ROBIN LINDVIG WESTBERG
Engineers in Copperton, UT
License number
Utah 173492-2202
Category
Engineer/Land Surveyor
Type
Professional Engineer
Address
Address
Copperton, UT
Professional information
Method Of Manufacturing A Sheet-Molded Compound Article Having Localized Reinforcement
US Patent:
2004002, Feb 5, 2004
Filed:
Jul 31, 2002
Appl. No.:
10/210635
Inventors:
Dale Obeshaw - Salt Lake City UT, US
Guy Krowl - Madison Heights MI, US
Robin Westberg - Copperton UT, US
Guy Krowl - Madison Heights MI, US
Robin Westberg - Copperton UT, US
International Classification:
B29C070/46
US Classification:
264/257000, 264/258000
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a sheet-molded compound (SMC) article having local reinforcement includes the steps of providing a mold for forming the SMC article, filling a portion of the mold with a chopped fiber compound and placing at least one filament-wound reinforcing element in a position in the mold where structural reinforcement of the SMC article is needed. The reinforcing element is formed by winding a resin-coated filament on a mandrel to form coils along a length of the mandrel, where each coil is wound at a predetermined angle relative to an axis of the mandrel. Heat and pressure are applied to the mold to cause the chopped fiber compound to melt such that the melted chopped fiber compound bonds with the reinforcing elements to form the SMC article with local reinforcement. The SMC article with local reinforcement is then removed from the mold.