Abstract: The present invention is a method for seaming a polyimide material. The method involves forming an interface between multiple the polyimide materials. Next, heat is applied to the interface to soften the polyimide material. The temperature of the heat source is below the melting point of the polyimide material. Finally, pressure is applied to the interface to create a seam between the polyimide materials.

Abstract: A process for fixing several textile thicknesses along a line, and particularly an edge of a textile article, of the type by which two stitched sewing threads are used, namely the lower and the upper is provided. One of the threads changes state at a first predetermined temperature. A glue for thermogluing the thicknesses is provided. The glue acts at a second predetermined temperature. The state changing thread melts at a first temperature that is lower than the second temperature. The other thread is eliminated after the state changing thread has melted. This results in a perfectly placed seamless assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for attaching two substrates to one another includes a lower chamber that holds a first substrate and an upper chamber that holds a second substrate. The upper and lower chambers are brought together to provide a space in which an attaching process is performed. Chamber transportation mechanisms are located at corners of the lower chamber and serve to move the lower chamber up toward the upper chamber so that it can be coupled with the upper chamber. Guide parts are also formed on side surfaces of the lower chamber to guide movement, and to reduce deformation of the chamber when pressure differentials act to deform the sides of the chamber.

Abstract: A paint mask particularly adapted for masking corner areas of a demarcation zone to facilitate painting of an area of a workpiece disposed on the other side of the demarcation zone is formed of a thin, flexible sheet having opposite faces. The paint mask includes a first leg and a second leg that are generally rectangular in shape, and the legs intersect to form a right angle adapted for masking a corner and adjacent area. The bottom side of the paint mask which contacts the surface to be masked includes an adhesive for adhering the mask to the workpiece. The top side has release means for releasing stacked paint masks from each other.

Abstract: An extrusion head may be provided. The extrusion head may include an inner flow path, an outer flow path, and at least one sealant flow path. The inner flow path may be configured to direct a flow of an inner layer around a conductor. The outer flow path may be configured to direct a flow of an outer layer around the inner layer. The at least one sealant flow path may extend to a connecting point with the inner flow path and the outer flow path. The at least one sealant flow path may be configured to direct a sealant to fill at least one sealant channel region between the inner layer and the outer layer. The connection point may be configured to cause the flow of the inner layer and the flow of the outer layer to join before the sealant fills the at least one sealant channel region.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for replacing a creel in a fiber placement machine, by sequentially moving replaceable creels into place on the fiber placement machine, via tracks and/or guide rails, as one or more spools in a previously operating creel are exhausted, and removing the creel having the one or more exhausted spools, to thereby allow fiber placement to continue from the replacement creel while the creel having one or more exhausted spools of material is replenished. An auto-splice apparatus and method are incorporated into the replaceable creel and fiber placement machine, for assisting in the exchange of replaceable creels.

Abstract: The present invention relates to pre-filled contained media volumes and methods of media filling using pre-filled contained media volumes. In particular, the present invention relates to apparatus and methods of media filling a tooling for a fuselage using pre-filled contained media volumes. In one implementation, the pre-filled contained media volume comprises a bag formed of a porous fabric and media located in that bag. The pre-filled contained media volume is attached to a tooling prior to filling the tooling with additional media.

Abstract: An apparatus and invention are provided for accelerating an added tow to match the lay-down speed of other tows exiting a compaction roller of a fiber placement head, by driving the added tow with an add roller operatively coupled to be driven at the same peripheral speed as a feed roller having a peripheral speed matching the peripheral speed of the compaction roller.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of debonding a tooling for a fuselage. In particular, the present invention relates to methods of debonding a tooling for a fuselage using a debonding agent. In one implementation, isopropyl alcohol is applied to a tooling to break the cohesive bond between the tooling and the fuselage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a belt-type wrinkled band used for healing a hernia of intervertebral disk or protection the intervertebral disk. In particular, the expansion and contraction by air-injection can be achieved, without using a rubber tube for the contraction and expansion.

Abstract: Structural damage repair elements including inserts and a structural damage repair kit is provided. The structural damage repair elements typically include two or more layers of materials having an adhesive therebetween that are subsequently compressed together. The structural damage repair kit includes a chemical molding agent, an optional jig, one or more structural damage repair elements and a sealant. Both hollow and solid elongated objects, as well as relatively flat, curved objects may be repaired with the kit. The structural damage repair elements include rods, wafers, and/or adhesive saturated inserts.

Abstract: A composite wheel and a method of manufacture is provided for a vehicle wherein the composite wheel has a first and second section mounted to an annular mount. At least one of the first wheel section and second wheel section is composed of a resin having at least one braided polymeric fiber. The first and second sections are each formed by folding the braided fiber into a preform and then injecting resin into a mold containing the preform. The first and second sections are then bonded to each other and the annular mount.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fray-free cutting at the perimeter of an area of a textile sheet on a textile-receiving surface, including applying an anti-fray substance onto the sheet along a path at the perimeter by an anti-fray substance applicator movable along the surface as directed by a controller based on programmed information regarding the perimeter, and cutting the sheet at the perimeter by a cutter movable along the surface as directed by the controller based on the programmed information.

Abstract: A method for preparing tiles or sheets consisting of mosaic pieces. More particularly, the invention relates to a method allowing the assembly of mosaic pieces to be greatly facilitated within suitable supports for producing tiles or sheets of mosaic pieces that are ready to be laid down. The method provides a step of providing cube-shaped pieces and laying the latter on trays that are subjected to a vibratory and rotational motion.

Abstract: A metallic-composite joint is formed by inserting a metallic member into a slot of a pi-shaped composite preform. The preform is formed from woven carbon fiber in a binder of resin and may or may not be cured prior to assembly. An inert compliant layer is located between the legs of the preform and the metallic member. The resin binder or an adhesive is used to bond the compliant layer to the preform. The compliant layer has a coefficient of thermal expansion that more closely matches that of the preform. The properties of the compliant layer also avoid galvanic corrosion between the carbon in the preform and the metallic member.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for production of a decorative article comprising a body having at least one engagement stage, and a decorative member made of a decoration material capable of being thermally softened and having at least one surface which is engageable with the engagement stage of the body. The said method comprises the steps by placing softened decoration material into a mold shaped and sized to correspond to the decorative member to be produced and having at least one surface that is brought into surface-contact with the engagement stage of the body and then press-molding; taking the semi-finished decorative member out of the mold to cool down slowly to room temperature; and placing the surface of the cooled semi-finished decorative member over the engagement stage of the body and splicing them together. By using the method of the present invention, a decorative article can be produced.

Abstract: An apparatus and accompanying method for handling fabrics used in the construction of composite components and in particular those used in aircraft includes a movable, gantry-type frame assembly having a movable robotic arm attached thereto. A drum assembly, attached to the robotic arm has one or more vacuum ports disposed along the surface of the drum. When vacuum from within the drum is applied to the ports and the drum is moved to contact flexible fabric material—such as the reinforcement fabric used for composite manufacture—an end of the fabric may be picked up through the effect of the applied vacuum and the fabric rolled-up around the drum. The movable gantry and/or the robotic arm may then move the drum to a desired location where the fabric is unrolled and prepared for composite manufacture. Variations to the vacuum ports permit the rolling and transport of a variety of materials and shapes.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a green fluoropolymer tube which has a wall thickness of about 250 microns or less, preferably about 200 microns or less, and more preferably about 125 microns or less. With such thinness, the green tube may be formed into a tube of expanded fluoropolymer having a wall thickness of about 250 microns or less, preferably about 200 ?m or less and more preferably about 125 microns or less. Such an expanded fluoropolymer tube is particularly well-suited for use as an endovascular prosthesis, such as a graft, or in a stent-graft, because of its flexibility and strength.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tubular-shaped component (19) for an aeronautical fuselage made of composite materials comprising an outer skin (1) without joints having a cylindrical or cylindrical-conical shape, a plurality of stiffeners or stringers (2) longitudinally arranged in said outer skin (1) and a plurality of anchoring elements (3) for anchoring other elements to subsequently be incorporated transversally arranged between said stiffeners or stringers (2). The invention also comprises a jig (18) comprising a support body (12) and a plurality of panels (9) that can shift between an extended position (10) and a retracted position (10?) in both directions and a process for manufacturing said component (19) in the last step of which once the tubular component (19) is formed and cured, it is separated from the jig (18) by means of a longitudinal movement after the shifting of those elements of the jig (18) preventing it, and particularly the panels (9) that can be shifted.

Abstract: A tape bonding device for bonding a tape member to a work piece: having a rubber sheet on the upper surface of which the work piece is mounted, a first vacuum chamber located on the side of the upper surface of the rubber sheet, a second vacuum chamber located on the side of the lower surface of the rubber sheet, a holding member which holds the rubber sheet without coming and going of the air between a first and a second vacuum chambers and, a tape holding unit which holds the tape member in a stretched state, and locates the tape member in the upper portion of the work piece, a first sucking unit which performs vacuum suction of a first vacuum chamber, a first air introducing unit which introduces the air into the first vacuum chamber, a second sucking unit which performs vacuum suction of a second vacuum chamber, a second air introducing unit which introduces the air into the second vacuum chamber.