Abstract: A method for manufacturing complex hollow composite parts with at least one internal structure formed in situ by laying laminated layers around a removable mandrel assembled inside the part's inner cavity. The inner mandrel is made up of two jig plate assemblies aligned in a parallel manner and space apart where the internal structure is to manufactured. Each jig plate assembly is made up of at least three jig plates stacked in an edge-to-edge manner Located on opposite sides of each jig plate assembly is an elastic envelope filled with spherical objects. When evacuated, the envelope collapses and relaxes and composite material may then laid up inside the inner cavity and around the envelopes. When exposed to a heat, the envelopes expand and in situ and form internal structures inside surface of the cavity. Each envelope and each jig plate assemblies can be easily dissembled and reused.

Abstract: A method of making scrolls is provided that includes providing a tape having a first side and second side wherein the first side of the tape is has an adhesive disposed thereon and the second side of the tape has a release coating disposed thereon, affixing the adhesive to a solid surface, buff-coating exfoliatable particles on the release side of the tape to form a coating; and peeling the tape from the solid surface at an angle. The coating separates from the release side of the tape and curls inwards to form scrolls. The scrolls can include graphite. Also provided is a continuous method of making scrolls and an apparatus.

Abstract: Two paper webs saturated with an A-phase phenolic resins and dried to a B-phase are conveyed through separate low melting point metal alloy baths, one web after being corrugated, to convert the resin to a fully cured C-phase, whereafter the webs are joined to form a waterproof single face corrugated web.

Abstract: Apparatus (30) for making pre-shaped insulating sheets (10) for use in a stator or in a rotor comprising shaping elements (40-44) such to produce, starting from a continuous strip (15) made of electrically insulating material having a flat or substantially flat cross section, a strip portion having a cross section comprising a central septum (20) and two lateral portions (21-23, 21?-23?) joined to a respective end portion of the central septum (20), each of the lateral portions comprising a first section (21,21?) joined to the central septum (20), a second section (22,22?) joined and perpendicular, or essentially perpendicular, to the first section (21,21?), a third section (23, 23?) joined to the second section (22,22?) and inclined with respect to the latter towards the central septum (20).

Abstract: This invention provides a method for molding a continuous fiber prepreg part whereby a continuous fiber prepreg part comprising thermoplastic prepreg tape can be molded in a shape that allows the exhibition of desired physical properties without the sacrifice of productivity. Prepreg tape 11 is wound around a plurality of rods 21 so as to form a rolled continuous fiber prepreg part 12, slack is removed from the prepreg tape 11 by shifting the plurality of rods 21 in opposite directions so as to generate tension in the continuous fiber prepreg part 12, the continuous fiber prepreg part 12 is pressed with a press jig 41 so as to mold the prepreg part into the final shape, and the continuous fiber prepreg part 12 is cured by heating and cooling after heating.

Abstract: A vulcanisation apparatus and method for tires for vehicle wheels includes the steps of: placing a green tire, arranged on a toroidal support, inside a vulcanisation mold; connecting a supply device of at least one pressurised primary working fluid and a supply device of at least one pressurised secondary working fluid to the vulcanisation mold in a prevulcanisation and molding station; at least partially vulcanising a radially internal portion of the green tire on the toroidal support; transferring the mold to a vulcanisation station and completing the vulcanisation of the prevulcanised tire by supplying the at least one pressurised primary working fluid inside the toroidal support.

Abstract: A catheter tip assembly (50) is provided with a catheter tip (56) and an inner catheter (54). The catheter tip (56) has a tapered proximal end, an elongate center portion, and a tapered distal end. The inner catheter (54) includes a narrow proximal portion, a narrow elongate center portion (66), and a wide distal end (68). The catheter tip (56) is disposed within the wide distal end (68) of the inner catheter (54). One advantage of the catheter tip assembly is that no proximal-facing edge is formed at the transition between the narrow elongate center portion of the inner catheter and the catheter tip, which may help reduce the risk of the catheter tip snagging on a stent during use.

Abstract: A method for producing a functional film, comprising the steps of: feeding a substrate continuously from a film roll, forming a coating film on the substrate, providing a laminate film on a surface of the coating film, and winding up the resultant substrate into a film roll; and loading the film roll wound up in the prior step into a vacuum film-forming apparatus, feeding the substrate provided with the laminate film continuously from the film roll, peeling off the laminate film, forming an inorganic film on the coating film on the substrate, and winding up the resultant substrate into a film roll, wherein for the laminate film, an adhesive film having an adhesive layer having a peel force of 0.01 N/25 mm or more and 0.06 N/25 mm or less against the coating film is used.

Abstract: An apparatus has a communications device associated therewith. In another aspect of the present invention, a pallet is made from thermoformed polymeric sheets with an attached communications device. A further aspect of the present invention provides a radio frequency identification device attached to an apparatus. In still another aspect of the present invention, a communications device is incorporated into one or more sheets of a pallet or other container prior to forming. Methods of making and using a thermoformed pallet and container, having a communications device, are also provided.

Abstract: A method for the production of an elastic laminate material web comprises laminating a cover material onto a carrier film consisting of a thermoplastic elastomer, using a hot-melt glue. The carrier film is rolled off a film roll and has a polymer powder on at least one side, to prevent interlocking of the layers of the carrier film in the film roll. The melt temperature of the powder is less than or equal to the gluing temperature of the hot-melt glue, so that the powder melts during lamination.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an installation for manufacturing fiber stringers for aerospace structures formed by at least one swivel-mounted cylindrical carousel, peripherally incorporating a distribution of male configured tools and in relation to said carousel a bed capable of lateral movement, incorporating a distribution of female configured tools, a fiber strip applicator head for making fiber laminates on the male configured tools also being arranged in relation to the carousel, which allows making omega-shaped or T-shaped stringers by means of the interaction of each male configured tool of the carousel with a respective female configured tool of the bed.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a functional film includes steps of: feeding a support continuously from a first film roll, forming a coating film on the support, providing a laminate film on a surface of the coating film, and taking up the support to a second film roll; and loading the second film roll made by the aforementioned step in a vacuum film-forming apparatus, feeding the support provided with the laminate film continuously from the film roll, peeling off the laminate film, forming an inorganic film on the coating film on the support, and taking up the support to a third film roll.

Abstract: A mandrel for processing a part comprises an outer sleeve and a generally flexible inner core. The outer sleeve includes at least one flexible portion along its length allowing the sleeve to flex to a desired contour.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method for removing backing film from tape during a fiber placement process. A passive (non-powered) take-up roller is used to wind up the backing film that has been separated from the tape.

Abstract: A former for fabricating a gas composite material casing for a gas turbine, which is obtained by forming fiber reinforcement as superposed layers of a fiber texture and densifying the fiber reinforcement with a matrix, is disclosed. The former has two cheekplates and an annular wall with an outside surface presenting a profile that corresponds to the profile of the inside surface of the casing that is to be fabricated. The annular wall of the former includes a removable fastener device for fastening a fiber texture layer and serving to hold the first layer of the fiber texture mechanically while the fiber texture is being wound on the former.

Abstract: An example method of sealing a laminate assembly includes preloading a laminate assembly having a plurality of laminations, pressurizing the laminate assembly, and pressurizing an enclosed volume disposed adjacent an end portion of the laminate assembly to hold the laminations in sealed positions.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing an optical waveguide using a flat die having a groove therein, the method includes: (a) forming a first cladding sheet on a base substrate; (b) placing the first cladding sheet and the base substrate on the flat die such that the first cladding sheet faces the groove of the flat die; (c) filling the groove with a liquid resin and then curing the liquid resin, thereby forming a mirror support on the first cladding sheet; (d) removing the flat die from the first cladding sheet; (e) forming a metal reflection film on the mirror support; (f) forming a core sheet on the first cladding sheet such that the core sheet covers the mirror support that is formed with the metal reflection film; (g) forming a second cladding sheet on the core sheet; and (h) removing the base substrate from the first cladding sheet.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for consolidating and curing a composite part places and registers a composite laminate layer of thermoset polymer matrix and reinforcing fibers onto the temperature-controlled curing surface of a heated curing mold and provides a base mold with base surface covered by a rubber mask having a mask surface. Three-dimensional surfaces of the curing, base and mask surfaces complement each other so with the curing and base molds adjacent, a pressure space is formed between the base and curing surfaces that contains the compressed rubber mask, a bleeder layer for removing excess air and polymer matrix, and the composite laminate, the pressure space having a perimeter.

Abstract: Certain processes for manufacturing an electrochemical sensor module include molding first and second opposing portions of a sensor module housing onto a carrier; installing an electrode arrangement on the first portion of the sensor module housing; folding the carrier to align the first portion of the sensor module housing with the second portion; and joining the first and second portions of the sensor module housing. The carrier can be advanced amongst different stations that perform the various process steps.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a strand-shaped part, wherein a hollow section (16) of metal is extruded, the extruded metal hollow section (16) cools and/or is cooled, and a plastic strand (28) having one or more layers is extruded into the extruded metal hollow section (16) after or during cooling. The plastic strand (28) passes by a dispensing tool (24), exposed to the heat of the extruded metal hollow section (16) of an extruder (34). The dispensing tool is inserted into the metal hollow section (16) and comprises a dispensing outlet (26), which is disposed inside a region of the metal hollow section (16) in which the dispensing tool is cooled in relation to the temperature thereof during extrusion.