step of pressurizing the inside of the molding space through the covering material, which works as a molding load, and at the same time heating and curing the resin composition of the pre-preg, wherein

in the covering step, a flat pressure plate made of spring steel is disposed between the pre-preg and the covering material,

wherein the mold has a molding surface, at least a portion of which is substantially arcuate in shape, and in the step of applying the molding load to the inside of the molding space, the pressure plate elastically deforms along the molding surface of the mold.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the spring steel is constituted of a stainless steel having at least one of the following mechanical properties:

a yield strength of 500 N/mm 2 or higher;

a hardness of 300 Hv or higher; and

a longitudinal elastic modulus of 180×10 3 N/mm 2 or higher.

11. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the spring steel is constituted of a stainless steel having a mechanical property of a hardness of 350 Hv or higher.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded May 22, 2024
From: MSJ ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY
To: MSJ ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY
Reel/Frame 067488/0058 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded May 22, 2024
From: MSJ ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY
To: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
Reel/Frame 067488/0099 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 22, 2024
From: MITSUBISHI AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
To: MSJ ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY
Reel/Frame 067489/0244 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 2, 2014
From: MURAI, TOMOHIRO
To: MITSUBISHI AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033009/0965 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2013-119361 · Jun 6, 2013 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140361467A1 · Dec 11, 2014