Apparatus for Forming Structural Components from Dry Wood Fiber Furnish

Forest Service

This invention is an apparatus that produces the structural components from dry wood fiber using an air or vacuum deposition technique. The structural components produced via this invention can have a non-uniform cross-sectional area, but a uniform fiber density throughout. The invention comprises a mold that includes porous forming areas that, in one version, are porous, moveable mandrels mounted in a mold. Forming is achieved by coating dry wood fibers with adhesive and depositing the fibers in a mold with air flow. One advantage of this invention is its ability to produce thick, low-density mats of fibers of uniform density. Additionally, the apparatus allows the mat to be removed before it is cured, thus significantly decreasing manufacturing cycle time.

Patent Number 5,198,236, issued May 24, 1994. Also, please see the following related U.S. patent numbers 4,702,870; 4,753,713; 5,314,654; 5,277,854; and 6,190,151.