US 12,226,965 B2
Structural composite preform wet-out and curing system and apparatus
Scott Lewit, Melbourne, FL (US); and Ronnal P. Reichard, Melbourne, FL (US)
Assigned to COMPOSITES INTELLECTUAL HOLDINGS, INC., West Melbourne, FL (US)
Filed by COMPOSITES INTELLECTUAL HOLDINGS, INC., West Melbourne, FL (US)
Filed on Mar. 25, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/364,048.
Application 16/364,048 is a continuation of application No. 14/214,913, filed on Mar. 15, 2014, granted, now 10,239,265.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/791,995, filed on Mar. 15, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2019/0217557 A1, Jul. 18, 2019
Int. Cl. B05C 9/14 (2006.01); B05C 5/02 (2006.01); B29B 15/10 (2006.01); B29B 15/12 (2006.01); B29C 70/50 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 70/50 (2013.01) [B05C 5/02 (2013.01); B05C 9/14 (2013.01); B29B 15/10 (2013.01); B29B 15/127 (2013.01)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for producing a composite structure, comprising:
a conveyor for motivating a composite preform along a longitudinal axis of motivation, wherein said composite preform is defined as having a structural foam core at least partially covered with an unwetted fabric attached to said foam core;
a wetting station comprising a plurality of spray heads in fluid communication with a controllable resin pump via a first resin conduction means, and wherein said resin pump is in fluid communication with a resin reservoir containing resin via a second resin conduction means;
a cylindrical mandrel for shaping the composite preform:
a curing station; and
a resin collection sump system comprising a sump basin for collecting excess resin as it drains away from said wetting station, said sump basin in fluid communication with a sump pump, and said sump pump being in fluid communication with a reservoir, and said reservoir being in fluid communication with said wetting means via said resin pump;
wherein:
said wetting station, said cylindrical mandrel, and said curing station are each located along said longitudinal axis of motivation, such that said composite preform is motivated by said conveyor to pass through said wetting station first, then wrapped around the cylindrical mandrel in a tight spiral on the cylindrical mandrel, and then through said curing station;
a resin flow rate through the plurality of spray heads is controlled by the controllable resin pump such that said unwetted fabric is saturated with resin by the plurality of spray heads when said controllable resin pump motivates said resin from said resin reservoir to the plurality of spray heads while said composite preform is motivated through said wetting station by said conveyor;
the plurality of spray heads being disposed both above and below the conveyor, so as to spray resin onto opposing surfaces of said composite preform as said composite preform is motivated along said longitudinal axis of motivation through said wetting station, such that unwetted fabric on both opposing surfaces is saturated with resin;
said curing station is disposed to at least partially cure said resin while said composite preform is motivated through said curing station by said conveyor; and
wherein said conveyor is further defined as a motor-driven conveyor.