Resin Line with Circumferential Openings

Abstract

In order to provide a resin line that can be produced inexpensively, that meets the static requirements under action of the vacuum, and that enables a more precise discharge of the matrix material independent of the bending radii at which the resin line is laid, the resin line is formed of a corrugated pipe (2) whose wall comprises through openings (4). The through openings vary in regard to shape, size and/or frequency across a length of a corrugated pipe section of the corrugated pipe.

Claims

1.-5. (canceled)

6. A resin line comprising a corrugated pipe with a wall comprising circumferential through openings.

7. The resin line according to claim 6, further comprising a flow aid jacketing the corrugated pipe.

8. The resin line according to claim 6, further comprising a nonwoven jacketing the corrugated pipe.

9. The resin line according to claim 6, further comprising a nonwoven jacketing the corrugated pipe and a flow aid jacketing the corrugated pipe.

10. The resin line according to claim 9, wherein the flow aid is placed onto the corrugated pipe and the nonwoven is placed around the flow aid.

11. The resin line according to claim 9, wherein the nonwoven is placed onto the corrugated pipe and the flow aid is placed around the nonwoven.

12. The resin line according to claim 6, wherein the through openings vary in regard to a shape, a size and/or a frequency across a length of a corrugated pipe section of the corrugated pipe.

13. The resin line according to claim 6, wherein the corrugated pipe comprises a plurality of corrugated pipe sections and the corrugated pipe sections are connected to each other by a coupling member, respectively.

14. The resin line according to claim 13, wherein the corrugated pipe sections have different diameters.

Description

[0017] The invention will be explained in more detail with the aid of an embodiment. It is shown in:

[0018] FIG. 1: a view of a corrugated pipe;

[0019] FIG. 2: a view of a corrugated pipe with a flow aid; and

[0020] FIG. 3: a view of a corrugated pipe with an additional nonwoven.

[0021] FIG. 1 shows schematically the contour of a corrugated pipe 2. Also schematically indicated are through openings 4 which are provided in the wall of the corrugated pipe 2. In the illustrated embodiment, the corrugated pipe 2 is comprised of a sequence of parallel annular shaped parts. In the embodiment, the rings are shown with an angled cross section contour; however, the rings can also have a rounded cross section contour, for example, semi-circularly shaped or with a semi-oval shape.

[0022] When a matrix material flows in longitudinal direction L through the corrugated pipe 2, the matrix material can penetrate through the through openings 4 to the exterior. When the corrugated pipe 2 is inserted into a tool for producing a fiber composite component, the matrix material, after exiting the corrugated pipe through the through openings 4, can penetrate into the reinforcement fibers arranged in the tool and can fill out the tool mold.

[0023] In FIG. 2, a view of a corrugated pipe is shown that at least partially is jacketed by a flow aid 6. When the matrix material exits from the interior of the corrugated pipe 2 through the through openings 4 to the exterior, the matrix material infiltrates the fiber layer of the flow aid 6, is distributed therein, and can penetrate from there, drawn by the vacuum, farther into the tool. Across the surface area of the flow aid 6, the matrix material is distributed better within the tool.

[0024] In FIG. 3, a view of a corrugated pipe 2 is illustrated in which the corrugated pipe 2 is jacketed with an additional nonwoven. The nonwoven serves the purpose of dissolving and retaining gas bubbles which are contained in the matrix material that exits through the through openings 4 from the corrugated pipe 2.

[0025] The corrugated pipe according to the invention can be laid in particular along the rim of tools where it is of no consequence that the exterior contour of the corrugated pipe remains as an impression in the cured matrix material. Since in such tools the rim pieces of the fiber composite component are frequently cut off and disposed of, the impressions of the corrugated pipe are not visible in the matrix material of the finished fiber composite component. In such an application the advantages of easy handling of the resin line prevail when it is comprised of a corrugated pipe, as well as the beneficial procurement costs of such a resin line. Important it is important also when using the corrugated pipe as a resin line that the supply of the matrix material into the tool can be controlled better locally in that corrugated pipes with correspondingly embodied through openings are employed.

[0026] The afore described embodiment serves for explaining the invention. The invention is not limited to the afore described embodiment. A person of skill in the art will have no difficulties in modifying the embodiment in a way that appears suitable to him in order to adapt it to a concrete application situation.