Pressing tool with optimized resin flow

Abstract

A pressing tool is provided for producing fiber composite components, including a first tool part and a second tool part moveable relative to the first tool part. In the closed state of the pressing tool, the two tool parts form a shaping cavity for accommodating a fiber semi-finished product to be shaped and each have a tool surface delimiting the cavity. In addition, at least one of the tool surfaces has at least two adjacent flat sections inclined toward each other which are connected to each other by way of a curved transition section. The curved transition section has at least one groove-shaped recess facing the cavity.

Claims

1. A pressing tool for producing composite fiber components, comprising: a first tool portion; a second tool portion movable relative to the first tool portion, wherein the first and second tool portions form, in a closed state of the pressing tool, a forming cavity that receives a semi-finished fiber product intended to be formed, each of the first and second tool portions having a tool surface delimiting the cavity, at least one of the tool surfaces comprises at least two adjacent and mutually inclined surface portions connected to each other via a curved transition portion, and the curved transition portion has at least one channel-shaped recess facing the cavity.

2. The pressing tool according to claim 1, wherein the curved transition portion has a convex curvature.

3. The pressing tool according to claim 1, wherein the curved transition portion has a concave curvature.

4. The pressing tool according to claim 1, wherein the at least one channel-shaped recess extends from an end of the curved transition portion, which end adjoins a first surface portion of the at least two adjacent and mutually inclined surface portions, as far as an end of the curved transition portion, which end adjoins a second surface portion of the at least two adjacent and mutually inclined surface portions.

5. The pressing tool according to claim 1, wherein the curved transition portion is constructed as a rounded edge.

6. The pressing tool according to claim 1, wherein the at least one channel-shaped recess is constructed as a notch or indentation.

7. The pressing tool according to claim 1, wherein an extent direction of the at least one channel-shaped recess is oriented at an angle between 0<90 relative to an extent direction of the curved transition portion.

8. The pressing tool according to claim 7, wherein the angle is between 30<60.

9. The pressing tool according to claim 7, wherein the angle is substantially =45.

10. The pressing tool according to claim 1, wherein the curved transition portion has at least two channel-shaped recesses, and further wherein the at least two channel-shaped recesses are oriented parallel with each other in an extent direction thereof.

11. The pressing tool according to claim 1, wherein: the curved transition portion has at least two channel-shaped recesses, the extent directions of the two channel-shaped recesses are oriented relative to each other at an angle between 0<90.

12. The pressing tool according to claim 11, wherein the angle is between 30<90.

13. The pressing tool according to claim 11, wherein the angle is substantially =90.

14. The pressing tool according to claim 1, wherein the at least one channel-shaped recess has a depth of 0.5 mm.

15. The pressing tool according to claim 14, wherein the depth is at least 2 mm.

16. The pressing tool according to claim 14, wherein the depth is between 2 mm and 3 mm.

17. The pressing tool according to claim 1, wherein the pressing tool is configured as an RTM tool.

18. The pressing tool according to claim 1, wherein the pressing tool is configured as a wet pressing tool.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an exemplary pressing tool for producing a composite fiber component.

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a tool portion of the pressing tool from FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3 is a detailed view of a transition portion with a plurality of variants of recesses for an exemplary tool portion according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(4) FIG. 1 shows a pressing tool 10 for producing composite fiber components from semi-finished fiber products, having a first tool portion 11 and a second tool portion 12 which is movable relative thereto. The two tool portions 11, 12 form, in the closed state of the pressing tool according to FIG. 1, a forming cavity 13 for receiving the semi-finished fiber product which is intended to be formed (not shown) and each have a tool surface 11a, 12a which delimits the cavity.

(5) Both tool surfaces 11a, 12a include a plurality of (planar) surface portions which are adjacent to each other and which are inclined relative to each other. The inclined surface portions are connected to each other by way of curved transition portions.

(6) For the sake of clarity, only the construction of a portion of the tool surface 11a of the lower tool half 11 is described in greater detail. The same also applies where applicable to the remaining corresponding portions of the tool surface 11a and the entire second tool surface 12a.

(7) In the embodiment illustrated, the tool surface 11a includes the two adjacent surface portions 14, 15 which are angled relative to each other at the angle 1 or the two adjacent surface portions 15, 16 which are angled relative to each other at the angle 2. They are each connected to each other by way of a curved transition portion 21 or 22, respectively. The respective transition portion 21 or 22 therefore defines the curved region of the edge, at which the two surfaces 14 and 15 or 15 and 16 meet.

(8) When the pressing tool 10 is closed and the inserted semi-finished fiber product is pressed, it is subjected, in comparison with the surface portions 14, 15 and 16, in the region of the transition portions 21 and 22 to a high level of deformation which would normally result in a reduced local matrix flow and therefore dry locations in the produced composite fiber component. However, that occurrence can effectively be prevented by the recesses 18, 19, 20 illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

(9) FIG. 2 is a simple schematic, perspective view of the tool portion 11 of the pressing tool 10 from FIG. 1. The first transition portion 21 has a concave curvature with respect to the cavity 13. However, the second transition portion 22 is curved in a convex manner. The curved transition portion 21 or 22 constitutesas described in other wordsa rounded edge between the surface portions 14 and 15 or 15 and 16 which are adjacent at each of the two sides. Each of the curved transition portions 21 and 22 further includes a number of recesses 18, 19 which face the cavity, wherein each of those recesses 18, 19 is constructed as a notch or indentation in the tool surface 11a.

(10) Each of the recesses 18 of the transition portion 21 extends in the extent direction thereof (cf. FIG. 3) from a first end 21 of the curved transition portion 21, which end adjoins the first surface portion 14, as far as a second end 21 of the curved transition portion 21, which end adjoins the second surface portion 15. Both ends 21 and 21 of the transition portion 21 are intended to be understood to be a continuous transition of the respective surface portion 14 or 15 into the curvature of the transition portion 21, respectively.

(11) The same applies to the recesses 19 of the transition portion 22 which extend from a first end 22 of the transition portion 22 as far as a second end 22 of the transition portion 22.

(12) A third transition portion 23 having an intersecting arrangement of recesses 20 is illustrated purely by way of example for visualization purposes.

(13) The arrangement of all the recesses illustrated is intended to be understood to be purely exemplary and for visualization of a plurality of different embodiments. Naturally, one or more recess(es) may be provided at each transition portion or only at individual transition portions of the tool portion 11.

(14) Therefore, each transition portion can be constructed individually or in accordance with requirements with or without recesses. Similarly, a number, arrangement, orientation and geometry of each individual recess may be selected independently of other recesses.

(15) Accordingly, FIG. 3 shows, simply as an example, a selection of different orientation variants of the recesses 39 or 39 and 39 on a convex-curved transition portion 32 with an extent direction E. The respective extent direction A of the first three recesses 39 is orientated at an angle of, for example, approximately =45 relative to the extent direction E of the curved transition portion 32. The three recesses 39 are further orientated parallel with each other in terms of the extent direction A thereof. For the sake of clarity, only the extent direction A of the first recess 39 is indicated (on the left in FIG. 3).

(16) In place of a parallel arrangement of the recesses relative to each other, for example, there is also the possibility of an intersecting orientation, as is intended to be illustrated with reference to the two recesses 39 and 39. In this instance, the extent directions A and A of the two channel-like recesses 39 and 39 may be orientated relative to each other at an angle between 0 and 90, preferably between 30 and 90, in particular at an angle of substantially 90. Accordingly, the angles and are intended to be selected relative to the extent direction E of the transition portion 32.

(17) A depth of the recesses 39, 39 and 39 is not illustrated. That depth may be, for example, at least 0.5 mm, preferably at least 2 mm, particularly preferably between 2 and 3 mm.

(18) Since FIG. 3 shows purely exemplary examples of the recesses and the arrangement thereof, it is self-evident thatas already describedeither no recesses or any number of recesses may be arranged at a transition portion. The respective arrangement and orientation of each individual recess may also be constructed individually and may, in particular, be adapted to local requirements of the pressing tool.

(19) Therefore, it is possible to arrange per transition portion all the recesses exclusively parallel with each other or the recesses exclusively intersecting with respect to each other, in particular intersecting in pairs. Naturally, however, mixed arrangements are also possible.

(20) Not only is the construction described suitable for a convex transition portion but it may also be provided in a similar manner for a transition portion with a concave curvature.

(21) 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 skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.