| 摘要 |
An efficient, low cost method and apparatus for controlling fiber deposition in a fiber reinforced preform (12) is provided. In the method, a main screen (26) is placed in a tank (36) filled with liquid (44). The main screen (26) has a major surface (30), upright side walls (28) and a plurality of openings (32) formed therein. Reinforcing fibers (42) are added to the liquid (44) to create a slurry (45). The main screen (26) is raised through the slurry (45) to a level beneath the top of the slurry (45), thereby causing the reinforcing fibers (42) to be deposited on the main screen (26). A retainer screen (34) is inserted into the slurry (45) so that the reinforcing fibers (42) are sandwiched between the main screen (26) and the retainer screen (34). Both the main screen (26) and retainer screen (34) are raised out of the tank (36) effectively forming a preform (12) with minimal deformation. An alternative embodiment includes a bubbler zone control device (86) for mixing the slurry (45). The tank (36) is divided into separate areas or zones (88) whereby the supply of fluid (44) to each bubbler zone (88) is controlled. The bubbler zone controller (86) may be used to initiate or diminish a vortex in the slurry (45) as the screen (26) is being raised out of the tank (36). Another embodiment includes a fiber dispenser system (103) for adding fibers (42) to the slurry (45).
|
