Abstract: A method of producing a molding which includes the steps of interconnecting the first and second moldings, each of which includes a core, by a connecting portion which has a decorative trim portion with a continuously varying cross sectional shape; forming a notched portion with at least one concave portion and at least one convex portion on the core of each of the first and second moldings; engaging the respective notched portions of the first and second moldings with each other by setting the concave portion of the first molding in the convex portion of the second molding; disposing the engaged portions within a cavity of a mold having a cross sectional shape corresponding to the cross sectional shape of the connecting portions; and injecting a material for molding into the cavity of the mold so as to form a decorative trim portion around the engaging portions, which continuously connects the first and second moldings as one body.

Abstract: A molding system utilizes a cold mold with a large thermal mass and contoured thin mold inserts with a low thermal mass. A composite sheet blank of glass fibers in a thermoplastic matrix resin is placed between the inserts, heated and then transported to the cold mold. The composite sheet is pressed in the cold mold between the mold inserts to flow form and then cool the part. The mold inserts keep the surfaces of the composite sheet hot during the forming process, thereby enabling the matrix resin to flow and form smooth surfaces.

Abstract: A method of making a double wall tank from a single wall inner tank. A mixture of an internal lubricating agent and a curable synthetic resin is formed and applied over an exterior portion of the tank which when cured forms a rigid outer sheath that is fluid tight and resists bonding to the inner tank.

Abstract: A method of molding a cup-shaped article such as integral vehicle wheel rim and disc segment, wherein a plurality of sections of resin-impregnated cloth are placed over a substantially cylindrical mandrel. The cloth sections are substantially identical and have circular central portions which are stacked on the mandrel end face, and oppositely projecting wings which are draped over and are circumferentially staggered around the mandrel sidewall. The central axis of each sheet section is at an angle of 45.degree. to the warp and weft fibers of the section cloth. The sheet sections thus form a mold charge which is compression molded to form an integral vehicle wheel rim and disc segment.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the production of bristle articles include introducing the plastic bristles in the form of individual bristles or bristle strands through channels and sleeves extending the latter in to a mould for the bristle carrier, followed by thermal melting on their end located on the mould for formation of a thickened portion and the thickened portion on the bristle ends formed during melting is then sealingly engaged on the opening of the sleeve projecting into the mould. During the filling of the mould, the bristles and sleeve are kept in position within the same and the sleeve and the thickened portion on the bristle end tightly engaging against the opening of the sleeve are enveloped by the bristle carrier material during mould filling and then the sleeve is removed from the bristle carrier.

Abstract: In a resin transfer molding process a preform is positioned in the cavity of a molding tool, the molding tool is closed and resin is introduced into the cavity. The preform is a resin transfer molding core with fiber reinforcement material affixed to its outer surface. Internal communication passages extend within the interior of the core, a first and a second internal communication passage each having an inlet opening and a discharge opening extending through the outer surface of the core. The molding tool has a first port and a second port. Fluid-tight communication is formed between the first port and the inlet opening of the first internal communication passage. Fluid-tight communication also is formed between the second port and the discharge opening of the second internal communication passage. Uncured resin is introduced into the cavity through the first port, to and through the inlet opening of the first internal communication passage.

Abstract: Stable formed-in-place saccharinic gum membranes on a porous support, the membranes being modified by contact with at least an equivalent of multivalent cations to anionic groups in the gum.

Abstract: A method of making a shaped article from at least one integrated multi-layered sheet having excellent mechanical properties and being light in weight, which includes the steps of providing a thermoplastic synthetic material reinforced by a fiber mat on at least one side of a substantially flat sheet of thermoplastic synthetic foam having a homogeneous structure, the fiber mat, thermoplastic synthetic material and sheet of synthetic foam being integrated under the influence of elevated temperature and increased pressure, providing deformability by entirely or locally heating the resulting integrated fiber reinforced sheet, giving the heated sheet the desired structure and shape, and fixing the article by cooling.

Abstract: A female die part has an upwardly opening die cavity for receiving a male die plunger, a supporting surface around the cavity for a porous batt of fibrous reinforcing material overlying the cavity, and a first shearing edge defining the periphery of the opening for the cavity. Peripheral portions of the batt are clamped to the supporting surface, whereupon the die plunger presses portions of the batt into a mold formed between the male plunger and the sidewalls of the cavity to completely fill the mold. A cutter having a second shearing edge cooperates with the first shearing edge to shear peripheral portions of the batt from the portions overlying the die cavity. The shearing edges in cooperation with the die plunger seal the mold to enable injection of reactive chemicals that impregnate the porous batt within the mold.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a bicycle fork including forming a manufactured blank comprising a metallic steering spigot 11, two fork arms 13 and a pair of metallic axle mounts 14. Each fork arm 13 includes a hard foam core 19 at the lower straight portion of each fork arm 13 and a flexible foam core 22 at the upper end of each fork arm 13. Alternatively, a single flexible foam core having an internal pressurization may be advantageously used. The axle mounts 14 have a connection spigot 21 which is inserted into the free ends of each fork arm 13. A polymer impregnated flexible foam sheath 20 is laid around foam core 19, flexible foam core 22 or 37 and connection spigots 21. Subsequently, various polymer impregnated fiber reinforced sleeves 15, 16, 17, 18 are laid around the foam sleeve 20. The upper parts of the fork arms 13 are brought together to form a fork head 12 having a single steering spigot connection part 12a and fork arm transition parts 12b.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the manufacture of plastic couplings for joining together two lengths of plastic pipe. The couplings are manufactured from blanks of plastic material, such as polyvinyl chloride, which are heated to the thermoplastic state. The blanks are expanded between two mandrels which come together inside the ends of the blank. The mandrels have an outer member with a thin walled section and a nosepiece inside of that section which collapses at the end of the inward stroke of the mandrels so that the center shoulder of the coupling is not as wide as that of the prior art coupling. This results in a coupling which is shorter and lighter than the prior art coupling and yet is the full equivalent of the prior art coupling.

Abstract: During a method of phosphating a metal surface which includes at least in part iron or steel and is dipped into or flooded with a phosphating solution which contains layer-forming cations and nitrate or equivalent accelerators, the iron content is limited by a precipitation of iron phosphate. A partial volume of the phosphating solution is intermittently withdrawn from the bath tank and in a separate aerator is contacted with oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas. The iron phosphate sludge is removed from the resulting solution, which is then returned to the bath tank. The partial volume of the phosphating solution is supplied from below into and is aerated in an aerator, which is provided with an aspirating aerating agitator and which is tapered at least in its lower portion. When the aerator has been terminated, the phosphating solution which has been depleted of iron(II) is sucked off upwardly and is returned to the bath tank.

Abstract: A method of making a high load tool having a hard body of plastic material with compression plates on opposites sides to compress and strengthen the body. The method includes the steps of inserting passage forming pipes into a container and retaining the passage forming pipes in predetermined locations. Epoxy resin is poured into the container to cover the passage forming pipes and then the epoxy resin is cured. Elongated rods are inserted into the passage forming pipes and a pair of load spreader plates are placed at opposite ends of the elongated rods. Threaded bolts are advanced on at least one end of the elongated rods to move the spreader means towards one another and to compressively load the body.

Abstract: Multi-co-injection nozzle injection molding and injection blow-molding apparatus for injection molding and injection blow-molding a multi-layer plastics article, parison or container, including a plurality of co-injection nozzles, means associated with the nozzles to channel each material stream which is to form a layer of the article separately to each nozzle, and means for moving the materials streams along their respective channels to their respective nozzles for injection into associated injection mold cavities. The channels preferably provide substantially the same material flow for streams of the same material channeled to the nozzles. Preferably, the nozzles have an axial central channel and a plurality of flow stream passageways with orifices in communication with the central channel, and valve means cooperatively associated with and operative within each co-injection nozzle for there preventing and allowing the flow of respective materials streams from the orifices into the central channel.

Abstract: A pressurized slurry casting machine is provided which includes a feed tank with an agitator, a vertical conduit extending from the feed tank to a mold. The machine operates by creating pressure in the feed tank with the agitator propeller whereby the ceramic slurry will be forced to move up the straight conduit into the mold so as to be formed into the desired article. The respective connections of the conduit to the mold and the feed tank are each air-tight connections such that no air bubble-like contamination will result in the finished ceramic product. There is also provided a vacuum system capable of producing a negative pressure in the feed tank.

Abstract: A resin transfer molding core has an outer surface and internal communication passages. One internal communication passage has an inlet opening and at least one discharge opening extending through the outer surface of the core. At least a second internal communication passage has a discharge opening extending through the outer surface of the core and at least one inlet opening. A preform comprises the core with fiber reinforcement material on the outer surface.

Abstract: A two-staged or sequential reaction injection molding (RIM) method of manufacturing a glass fiber mat reinforced plastic part having at least one appearance surface in which a high viscosity RIM material and a low viscosity RIM material are sequentially injected into a mold cavity containing at least one reinforcing member of a glass fiber mat.

Abstract: The method of making a plastic article having a plurality of small openings which utilizes a plurality of thin plastic tubular members combined together in a side-by-side relationship forming an assemblage. Each tubular member has an exterior layer of a first plastic and a core of a second plastic. The second plastic is to be dissolvable by a solvent. This assemblage is passed through a furnace with the result that the assemblage is drawn into a thin filament. Once cooled, the thin filament is cut into segments of a desired length and these segments are placed within a solvent bath for a sufficient period of time in order to affect complete removal of the second type of plastic resulting in producing of a plurality of small, through openings within each section.

Abstract: A process for making a preform of fiber reinforced thermoplastic material, debulking the preform, subjecting the preform to heat and pressure to form a molded article, then subjecting the article to a predetermined quenching cycle that centralizes void location in the molded article.

Abstract: A process for fabricating synthetic materials, such as "atomic ceramics", by atomic alloying of a host material. Energetic modifier elements or species are introduced into the host matrix of a fluidic precursor material so as to obtain an engineered material characterized by a range of optical electrical, thermal, chemical or mechanical properties not exhibited by either the modifier or the precursor material. In this manner modified, layered, graded, doped and/or alloyed materials may be synthesized. Special emphasis is placed on a novel technique for the synthesis of optical fibers.