Abstract: A fiber application machine, for making components out of composite materials, that includes a system for displacing a fiber application head, fiber storage means, and fiber conveying means for conveying fibers from said storage means to the application head. The conveying means include flexible tubes connecting the storage means to the application head, each flexible tube being fitted with at least one longitudinal flexible blade of rectangular transverse cross-section, said flexible blade being placed substantially parallel to the plane of transport of the fiber received in the inner passage of the flexible tube.

Abstract: A latent elastic laminate material, and methods of making latent elastic laminate materials. The laminate includes a latent polymer, which itself may or may not possess latent elasticity, that is applied to at least one elastic member while the elastic member is in a stretched configuration. The elastic member, at least partially covered with the latent polymer, is attached to at least one substrate. The amount of latent polymer applied to the elastic member may provide enough force to overcome a retractive force of the elastic member when the latent polymer is at a temperature below a softening point of the latent polymer, yet the amount of latent polymer may be small enough to allow the laminate to retract into an elastic, gathered structure when the laminate is heated to a softening point of the latent polymer. The laminate may be incorporated into a variety of articles including personal care garments and cleaning cloths.

Abstract: A method is provided for reinforcing medical balloons in order to withstand high internal pressures without excessive dilation of the reinforced balloon. The method calls for the use of continuous filament high modulus yarns in a braided structure, pressurizing the balloon, inserting the pressurized balloon inside the braided structure, applying axial tension on the braid, thus causing the braided structure to collapse onto and conform to the shape of the pressurized balloon and bonding the reinforcement braid yarns to the exterior surface of the pressurized balloon.

Abstract: A pressure vessel and method for producing a pressure vessel is disclosed. The pressure vessel comprises a liner shell fabricated from composite material applied to a soluble mandrel having a body shaped to pattern an interior of the pressure vessel, the liner shell having an opening, a boss having an aperture therethrough, the boss sealingly bonded to the liner shell with the aperture adjacent the opening, and an outer shell fabricated from plies of composite material filament impregnated with matrix material wound over the liner shell and the boss, but not over the aperture.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are various waterproof membranes that may be applied to a sill surface of an opening in a building structure to waterproof that surface as well as direct water that penetrates through the opening out of the structure. Generally, one or more flexible waterproof membranes are adhesively applied to the sill surface for purposes of waterproofing that surface. Such membranes may further incorporate a back dam structure that is disposed proximate to the rearward edge of a sill plate (i.e., disposed toward the interior of the structure) to direct water towards the front edge of the sill plate (i.e., toward the outside of the structure). Further, such membranes may include wicking material on one or more surfaces to allow for directing water out of a building structure. In various arrangements, one or more flexible membranes may be utilized to create an open fronted sill pan.

Abstract: A pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 3 is formed on a release treated surface of a release liner 4, and gas from holes 40 in the release liner 4 is made to move to the outside of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 3, thus forming through holes 31 in the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 3. The pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 3 and a base material 2 having provided therein gas-passing channels that communicate to the outside of the pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet are then laminated together such that the gas-passing channels in the base material 2 and the through holes 31 in the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 3 communicate with one another, thus obtaining a pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet 1. According to the pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet 1, air entrapment and blistering can be prevented or eliminated while securing adequate adhesive strength and with no marring of the appearance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a composite container with different opening sizes, which is accomplished by winding with fibers impregnated with resin. First, fibers impregnated with resin are wound on a first substrate for winding a first container, wherein first openings are positioned at both ends of the first container. Then, cut the first container into two shells with a first opening each, and slip one of the shells on a second substrate. Next, fibers impregnated with resin is used for winding the second substrate and the shell such that the fibers impregnated with resin wound on the second substrate and the shell are combined to form a second container, where both ends of the second container are the first opening and a second opening with different opening sizes. Thereby, filament winding can be applied for manufacturing containers with different opening sizes on both ends, and the technique of manufacturing and performance of containers are enhanced.

Abstract: A method for connecting a catheter balloon with a catheter shaft of a balloon catheter that improves the welding quality of a weld between the catheter balloon and the catheter shaft of the balloon catheter. Preferably, a welding energy absorbing device is arranged, preferably in the form of a colored tubing, in the area of a fixation site after attaching a pre-fixation and then to irradiate this welding energy absorbing device with the radiation energy to carry out the welding. After the welding the pre-fixation and the welding energy absorbing device are removed.

Abstract: A system including a supply roll of a laminate, a mandrel for wrapping the laminate therearound, feed rollers that spool the laminate off the supply roll onto the mandrel, the feed rollers being attached to a mounting plate by an adjustable bracket that sets an angle of the laminate with respect to the mandrel, adjacent windings of the laminate being joined to one another at overlaps thereof, wherein each winding of the laminate makes at least one complete revolution around the mandrel before the laminate advances to its next adjacent winding so as to form a seal at the overlaps of the adjacent windings, and a cutting station adapted to cut cylindrical tubes formed by windings of the laminate about the mandrel.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pressure shell formed by winding reinforcement fibers with resin material for hardening on an outer surface of a hollow tank base body, a high-pressure tank having the pressure shell, a manufacturing method of the high-pressure tank, and an apparatus for manufacturing the high-pressure tank. The pressure shell adopts the laminated structure in which a large number of fiber layers each formed by winding the reinforcement fibers around the tank base body are laminated. In a state the inside of the high-pressure tank is emptied, a compressive stress is applied to a lower fiber layer and a tensile stress is applied to an upper fiber layer. Particularly, in winding the reinforcement fibers around the tank base body, the reinforcement fibers are wound while filling fluid for pressure regulation in the tank base body, regulating a pressure applied to the fluid for pressure regulation, and adjusting a tension applied to the reinforcement fibers.

Abstract: A method of making a cylindrical pressure vessel (11) with a large diameter port in its sidewall includes the step of providing a mandrel (23) of desired diameter and filament winding upon the same. After winding one overall innermost layer, an annular reinforcement belt (16) is helically wound atop a defined region using a band (60) of resin impregnated parallel strands (39) under tension. The annular belt (16) is then itself helically overwound with the resin impregnated parallel strands of filamentary material under tension to provide two complete outer layers. After curing and removal from the mandrel (23) at least one aperture (71) is cut in the sidewall within the reinforcement belt (16) and a side port fitting (75) is installed in the aperture (71).

Abstract: A method for applying an elastic member on an elastic web of material includes providing an elastic web of material running in a travelling direction; applying adhesive in a predetermined adhesive pattern on the web of material; applying a continuous elastic member in an elastic pattern on the adhesive, wherein the elastic member is applied in a direction of extension which deviates from the travelling direction at least within portions of the elastic member; applying a non-elastic web of material over the elastic web of material, wherein the non-elastic web of material is brought to cover the adhesive pattern, whereby the elastic member is locked between the elastic web of material and the non-elastic web of material in the applied position on the adhesive pattern. The non-elastic web of material is given a band shape with a first non-linear edge and a second non-linear edge, wherein the shape of the non-elastic web of material is brought to generally coincide with the shape of the adhesive pattern.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided, for handling the backing film in a fiber placement process, by winding-up the backing film, into a roll, as the backing film is separated from a fiber tow. The backing film is wound-up in such a manner that it can be fed back out to rejoin the tow, should it be necessary to rewind a portion of the tow during the fiber placement process. The backing film may be wound onto a paper or cardboard core for ease of removal and handling.

Abstract: A method of making an elastic composite is provided. The method entails conveying a first web of material along a web plane path. The method also entails applying a first section of a first elastic strand onto the first web and generally transversely to the web plane path and applying a second section of a second elastic strand onto the first web and generally transversely to the web plane path. These applying steps are repeated while performing the conveying step, thereby arranging a plurality of first and second elastic elements on the first web, in generally parallel relation to one another. The resultant composite is suitable for incorporation into a disposable absorbent garment, textile or fabric structure, and the like.

Abstract: Techniques for bonding two disks with a minimized eccentricity (ECC) are disclosed. A positioning header includes an ECC controlling structure that further includes a positioning header. In one embodiment, the position header includes three members that form a round stand with a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the disks. The round stand expands to the inner diameter of the disks to close the gap as a result of the difference between the two diameters when the three members are caused to expand. In one embodiment, the movement of the three members is controlled by magnetic means. Depending on the positions of the ECC controlling structure, the three members are expanded from or restored to their default positions.

Abstract: A method is provided for making an elastic composite for incorporation into a disposable absorbent garment. An elastic element applicator is provided that is configured to move a section of a continuous strand of elastic element generally about a plane. A first web of material is conveyed in a first web moving direction such that the first web intersects the plane. Then, the applicator is operated to move the elastic element about the plane, thereby applying the section of elastic element onto the first web along a direction generally transverse to the web moving direction and such that the first web draws the continuous elastic strand from the elastic element applicator as the first web is conveyed away from the plane. The elastic element applicator may be in the form of a spin cylinder or bracket that is operated to spin the elastic element about the moving first web, thereby applying the elastic element on the first web.

Abstract: A method for improving strength of the finished product in paint roller manufacturing processes and other continuous processes for producing tubular goods from polymers. The method utilizes a substrate such as a polypropylene strip with grooves on its surface. The grooved substrate is fed onto a mandrel to form a tube. Adhesive is applied upon the grooved surface of the grooved substrate. A cover may be applied about the tube, and the resulting product is then cut into finished-size paint rollers. The hardened adhesive in the grooves may operate to reduce the hoop-force which would otherwise tend to unwind the wound substrate. The method in certain embodiments provides a reduction in cost and weight of the finished product.

Abstract: A filament winding apparatus for rotating in a predetermined direction a core material that is supported by a supporting portion, and for winding around the core material, an elongated material which has flexibility and which is impregnated with an unhardened synthetic resin material, the filament winding apparatus includes a plurality of feeding portions for feeding a plurality of elongated materials, and a plurality of guiding mechanisms which are positioned around the core material so as to correspond to the plurality of elongated materials that are drawn from the plurality of feeding portions, through which the corresponding elongated materials are passed, wherein at least one of the supporting portion and the plurality of guiding mechanisms are movable in a rotation axial direction, from a winding operation range in which the elongated materials can be guided by the guiding mechanisms to winding positions at which the elongated materials are wound around the core material, to an attachable/detachable pos

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a fiber placement head assembly and an infrared heating assembly is provided. The fiber placement head assembly includes a compaction roller assembly and a feeder assembly. An infrared heating assembly, a cooling mechanism, temperature sensors, and a controller are operably coupled to the fiber placement head assembly. The infrared heating assembly includes an infrared heater that generates a heating profile. The heating profile defines a heating zone on either a tool or previously laid tows. If the burn point of either the tool or previously laid tows within the heating zone is approached, the controller, which receives temperature readings from the temperature sensors, simultaneously disables the infrared heater and activates the cooling mechanism. As such, the tool and the previously laid tows are protected from being ruined due to an over temperature condition.

Abstract: A method of making an elastic composite is provided. The method entails conveying a first web of material along a web plane path. The method also entails applying a first section of a first elastic strand onto the first web and generally transversely to the web plane path and applying a second section of a second elastic strand onto the first web and generally transversely to the web plane path. These applying steps are repeated while performing the conveying step, thereby arranging a plurality of first and second elastic elements on the first web, in generally parallel relation to one another. The resultant composite is suitable for incorporation into a disposable absorbent garment, textile or fabric structure, and the like.