초록 ▼

An apparatus is provided for molding composite articles by first rotationally molding a shell-like body with a reinforcing member or frame extending through the body and supported by the walls of a mold. The hollow shell is formed of a liquid or powdered resin or other suitable material disposed in

An apparatus is provided for molding composite articles by first rotationally molding a shell-like body with a reinforcing member or frame extending through the body and supported by the walls of a mold. The hollow shell is formed of a liquid or powdered resin or other suitable material disposed in the mold per se or containing reinforcing elements which become encapsulated within the molding material. A second molding material may be injected into the hollow shell to partly or completely fill the volume interior thereof. The second material may comprise a resin containing a blowing agent which causes the resin to expand and form a cellular mass filling the hollow body or forming a shell thereagainst as the mold is rotated. The filler material may be introduced through one or more of the reinforcing members disposed within or across the mold cavity. In another form of the invention, hot and/or cold gases may be injected into the interior of a rotational mold containing a molding material so as to react on the molding material and transfer heat thereto or receive heat therefrom so as to accelerate or effect the setting or solidifying of the material in situ against the wall of the mold or a previously deposited material. The alternate injection or spraying of molding materials and gases into the mold may be employed to form composite hollow or solid articles of predetermined compositions and physical characteristics.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A molding apparatus comprising: a multiple-part mold defined by at least first and second mold members shaped to close together and to define a molding cavity therebetween in which cavity an article may be molded to shape, first support means for rotatably supporting said multiple-part mold f

1. A molding apparatus comprising: a multiple-part mold defined by at least first and second mold members shaped to close together and to define a molding cavity therebetween in which cavity an article may be molded to shape, first support means for rotatably supporting said multiple-part mold for rotation about a first axis, means for varying the attitude of said first support means during the rotation of said mold thereon, an elongated tubular member, means for supporting said elongated tubular member fixed within said cavity of said multiple-part mold with said tubular member being detachably secured to said mold and extending from one wall of said mold, supply means for a fluent molding material, said supply means being connected to said tubular member, means for causing the flow of said fluent molding material to said tubular member from said supply means, said tubular member having an opening therein to permit molding material to flow therefrom into said mold cavity, and means for power rotating said mold about said first axis to distribute molding material about the surface of said mold cavity wall and the portion of said tubular member adjacent said wall of said mold to permit said molding material to solidify in situ on the wall of the mold and against said tubular member so as to form a composite molding defined by said hollow body with the tubular member integrally secured to the wall of said hollow body by the soldified molding material surrounding same near the mold wall and wherein both said hollow body and said tubular member are removeable from said mold. 2. A molding apparatus in accordance claim 1, said supply means for fluent material comprising a supply of molding material and including means for flowing said molding material through said tubular member into said mold cavity to form the molded article thereof. 3. A molding apparatus in accordance with claim 1, said means connecting said supply means to said tubular member comprising a conduit and means for uncoupling said conduit from said mold during the rotation thereof and recoupling said conduit to said mold to permit the flow of molding material into the mold through the tubular member while the mold is not rotating. 4. A molding apparatus in accordance with claim 3, including rotary coupling means between said supply means of molding material and said tubular member and operative to permit the injection of molding material through said tubular member into the mold cavity during the rotation of the mold. 5. A molding apparatus in accordance with claim 4, said tubular member having a plurality of openings for admitting molding material to the interior of the world and means for clearing molding material from said openings during the molding operation to permit the admission of fresh molding material therethrough into the mold cavity. 6. A molding apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including means for admitting both a fluent molding material and a heat transfer gas through said tubular member into the mold during a molding cycle. 7. A molding apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including a source of gas at elevated temperature connected to said tubular member, and means for controlling the flow of said gas at elevated temperature through said tubular member into the molding during the molding cycle for solidifying the molding material disposed within the mold. 8. A molding apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including a source of gas at reduced temperature connected to said tubular member and means for controlling the flow of said gas at reduced temperature through said tubular member into the mold cavity during a molding operation so as to rapidly cool the molding material disposed against the wall of the mold cavity. 9. A molding apparatus in accordance with claim 1, said tubular member being supported at opposite ends of said mold cavity by the walls of the mold and containing fastening means for fastening other members thereto and the molding formed about said tubular member. 10. A molding apparatus comprising: a multiple-part mold defined by a plurality of mold members which are operable to close together and define a molding cavity when the mold is closed, in which cavity an article may be molded to shape, first support means for rotatably supporting said multiple-part mold for rotation about a first axis, means for varying the attitude of said first support means during the rotation of said mold thereon, an elongated tubular member, means for supporting said elongated tubular member fixed within said cavity of said multiple-part mold with said tubular member being detachably secured to said mold and extending into said cavity, means for flowing a first molding material to said mold cavity, means for power rotating said mold about said first axis to distribute said first molding material about the surface of said mold cavity wall and the portion of said tubular member adjacent said wall of said mold to permit said molding material to solidify in situ on the wall of the mold and against said tubular member so as to form a composite molding defined by said hollow body with the tubular member integrally secured to the wall of said hollow body by the solidified molding material surrounding same near the mold wall, and means for flowing a second molding material into the interior of said hollow body and solidifying said second molding material in situ against the inside surface of said hollow body to form a composite molding of said first and second molding materials. 11. A molding apparatus in accordance with claim 10 including means for expanding said second molding material into a cellular mass against the inside surface of said hollow body. 12. A molding apparatus in accordance with claim 11 including means for controlling said means for power rotating said mold to terminate the rotation of said mold while said second molding material expands into a cellular mass therein. 13. A molding apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein said means for flowing said second molding material into the interior of said hollow body comprises means for admitting said second molding material to said tubular member and means for flowing said second molding material from said tubular member to the cavity of said mold. 14. A molding apparatus in accordance with claim 10 including means for flowing a heat transfer fluid through said tubular member into the interior of said mold after said first molding material has been admitted to said mold cavity and is distributed about the wall of the mold cavity so as to rapidly cause said first molding material to set against said mold cavity wall and to form said hollow body. 15. A molding apparatus in accordance with claim 14 including means for circulating said heat transfer fluid through said mold cavity and returning it to said tubular member after transferring heat with respect to the molding material in said mold. 16. A molding apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein said means for flowing said second molding material into the interior of said hollow body includes at least one opening in said tubular member aligned with the interior of said hollow body and through which opening said second molding material is made to flow from said tubular member into said interior of said hollow body.