GB1173589A - Method of Forming Chambers or Containers. - Google Patents

Abstract

1,173,589. Laminated container; adjustable moulds. R. J. COX. 30 Dec., 1966, No. 58455/66. Headings B5A and B5N. A method of forming a chamber or container comprises assembling a layer of plastics foam or other blocks 25 with a layer 24 of reinforced plastics material on one side thereof so as to form the shape of at least part of the container, introducing a bonding agent between the layer 24 and the layer of blocks and causing or allowing the bonding agent to set. The method may be performed using a mould, Fig. 1, having side walls 11, 12 an adjustable base made up of overlapping plates 13, 14, an adjustable end wall made up of overlapping plates 16, 17, and a partition made up of overlapping plates 18, 19 and movable toward or away from the plates 16, 17. In one described way of performing the method, the mould is lined with an impervious fibreglass reinforced plastics skin 24, which may consist of preformed sheets produced by impregnating woven or matted fibre glass with a liquid resin and allowing the resin to set, or may be formed in situ in the mould either by placing woven or matted fibreglass in the mould and impregnating with resin by roller, or by simultaneous spraying of chopped strands of fibreglass and a resin. After setting of the resin, insulating blocks 25 of rigid plastics form, which may have parallel, or intersecting sets of parallel, grooves 40 in each face are placed against the skin 24. Pieces of woven fibreglass cloth 26 may be placed between each pair of blocks, and further pieces may be applied elsewhere for strengthening. The edges of the blocks 25 may be rebated to receive the edges of the pieces of cloth 26 and/or wood and/ or steel reinforcing struts. Inner panels 27 of fibreglass reinforced plastics, aluminium, steel, or a laminate of a thermoplastic and fibreglass, e.g. " Celmar " (Registered Trade Mark) are positioned on the blocks 25 and the corners and edges are sealed by strips 28, 29 and 41. Connections 30, 32 are then made to sources of vacuum and connection 33 is made to a source of bonding agent 34. When vacuum is applied it draws skin 24 against the mould walls, draws the layers together, and draws bonding agent around the blocks 25. Vacuum is maintained until the bonding agent is set and all layers secured together. In alternative embodiments the layers may be applied in the same order to a male mould to produce containers useful as railway wagons or shipping containers. The containers may include a door opening surrounded by a laminated strut of wood, steel plate, and high density polyurethane or PVC foam.