JP2004181658A - Method and apparatus for manufacturing branched part of tube made of fiber-reinforced resin - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To manufacture a branched part of a tube made of a fiber-reinforced resin whose outer shape is highly accurately molded. <P>SOLUTION: When the branched part of the tube made of the fiber-reinforced resin is manufactured by molding a mandrel 10 corresponding to a male mold into a hollow elastic body and curing a raw material 13 comprising a reinforcing fiber-containing resin and the like filled between the mandrel 10 and a female mold 14 made of a metal, a pressurized gas is fed into a hollow part 10a of the mandrel 10 to expand and deform the mandrel 10, and the raw material 13 is pushed outward, and the outer shape of the raw material 13 is highly accurately molded by receiving a counterforce of the female mold 14. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for manufacturing a pipe branch formed of a fiber-reinforced resin, and more particularly, to a female mold in which a mandrel is a male mold and which is fixed at a predetermined interval to an outer surface of the mandrel. The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for manufacturing a fiber-reinforced resin pipe branch section in which a resin containing a reinforcing fiber is charged and molded between the pipes.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A conventional method or apparatus for producing this type of fiber reinforced resin pipe branch will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 shows an RTM (resin transfer molding) molding method and an apparatus therefor.
[0003]
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a mandrel. The mandrel 1 is formed of a solid (solid) metal, and in the illustrated example, corresponds to a male mold for manufacturing a T-shaped pipe branch. Thus, a female mold 2 molded of metal corresponding to the male mandrel 1 is fixed to the outer surface of the mandrel 1 at a predetermined distance from the mandrel 1. In this method, after reinforcing fibers are attached to the surface of the mandrel 1 by means of winding or knitting, the female mold 2 is fixed, and a lid fixed to the ends of the mandrel 1 and the female mold 2 A space M formed between the mandrel 1 and the female mold in the body 3 is also closed by the cover 3, and a resin is injected into a part of the cover 3 facing the position of the space M. An inlet 4 is provided, and a vacuum connection port 5 is opened at a position facing the space M on the lid 3 fixed to the opposite side of the resin injection port 4. In the illustrated example, the resin injection port 4 and the vacuum connection port 5 are provided at one position on each of the left, right, upper and lower sides.
[0004]
Then, the vacuum connection port 5 is opened, a resin solution is injected from the resin injection port 4, and when the resin flows out from the vacuum connection port 5, the vacuum connection port 5 is closed, and the vacuum connection port 5 is closed. The resin solution is uniformly infiltrated into the reinforcing fibers provided. At this time, bubbles and the like generated in the infiltrated resin solution are removed by the pressure of the infusion pump from the resin injection port 4 to allow the resin solution to air-tightly infiltrate the reinforcing fibers, and the resin is heated and pressed. After a lapse of a predetermined time, the resin is cured and the mold is released to produce a fiber-reinforced resin pipe branch.
[0005]
FIG. 8 shows a state in which the fiber-reinforced resin pipe branch section is manufactured by the conventional autoclave pressure or atmospheric pressure. In the figure, reference numeral 6 denotes a mandrel formed of a solid (pure) metal. The mandrel 6, like the mandrel 1 shown in FIG. 7, is also made of metal and corresponds to a male mold for manufacturing a T-shaped pipe branch. Thus, the mandrel 6 is formed such that the respective distal ends of both the main pipe portion forming portion 6a and the branch pipe portion forming portion 6b protrude outward from a portion corresponding to the pipe branch portion. Therefore, when manufacturing a pipe branch using the mandrel 6, a resin containing a reinforcing fiber is mounted on the surface of the mandrel 6 except for the end of the mandrel 6. Then, the resin is released after the resin is hardened. As a means for hardening the resin, as shown in FIG. 8, the upper surface of the reinforcing fiber impregnated with the resin is sealed via the seal portions 7 and 7. The resin is sealed with a film-shaped flexible female mold 8, and the resin is pressurized and cured by autoclave pressure or atmospheric pressure. At this time, vacuum connection ports 9, 9, 9 are provided in a part of each of the female dies 8 to evacuate the female dies 8, and the negative pressure in the female dies 8 and the autoclave pressure or atmospheric pressure The female die 8 presses the resin surface by the action of the above, the outer shape of the resin is molded, the resin is hardened, and the resin is released to produce a pipe branch portion.
[0006]
In addition, the curable resin-impregnated reinforcing fiber is wound around the outer surface of the mandrel, and is cured by heating with a means such as a heater from the outer surface of the curable resin-impregnated reinforcing fiber wound around the mandrel, and is released from the mold. There is also known one configured to manufacture a T-shaped pipe branch (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).
[0007]
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-335572 Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-128858
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Among the above conventional examples, the mold used in the method of manufacturing the fiber reinforced resin pipe branch portion by the RTM molding method is such that both the male mold and the female mold are made of metal. The resin is press-fitted by means of a pump or the like, but a uniform distribution of the resin press-fitted by the pump pressure or the like cannot be expected. Further, when the outer shape of the pipe branch is formed by the autoclave pressure or the vacuum pressure, and when the pipe branch is manufactured by the manufacturing method disclosed in the above cited references 1 and 2, It is difficult to maintain high accuracy in the outer dimensions of the pipe branch.
[0009]
Therefore, a technical problem to be solved arises in order to manufacture a fiber-reinforced resin pipe branch formed by molding the outer shape with high precision, and the present invention has an object to solve the problem. I do.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention has been proposed in order to achieve the above object, and is a fiber reinforced resin pipe branch, wherein the pipe branch has a male mandrel and has a predetermined distance from the mandrel. A method of manufacturing a fiber reinforced resin pipe branch formed such that a resin containing reinforcing fibers is loaded between a female mold fixed to an outer surface of a mandrel and the resin is cured and then molded and removed. In the above, the mandrel is formed of a hollow elastic body, and pressurized gas is injected into a hollow portion of the mandrel to press the hollow inner side surface of the mandrel, whereby the mandrel expands and deforms to strengthen the mandrel. The resin containing fibers is pressurized, and the outer surface of the resin is made of a fiber-reinforced resin in which the outer shape of the resin containing the reinforcing fibers is molded with high precision by receiving the reaction force of the inner surface of the female female mold. Pipe branch manufacturing method, and the above mandrel A method for manufacturing a fiber-reinforced resin pipe branch in which a gas inlet for injecting a pressurized gas into an empty space is provided in a lid closing an open end of the mandrel, and a fiber-reinforced resin pipe branch. Wherein the pipe branch section has a mandrel of a male type, and a resin containing reinforcing fibers is loaded between the mandrel and a female type fixed to the outer surface of the mandrel at a predetermined interval, and the resin After curing, in a method of manufacturing a fiber reinforced resin pipe branch formed to be manufactured by demolding, the mandrel is formed by molding a hollow elastic body, and by heating the mandrel, The resin containing the reinforcing fibers is pressurized when the mandrel expands and deforms, and the outer shape of the resin containing the reinforcing fibers is changed by receiving the reaction force of the outer surface of the resin on the inner surface of the metal female mold. Manufacturing method of fiber reinforced resin pipe branch formed with high precision And a fiber reinforced resin pipe branch, wherein the pipe branch has a male mandrel and a reinforcing fiber between the mandrel and a female mold fixed to the outer surface of the mandrel at a predetermined interval. In a manufacturing apparatus of a fiber reinforced resin pipe branch portion manufactured by loading a resin containing the resin and curing the resin and then removing the mold, the mandrel is formed by molding a solid elastic body. By injecting a pressurized gas into the hollow portion and pressing the hollow inner surface of the mandrel, the mandrel expands and deforms to pressurize the resin containing the reinforcing fibers, and the outer surface of the resin is formed of a metal female. Apparatus for manufacturing a fiber reinforced resin pipe branch section in which the outer shape of the resin containing the reinforcing fiber is molded with high precision under the reaction force of the inner surface of the mold, and injecting pressurized gas into the hollow part of the mandrel A gas inlet for the end of the mandrel An apparatus for manufacturing a fiber reinforced resin pipe branch provided in a lid closing an open part, and a fiber reinforced resin pipe branch, wherein the pipe branch has a male mandrel, and A resin containing reinforcing fibers is loaded between a female mold fixed to the outer surface of the mandrel at a predetermined interval, and after curing of the resin, a fiber-reinforced resin pipe branch portion manufactured by demolding. In the manufacturing apparatus, the mandrel is formed by molding a solid elastic body, and by heating the mandrel, the mandrel expands and deforms to press the resin containing the reinforcing fibers, and the resin The present invention provides an apparatus for manufacturing a fiber reinforced resin pipe branch portion in which the outer surface of a metal female mold receives the reaction force of the inner surface of a female female mold and the outer shape of the resin containing the reinforcing fiber is molded with high precision.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 show an embodiment of the invention described in claims 1 and 2 and 4 and 5. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a mandrel 10 made of a hollow elastic body. The mandrel 10 in the illustrated example is equivalent to a male type for manufacturing the T-shaped pipe branch portion 11 shown in FIG. 6, but is not limited thereto, and has four or more pipe branch portions. It may be a mandrel equivalent to a male type for manufacturing a multiple pipe branch.
[0012]
Thus, the mandrel 10 can be made of rubber. In that case, flexibility is ensured, and when the pressurized air is injected into the hollow portion of the mandrel 10 as described later, appropriate expansion and deformation can be expected by the elastic force of the mandrel 10. Thus, another gas such as nitrogen can be used as the compressed air. In that case, the same action as the action of the pressurized air can be expected.
[0013]
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the core body 12 is fitted into the hollow portion 10a of the mandrel 10. The core 12 is formed of metal or hardened plastic, and as shown in FIG. 3, when the material 13 made of reinforcing fiber or prepreg is wound around the surface of the mandrel 10, the core 12 is The mandrel 10 made of a flexible material is appropriately held by fitting into the hollow portion of the material 13 so that the mounting operation such as winding of the material 13 is smoothly performed. The means for attaching the material 13 made of the reinforcing fibers or prepreg to the mandrel 10 adopts a method generally used conventionally and is not specified.
[0014]
FIG. 4 shows that after the material 13 is wound on the surface of the mandrel 10, a female mold 14 made of metal is fixed on the surface of the material 13 at a predetermined interval from the mandrel 10 to manufacture the pipe branch portion 11. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a process to be performed. As shown in the figure, lids 15, 15, 15 are mounted on each end of the female mold 14 in the same manner as in the above-described RTM molding method, and the hollow portion 10a of the mandrel 10 and the mandrel 10 are connected to each other. The surface facing the material 13 wound between the female mold 14 is closed. An air inlet 16 for injecting pressurized air toward one of the lids 15 and into the hollow portion 10a of the mandrel 10 is provided, and a lid facing the material 13 is provided. 15 is provided with a resin injection port 17, and the resin is press-fitted through the resin injection port 17 by an injection pump (not shown) or the like. Vacuum connection ports 18 are provided at arbitrary positions of the female die 14, and the resin injection from the resin injection port 17 is assisted by applying a negative pressure to the material 13.
[0015]
4 and 5, a seal 19 is provided on the surface facing the resin injection port 17, but when the resin is injected through the resin injection port 17, the resin injection is performed. The inlet 17 is, of course, provided at a place avoiding the seal 19.
[0016]
That is, when the material 13 is a reinforcing fiber and the reinforcing fiber is initially wound on the surface of the mandrel 10, after fixing the female mold 14, the vacuum connection ports 18, 18 are opened. The resin is injected from the resin injection port 17 and when the injected resin starts flowing out of the vacuum connection ports 18, the vacuum connection ports 18 are closed to prevent leakage of the resin. Further, the injected resin is heated and hardened. In the resin injection step, the negative pressure through the vacuum connection ports 18 and the pressure from the air injection port 16 also cause the resin to harden. Air bubbles generated inside the resin are removed, and the process is performed so that the resin is uniformly and airtightly infiltrated into the reinforcing fibers.
[0017]
When the material 13 is wound around the surface of the mandrel 10 using a prepreg, the prepreg is a sheet formed by impregnating various resins with reinforcing fibers such as carbon fiber, aramid fiber, and glass fiber. Since the prepreg itself has already been impregnated with the resin in a semi-cured state, it is not necessary to inject a new resin through the resin injection port 17 after fixing the female mold 14. However, it does not prohibit resin injection separately.
[0018]
As described above, when the resin containing the reinforcing fiber is loaded on the surface of the flexible mandrel 10, pressurized air of a predetermined pressure is injected into the hollow portion 10 a of the mandrel 10 from the air inlet 16. In that case, since the mandrel 10 is formed of a flexible material, the mandrel 10 is inflated and deformed on average outward by the pressurized air, and the outer surface of the mandrel 10 presses the inner surface of the material 13. Thus, when the mandrel 10 expands and deforms and presses the material 13 outward, the material 13 receives the reaction force of the inner surface of the fixed metal female mold 14 and The outer shape of the material 13 is molded with high precision in a state of being in close contact with the inner surface. Then, the material 13 is released after being cured, and the fiber reinforced resin pipe branch portion 11 is manufactured.
[0019]
In the present invention, the male-type mandrel 10 is formed of a hollow elastic body, and pressurized air is injected into the hollow portion 10a of the mandrel 10 to expand and deform the mandrel 10 to form the material 13. It is characterized by the fact that the outer shape of the material 13 is formed with high accuracy by receiving the reaction force of the metal female mold 14 when pressurized, so that the remaining manufacturing processes and the like are not particularly limited. Absent.
[0020]
In FIG. 4, reference numeral 19 denotes a seal. The seal 19 maintains the airtightness of the interposed space of the material 13.
FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the third and sixth aspects of the present invention. The method and apparatus for manufacturing the pipe branch shown in the figure are essentially the same as the method and apparatus shown in FIG. The only difference is that the mandrel 20 shown in FIG. 5 is formed of a solid (pure) elastic body, and the material 13 is pressed by the expansion and deformation of the mandrel 20. Therefore, although FIG. 5 does not have the air inlet 16 shown in FIG. 4, the other technical items are exactly the same as those of the manufacturing method and the manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. In addition, the same components as those in FIG. 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof will be omitted, and a manufacturing method based on the configuration will also be omitted.
[0021]
The mandrel is formed of a solid elastic body as described above. Preferably, the mandrel 20 is selected from a soft material having a high coefficient of thermal expansion. That is, when the mandrel 20 is connected to a heat source (not shown), the mandrel 20 is formed of a material that easily expands and deforms. For example, silicon rubber, acrylic rubber, fluorine rubber and the like can be listed.
[0022]
However, the mandrel 20 is thermally expanded and deformed, and the resin containing the reinforcing fibers is pressed, and the outer surface of the resin receives the reaction force of the inner surface of the metal female mold 14 to be reinforced. The outer shape of the resin containing fibers is molded with high precision, and when the resin is cured and released from the mold, the mandrel 20 and the resin are not fused so that the mandrel 20 can be easily released from the mold. Naturally, a surface treatment or the like is performed.
[0023]
Therefore, the present invention can be variously modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and it is natural that the present invention extends to the modified ones.
[0024]
【The invention's effect】
As described in detail in the above-described embodiment, when manufacturing a fiber-reinforced resin pipe branch portion, the surface of a male mandrel made of an elastic body formed of a flexible material is formed on the surface of a prepreg like a prepreg. When a material made of a reinforcing fiber impregnated with a natural resin is wound, and a metal female mold is fixed on the upper surface to manufacture the fiber-reinforced resin pipe branch portion, the mandrel expands and deforms to form the fiber. The mandrel presses the material outward, and the material pressed by the mandrel receives the reaction force of the inner surface of the female mold, and the outer shape of the resin containing the reinforcing fibers is shaped with high precision. . Therefore, the present invention is an invention having a remarkably great effect, for example, it is possible to produce a fiber-reinforced resin pipe branch having a highly accurate outer shape by removing the mold after the resin is cured.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a mandrel of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state where a core body is fitted to the mandrel of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which a reinforcing fiber impregnated with a resin is wound around the surface of the mandrel of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 shows a state in which a reinforcing fiber impregnated with the resin shown in FIG. 3 is wound around a mandrel, and a female mold is fixed on the upper surface of the mandrel. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an embodiment of the invention described in claims 3 and 6;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a fiber-reinforced resin pipe branch produced according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which a fiber-reinforced resin pipe branch is manufactured by a conventional RTM molding method.
FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which a fiber-reinforced resin pipe branch portion is manufactured by an autoclave pressure and a vacuum pressure in a conventional example.
[Explanation of symbols]
10, 20 Mandrel 10a Hollow part 11 Pipe branch part 12 Core body 13 Material 14 Female mold 15 Lid 16 Air injection port 17 Resin injection port 18 Vacuum connection port

Claims (6)

A fiber-reinforced resin pipe branch, wherein the pipe branch has a male mandrel and a resin containing reinforcing fibers between the mandrel and a female mold fixed to the outer surface of the mandrel at a predetermined interval. Is loaded, after curing of the resin, in a method of manufacturing a fiber reinforced resin pipe branch formed to be manufactured by demolding,
The mandrel is formed of a hollow elastic body, and pressurized gas is injected into the hollow portion of the mandrel to press the hollow inner side surface of the mandrel, whereby the mandrel expands and deforms and a resin containing the reinforcing fiber is formed. Is pressurized, and the outer surface of the resin receives the reaction force of the inner surface of the metal female mold to form the outer shape of the resin containing the reinforcing fiber with high precision. Manufacturing method of pipe branch. 2. A fiber-reinforced resin pipe branch according to claim 1, wherein a gas inlet for injecting pressurized gas into the hollow portion of the mandrel is provided in a lid closing an open end of the mandrel. Manufacturing method of the department. A fiber-reinforced resin pipe branch, wherein the pipe branch has a male mandrel and a resin containing reinforcing fibers between the mandrel and a female mold fixed to the outer surface of the mandrel at a predetermined interval. Is loaded, after curing of the resin, in a method of manufacturing a fiber reinforced resin pipe branch formed to be manufactured by demolding,
The mandrel is formed by molding a solid elastic body, and by heating the mandrel, the mandrel expands and deforms to press the resin containing the reinforcing fibers, and the outer surface of the resin is made of metal. A method for producing a fiber-reinforced resin pipe branch, characterized in that an outer shape of a resin containing said reinforcing fibers is formed with high precision by receiving a reaction force of an inner surface of a female mold. A fiber-reinforced resin pipe branch, wherein the pipe branch has a male mandrel and a resin containing reinforcing fibers between the mandrel and a female mold fixed to the outer surface of the mandrel at a predetermined interval. Is loaded, after curing of the resin, in a fiber reinforced resin pipe branch manufacturing apparatus manufactured by demolding,
The mandrel is formed of a hollow elastic body, and pressurized gas is injected into the hollow portion of the mandrel to press the hollow inner side surface of the mandrel, whereby the mandrel expands and deforms and a resin containing the reinforcing fiber is formed. Is pressurized, and the outer surface of the resin receives the reaction force of the inner surface of the metal female mold to form the outer shape of the resin containing the reinforcing fiber with high precision. Equipment for manufacturing pipe branching sections. 4. A fiber reinforced resin pipe branch according to claim 3, wherein a gas inlet for injecting a pressurized gas into the hollow portion of the mandrel is provided in a lid closing an open end of the mandrel. Department manufacturing equipment. A fiber-reinforced resin pipe branch, wherein the pipe branch has a male mandrel and a resin containing reinforcing fibers between the mandrel and a female mold fixed to the outer surface of the mandrel at a predetermined interval. Is loaded, after curing of the resin, in a fiber reinforced resin pipe branch manufacturing apparatus manufactured by demolding,
The mandrel is formed by molding a solid elastic body, and by heating the mandrel, the mandrel expands and deforms to press the resin containing the reinforcing fibers, and the outer surface of the resin is made of metal. An apparatus for manufacturing a fiber reinforced resin pipe branch portion, wherein a resin-containing resin-containing outer shape is molded with high precision by receiving a reaction force of an inner surface of a female mold.

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