Abstract: A carrier for supporting a yarn to be used by a braiding machine, has: a spool carrying the yarn; a motor drivingly engaged to the spool; at least one sensor for producing data about a condition of the yarn in the spool; and a controller operatively connected to the motor and to the at least one sensor, the controller having a processor and a computer-readable medium operatively connected to the processor and having instructions stored thereon executable by the processor for: receiving said data from the at least one sensor; determining operation parameters of the motor based on the received data; and operating the motor per the determined operation parameters to create the desired tension in the yarn.

Abstract: A fire protection structure to be affixed to a substrate adapted to be exposed to a heat source, has: an expandable layer containing an intumescent material expandable when exposed to the heat source, the expandable layer expandable, when exposed to a temperature above a temperature threshold generated by the heat source, from a first thickness to a second thickness greater than the first thickness; and a compliant textile structure retaining the expandable layer, at least a portion of the expandable layer disposed relative to the compliant textile structure such that the portion of the expandable layer is disposed between the substrate and the compliant textile structure when the fire protection structure is attached to the substrate, the compliant textile structure deformable with expansion of the expandable layer from the first thickness to the second thickness.

Abstract: A system for pultruding a beam comprises a pulling mechanism continuously pulling on a preform of yarns including a thermoplastic matrix and fibers, the pulling mechanism being downstream of the system. A pultrusion die has a tapering channel portion heated such that the preform is at a desired low viscosity temperature for resin in the thermoplastic matrix to impregnate the fibers. A cooling tube is at a downstream end of the pultrusion die. A cooling module is spaced from the pultrusion die by the cooling tube, the cooling module to cool the cooling tube before the preform reaches the pulling mechanism, wherein the cooling tube defines a cooling channel. A pultrusion mandrel may be present.

Abstract: A carrier for supporting a yarn to be used by a braiding machine, has: a spool carrying the yarn; a motor drivingly engaged to the spool; at least one sensor for producing data about a condition of the yarn in the spool; and a controller operatively connected to the motor and to the at least one sensor, the controller having a processor and a computer-readable medium operatively connected to the processor and having instructions stored thereon executable by the processor for: receiving said data from the at least one sensor; determining operation parameters of the motor based on the received data; and operating the motor per the determined operation parameters to create the desired tension in the yarn.

Abstract: A metallic ink for solvent-cast 3D printing, the ink comprising a solution or a gel of a polymer in a volatile solvent, and heat-sinterable metallic particles dispersed in the solution or gel, wherein the particles are present in a particles:polymer weight ratio of more than about 85:15, is provided. There is also provided a method of manufacturing this ink and a method of manufacturing a solvent-cast metallic 3D printed material using this ink.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for installing composite rivets are disclosed. One disclosed method comprises: inserting a composite rivet blank comprising a composite material into a hole in a part; heating the composite rivet blank using Joule heating while the composite rivet blank is in the hole; and then finishing the composite rivet blank.

Abstract: A system for pultruding a beam, such as a pultruded beam of natural fibers, comprises a pulling mechanism continuously pulling on a preform of yarns including a thermoplastic matrix and fibers, the pulling mechanism being downstream of the system. A sequence is provided in the system and has a pre-heating module to pre-heat the preform. A first die has a tapering channel portion heated such that the preform reaches a desired low viscosity temperature for resin in the thermoplastic matrix to impregnate the fibers. A vacuum module has a vacuum cavity to remove air from the preform exiting the first die. A second die has a tapering channel portion heated such that the preform is at the desired low viscosity temperature for resin in the thermoplastic matrix to further impregnate the fibers. A cooling module to cool the beam before the beam reaches the pulling mechanism. A system for pultruding beams is also provided.

Abstract: Composite fasteners, associated blanks and also methods and apparatus for the installation of such fasteners are disclosed. An exemplary composite rivet disclosed comprises an elongated body including braided reinforcement fibers embedded inside the body and supported in a matrix material. Also disclosed are structural assemblies comprising composite fasteners and panels or other parts comprising composite and/or other materials.

Abstract: Composite fasteners, associated blanks and also methods and apparatus for the installation of such fasteners are disclosed. An exemplary composite rivet (10) disclosed comprises an elongated body including braided reinforcement fibers (14) embedded inside the body and supported in a matrix material (16). Also disclosed are structural assemblies comprising composite fasteners and panels or other parts comprising composite and/or other materials.

Abstract: A method and device of positioning a ply of material for a composite component along an arcuate surface are presented. The ply comprises two end portions and a plurality of fiber tows extending longitudinally between the two end portions. The arcuate surface has a curved edge and a planar surface extending from the curved edge. The method comprises placing a first longitudinal edge portion of the ply along the curved edge; and rotating at least one of the two end portions away from the arcuate surface about a pivot axis normal to the ply, so as to cause sliding of at least some of the plurality of fiber tows relative to each other, and substantial aligning of the plurality of fiber tows in a curved direction along the arcuate surface. A method of positioning a ply of material for a composite component onto a curved mandrel is also presented.

Abstract: A method and device of positioning a ply of material for a composite component along an arcuate surface are presented. The ply comprises two end portions and a plurality of fiber tows extending longitudinally between the two end portions. The arcuate surface has a curved edge and a planar surface extending from the curved edge. The method comprises placing a first longitudinal edge portion of the ply along the curved edge; and rotating at least one of the two end portions away from the arcuate surface about a pivot axis normal to the ply, so as to cause sliding of at least some of the plurality of fiber tows relative to each other, and substantial aligning of the plurality of fiber tows in a curved direction along the arcuate surface. A method of positioning a ply of material for a composite component onto a curved mandrel is also presented.

Abstract: A system for pultruding a beam, such as a pultruded beam of natural fibers, comprises a pulling mechanism continuously pulling on a preform of yarns including a thermoplastic matrix and fibers, the pulling mechanism being downstream of the system. A sequence is provided in the system and has a pre-heating module to pre-heat the preform. A first die has a tapering channel portion heated such that the preform reaches a desired low viscosity temperature for resin in the thermoplastic matrix to impregnate the fibers. A vacuum module has a vacuum cavity to remove air from the preform exiting the first die. A second die has a tapering channel portion heated such that the preform is at the desired low viscosity temperature for resin in the thermoplastic matrix to further impregnate the fibers. A cooling module to cool the beam before the beam reaches the pulling mechanism. A system for pultruding beams is also provided.

Abstract: A metallic ink for solvent-cast 3D printing, the ink comprising a solution or a gel of a polymer in a volatile solvent, and heat-sinterable metallic particles dispersed in the solution or gel, wherein the particles are present in a particles:polymer weight ratio of more than about 85:15, is provided. There is also provided a method of manufacturing this ink and a method of manufacturing a solvent-cast metallic 3D printed material using this ink.

Abstract: A method and device of positioning a ply of material for a composite component along an arcuate surface are presented. The ply comprises two end portions and a plurality of fiber tows extending longitudinally between the two end portions. The arcuate surface has a curved edge and a planar surface extending from the curved edge. The method comprises placing a first longitudinal edge portion of the ply along the curved edge; and rotating at least one of the two end portions away from the arcuate surface about a pivot axis normal to the ply, so as to cause sliding of at least some of the plurality of fiber tows relative to each other, and substantial aligning of the plurality of fiber tows in a curved direction along the arcuate surface. A method of positioning a ply of material for a composite component onto a curved mandrel is also presented.

Abstract: Composite fasteners, associated blanks and also methods and apparatus for the installation of such fasteners are disclosed. An exemplary composite rivet (10) disclosed comprises an elongated body including braided reinforcement fibers (14) embedded inside the body and supported in a matrix material (16). Also disclosed are structural assemblies comprising composite fasteners and panels or other parts comprising composite and/or other materials.

Abstract: There are provided methods for the real-time radiation-assisted fabrication of freeform three-dimensional structures. For example, one of these methods comprise depositing on a substrate, by means of nozzle, a filament comprising a curable polymer, while exposing the filament to a radiation so as to cure the curable polymer, and while moving the substrate and the nozzle, with respect to one another, according to the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis or at least two of these axes. Such a method permits to obtain a freeform three-dimensional structure having at least one point of contact with the substrate.