Abstract: Method and apparatus for the production, forming bonding, joining and repair systems composite and metal components utilizing at least one pressure chamber having a displaceable abutment face, wherein fluid is circulated at an elevated temperature and pressure through the pressure chamber.

Abstract: A method of joining a fibre reinforced laminate layer to a surface (3), including applying a layer of melted resin on to the surface (3), the resin displacing air from the surface and solidifying upon cooling on the surface to thereby form a layer of solidifled resin (7) thereon, applying a composite lay-up (13) over the resultant layer of solidified resin, and heating and melting the resin so that the composite lay-up is submerged in the melted resin and the resin is subsequently cured to thereby form the laminate layer (19).

Abstract: A system for producing composite or bonded metal components including: first and second pressure chambers, each pressure chamber having an elastically deformable chamber wall; means for circulating fluid at an elevated temperature and pressure through each said pressure chamber; and at least one mould assembly including at least one separate mould section providing a mould cavity within which a composite or bonded metal lay-up can be located; wherein when the system is in use, the pressure chambers are held together with the elastically deformable chamber walls located in opposing relation, the at least one mould assembly containing a said lay- up being accommodated between the chamber walls while fluid at elevated temperature and pressure is circulated through each pressure chamber such that the lay-up can be compressed and cured or formed.

Abstract: A fluid reticulation system for a composite component production assembly, the production assembly including at least one pressure chamber (25) having a chamber wall (21) locatable adjacent a composite lay-up or mold, at least a portion of the chamber wall (21) being resiliently deformable, the fluid reticulation system being locatable within the inner volume of the pressure chamber (25) and including means (5) for distributing fluid towards an inner surface (22) of the chamber wall as the fluid enters the pressure chamber.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method for producing a composite component including applying a resin over a surface, the resin solidifying to form a resin layer, providing reinforcement means along an x direction generally parallel to the resin layer, providing reinforcement means along a y direction at an angle to the x direction and generally parallel to the resin layer, and providing reinforcement means in a z direction generally perpendicular to the x and y directions in a subsequent production step.

Abstract: A production system for producing a composite component including, a mold assembly including a relatively rigid mold section, an elastically deformable mold section, fluid pressure means for applying a fluid pressure due to a density and/or pressure of a fluid on said elastically deformable mold section, and a resin supply means for supplying resin to a mold chamber defined between the mold sections when brought together.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing tubes formed from fiber reinforced composite material, the apparatus including: an elongate hollow mandrel (3) having an internal mandrel cavity (5), the mandrel having an external surface (7) upon which reinforcing fiber material (9) can be wrapped to provide a composite lay-up (10) supported thereon; and fluid flow means (11) for enabling heat transfer fluid of different temperatures to be circulated through the mandrel cavity (5), such that when fluid at an elevated temperature is circulated, heat is transferred from the fluid, through the mandrel (3) to the composite lay-up (10) for curing or forming said lay-up.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing tubes formed from fibre reinforced composite material, the apparatus including: an elongate hollow mandrel (3) having an internal mandrel cavity (5), the mandrel having an external surface (7) upon which reinforcing fibre materia (9) can be wrapped to provide a composite lay-up (10) supported thereon; and fluid flow means (11) for enabling heat transfer fluid of different temperatures to be circulated through the mandrel cavity (5), such that when fluid at an elevated temperature is circulated, heat is transferred from the fluid, through the mandrel (3) to the composite lay-up (10) for curing or forming said lay-up.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the production, forming bonding, joining and repair systems composite and metal components utilising at least one pressure chamber having a displaceable abutment face, wherein fluid is circulated at an elevated temperature and pressure through the pressure chamber.

Abstract: A system for producing composite or bonded metal components including: first and second pressure chambers, each pressure chamber having an elastically deformable chamber wall; means for circulating fluid at an elevated temperature and pressure through each said pressure chamber; and at least one mould assembly including at least one separate mould section providing a mould cavity within which a composite or bonded metal lay-up can be located; wherein when the system is in use, the pressure chambers are held together with the elastically deformable chamber walls located in opposing relation, the at least one mould assembly containing a said lay-up being accomodated between the chamber walls while fluid at elevated temperature and pressure is circulated through each pressure chamber such that the lay-up can be compressed and cured or formed.

Abstract: A fluid reticulation system for a composite component production assembly, the production assembly including at least one pressure chamber (25) having a chamber wall (21) locatable adjacent a composite lay-up or mould, at least a portion of the chamber wall (21) being resiliently deformable, the fluid reticulation system being locatable within the inner volume of the pressure chamber (25) and including means (5) for distributing fluid towards an inner surface (22) of the chamber wall as the fluid enters the pressure chamber.

Abstract: A production system for producing a composite component including, a mould assembly (1) including a relatively rigid mould section (3), an elastically deformable mould section (5), fluid pressure means for applying a fluid pressure due to a density and/or pressure of a fluid (12) on said elastically deformable mould section, and a resin supply means (17) for supplying resin (23) to a mould chamber (8) defined between the mould sections when brought together.

Abstract: A system for producing composite or bonded metal components including: first and second pressure chambers, each pressure chamber having an elastically deformable chamber wall; means for circulating fluid at an elevated temperature and pressure through each said pressure chamber; and at least one mould assembly including at least one separate mould section providing a mould cavity within which a composite or bonded metal lay-up can be located; wherein when the system is in use, the pressure chambers are held together with the elastically deformable chamber walls located in opposing relation, the at least one mould assembly containing a said lay- up being accommodated between the chamber walls while fluid at elevated temperature and pressure is circulated through each pressure chamber such that the lay-up can be compressed and cured or formed.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the production, forming bonding, joining and repair systems composite and metal components utilising at least one pressure chamber having a displaceable abutment face, wherein fluid is circulated at an elevated temperature and pressure through the pressure chamber.

Abstract: A method of repairing a composite component (1) having a damaged area including: laying a composite lay-up (7) over the damaged area; locating at least one pressure chamber (3, 4) over the damaged area, the pressure chamber including a displaceable abutment face (5, 6); circulating fluid at an elevated temperature and pressure through the pressure chamber (3, 4) to thereby compress the lay-up (7) between the abutment face of the pressure chamber and the composite and elevate the temperature thereof to effect curing of the lay-up.