Lamination method and apparatus.

摘要

This invention relates to a lamination press (12) and the manufacture of laminates (62) in the press. The press includes a pressure vessel (12) divided into first (14) and second (16) chambers by a flexible material (18). An assembly of elements to be laminated is placed in the second chamber (16) and a vacuum is drawn in both chambers. A higher vacuum is drawn in the first chamber (14) than in the second (16) so as to prevent the entrapment of air in the laminar assembly (62) by external pressures. The first chamber (14) is then flooded with a heated, pressurized fluid, which exerts a compressive force on the laminar assembly (62) through the flexible material. Transfer of heat from the fluid to the laminar assembly is monitored by circulating the fluid through the first chamber (14) and comparing the entering (24) and exiting (26) fluid temperatures. Heat transfer is controlled by varying the temperature of the circulating fluid and by changing its rate of flow through the first chamber (14).