Abstract: A process for fabricating a composite vessel includes the steps of: A) preforming (e.g., by winding fiber and at least one thermoplastic substance onto a thermoplastic liner) a thermoplastic shell which has at least one opening for access to the interior; B) extruding a circular cross section of a fluid parison of thermoplastic material (which preferably is chosen to have a melting point lower than that of the thermoplastic shell) into the interior of the thermoplastic shell through the opening; C) in a mold, applying at least one force (such as gas under pressure) which tends to urge the fluid parison toward the interior walls of the thermoplastic shell (which may be preheated prior to introduction into the mold) such that the fluid parison imparts heat to the thermoplastic shell; D) continuing step C) until the thermoplastic shell and the fluid parison consolidate to form a composite vessel; E) cooling the vessel until it is solidified; and F) removing the vessel from the mold.

Abstract: A clamping apparatus for use in clamping a fitting to a pipe or other fitting. The apparatus may be used without supporting the outer surface of the pipe on the opposite side of the fitting, and in the case of a buried pipe, only a portion of the pipe needs to be excavated. The apparatus comprises a clamping plate for engaging an outer surface of the fitting with an adjusting stem threadingly engaged with the clamping plate. A locking bar is pivotally and rotatably attached to an end of the adjusting stem. A weight differential between long and short ends of said locking bar and a cable are used to pivot the locking bar between a first position thereof wherein the locking bar and a portion of the stem may be inserted through aligned openings in the fitting and pipe and a second position.

Abstract: In the liquid non-applying operation, an upper and a lower liquid receivers 90A and 90B are located in between a conveyance passage for a base plate 6 and an upper and a lower wet rollers 48A and 48B to prevent an air bubble generation preventive liquid from being applied from the wet rollers to the base plate. In that case, the base plate 6 is conveyed through between the liquid receivers 90A and 90B so that the plate does not come into contact with the wet rollers 48A and 48B. Slide members 114 and hold-down members 116 are provided for the liquid receivers 90A and 90B so that the receivers can be optionally moved in between and out from between the base plate conveyance passage and the wet rollers 48A and 48B to optionally perform either the liquid non-applying operation or the liquid applying operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for building a tire comprises a supply of elastomeric sheet material of a predetermined length and having spaced apart first and second end portions. A plurality of parallel extending reinforcing members are contained in the elastomeric sheet material of which adjacent reinforcing members are spaced apart a substantially equal first distance. An embosser for elastically deforming the first and second end portions of the elastomeric sheet material increases the distance between the adjacent reinforcing members in each of the first and second end portions to a second distance greater than the first distance. A drum is provided to receive the elastomeric sheet material with the first and second end portions overlapped. A mold is provided to bond together the first and second end portions of the elastomeric material in the overlapped portion under heated pressure to form a joint.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a welded connection of tubular components of thermoplastic material includes a bracing device and a heating device to be inserted into the tubular components. The heating device has an expandable hollow body, in the interior of which are arranged an electric heating element and a liquid which expands when heated. When the heating device is heated, the hollow body rests against the ends of the tubular components to be welded together and the necessary welding temperature is transmitted to these components. Since the hollow body rests against the inner circumference of the tubular components, the formation of a welding bead is prevented. After welding has been carried out, the hollow body which has cooled and shrunk is removed by means of a traction strand.

Abstract: Non-woven, bias laid fabrics, where the various fabric layers are held together by external means, such as stitching, and wherein, preferably, at least two of the layers are formed at an angle of from 30.degree. to 150.degree. relative to the long axis of the fabric, are formed by directing at least two pluralities of yarns back and forth across the width of the forming fabric, to be wrapped around or mounted on a series of needles formed on a moving conveyor, one conveyor being placed on either side and moving in the direction of the long axis of the fabric. Speed of movement of the yarns can be determined by the speed of movement of the mechanism for the machine operated to hold the various fabric layers together; preferably said machine mechanism moves more slowly near the ends of each cycle, so that yarn carriers are similarly slowed at either end of the forming fabric width, aiding in making successive courses of yarn lie parallel to each other without the necessity for extra equipment.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a rubber double-toothed belt wherein the unvulcanized rubber thereof is firstly heat treated so as to define a first toothed portion of the belt without substantial vulcanization thereof. The preform is then entrained about pulleys and a pair of heated molds engaged with both the toothed portion and the nontoothed outer portion of the belt to place the preform under pressure at a vulcanization temperature for sufficient time to cause the outer rubber portion of the preform to flow outwardly and define the outer teeth of the final belt concurrently with the vulcanization of the double-toothed belt construction. The parameters for controlling the heat treatment to provide the configurational retention without substantial vulcanization of the preform rubber are disclosed.

Abstract: A stud for a tire to improve traction on a roadway which includes a hardened steel pin mounted in a plastic body and extending therefrom to engage the roadway, wherein the stud is sized for insertion into openings in a tire tread. The plastic body includes a portion that is collapsible so that the stud can self-adjust its position relative to the tread surface as it wears, whereby the steel pin is maintained in close relation to the tread surface throughout the life of the tire to provide the maximum road-engaging condition.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a process of forming composites comprising reinforcing fibers dispersed in a thermoplastic polymer matrix, said process comprising the steps of coating a reinforcing fiber with a curable resin and an initiator for the curing of the resin and for the polymerization of monomer of said polymer; curing said resin to form cured resin coated fiber; coating said resin coated fiber with monomer of said polymer; polymerizing the monomer coating to form a polymer/resin coated fiber; and aligning the polymer/resin coated fiber and molding same into a desired reinforced thermoplastic composite.

Abstract: A process for peeling a protective film off a thin article such as a silicon wafer is proposed. The film is peeled by sticking an adhesive tape to the protective film on the article and pulling it away from the article. The protective film is peeled only by the adhesive force of the adhesive tape.