Hollow fiber reinforced resin products such as pipe fittings with molded internal threads and method of making same

摘要

809,296. Moulding resin fibre pipe fittings &c. CONLEY, E. E. April 5, 1956, No. 10489/56. Class 87(2). Internally threaded fibre-reinforced resin articles are made by wrapping resin-saturated fibre fabric on a core and externally threaded mandrel, while pulling the fabric into the thread grooves by winding on a fibrous strand under tension, and curing the resin in a mould, the mandrel being unscrewed from the cured product and the core removed. A core suitable for use in moulding a T-shaped pipe fitting is shown in Fig. 5 and comprises a main portion 13 with threaded recesses 14 in its ends and with a threaded recess 16 entering the mid portion of its length. Threaded shanks 19 of mandrels 17 screw into the end recesses 14 and a threaded shank 24 of a mandrel 21 screws into the threads 16. The mandrels 17, 21 have external threads 18, 22 corresponding to threads to be moulded on the opposite ends, and on the branch, of the pipe fitting. The threads 18, 22 have the same pitch as the threads in the recesses 14, 16. Extensions or core prints 20, 25 position the core in the mould. A sheet of glass fibre cloth 26 saturated with liquid resin is wrapped round each mandrel when it is separated from the main part of the core, Fig. 2, and is forced into the root of the thread by the tension of a strand 27 of suitable material e.g. glass fibre, cotton or plastic. The wrapped mandrels are screwed to the core part 13 and the entire core is wrapped round with resin-saturated fibre to approximately the outside dimensions of the required product. The upper half 31 of the mould, with a cavity 33 for the upper half of the moulded product and cavity parts 34 for the core prints, is invented, Fig. 7, liquid thermosetting resin is applied to the cavity, and the wrapped core is pressed into it. Similarly liquid thermosetting resin is applied to the cavity of the lower mould half. When the resin in the upper mould half, has set to a sticky condition which will hold the wrapped core in its cavity, the mould half re-inverted, is fastened to the upper platen of a press, the lower mould half is positioned below it and the press is closed, squeezing out excess resin to form a flash. Heat is then applied to cure the resin, the moulded product is taken out of the mould and the mandrels 17, 21 unscrewed, their removal from the product being possible because of the similarity of screw thread pitches referred to. A simple sleeve 37 with an internal thread 38 may be moulded by wrapping a threaded mandrel with fibre as described and placing it, with liquid resin, in a mould, Fig. 10, in which the resin is cured. The threaded sleeves may be cemented into recesses in fittings moulded by any suitable process. Polyester resins are suitable for the process, or combinations of resins.