Mould for producing a fibre composite component

Abstract

A tool for producing a fiber composite component includes at least two tool portions which have partial cavities and which are moved together in a production position in such a manner that they form a cavity, in which cavity the fiber composite component is produced. Associated with at least a first tool portion there is a retention element which retains the fiber composite component produced in the first tool portion when the tool portions are moved apart after the production of the fiber composite component.

Claims

1. A tool for producing a fiber composite component, the tool comprising: at least two tool portions, each tool portion defining half of a first recess, the at least two tool portions being moved together in a production position in such a manner that they form a cavity, in which cavity the fiber composite component is produced; and a retention element that is associated with at least a first tool portion, the retention element being configured to retain the fiber composite component produced in the first tool portion when the tool portions are moved apart after the production of the fiber composite component, wherein the first recess encapsulates at least the retention element and a pivotable retention portion, and the retention element is pivotable between: i) an initial position when the tool portions are moved together, and ii) a retention position, that is different from the initial position, just before the tool portions are moved apart, along a first axis of the tool the first recess and the cavity are equal in size, and along a second axis of the tool the cavity is larger than the first recess, the retention element is a pneumatically, hydraulically or electrically actuatable tensioner, the tool portions each have surfaces with which the fiber composite component to be produced is in contact, the surfaces are plasma-nitrided, mirror-polished or chromium-plated, and the tool has a removal element which removes the fiber composite component produced from the tool.

2. The tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retention portion has a first end that is connected to a drive and a second end that defines a mounting head.

3. The tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the removal element comprises at least one vacuum suction device via which the fiber composite component produced is removable.

4. The tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the removal element is a robot with a movable arm.

5. The tool as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least one air ejector is provided in at least one of the tool portions.

6. The tool as claimed in claim 5, wherein the retention element is provided in both tool portions.

7. The tool as claimed in claim 3, wherein the removal element is a robot with a movable arm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-section of the tool,

(2) FIG. 2 is a cut-out of a side view of the tool,

(3) FIG. 3 is a cut-out of a plan view of the tool,

(4) FIG. 4 is a side view of the portion depicted in FIG. 3, and

(5) FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of the tool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(6) FIG. 1 shows a tool 10 for producing a fiber composite component which comprises two tool portions 12, 14 which are also referred to as tool halves. The two tool halves 12, 14 can be moved relative to each other, and they can assume an initial position (called the open position) in which the two tool portions 12, 14 are not in abutment with each other, and a production position which is shown in FIG. 1.

(7) In the production position, the two tool portions 12, 14 are in abutment with each other in the separation plane T.

(8) The two tool portions 12, 14 each have a partial cavity 16, 18 which in the production position are each combined to form a cavity 20 in which the fiber composite component is produced.

(9) Furthermore, the tool 10 has a retention element 22 which is used to secure the completed fiber composite component. The retention element 22 is shown in FIGS. 2 to 4.

(10) The retention element 22 has a retention portion 24 which is movable, in particular pivotable. A retention head 25 is provided at one end of the retention portion 24. The other end of the retention portion 24 is associated with a drive 26 via which the retention portion 22 is adjusted. The drive 26 is also part of the retention element 22.

(11) The drive 26 may be a pyrotechnical, hydraulic or an electric drive.

(12) The retention portion 24 can be adjusted in particular through 90°, as explained by a comparison of FIGS. 2 and 4, which are a rear view and a side view of the tool 10 when looking toward the retention element 22, wherein the retention element 22 is shown in FIG. 2 in the initial position thereof and in FIG. 4 in the retention position thereof.

(13) An example of the construction of the retention element 22 is a tensioner.

(14) In FIG. 2, it can further be seen that the tool portions 12, 14 each have a recess 28, 30 in which the retention element 22 is received.

(15) The retention element 22 is arranged in the tool 10 in such a manner that it is associated with one of the two tool portions (in this instance: the tool portion 14) since it is arranged via a base 32 in the recess 30 of the tool portion 14. The tool portion 24 extends in contrast in the initial position through the recess 28 of the opposing tool portion 12 (FIG. 2).

(16) The retention element 22 fixes the completed fiber composite component in the associated tool portion 14 after it has been produced. This is carried out as follows:

(17) The fiber composite component is produced in the tool 10 if the two tool portions 12, 14 are moved closer to each other and are located in the production position. During the production position of the tool 10, the retention element 22 is in the initial position thereof shown in FIG. 2.

(18) In the initial position, the retention portion 24 is located in the recess 28 of the tool portion 12, wherein the movable retention portion 24 extends perpendicularly to the separation plane T. The retention element 22 is consequently not located inside the cavity 20 during the production of the fiber composite component so that no movable portions are arranged there.

(19) After the hardening of the fiber composite component, the two tool portions 12, 14 are moved apart in the separation plane T, wherein previously or at the same time, the retention element 22 or the retention portion 24 is adjusted via the drive 26 so that the retention portion 24 is moved through the recess 28 into the retention position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

(20) In this instance, the retention portion 24 pivots through 70° in such a manner that it contacts the completed fiber composite component through the recess 28 from above and after it has been produced retains it in the tool portion 14 or the partial cavity 18 in a fixing manner.

(21) As a result of the recess 28 in the tool portion 12, it is ensured that the retention portion 24 can move into contact with the completed fiber composite component before the two tool portions 12, 14 are moved apart.

(22) The retention element 22 may in this instance be in direct abutment with the retention head 25 against the finished fiber composite component or, as can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, may cooperate a support face 33 which is constructed as a step in the tool portion 14. The completed fiber composite component is then retained by the retention portion 24. In this instance, the dimensions of the retention head 25 and those of the support face have to be adapted accordingly to the arrangement of the fiber composite component in the tool portion 14.

(23) Alternatively, the tool 10 comprises two retention elements 22a, 22b.

(24) A retention element 22a, 22b is arranged in each case in a tool portion 12, 14, wherein the first retention element 22a is associated with the predefined tool portion 12, from which the completed fiber composite component is intended to be removed. The second retention element 22b is associated with the other tool portion 14.

(25) The two retention elements 22a, 22b may in particular be constructed in an identical manner, wherein the retention element 22 shown in FIG. 2 shows the first retention element 22a. The second retention element 22b is arranged in a similar manner in the tool 10. In order to illustrate the second retention element 22b, only the reference numerals of the tool portions 12, 14 have to be exchanged in FIG. 2.

(26) The two retention elements 22a, 22b are controlled in a time-delayed manner so that the completed fiber composite component is arranged in the predefined tool portion 12 after the tool portions 12, 14 have been moved apart. This is carried out as follows:

(27) After the fiber composite component has hardened, the two tool portions 12, 14 are first moved slightly apart. In this instance, the second retention element 22b is actuated so that it retains the completed fiber composite component on the tool portion 14. The fiber composite component is thereby initially released from the predefined tool portion 12.

(28) Subsequently, the two tool portions 12, 14 can be moved back together, for example, as far as the production position or only a part-way thereof.

(29) In this position, the second retention element 22b is released again so that it moves into the initial position thereof and no longer retains the fiber composite component on the tool portion 14. At the same time as, or directly after the release of the second retention element 22b, the first retention element 22a is actuated in order to retain the fiber composite component on the predefined tool portion 12.

(30) Alternatively, the two tool portions 12, 14 also cannot be moved toward each other again so that the transfer of the fiber composite component is carried out directly in the position in which the tool portions have been moved slightly apart from each other.

(31) Subsequently, the two tool portions 12, 14 are moved completely apart so that the fiber composite component produced can be removed from the predefined tool portion 12.

(32) It is thereby ensured that the completed fiber composite component is retained in the predefined tool portion 12 and is additionally released from the surface thereof so that it can be readily removed.

(33) FIG. 5 shows another embodiment, wherein the tool 10 additionally has a removal element 34 which inter alia comprises a vacuum suction device 36.

(34) Via the removal element 34 and the vacuum suction device 36, the completed fiber composite component can be removed from the predefined tool portion 12, 14.

(35) The removal element 34 is constructed in the embodiment shown as a robot with a movable articulation arm 38 so that the fiber composite component which has been removed can be conveyed directly to the next station.

(36) An embodiment of the invention makes a provision for the tool 10 to comprise air ejectors 40 which are illustrated with dashed lines in FIG. 5. The air ejectors 40 may be associated with one of the tool portions 12, 14 or both tool portions 12, 14, as shown. The air ejectors 40 are on the surface of the compressed air channels Which terminate the partial cavity 18 and which are provided in the tool portion 14.

(37) The air ejectors 40, which are provided in the tool portion 14 which corresponds to the one in which the fiber composite component produced is retained by the retention element 22, support the removal of the completed fiber composite component by the removal element 34 by compressed air being blown out after pressing and opening the tool 10.

(38) The air ejectors 40 which are provided on the other tool portion 12 also support the release of the fiber composite component from the surface of the partial cavity 16 when the tool 10 is opened.

(39) The air ejectors 40 may be provided alternatively to the two retention elements 22a, 22b or in addition thereto.

(40) There is generally a provision for the surfaces of the partial cavities 16, 18 to have a slight roughness, whereby the removal of the fiber composite component is supported. The surfaces may be coated, plasma-nitrided or chromium-plated in order to produce high-quality surfaces which support the production of the fiber composite component and the removal thereof. If the surfaces are plasma-nitrided, they may in particular also be mirror-polished.

(41) With the tool 10 according to the embodiments of the invention, operationally reliable removal of the tool 10 from the mold is ensured, wherein the completed fiber composite component is always located in a predefined tool portion after removal from the mold. Automatic series operation which is not susceptible to malfunction is thereby possible.

(42) The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons having ordinary skill in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.