Appeal No. 2002-0919
Application No. 09/152,170
BACKGROUND
Appellants’ invention relates to a process for fabricating a composite vessel. The
composite vessel is fabricated by winding a fiber and a thermoplastic material over a
thermoplastic liner to form a composite intermediate structure. The composite intermediate
structure is placed in a mold wherein the composite intermediate is heated and a force is
applied to urge the composite intermediate structure against the walls of the mold. The
heating and pressure are continued until the thermoplastic liner and overlaid layer
consolidate to form a composite vessel. The mold is cooled until a composite vessel is
solidified. Claim 1, which is representative of the claimed invention, appears below:
1. The process for making a composite vessel comprising the steps of:
A) fabricating a thermoplastic liner for the vessel;
B) overlaying onto the thermoplastic liner a layer comprising fiber and a
thermoplastic material to obtain a composite intermediate structure;
C) heating the composite intermediate structure in a mold while applying at
least one force thereto tending to urge the composite intermediate structure
against and into the shape of the interior walls of the mold;
D) continuing step C) until the thermoplastic liner and the overlaid layer
consolidate to form a composite vessel;
E) cooling the mold and composite vessel until the composite vessel is
solidified; and
F) removing the formed composite vessel from the mold.
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