Abstract: Welded headgear sections can be produced by using a weld tool having pins protruding from a weld region contact surface to deliver high-frequency electromagnetic energy to a weld region defined by overlapping top and bottom headgear straps. The pins fully penetrate the top strap and at least partially penetrate the bottom strap. The pins concentrate the electromagnetic energy to achieve a weld joint of acceptable weld strength and aesthetic appeal.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for multi-celled pressurizable air bladders. One embodiment is an apparatus that includes a bladder. The bladder includes a casing that encloses an internal volume of the bladder, walls within the bladder that subdivide the internal volume into cells that are airtight with respect to each other, and ducting that couples each of the cells with a source of pressurized gas via a distinct pathway. The apparatus also includes a controller that progressively pressurizes individual cells within the bladder from a first portion of a laminate to a second portion of the laminate by controlling application of gas from the source via the ducting.

Abstract: The invention proposes a method for manufacturing a grille for a cascade type thrust reverser, of a jet engine, said method including the following steps: a) manufacturing a first component comprising continuous or long fibres, pre-impregnated by a thermoplastic or thermosetting resin; b) manufacturing, subsequently or together with step a), a series of second components each including discontinuous fibres, pre-impregnated by a thermoplastic or thermosetting resin, step b) being carried out such that the second components are, on the one hand, arranged transversally with respect to a longitudinal direction of the first component on at least one side of the first component and, on the other hand, spaced from one another according to this longitudinal direction, so as to form a comb-shaped structure, wherein the second components are consolidated to the first component.

Abstract: An example method of forming a composite structure is described that includes applying a laminated charge onto an expandable pallet, moving the expandable pallet at a translation rate and relative to a die conveyor that comprises a plurality of die sections, and driving the plurality of die sections on the die conveyor at an angle relative to the expandable pallet so as to drive the plurality of die sections progressively deeper into a recess defined by the expandable pallet and shape the laminated charge into at least part of a shape of the composite structure.

Abstract: This workpiece molding apparatus has a mold member equipped with a pair of metal molds that hold therebetween a workpiece being a laminate of a workpiece body and a surface skin material, and that are capable of holding, through suction, the workpiece body and the surface skin material, said workpiece molding apparatus being provided with: a surface skin material retention part which is disposed laterally to the mold member so as to retain the surface skin material and which forms a level difference between the retaining position of the workpiece body and the retaining position of the surface skin material in a non-bonded area where the surface skin material is not bonded to the workpiece body; and a forward-and-backward moving member which is disposed at the portion where the level difference is formed at the non-bonded area so as to cover an upside of the non-bonded area of the workpiece body.

Abstract: A fiber composite laying method for producing a fiber composite scrim for forming a fiber composite component. The method includes supplying a reinforcement fiber band to a laying head, laying and compacting the supplied reinforcement fiber band on a laying surface at an average compaction pressure by a compaction roller, and detecting a local compaction pressure on the laid reinforcement fiber band by pressure sensors on the compaction roller.

Abstract: A pressurizing pre-impregnating die head for a fiber reinforced plastic sheet machine is provided. The die head includes a body; at least one group of fiber channels arranged in a longitudinal hole-through manner in a middle of the body, and a fiber yarn conveyed in the fiber channel. The body includes a feeding port and discharging ports, which communicate with each other. The discharging ports are located in outer sides of the fiber channel. Thermoplastic base materials in a molten state are paved on two sides of the fiber yarn. The thermoplastic base materials may be paved on surfaces of the two sides of the fiber yarn when being extruded.

Abstract: A forming assembly configured to form a wick is disclosed. The forming assembly includes an expandable tube and a forming shell assembly. The expandable tube is hydraulically expandable to an expanded configuration. A wick mesh is configured to be wrapped about the expandable tube. The forming shell assembly includes a first forming shell comprising a first recess defined therein and a second forming shell comprising a second recess defined therein. The first recess and the second recess cooperate to define an outer diameter of the wick. The expandable tube and the wick mesh are positionable between the first recess and the second recess. The expandable tube and the forming shell assembly are configured to deform the wick mesh and form the wick based on the expandable tube hydraulically expanding towards the expanded configuration.

Abstract: A device for manufacturing a composite component including a tool with a first and second sections forming first and second confinement surfaces, the sections movable relative to each other into and out of a fastening configuration. The device includes a closing mechanism with a closing section. In the fastening configuration, the first confinement surface and the second confinement surface face one another, and the sections and the closing mechanism are arranged such that a cavity is formed between the sections and the closing mechanism. The closing section is transferable from an open configuration into a closed configuration. In the closed configuration, the third confinement surface extends along a plane perpendicular to the first and second confinement surfaces, wherein, when the closing mechanism is heated from a first temperature to a second temperature, the closing section transfers from the open configuration into the closed configuration at a predefined temperature.

Abstract: According to one implementation, a preform shaping apparatus includes a rigid mold and a pressurizing jig. The rigid mold has a shape corresponding to a shape of a preform which has been shaped. The pressurizing jig presses an unshaped material of the preform to the rigid mold at different positions and different timings. Further, according to one implementation, a method of shaping a preform includes: producing the shaped preform by pressing an unshaped material of the preform to a rigid mold at different positions and different timings; and using a pressurizing jig for pressing the material. The rigid mold has a shape corresponding to a shape of the preform. The pressurizing jig is adapted to apply pressures on the material at the different positions and the different timings.

Abstract: A method for forming a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic control surface may comprise: stacking plies of thermoplastic composite sheets to a first desired thickness to form a first skin; stacking plies of thermoplastic composite sheets to a second desired thickness to form a second skin; forming the first skin in a first contour; forming the second skin in a second contour; forming a stiffening member including a thermoplastic resin, the stiffening member including a shape having a plurality of peaks and troughs; assembling the stiffening member between the first skin and the second skin; and joining the stiffening member to the first skin and the second skin.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for securing an autoclave bag to a composite fixture are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a flange sealing device including a forward flange at a first end and an aft flange at a second end, and a composite fixture including a forward groove to locate and seal with the forward flange of the flange sealing device to affix an autoclave bag, an aft groove to locate and seal with the aft flange of the flange sealing device to affix the autoclave bag, and an aft locating ring to position the autoclave bag.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for automating the fiber laying process during the repair of composite structures made of fiber-reinforced plastic material based on the three-dimensional printing technique. Continuous fiber rovings (e.g., carbon fibers) impregnated with liquid epoxy can be directly printed onto the damaged surface of the composite structure (e.g., an aircraft component made of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic) without human manipulation in an autonomous manner.

Abstract: An isostatic press apparatus includes a pressure vessel for pressing a workpiece using the pressure of a pressurized liquid, a heat exchanger for exchanging heat with the pressurized liquid, a heating/cooling supply unit for heating or cooling a heat exchange medium that is to be supplied to the heat exchanger, a pressurized liquid circulation fan for circulating the pressurized liquid, a circulation fan motor for rotating the pressurized liquid circulation fan, a motor accommodation unit for accommodating the circulation fan motor therein, and a pressure equalization adjustment unit for increasing or decreasing the internal pressure in the motor accommodation unit to match the internal pressure in the pressure vessel.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for applying lengthwise curvature to composite parts. One embodiment is a method that includes fabricating a preform for a curved pultruded gap filler by continuously: heating fiber reinforced material to a sticking point temperature for a constituent material within the fiber reinforced material, and feeding the fiber reinforced material through a die that exhibits a curvature through which the fiber reinforced material travels while the fiber reinforced material is heated to the sticking point temperature, the die forming the fiber reinforced material into a preform for a gap filler. Fabricating the curved pultruded preform further includes varying path lengths of fibers within the preform as the preform passes through the die, and pulling the preform out of the die.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for preparing a porous antibacterial fiber brush. Fiber masterbatch made of ultra-fine reaming silica gel, silver-based antibacterial agent and other materials is melted, drawn, cut, polished and then dried to make the porous antibacterial fiber brush. A large number of micropores are distributed on the surface of the porous antibacterial fiber brush, which absorb cosmetic residues on the skin surface and tiny dirt in the pores, and realize efficient cleaning of the surface of human skin.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process and a device for manufacturing cellulose-based webs which are directly formed from lyocell spinning solution and in particular for the washing of directly formed cellulose webs.

Abstract: A rotary core includes an undercut portion molding section for molding an undercut portion in a resin-molded article, and a seal portion abutting on a mold main body. In a side view viewed from a direction orthogonal to the direction in which a shaft member serving as the rotation center of the rotary core extends, a first imaginary line extending along the inner edge of the seal portion, and a second imaginary line extending from the rotation center to the first imaginary line and orthogonal to the first imaginary line are drawn. The seal portion includes a portion that is located on a lower side of the second imaginary line and is bent inward in the width direction as compared with a portion of the seal portion that is located on an upper side of the second imaginary line.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a gelatin formed body having a minimized content of a component harmful to a living body and high biocompatibility with high shaping accuracy, and a gelatin formed body produced by the method. According to the present invention, provided is a method for producing a gelatin formed body, the method including: a step a of forming, on a substrate, a layer containing a powder which is obtained by air-drying an aqueous gelatin solution and has an average particle diameter of 25 to 200 ?m; and a step b of jetting liquid droplets of an aqueous solution containing alcohols having a boiling point of 120° C. or lower toward the layer formed in the step a from a nozzle and flying the jetted liquid droplets so that the liquid droplets are landed on the layer formed in the step a, thereby forming a gelatin formed body.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a wafer holder, the wafer holder having a frame having at least one cavity capable of receiving and supporting a wafer grown from an ingot to be polished in a polishing machine, the at least one cavity having a cross sectional footprint at least equal to a cross sectional footprint of the wafer, the wafer having a thickness to cross sectional area ratio of 0.001 per unit length or less, a polymer film pad being permanently affixed in the at least one cavity, including cutting a frame from a layer of a thermoset or thermoplastic material having a thickness tolerance and measuring a thickness of the frame at at least one location thereon. The method further includes forming a cavity in the frame having a predetermined depth, and permanently affixing a polymer film pad in the cavity.