Abstract: A method of making a wind turbine blade is described. The blade comprises first (12) and second (14) half shells bonded together and a shear web (16) bonded inside the shells. Prior to joining the shells together, the shear web is positioned in one of the shells. A plurality of bars (70) are attached to the shear web and engaged with a plurality of mounts (80) in order to support and stabilise the shear web relative to that shell. The shells are then arranged one above the other whilst the bars remain attached to the shear web. The bars continue to support the shear web whilst the shear web is aligned with the other shell. The bars are then detached from the shear web and the shells are brought together to bond the shells to each other and to bond the shear web between the shells.

Abstract: An impact-compensating bucking bar and its use to reduce impacts during riveting, where the bucking bar includes a body; a strike surface on a distal portion of the body, a compensating inertial mass coupled to the body by a flexible and resilient mass support, and a handgrip coupled to the body and configured for the user to urge the strike surface of the bucking bar against a tail of a rivet to facilitate upsetting the rivet tail during riveting. A relative movement of the compensating inertial mass of the bucking bar in response to a strike on the rivet head at least partially dissipates energy imparted to the body during riveting, reducing impact stresses on the bucking bar user.

Abstract: Plating systems and related methods are disclosed for prepping of structural members, such as splicing and/or pre-plating structural members. A plating system can include a splicing system and a pre-plating system. A splicing system include an infeed system, an outfeed system, and a press to affix or otherwise secure a plate to opposing surfaces of structural members to splice the structural members together. Guides are automatically positioned to guide short members through the splicing system. A pre-plating system includes a press, an infeed system configured to deliver a structural member to the press, and an outfeed system configured to remove the structural member from the press. The press is configured to secure a plate to the structural member on a surface other than the opposing surfaces used to splice the structural members together. A plate picking robot is configured to pick a plate from a plate container and position the plate on a press surface.

Abstract: A composite material blank (190) comprising an elongate blank body (300) extending between a first end face (312a) and a second end face (312b); said blank body (300) extending in a longitudinal direction, parallel to a longitudinal axis thereof, and having four peripheral sides (341, 342, 343, 344); each said first and second end face (312a, 312b) having edges (361a-364a; 361b-364b) which define a trapezoid shape; wherein the peripheral sides (341, 342, 343, 344) of said blank body (190) connect the edges (361a-364a) of said first end face (312a) with the edges (361b-364b) of said second end face (312b); and wherein said first trapezoid end face (312a) is inverted in relation to said second trapezoid end face (312b). A method of manufacturing a composite blank (190), and a wind turbine blade root insert (105) which may be formed from a blank (190).

Abstract: A mobile assembly support unit that includes an assembly line sync mechanism having a line engagement unit coupled to a rotatable sync arm, a propulsion unit having a propulsion wheel and a propulsion motor, a translation arm coupled to the propulsion unit and engageable with the rotatable sync arm, and an air cylinder coupled to the propulsion unit. The air cylinder is actuatable between a retracted position and an extended position such that when the air cylinder is in the retracted position, the translation arm is engaged with the rotatable sync arm and the propulsion unit is in a lifted position and when the air cylinder is in the extended position, the translation arm is disengaged with the rotatable sync arm and the propulsion unit is in a descended position.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a joined body includes at least one first plate material, one second plate material, and a self-piercing rivet where a cylinder portion projects from a head. The method includes: a test step of plastically deforming the second plate material by a load in a plate thickness direction to measure physical value information of the second plate material; a setting step of setting a joining condition based on the physical value information by the test step; and a joining step of supporting a back surface of the second plate material having a front surface on which the first plate material is stacked with a die and driving the cylinder portion from the front surface side toward a concave portion provided in the die to join the first plate material and the second plate material together based on the joining condition set by the setting step.

Abstract: A surface treatment processing method includes: a shot processing step of performing shot processing of shooting shot media at a treatment target; a first inspection step of nondestructively inspecting at least one of a surface side state and an external dimension of the treatment target subjected to the shot processing, evaluating that the treatment target is passed when an inspection result is within a first normal range set in advance, evaluating that the treatment target is failed when the inspection result is out of a first allowable range set in advance to include the first normal range, and evaluating that the treatment target is to be additionally processed when the inspection result is out of the first normal range but within the first allowable range; and an additional processing step of performing the shot processing again on the treatment target which is evaluated to be additionally processed.

Abstract: Improvements relating to wind turbine blade manufacture A method of making wind turbine blades of variable length is described. The method involves forming first and second half shells of a main blade section in a main blade mould assembly. A pre-manufactured tip section is selected from a plurality of tip sections of different lengths according to a total length requirement for the wind turbine blade. The tip section is supported adjacent to the main blade mould assembly such that an inboard end of the tip section overlaps with an outboard end of one of the half shells of the main blade section. The main mould assembly is then closed to bond the two main half shells together and to bond the tip section to the main blade half shells. The invention allows blades of different overall length to be produced using a common main blade mould assembly.

Abstract: A shot treatment apparatus and a shot treatment method applicable to the mass production of a wide range of products. A shot treatment apparatus, comprising: a spinning table which has a first rotary shaft and which holds and rotates a workpiece; an ejection apparatus that ejects a shot media from a nozzle to the workpiece; a cabinet having a treatment chamber formed therein; and a control apparatus comprising a first control unit that controls the ejection apparatus, the nozzle being held so as to be positionable and three-dimensionally swingable with respect to the workpiece.

Abstract: A shot peening valve controller comprises a hub connector configurable for connecting or operating one or more shot peening valve; a microprocessor that is connected to the hub connector; and a human-machine interface that is connected to the microprocessor. The human-machine interface is configured to operate the one or more shot peening valves respectively.

Abstract: A fastener for assembling at least two structural elements having an aperture, may have a fastener comprising an enlarged head (12) and a shank (14) exhibiting, prior to fitting, an outside diameter (D1) greater than an inside diameter (DS) of the aperture, and a locking portion comprising a screw thread or annular grooves. The fastener further comprises a lubricating sacrificial ring (40) on the exterior surface of the fastener, extending at least between a distal end of the shank and a proximal end of the locking portion, said ring having, before the fastener is fitted into the structure, an outside diameter greater than a diameter of the aperture. The sacrificial ring comprises a polymer resin forming a matrix encapsulating dispersant molecules and oil molecules. The fastener assembly may apply to the assembly of aircraft structures.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing an aircraft structure. A drivable support may be driven from a first location to a second location to bring the drivable support together with at least one other drivable support to form a drivable support system. A structure may be held in a desired position using the drivable support system.

Abstract: Apparatus for manufacturing pillows, comprising: at least one first bobbin of a first fabric and a second bobbin of a second fabric, means adapted to place the first fabric on the second fabric along their advancement path, means configured to drag the fabrics, a pair of side welding devices for welding the side edges of first and second fabrics, a transverse welding device adapted to weld the fabrics found in a tubular envelope transversally to the advancement path for forming a pillowcase, a press for pressing the first fabric onto the second fabric when the length of the pillow reaches the desired length, means adapted to insert material inside the pillowcase, means for cutting the fabrics welded by the transverse welding device to separate the pillow from the successive pillow.

Abstract: A ring holder system comprising a ring holder base with a body that can be oriented horizontally and vertically on a flat work surface. The base includes a single mandrel extending from a front end face of the base, angled upper tool mounting surfaces circumferentially offset from a top surface of the base, and a flat rear end face for resting the base in a vertical work orientation on a flat surface. A horizontal tool adapter mount is configured to be removably mounted on one of the angled upper tool mounting surfaces, and a vertical tool adapter is configured to be mounted on the bottom surface of the base in the vertical work orientation. The mandrel includes a threaded mounting ring at an inner end of the mandrel adjacent the front end face of the base for mounting accessories such as vises and pitch cups rotatably on the mandrel in the vertical work orientation.

Abstract: Provided is a wind turbine blade for a wind turbine, the wind turbine blade including a root, a tip, a trailing edge, a leading edge and at least two beams including carbon fiber-reinforced plastic and being spaced apart from one another, wherein the at least two beams are arranged in the wind turbine blade in the longitudinal direction of the wind turbine blade at the trailing edge or within a distance of 25% of the width from the trailing edge, whereby the at least two beams are electrically connected to one another by at least one electrically conductive member and at least one of the at least two beams and/or at least one of the at least one electrically conductive member is configured to be connected to a down conductor of the wind turbine.

Abstract: Provided are a system and a method for assembling a double-deck vehicle body. The system includes a vehicle body chassis support and an upper floor support. The vehicle body chassis support includes a crossbeam, end supports, and an intermediate support, where the end supports are arranged separately at two ends of the crossbeam, the intermediate support is arranged at the middle of the crossbeam, a height of the end supports is greater than a height of the intermediate support, an upper surface of the end supports and an upper surface of the intermediate support are configured to be closely fitted to a lower surface of a vehicle body chassis; and the upper floor support is detachably arranged on a vehicle body chassis for supporting an upper floor of the vehicle body.

Abstract: A shot processing device according to an aspect includes: a guide portion provided in a conveyance direction of a workpiece; a rotation mechanism which includes a first endless belt providing a placement surface having the workpiece placed thereon and a first drive unit driving the first endless belt so that the placement surface moves in a direction opposite to the conveyance direction; a conveyance mechanism which pushes the workpiece toward the conveyance direction so that the workpiece on the placement surface rolls and moves in the conveyance direction along the guide portion; and at least one projector which projects shot media to the workpiece rolling and moving on the placement surface.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for treating a surface to definitely, and with a high quality, finish an object to be processed, are obtained. In the step of a first check, the numbers of objects (W) that are carried into areas (20A, 42A, 74A) where the steps of pre-cleaning, shot peening, and post-cleaning, are carried out, are counted and the conditions of the surfaces of the objects are detected. In the step of a second check, the numbers of objects (W) that are carried out of the areas are counted and the conditions of the surfaces of the objects are detected.

Abstract: A method for roughening a cylinder bore wall to be coated of a component, at least one groove, running around the central longitudinal axis, and at least one associated groove web, are generated such that the at least one groove web, in a radial direction directed toward the central longitudinal axis, forms first undercuts for a coating which is to be applied. Axial grooves running in the cylinder bore wall transversely to the at least one groove are generated such that the at least one groove web, in a peripheral direction about the central longitudinal axis, forms respective second undercuts for the coating which is to be applied. An adhesion of the coating which is to be applied, in the peripheral direction, is improved, so that stress cracks or detachments owing to a different thermal expansion of the component and of the coating which is to be applied are avoided.

Abstract: The invention consists of novel systems and methods for mixing and/or applying biologies including live biologies and/or any additive having therapeutic or growth promoting value with and/or to animal feed, thereby creating treated animal feed, and for delivering such treated animal feed to animals in need via a delivery system. The invention also provides a system and method to treat seed with biologies prior to or contemporaneously with packaging, storing, and/or planting.