Abstract: An ultrasonic welding energy concentrating chain comprising a plurality of relatively flat members integrally formed from a flat stock of energy concentrating material having a predetermined thickness and joined together adjacent their peripheries by integral portions to interconnect adjacent members into a longitudinally extending chain, said integral portions being formed as to permit each manual separation of adjacent members, said members being adapted to being interposed between sheets of thermoplastic material and upon application of ultrasonic energy to the sandwich of thermoplastic sheets, the shape of the weld of such thermoplastic sheets generally approximating the shape of said flat members.

Abstract: A tool for installing shrink fit parts formed of a material which is dimensionally stable over a wide range of temperatures having a locating surface on which a part to be shrunk is clamped and having a chamber adjacent the locating surface, which is filled with a cooling media as the part is being shrunk in a source or vat of cooling media, to maintain the part in its shrunken condition after removal from the cooling media. A valve is provided for removing the cooling media from the chamber after the shrunken part is positioned precisely in a second part so that the shrunken part will warm and expand into the second part to form a shrink fit therewith.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming sheet material into continuous structural shapes, particularly adaptable to the forming and joining of reinforced plastic sheet material, wherein the material is heated, formed, joined, consolidated, and cooled in a continuous process.