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: A method and apparatus for manufacturing fiber preforms includes a relatively small motor which is able to power a large fan because the fan is kept in a partial vacuum condition. A duct connects a fan housing to a vacuum box which has an air flow opening therein of relatively narrow width. A shuttle member is horizontally translatable above the vacuum box on a support bed and the shuttle member is divided into air flow channels by baffle plates. Only a small number of air flow channels can pass above the air flow opening at a single time and this serves to keep low pressure in the vacuum box. In addition, a vortex gate is provided in the duct between the fan housing and the vacuum box and serves to restrict air flow through the duct when the pressure within the duct drops below a certain level.

Abstract: A process relating to the manufacture of a composite component comprising a web and a reinforcement structure. The process includes providing a profiled section constituting a fibrous structure that is rigidified by impregnation with a thermoformable binder. The profiled section provided has a cross-section corresponding to the dimensions of a non-compacted blank of the component to be formed in a single unit with the web and the reinforcement structure. A blank of the component to be produced is machined from a length of the profiled section. The blank is press formed to obtain a preform having a shape and dimensions approximating those of the component to be produced and the preform is densified by chemical vapor infiltration of a material constituting a matrix within the fibrous structure, after elimination of the thermoformable binder.

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.

Abstract: A method of making a card which has a body having two main faces and at least one graphics element. A mold is provided having a mold cavity which defines the outside shape of the card body. A support element bearing a graphics element is placed in the mold cavity, and it is retained in place so that it remains substantially parallel to the walls of the mold cavity which define the main faces of the card body. A plastic material is then injected into the mold in such a manner that the plastic material occupies all of the space delimited in the mold cavity and not occupied by the support element. The part obtained in this way is then unmolded.

Abstract: A cast mold and process for casting a substrate for an information recording medium has an uneven preformat pattern formed on the mold surface. The uneven preformat features a pattern corresponding to tracking grooves and information pits, each information pit portion has a size with a length b in the direction parallel to the pattern of the tracking groove of 2 to 15 .mu.m and a width a in the direction perpendicular thereto of 1 to 6 .mu.m and a height c of 300 to 3500 .ANG.. The pit pattern has a pitch which is 1.8-fold or more of pit length b.

Abstract: A method for incrementally mold-forming sections of a fiber reinforced, thermoplastic material into a composite product which has a mold product configuration of non-uniform cross section and/or non-linear configuration. Large laminates are formed by utilizing small to medium sized molds to successively mold incremental sections of the total product. Each section of the laminate is first heated to a flowable condition and is then compressed within the mold cavity to form the desired incremental shape. This process is completed until all parts of the product have been formed utilizing variations in mold components to change geometries within the total part.

Abstract: A process for retarding the formation of incrustation on plant parts in contact with phosphating solutions in phosphating plants and where the working phosphating solution immediately after contacting the metal surface to be phosphated and while the solution is at its working temperature is caused to flow to contact an additionally presented solid surface that is disposed outside the region in which the workpiece metal surface and phosphating solution contact each other. The ratio of the second solid surface area which is contacted by the phosphating solution in the phosphating plant to the surface area of the plant parts in contact with the phosphating solution is at least 2.

Abstract: A method for making a fiber reinforced composite article includes placing in a forming mold article cavity a preform which includes at least a fiber reinforcement arrangement, such as stacked piles of resin bonded sheets. Closure of the mold defines a matrix reservoir for excess matrix material in fluid flow relationship with the article cavity. Gas pressure applied to the excess matrix material while in the fluid condition forces that material back into the article cavity to nominally eliminate voids, pores and other internal and surface discontinuities from the article.

Abstract: A segmented mandrel is adapted for use in fabricating large diameter, light weight articles (such as aircraft component structures) made of thermosetting composite materials by placing fiber on the external surface of the mandrel followed by autoclave curing of the composite materials. The segmented mandrel is composed of a center shaft extending lengthwise through the mandrel, four mandrel segments mating together along a seam between their respective adjacent edges, T-stiffeners for fastening the mandrel segments together, and bulkheads rigidly mounted around the shaft and connected to the stiffeners. This segmented mandrel is reusable, is easily assembled and disassembled, and has a system that creates a vacuum seal between mandrel sections while at the same time retains the functions of support and alignment of the mandrel segments carrying the parts being cured.

Abstract: A dual plastic compression formed shotshell casing includes an injection-molded annular-shaped hard plastic rim and an elongated compression-formed tubular body having an integral basewad portion at its base end which is mechanically interlocked with the rim to define the final basewad of the shotshell casing. In method of making the shotshell casing, the hard plastic rim is first injection molded independently. The tubular body is then formed in a two-step process. In the first step, a plastic preform is injection molded over the rim in mechanically interlocked relation to the rim. In the second step, the tubular body is compression formed from the preform mechanically locked to the rim.

Abstract: This is a process for fabrication of nickel-oxide insulation on a superconductor. The process utilizes; reacting oxygen-free nickel powder with oxygen-free carbon monoxide generally at 50.degree.-75.degree. C. to produce a nickel carbonyl, separating the nickel carbonyl from reaction by-products and excess reagents by cooling the carbonyl and decanting the nickel carbonyl liquor, and contacting the carbonyl to a surface of a wire containing superconductor or superconductor precursors in an atmosphere containing a controlled amount of oxygen, with the wire at 50.degree.-800.degree. C. to produce nickel suboxide insulation on the wire. The purified nickel carbonyl and oxygen may be alternately (rather than simultaneously) introduced, to deposit a series of metallic nickel films on the wire, each of which metallic films are then oxidized to a nickel suboxide.

Abstract: A process for die cutting a sheet of thermoplastic material imprintd with information or data of limited spatial displacement therebetween wherein the data is sequentially die cut in alternating rows and lines in a plurality of registered die cutting stations until all such pieces have been die cut generally in like sizes or pieces and wherein each piece is in residual attachment to the sheet of thermoplastic material.

Abstract: In a bicycle frame wherein a plurality of frame members are selectively joined together at the ends thereof, each of the joints which support the head tube, the seat and the crank housing is a lug joint consisting of a plurality of organic fiber layers partially wrapping the joined end portions of the frame members, the fibers composing each layer being oriented at different angles from the fibers in the adjacent layers, and all of these sheets being impregnated with resin which hardens to secure the sheets to the frame members. Web portions of these fiber layers also enclose a portion of the space between wrapped portions of the frame members, and each of these spaces is filled with a suspension of microballoons in hardened resin which cooperates with the web portions of the fiber layers to brace the joined frame members against movement toward each other during use of the bicycle.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for converting hemicellulose of lignocellulosic material into a thermoset, water-proof adhesive. In one embodiment of the invention the thermoset, water-proof adhesive is used for converting other components of the lignocellulosic material into composite products such as panel products, reconstituted lumber and moulded articles without the use of any other adhesive binders which are an essential part of the conventional dry process of manufacturing composite products, such as wood-based particleboard, waferboard, medium density fibreboard, et cetera.

Abstract: An automotive body delivered in a direction, and covers such as an engine hood and a trunk lid and doors of the automotive body are opened and held in an open position. Thereafter, prescribed areas of the automotive body are coated, and those doors which are located downstream with respect to the direction in which the automotive body is delivered and those areas of the automotive body which correspond to those doors which are located upstream with respect to the same direction, are coated. Thereafter, the covers and the doors of the automotive body are closed.

Abstract: A method for creating an elongate passage of a desired cross-sectional shape and size within a component. A shape memory metal alloy is formed into an elongate element, such as a wire (16), having the cross-sectional shape and size desired of the elongate passage. The wire is embedded within a component (10) as the component is manufactured, e.g., by laying-up the component from a fiber/resin composite and curing it, or by casting the component in a mold (50) from a liquid that hardens around the memory metal alloy, embedding it in place. The liquid may comprise glass, ceramic, thermoplastic, or metal having a lower melting point than the memory metal alloy. The wire is then pulled from the component, by applying a force sufficient to convert the memory metal alloy from a soft martensitic state to a stress-induced martensitic state, thereby plastically and inelastically deforming it so that it lengthens. As the memory metal alloy wire lengthens, its cross-sectional area decreases.