Appeal No. 2002-0963
Application No. 08/122,344
by an operator who manually holds a conventional heat
gun near the mandrel at the point of winding. . . .
The present invention eliminates these drawbacks
by providing a preheat apparatus that is directly
mounted to the winding machine's payout assembly.
Specifically, the apparatus disclosed in Hebert has heating
tubes or electric torches that deliver a heated airflow of
variable heat flux into a duct. The exit end of the duct is
positioned near the filament and mandrel and preheats both during
winding. See Abstract.
Neither Sherwood, Chitwood nor Hebert discloses a fiber
placement apparatus. Furthermore, neither Sherwood, Chitwood nor
Hebert discloses passing a thermoset resin impregnated fiber tow
or tape through a preheating zone prior to laying up the fiber
tow or tape on a mandrel.
Similarly, Boss is not directed to a fiber placement
apparatus. Rather, Boss discloses a method of making impregnated
fibers which are intended to be used in filament winding or other
suitable techniques. According to Boss (col. 1, lines 41-64):
Carbon fiber reinforced composites are commonly
formed by coating or impregnating carbon fibers with an
uncured or partially cured liquid thermosetting
resinous material which is ultimately to serve as the
matrix or continuous phase in the composite article,
converting the resinous material present on the carbon
fibers to a tacky consistency through partial curing
and/or evaporation of solvent, molding or otherwise
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