Integrated apparatus and method for filling porous composite preforms

摘要

A method and apparatus for filling preforms with resin or slurry includes a tank (10) for holding the slurry and an autoclave (11) for holding the preforms. The tank (10) and autoclave (11) have a common vacuum system connected thereto, and the tank (10) is disposed above the autoclave (11). This arrangement provides a compact casting system (8) which utilizes a vacuum and gravity to transfer slurry from the tank (10) to the preforms within the autoclave (11).