Abstract: Various embodiments of a cutting deck assembly and a grounds maintenance vehicle that includes such assembly are disclosed. The assembly includes a top surface and a sidewall extending from the top surface. The top surface and the sidewall partially surround a first cutting chamber and a second cutting chamber. The assembly further includes a channel disposed adjacent a rear portion of the sidewall and extending along a channel axis between a first end and a second end of the channel, where the first end of the channel is connected to an outlet of the first cutting chamber; and a ramp disposed at least partially within the channel and adjacent the second end of the channel. The ramp includes a directing surface that is adapted to deflect at least a portion of clippings that enter the channel from the outlet of the first cutting chamber.

Abstract: A sealant spreader device fills voids around a drilled hole with sealant in glued-in-rod (GIR) structures. A liquid sealant may be applied to the base of a drilled hole. A sealant spreader device is then inserted to the base of the drilled hole, through the sealant. The sealant spreader device is then withdrawn while rotating. The sealant spreader device includes winged sections having contours which force the sealant radially outward toward walls of the hole, into any voids around the circumference of the drilled hole, and leaves a thin layer of sealant around the circumference of the drilled hole.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a cutting deck assembly and a grounds maintenance vehicle that includes such assembly. The assembly includes a top surface and a sidewall extending from the top surface. The top surface and the sidewall partially surround a first cutting chamber and a second cutting chamber. The assembly further includes a channel disposed adjacent a rear portion of the sidewall and extending along a channel axis between a first end and a second end of the channel, where the first end of the channel is connected to an outlet of the first cutting chamber; and a ramp disposed at least partially within the channel and adjacent the second end of the channel. The ramp includes a directing surface that is adapted to deflect at least a portion of clippings that enter the channel from the outlet of the first cutting chamber.

Abstract: A walk power mower has a deck that provides a cutting chamber for enclosing a rotary grass cutting blade. An assembly is provided for adding ambient air to the cutting chamber during a grass mowing operation to improve performance. The assembly comprises an air vent placed in a top wall of the cutting chamber. An external cover outside of the cutting chamber and above the top wall of the cutting chamber has an air permeable section located forwardly of the air vent to admit air into the cover to thereby feed that air to the air vent. An internal cover inside the cutting chamber and below the top wall of the cutting chamber receives the air passing inwardly through the air vent and discharges such air into the cutting chamber at a location that is spaced from the air vent.

Abstract: A walk power mower has a deck that provides a cutting chamber for enclosing a rotary grass cutting blade. An assembly is provided for adding ambient air to the cutting chamber during a grass mowing operation to improve performance. The assembly comprises an air vent placed in a top wall of the cutting chamber. An external cover outside of the cutting chamber and above the top wall of the cutting chamber has an air permeable section located forwardly of the air vent to admit air into the cover to thereby feed that air to the air vent. An internal cover inside the cutting chamber and below the top wall of the cutting chamber receives the air passing inwardly through the air vent and discharges such air into the cutting chamber at a location that is spaced from the air vent.

Abstract: Systems and methods for incrementally forming a composite part are disclosed herein. The systems include a forming mandrel, which includes a forming surface, and a forming machine. The forming machine includes a forming bladder, a pressure-regulating device, and a positioning device. The forming bladder is configured to be inflated to a forming pressure and to press the ply of composite material against the forming surface. The methods include placing a ply of composite material on a forming surface of a forming mandrel and pressing a forming bladder against the ply of composite material at a selected location to press a selected portion of the ply of composite material against the forming surface and conform the selected portion of the ply of composite material to a surface profile of the forming surface. The methods further include repeating the pressing a plurality of times at a plurality of selected locations.

Abstract: Radius fillers for composite structures, composite structures that include the radius fillers, and systems and methods of forming the radius fillers. The systems and methods may be configured to create a pre-form that may be utilized to form a radius filler and/or to create a radius filler from the pre-form. The systems may include an apparatus configured to form the pre-form for the radius filler. This apparatus includes a composite tape source, a pre-forming structure, and a drive mechanism. The systems also may include an apparatus configured to form the radius filler. This apparatus includes a pre-form supply, a first radius filler die, a second radius filler die, and a die selection structure.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a cutting deck assembly and a grounds maintenance vehicle that includes such assembly are disclosed. The assembly includes a top surface and a sidewall extending from the top surface. The top surface and the sidewall partially surround a first cutting chamber and a second cutting chamber. The assembly further includes a channel disposed adjacent a rear portion of the sidewall and extending along a channel axis between a first end and a second end of the channel, where the first end of the channel is connected to an outlet of the first cutting chamber; and a ramp disposed at least partially within the channel and adjacent the second end of the channel. The ramp includes a directing surface that is adapted to deflect at least a portion of clippings that enter the channel from the outlet of the first cutting chamber.

Abstract: Radius fillers for composite structures and composite structures that include radius fillers are disclosed herein. The radius fillers include a plurality of lengths of composite tape. Each of the plurality of lengths of composite tape includes a respective plurality of lengths of reinforcing fibers and a resin material. The plurality of lengths of reinforcing fibers in each of the plurality of lengths of composite tape defines a fiber axis direction. Each of the plurality of lengths of composite tape defines a respective fiber axis direction that is based, at least in part, on material properties of a transition region defined by a plurality of plies of composite material that defines an elongate void space within which the radius filler is configured to extend. The composite structures include the radius fillers.

Abstract: Systems and methods for incrementally forming a composite part are disclosed herein. The systems include a forming mandrel, which includes a forming surface, and a forming machine. The forming machine includes a forming bladder, a pressure-regulating device, and a positioning device. The forming bladder is configured to be inflated to a forming pressure and to press the ply of composite material against the forming surface. The methods include placing a ply of composite material on a forming surface of a forming mandrel and pressing a forming bladder against the ply of composite material at a selected location to press a selected portion of the ply of composite material against the forming surface and conform the selected portion of the ply of composite material to a surface profile of the forming surface. The methods further include repeating the pressing a plurality of times at a plurality of selected locations.

Abstract: A blade-protecting sheath is configured to protect a cutting blade of an ultrasonic cutting system. The blade-protecting sheath includes a main body having a first end and an opposite second end, a blade-receiving channel formed through the first end, and a nut-retention chamber connected to the blade-receiving channel. The nut-retention chamber is defined by interior planar walls that are configured to receive and constrain a nut of the ultrasonic cutting system. A blade slot is connected to the nut-retention chamber. The cutting blade is configured to pass into the blade slot and be secured within a blade chamber.

Abstract: Systems and methods for incrementally forming a composite part are disclosed herein. The systems include a forming mandrel, which includes a forming surface, and a forming machine. The forming machine includes a forming bladder, a pressure-regulating device, and a positioning device. The forming bladder is configured to be inflated to a forming pressure and to press the ply of composite material against the forming surface. The methods include placing a ply of composite material on a forming surface of a forming mandrel and pressing a forming bladder against the ply of composite material at a selected location to press a selected portion of the ply of composite material against the forming surface and conform the selected portion of the ply of composite material to a surface profile of the forming surface. The methods further include repeating the pressing a plurality of times at a plurality of selected locations.

Abstract: Radius fillers for composite structures and composite structures that include radius fillers are disclosed herein. The radius fillers include a plurality of lengths of composite tape. Each of the plurality of lengths of composite tape includes a respective plurality of lengths of reinforcing fibers and a resin material. The plurality of lengths of reinforcing fibers in each of the plurality of lengths of composite tape defines a fiber axis direction. Each of the plurality of lengths of composite tape defines a respective fiber axis direction that is based, at least in part, on material properties of a transition region defined by a plurality of plies of composite material that defines an elongate void space within which the radius filler is configured to extend. The composite structures include the radius fillers.

Abstract: Radius fillers for composite structures, composite structures that include radius fillers, and systems and methods of forming the same are disclosed herein. The methods include determining a transverse cross-sectional shape of an elongate void space, which extends within a transition region that is defined by a plurality of plies of composite material, and determining a material property field of the transition region. The methods further include forming the radius filler by combining a plurality of lengths of composite tape to define a radius filler cross-sectional shape, which corresponds to the transverse cross-sectional shape of the elongate void space, and orienting a plurality of lengths of reinforcing fiber in each of the plurality of lengths of composite tape based, at least in part, on the material property field of the transition region. The radius fillers include radius fillers with selectively oriented reinforcing fibers. The composite structures include the radius fillers.

Abstract: A blade-protecting sheath is configured to protect a cutting blade of an ultrasonic cutting system. The blade-protecting sheath includes a main body having a first end and an opposite second end, a blade-receiving channel formed through the first end, and a nut-retention chamber connected to the blade-receiving channel. The nut-retention chamber is defined by interior planar walls that are configured to receive and constrain a nut of the ultrasonic cutting system. A blade slot is connected to the nut-retention chamber. The cutting blade is configured to pass into the blade slot and be secured within a blade chamber.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for use in curing of a composite charge having an internal cavity. Apparatus includes a flexible bladder adapted to be placed in the cavity for applying pressure on the composite charge during curing. An end fitting is operatively coupled to the flexible bladder. The end fitting defining a bolt bore and a horizontal bore. When a vent bolt is operatively coupled to the bolt bore of the end fitting, the vent bolt and the horizontal bore define a pressure passageway that allows an interior of the bladder to become subjected to external pressure.

Abstract: Radius fillers for composite structures, composite structures that include the radius fillers, and systems and methods of forming the radius fillers. The systems and methods may be configured to create a pre-form that may be utilized to form a radius filler and/or to create a radius filler from the pre-form. The systems may include an apparatus configured to form the pre-form for the radius filler. This apparatus includes a composite tape source, a pre-forming structure, and a drive mechanism. The systems also may include an apparatus configured to form the radius filler. This apparatus includes a pre-form supply, a first radius filler die, a second radius filler die, and a die selection structure.

Abstract: Radius fillers for composite structures, composite structures that include the radius fillers, and systems and methods of forming the radius fillers. The systems and methods may be configured to create a pre-form that may be utilized to form a radius filler and/or create a radius filler from the pre-form. Creating the pre-form may include extending a plurality of lengths of composite tape from a composite tape source and receiving the plurality of lengths of composite tape in a pre-form forming structure, converging and/or otherwise combining the plurality of lengths of composite tape within the pre-form forming structure to produce the pre-form, and/or withdrawing the pre-form from the pre-form forming structure. Creating the radius filler from the pre-form may include receiving the pre-form in a radius filler forming structure and producing the radius filler from the radius filler forming structure.

Abstract: Systems and methods for incrementally forming a composite part are disclosed herein. The systems include a forming mandrel, which includes a forming surface, and a forming machine. The forming machine includes a forming bladder, a pressure-regulating device, and a positioning device. The forming bladder is configured to be inflated to a forming pressure and to press the ply of composite material against the forming surface. The methods include placing a ply of composite material on a forming surface of a forming mandrel and pressing a forming bladder against the ply of composite material at a selected location to press a selected portion of the ply of composite material against the forming surface and conform the selected portion of the ply of composite material to a surface profile of the forming surface. The methods further include repeating the pressing a plurality of times at a plurality of selected locations.

Abstract: A ply placement device uses a ply guide to place plies on a curved substrate surface. The ply guide includes a guide surface and a guide edge that are each curved to match the contour of the substrate so that the ply transitions smoothly from its planar form to a curved form as the ply is placed onto the substrate. The ply guide may be flexible or segmented to allow reconfiguration of the guide surfaces to match various substrate contours.