JPH04220327A - Composite material forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To form a molded item with bends at low cost with a stabilized quality by providing a mold corresponding to the bend of the molded item, a heater in the molded item and a rotary block which is mounted on a supporting axis, leaving a gap corresponding to the thickness of the molded item between the block and the upper surface of the mold. CONSTITUTION:A rotary block 4 of a mold 1 is turned to a vertical position and an end of a prepreg laminated sheet 7 is inserted between the underside of the block 4 and the upper surface of the mold 1 to place the sheet 7 at a specified position on the upper surface of the mold 1. The sheet 7 is then heated by means of a heater and when a predetermined temperature is reached, the block 4 is turned in a direction of an arrow by means of a driver. Since the gap between the underside of the block 4 and the upper surface of the mold 1 corresponds to the thickness of the sheet 7, the sheet 7 is moved by the rotating block 4, while the sheet is being pressed by a curved surface 2 of the mold 1. The sheet 7 has been heated and hence it is gradually bent following the shape of the curved surface 2 of the mold 1.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a composite material molding apparatus for molding thermoplastic resin composite products used, for example, as structural members of aircraft.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Fiber-reinforced resin composite materials have excellent mechanical properties such as specific strength and corrosion resistance, and are therefore used as structural members of aircraft.

[0003] In addition to conventionally used thermosetting resin composites (FRP), composite materials such as these have recently been made using highly heat-resistant thermoplastic resin as a matrix and carbon fiber or glass fiber mixed therein. Thermoplastic resin composites (FRTP) reinforced with carbon fibers are attracting attention.

[0004] In order to mold thermosetting resin composites (FRP) and thermoplastic resin composites (FRTP), generally, prepreg laminates that have been laminated in advance into flat plates are preformed into an L-shape or a U-shape. The preformed prepreg laminate is molded into a molded product using an autoclave or press machine.

[0005] Composite material bending and forming equipment that is equipped with a fixed mandrel, side blocks that are vertically movable on both sides of the fixed mandrel, and a vacuum bag that covers the fixed mandrel and side blocks from above has not been put into practical use. It is described in Publication No. 63-134719.

[0006] In addition, as a molding device for composite materials, one that has a mold placed on a vacuum table and a flexible heat-resistant sheet that covers the laminate placed on the mold together with the mold is not practical. It is described in JP-A-1-999612.

[0007] Furthermore, a mold for forming composite parts that includes a preliminary finishing mold and a final finishing mold, and a dam is provided between the upper mold and the lower mold is described in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 1-83526. has been done.

[0008]

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] In a molding apparatus in which a fixed mandrel and a side block are covered with a vacuum bag from above, the molding temperature of the thermoplastic resin composite (FRTP) is higher than the heat-resistant temperature of the sheet material constituting the vacuum bag. If it is high, preforming cannot be performed, which limits the molding conditions.

[0009] Furthermore, in a molding device that is equipped with a preliminary finishing mold and a final finishing mold, and a dam is provided between the upper mold and the lower mold, it is necessary to prepare dedicated male and female molds, and the molding This increases the production cost of the product and makes it impractical.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a composite material molding apparatus that can mold a molded product with stable quality at a low cost.

[0011]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The composite material molding apparatus of the present invention includes a mold whose upper edge on one side is a curved surface corresponding to a bent part of a molded product to be molded, and an end surface of this mold which has the curved surface. a support shaft protruding horizontally so that its axis coincides with the center of the radius of curvature; a heating device disposed inside the mold for heating the molded product to be molded; The rotary block has a rotating block whose lower surface is parallel to the upper surface of the mold when rotated to the position and which forms a distance corresponding to the thickness of the molded product between the lower surface and the upper surface of the mold.

[0012] Another composite material molding apparatus of the present invention includes:
Two molds whose upper edge on one side has a curved surface corresponding to the bent part of the molded product to be molded, and an exchange block that is removably placed between these two molds and adjusts the interval between the two molds. , a support shaft provided on the end face of the mold so that its axis coincides with the center of the radius of curvature of the curved surface, and a heating device disposed inside the mold for heating the molded product to be molded;
a rotating block that is attached to the support shaft of the mold and has a lower surface parallel to the upper surface of the mold when rotated to a vertical position and forms a distance between the upper surface and the mold corresponding to the thickness of the molded product; and a drive device for synchronously rotating a rotary block rotatably mounted on the support shaft.

[0013]

[Operation] In the composite material molding apparatus of the present invention, the prepreg laminate placed on the mold is moved while being pressed against the curved surface of the mold by a rotating block that rotates from a vertical position to a horizontal position. During this deformation, the prepreg laminate is heated by the heating device, so no unreasonable force is applied to the prepreg laminate, and the prepreg laminate is gradually bent while adapting to the shape of the curved surface of the mold.
To mold an L-shaped molded product while suppressing the occurrence of wrinkles.

Further, in another composite material molding apparatus of the present invention, the interval between the two molds is adjusted by a removably arranged exchange block, and the interval between the two molds is adjusted.
The prepreg laminate placed on top of the two molds is moved while being pressed against the curved surfaces of the two molds by a rotating block that is synchronously rotated from a vertical position to a horizontal position by a drive device, and during this deformation, the prepreg laminate Since the laminate is heated by a heating device, no unreasonable force is applied to the prepreg laminate, and the prepreg laminate is gradually bent while adapting to the shape of the curved surface of the mold, forming an L-shaped cross section. To form a product while suppressing the occurrence of wrinkles.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIGS. 1 to 3, reference numeral 1 designates a mold for molding a composite material into a U-shaped cross section, and both upper edges of this mold 1 have an arcuate cross section. This arcuate portion 2 has a curved surface with a radius of curvature r (FIG. 3). This curved surface corresponds to the bent portion of the molded product to be molded. At the center of the radius of curvature r of the end face of the mold 1, a rotating shaft 3 extending in the horizontal direction is protruded so that its axis coincides with the center, and a rotating block 4 is attached to the rotating shaft 3. ing.

The rotating block 4 is formed of a main body portion 5 having a rectangular cross section with rounded corners and an arm portion 6 integrally formed with the main body portion 5, and rotates from the center of the rotation axis 3 of the arm portion 6. The length to the 4a surface of the block 4 is the radius of curvature r
The length is set to be the sum of the prepreg laminate 7 and the prepreg laminate 7. That is, when the rotating block 4 attached to the rotating shaft 3 rotates the main body portion 5 to the vertical position, the thickness of the prepreg laminate 7 is increased between the surface 4a of the rotating block 4 and the upper surface of the mold 1. form a corresponding interval. 4a surface of the rotating block 4 and the mold 1 according to the variation in the thickness of the prepreg laminate 7.
In order to adjust the distance between the main body part 5a and the arm part 6a, as shown in FIG. This is done by combining them with each other.

On the other hand, inside the mold 1, a heating device 11 and a cooling device 12 for heating the prepreg laminate 7 are provided. This cooling device 12 is used to ensure that the shape of the molded product is maintained by cooling the molded product after the molding process and hastening the solidification process.

On the other hand, a drive device 13 for rotating the rotation block 4 is attached to the rotation shaft 3. The drive device 13 includes a pair of drive shafts 14 and two drive shafts 1.
4, and one drive shaft 14.
and a handle 17 connected via a gear 16, and each drive shaft 14 is connected to a universal joint 18.
It is connected to the rotating shaft 3 via. That is, 2
The two rotating shafts 3 are rotated synchronously by turning the handle 17. Further, the two rotating shafts 3 can also be rotated synchronously by a drive device.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 19 denotes a pressing plate for pressing the prepreg laminate 7.

Next, the operation will be explained.

First, the rotating block 4 of the mold 1 is rotated to a vertical position, and the prepreg laminate 7 is placed so that the end of the prepreg laminate 7 is aligned with the lower surface of the rotating block 4 and the upper surface of the mold 1. The prepreg laminate 7 is placed at a predetermined position on the upper surface of the mold 1 so as to protrude outside the mold 1 through the space, and the press plate 19 is placed on top of the prepreg laminate 7 to position the prepreg laminate 7 in the mold 1. conduct.

Next, the prepreg laminate 7 is heated by activating the heating device 11 of the mold 1, and when the prepreg laminate 7 reaches a predetermined temperature (molding temperature), the drive device 13 is activated and the rotating block 4 is rotated from the dotted line position to the solid line position as shown by the arrow in FIG. Since the distance between the lower surface of the rotating block 4 and the upper surface of the mold 1 is a length corresponding to the thickness of the prepreg laminate 7, the rotating rotating block 4 allows the prepreg laminate 7 to be attached to the mold 1.
It moves while being pressed against the curved surface 2 of. In this case, the prepreg laminate 7 is warmed by the heating device 11, no unreasonable force is applied, and the prepreg laminate 7 is gradually bent while adapting to the shape of the curved surface 2 of the mold 1. An L-shaped product can be formed while suppressing the occurrence of wrinkles in the prepreg laminate 7. In this case, by rotating the two rotating blocks 4 synchronously, a molded product having a U-shaped cross section can be formed.

5 and 6 show another embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the mold 1 is divided and a rectangular exchange block 21 is placed between the two molds 20, 20. put,
In this way, a molded product with different intervals between curved surfaces is formed. Figure 6
In this embodiment, a truncated cone-shaped exchange block 22 is placed between two divided molds 20, 20, and a molded product with a different interval between curved surfaces on one side and the other side is molded. The interval between curved surfaces can be changed by exchanging exchange blocks.

[0025]

As described above, according to the composite material molding apparatus of the present invention, there is provided a mold whose upper edge on one side is a curved surface corresponding to the bent part of the molded product to be molded; a support shaft protruding horizontally from the end surface so that its axis coincides with the center of the radius of curvature of the curved surface; a heating device disposed inside the mold for heating the molded product to be molded; and the support shaft. The rotary block has a rotating block whose lower surface is parallel to the upper surface of the mold when it is mounted on the L and rotated to the vertical position, and which forms a distance corresponding to the thickness of the molded product between it and the upper surface of the mold.
To inexpensively mold a molded article into a shape that fits the mold without causing wrinkles and with stable quality.

Further, according to another apparatus for molding a composite material of the present invention, there are two molds each having an upper edge on one side as a curved surface corresponding to the bent part of the molded product to be molded, and these two molds. an exchange block that is removably arranged between the molds and adjusts the interval between the two molds; a support shaft provided on the end face of the mold so that its axis coincides with the center of the radius of curvature of the curved surface; A heating device arranged to heat the molded product to be molded and a heating device mounted on the support shaft of the mold, whose lower surface is parallel to the upper surface of the mold when rotated to a vertical position, and between the upper surface of the mold. It has a rotating block that forms an interval corresponding to the thickness of the molded product, and a drive device that synchronously rotates the rotating block that is rotatably attached to the support shaft, so that it has a U-shaped cross section. Molded products can be molded into a shape that fits the mold without wrinkles, with stable quality, and at low cost.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a composite material forming apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a composite material forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a molding process of a molded product.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another modification of the rotating block.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a modification of the composite material molding apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another modification of the composite material forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Molding mold 3 Rotation axis 4 Rotating block 7 Prepreg laminate 11 Heating device 13 Drive device 20 Molding mold 21, 22 Exchange block

Claims (2)

[Claims] Claim 1: A mold having an upper edge on one side as a curved surface corresponding to the bent part of the molded product to be molded, and a mold having an end surface horizontally aligned with the axis of the radius of curvature of the curved surface. A protruding support shaft, a heating device disposed inside the mold to heat the molded product to be molded, and a heating device installed on the support shaft so that when rotated to a vertical position, the lower surface is parallel to the upper surface of the mold. 1. An apparatus for molding a composite material, comprising a rotary block that forms a space between the mold and the upper surface of the mold corresponding to the thickness of the molded product. Claim 2: Two molds having an upper edge on one side with a curved surface corresponding to the bent part of the molded product to be molded, and a mold that is removably disposed between these two molds, and the distance between the two molds is adjusted. A replacement block for adjustment, a support shaft provided on the end face of the mold so that its axis coincides with the center of the radius of curvature of the curved surface, and a heating device disposed inside the mold for heating the molded product to be molded. and a rotating device that is attached to the support shaft of the mold and rotates to a vertical position so that the lower surface is parallel to the upper surface of the mold and a distance corresponding to the thickness of the molded product is formed between the device and the upper surface of the mold. 1. A composite material molding device comprising: a block; and a drive device for synchronously rotating the rotary block rotatably mounted on the support shaft.