US 11,832,677 B2
System for forming a deep drawn helmet
Elaine Violet Craigie, Gatineau (CA); Grzegorz Czeremuszkin, Pierrefonds (CA); Vlad Lucuta, Newport, VT (US); Thomas Moynihan, Dover, NH (US); Mohamed Latreche, Dollard des Ormeaux (CA); and Enrick Gauthier, Laval (CA)
Assigned to GALVION INCORPORATED, Montreal (CA)
Filed by Galvion Incorporated, Montreal (CA)
Filed on May 11, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/742,012.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/187,729, filed on May 12, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0361623 A1, Nov. 17, 2022
Int. Cl. B29C 70/46 (2006.01); A42C 2/00 (2006.01); B29C 70/44 (2006.01); B29L 31/48 (2006.01)
CPC A42C 2/005 (2013.01) [B29C 70/446 (2013.01); B29C 2791/002 (2013.01); B29C 2791/006 (2013.01); B29L 2031/4821 (2013.01)] 27 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A helmet forming system for creating a deep drawn helmet preform, the system comprising:
a forming draw ring and a non-forming draw ring, each including a metal rigid body bounded by a contact surface and a non-contact surface opposed to the contact surface, wherein a stack of prepreg material (“prepreg stack”) is supported between a forming aperture of the forming draw ring and a non-forming aperture of the non-forming draw ring;
a controller that directs the system to advance the forming draw ring and the non-forming draw ring towards one another to form a clamped assembly of the forming draw ring, the prepreg stack and the non-forming draw ring, wherein a flange portion of the prepreg stack is clamped between the contact surfaces of the forming draw ring and a non-forming draw ring;
wherein the controller directs advancement of the prepreg stack relative to a punch to form the deep drawn helmet preform, during which the system applies a clamping force to the clamped assembly, and during which the punch enters and passes through the non-forming aperture and then draws the prepreg stack through the forming aperture and above the non-contact surface of the forming draw ring until a desired drawing depth of the prepreg stack is achieved; and
a temperature control system under control of the controller that is connected to the punch, the forming draw ring and the non-forming draw ring and provides heating and cooling, wherein the temperature control system is configured to independently control the temperature of the punch, the forming draw ring and the non-forming draw ring.