MOLDING APPARATUS AND PROCESS

摘要

A molding process (100) comprising the step of inserting an uncured blank (102) in a mold cavity (14) formed in a mold system, the uncured blank including fiber and uncured binder, transferring heat from the mold system to a cool pressurized gas (108) to establish a hot pressurized gas, injecting the hot pressurized gas into the mold cavity (110), and transferring heat (112) from the hot pressurized gas to the uncured blank to cause the uncured binder to cure and establish a cured product (114).

主权项

1. A mold system comprising
a first mold unit and a second mold unit coupled to the first mold unit to move relative to the first mold unit between a closed position in which a mold cavity is defined between the first and the second mold units and an opened position in which the second mold unit is spaced apart from the first mold unit, the second mold unit is coupled to a heat source to cause the second mold unit to be at a molding temperature, wherein the second mold unit is formed to include a passageway in fluid connection with a source of pressurized gas and an array of holes formed in the second mold unit that are arranged to open into the passageway to cause pressurized gas to be communicated from the passageway to the mold cavity when the second mold unit is in the closed position, the pressurized gas flows through the passageway absorbing heat from the second mold unit to cause a hot pressurized gas to be established prior to the hot pressurized gas entering the mold cavity.