Reinforced thermoplastic components and methods for their manufacture - Patents.com
By employing reinforced thermoplastic materials and thermal bonding techniques, the challenges of manufacturing complex, hollow composite components are addressed, resulting in lightweight, high-strength components with enhanced design flexibility and performance.
JP7650872B2Active Publication Date: 2025-03-25CSS COMPOSITES LLC
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Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2022520336
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2020-02-27
- Filing Date
- 2020-09-29
- Publication Date
- 2025-03-25
- Estimated Expiration
- 2040-09-29
AI Technical Summary
Technical Problem
Conventional methods for manufacturing composite materials with hollow internal geometries are complex and costly, often resulting in brittle components with limited design adaptability.
Method used
The use of reinforced thermoplastic materials to form fully continuous circular components, such as wheel components, with hollow interiors and curved exteriors, through a process involving thermal bonding of rim bed and main structural portions without the need for internal bladders.
Benefits of technology
This approach enables the production of lightweight, high-strength components with complex shapes and hollow interiors, enhancing design flexibility and performance while reducing manufacturing complexity and costs.
✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.
Abstract
Disclosed herein are systems and techniques for manufacturing complex components using reinforced thermoplastic materials. The complex components may include contoured or curved exterior surfaces and, in some cases, may define cavities. In certain examples, one or more thermoplastic materials are arranged to form a wheel component, such as one adapted to define a bicycle rim. To form the wheel component or other complex-shaped cavities, thermal bonding may be used to join multiple reinforced thermoplastic materials together. In certain examples, a portion of the tooling assembly may be pressurized to maintain the shape of the cavity during thermal bonding and cooling. This may eliminate the need for a sacrificial bladder or other structure to maintain the shape of the cavity, allowing for a seamless final component, optionally free of bladder exit marks or other seams.
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