Abstract: A fluid-filled chamber may include a pair of polymer layers that define a plurality of subchambers and a web area. The subchambers are protruding portions of the polymer layers that enclose a fluid, and the web area is portions of the polymer layers that are located between the subchambers and lay adjacent to each other. The subchambers may have greater thickness than the web area. A perimeter bond joining the polymer layers and extends around a periphery of the chamber. In addition, a plurality of interior bonds join the polymer layers and extending around the subchambers, which may seal the fluid within the subchambers.

Abstract: A structure such as a containment case (2) for a gas turbine engine (1) comprises an annular housing (3) made of composite material. A sleeve-like flange unit (4) is fitted onto an end of the housing (3) and is mechanically joined thereto by a first portion (31, 32, 33) of the composite material of the housing which projects into a recess (411) of the flange unit (4). This reduces or eliminates the need to use mechanical fasteners to connect the housing (3) to the flange unit (4).

Abstract: A method for making a wind turbine rotor blade half shell includes arranging a fibrous material in a mold, which has an inner side predetermining an aerodynamic surface of the half shell and has a pinching edge defining the profile of a trailing edge of the half shell. A liquid plastics material surrounding the fibrous material is cured. An insert is arranged in relation to the mold in a predetermined position, in which a surface of the insert and a bordering portion of the inner side of the mold conjointly define an acute angle tapering toward the pinching edge, so that a thinly tapering trailing edge of the half shell is formed between the surface of the insert and the bordering portion.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a continuous strip of self-sealing product having very low hardness, being very elastic and highly tacky, the strip being intended for feeding a converting machine, during which a thermoplastic protective film is deposited on the surface of the strip. The process includes a step during which a strip of self-sealing product P is extruded to a first cross section (S0) at the outlet of the extrusion die (10). The strip is surrounded over its entire perimeter using a thermoplastic film (20) by welding the film to itself, after having deposited the film (20) around the strip. The strip is calendered in order to bring it down to a second cross section (S2), smaller in area than the first cross section.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a fiber optic cable and a method for manufacturing the cable. The cable includes an outer jacket that defines a fiber passage and first and second reinforcing member passages, an optical fiber ribbon, and reinforcing members. The method includes extruding the jacket, feeding the ribbon into the fiber passage, and feeding the reinforcing members into the reinforcing member passages. The jacket has a width and a thickness. The width is longer than the thickness. The reinforcing member passages are positioned on opposite sides of the fiber passage. The reinforcing members are paid-off from a single spool by paying-off a precursor reinforcing member from the spool. The precursor reinforcing member can be divided (e.g., by using a slitter) into the reinforcing members which are then fed into the reinforcing member passages.

Abstract: A method of producing a divided conduit comprising forming a strip-shaped substrate having a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge. The strip-shaped substrate is a strip-shaped textile or a strip-shaped film. Then extruding a molten thermoplastic into the form of a conduit and placing the one strip-shaped substrate within the extruded conduit during or directly after conduit formation. The first longitudinal edge and the second longitudinal edge of the strip-shaped substrate adhere to or embed into the inner surface of the conduit.

Abstract: Fiber reinforced composite structures having curved stepped surfaces are fabricated by laying up plies of fiber reinforced material over a tool having a stepped tool feature. The plies are rotated about a fixed axis as they are laid up to substantially form a fixed axis rosette pattern. The plies are angularly oriented such that at least certain of the plies have fiber orientations other than 0, +45, ?45 and 90 degrees. Potential bridging of the fibers over the stepped tool features is reduced or eliminated by cutting slits in the plies in the area of the stepped features, so that the plies can be fully compacted.

Abstract: A method of forming a ventilated structural panel having a top sheet, a bottom sheet, and a plurality of spacing structural elements arranged in a matrix that fixedly attach the top sheet to the bottom sheet, the method comprising forming the matrix in a mold form attaching the matrix to the first and the second sheet.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing a fuel tank of a motor vehicle, with an insulation applied to an outer side of a fuel tank container by application of foam, wherein the fuel tank container is placed into a foam-encapsulating mold and at least partially encapsulated in the foam insulation, the foam-encapsulating mold forming a first mold half and the fuel tank container forming a second mold half.

Abstract: A fabrication method for providing a relatively smooth surface associated with lightning strike protection for composite materials joined with fasteners recessed below the surface is described. The method includes coating at least one of a head of the fastener and a preformed dielectric insert with an adhesive, inserting the preformed dielectric insert into the recess such that the adhesive engages both contours of the recess and the preformed dielectric insert, and removing any excess adhesive from the surface area of the composite material and a top surface of the insert.

Abstract: A tooling system may include a cure tool and a biasing element. The cure tool may have a cure tool coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and may be configured for curing a composite article formed of two or more components having dissimilar component CTEs. The biasing element may be fixedly attached to the cure tool and has a biasing element CTE that may be different than the cure tool CTE. The biasing element may be configured such that a combination of the cure tool CTE and the biasing element CTE causes a heat-up displacement in the cure tool when heated and the composite article is cured in a distorted shape. When the cured composite article is cooled, the cured composite article may substantially assume an as-designed shape.

Abstract: A stabilizing mechanism for resisting relative movement of upper and lower laminates of a composite structure having a core comprises a lower grip strip and at least one upper grip strip. The lower grip strip may be mounted to a tool upon which the composite structure may be processed. The lower grip strip may include an outer surface having at least one engagement feature for engaging at least one of the upper and lower laminates which make up the composite structure. The upper grip strip may have opposing outer surfaces which may include at least one engagement feature for engaging the lower strip and at least one of the upper and lower laminates.

Abstract: An expandable bladder has at least one first layer of butyl material and one second layer of silicone material, radially external to the first layer. The first and second layers have an undulated interface profile defining mechanical-engagement elements between the first and second elastomer materials. A process for manufacturing bladder as well as a tire molding and vulcanizing apparatus incorporating the bladder.

Abstract: A process for producing a shell-shaped hollow body composed of fiber-reinforced plastic in which, in a first step, a continuous hollow body made of fiber-reinforced plastic is produced. In a second step, the continuous hollow body is separated into a plurality of shell-shaped hollow bodies. Such a shell-shaped hollow body is applicable in vehicle construction, for example, as chassis or bodywork.

Abstract: Certain processes for manufacturing an electrochemical sensor module include assembly first and second housing portions of sensor modules; dispensing a sensor fiber across multiple first housing portions; joining the first and second housing portions; and separating the sensor modules by cutting the sensor fiber.

Abstract: An apparatus for tensioning a preform may include a mandrel to receive a preform. The mandrel may have a first mandrel end and a second mandrel end. The preform may have a first preform end and a second preform end. The apparatus may include an anchoring groove disposed at the first mandrel end, and an anchoring device being configured and located to urge the first preform end towards the anchoring groove to secure the first preform end therebetween. The apparatus may include a tensioning groove disposed between the first mandrel end and the second mandrel end, and a tensioning device being configured and located to urge at least a portion of the preform into the tensioning groove.

Abstract: The method for making a reinforced balloon for a balloon catheter involves blending a polymer with a nano composite to form a composite matrix, extruding a parison from the composite matrix, blow molding the parison into a balloon and orienting the nano composite generally axially with respect to the balloon. The balloon formed has a high strength for resisting bursting. The nano composite may be carbon nanotubes, nano-ceramic fibers or a nano clay.

Abstract: A decorative stainless steel rolled sheet has an embossed pattern, suitable for use as a surface finish or an interior surface finish of products, wherein a thin stainless steel sheet subjected to surface treatment including nanoceramic coating or PVD ionic coating resulting in various colors and a release sheet alone or with a nonwoven fabric layer bonded thereto by means of a hot melt adhesive layer are embossed together and bonded to each other with the embossed pattern, thus exhibiting superior bonding strength, heat resistance, fire resistance, scratch resistance, shape stability, flexibility and wrinkling resistance. In the method of manufacturing such a decorative stainless steel rolled sheet, the rolled sheet can be mass produced at uniform quality using a continuous process.

Abstract: The method comprises an automated technique for making and inserting flexible laminate film barrier liners into the shoulder/nozzles of product tube packaging. The shoulder/nozzles are made and oriented with the shoulder opening to be facing the laminate film. The film is fed to a station that forms the nozzle aperture, die cuts the laminate film to fit into the shoulder of the shoulder/nozzle, and inserts this laminate film into the shoulder/nozzle. The laminate film can be heat bonded to the shoulder nozzle at this station or in a subsequent sealing station. After the shoulder/nozzle leaves the station that forms and inserts the laminate film into the shoulder/nozzle there can be a detection station to determine if the laminate film is properly aligned in the shoulder/nozzle. There also can be a detection station after a subsequent sealing station. Shoulder/nozzles with sealed laminate film liner are then sent to tube making.

Abstract: A method for producing a laminated soft-magnetic sheet including: laminating at least two curable soft-magnetic sheets obtained by applying a soft-magnetic composition, which contains a flat soft-magnetic powder, to a release base; and drying the soft-magnetic composition at a temperature T1 at which curing reaction does not substantially take place, compressing the laminate at a temperature T2 at which the curing reaction does not substantially take place, using a laminator for applying a linear pressure thereon while the linear pressure is sequentially changed, and by applying surface pressure, compressing the compressed laminate at a temperature T3 at which the curing reaction takes place.