Abstract: A bumper includes a bumper beam assembly including a bumper reinforcement beam having a bumper central portion and bumper extension portions at outboard ends of the bumper reinforcement beam. A reinforcement bracket is positioned on a front side of the bumper beam assembly at an outboard end of the bumper beam assembly. An energy diverting bumper structure is positioned on a front side of the reinforcement bracket.

Abstract: A bumper includes a bumper reinforcement beam and a reinforcement bracket positioned on a front side of the bumper reinforcement beam at an outboard end of the bumper reinforcement beam. An energy diverting bumper structure is positioned on a front side of the reinforcement bracket. The energy diverting bumper structure is connected directly to the reinforcement bracket and is connected indirectly to the bumper reinforcement beam through the reinforcement bracket.

Abstract: A bladder monitoring apparatus and method for monitoring an inflatable bladder during curing of composite material in an autoclave. The bladder may be wrapped with composite material and have an impermeable membrane sealed around the composite material. The method may include the steps of fluidly coupling a vacuum port of the impermeable membrane with a vacuum source and fluidly coupling a vent of the bladder with a first port of a flow meter located outward of the autoclave. A second port of the flow meter may also be fluidly coupled with atmosphere within the autoclave. The method may then include evacuating air from within the impermeable membrane. If a flow above a threshold flow is detected by the flow meter, the leak in the bladder may be located and repaired or a valve of the flow meter between the first and second ports may be closed.

Abstract: A bumper beam assembly includes a reinforcement beam, the reinforcement beam including a front side, a top side, and a bottom side that is positioned opposite of the top side of the reinforcement beam, and a reinforcement patch coupled to the reinforcement beam, where the reinforcement patch extends across the top side and the bottom side of the reinforcement beam and the reinforcement patch includes a longitudinal deformation feature that is detached and spaced apart from at least one of the top side and the bottom side of the reinforcement beam.

Abstract: A bumper includes a bumper beam assembly including a bumper reinforcement beam having a bumper central portion and bumper extension portions at outboard ends of the bumper reinforcement beam. A reinforcement bracket is positioned on a front side of the bumper beam assembly at an outboard end of the bumper beam assembly. An energy diverting bumper structure is positioned on a front side of the reinforcement bracket.

Abstract: A heat shrink apparatus for heat shrinking a shrink film to a bladder. The heat shrink apparatus may include a support structure, a bladder support system, and a heat chamber. The bladder support system for supporting the bladder thereon may have two spaced apart parallel rows of a plurality of resilient members pivotally and/or resiliently attached to the support structure. The heat chamber may be hollow with opposing end openings and may have one or more heating elements therein. The heat chamber may translate over the shrink film and the bladder along the support structure between the two spaced apart parallel rows, shrinking the shrink film to the bladder. As the heat chamber translates, it may contact ends of the resilient members, thereby pivoting or deflecting the resilient members from a first position to a second position such that the heat chamber can pass between the two parallel rows.

Abstract: A heat shrink apparatus for heat shrinking a shrink film to a bladder. The heat shrink apparatus may include a support structure, a bladder support system, and a heat chamber. The bladder support system for supporting the bladder thereon may have two spaced apart parallel rows of a plurality of resilient members pivotally and/or resiliently attached to the support structure. The heat chamber may be hollow with opposing end openings and may have one or more heating elements therein. The heat chamber may translate over the shrink film and the bladder along the support structure between the two spaced apart parallel rows, shrinking the shrink film to the bladder. As the heat chamber translates, it may contact ends of the resilient members, thereby pivoting or deflecting the resilient members from a first position to a second position such that the heat chamber can pass between the two parallel rows.

Abstract: A die for forming an elongated strand of continuous material includes a front surface, an opposing back surface, a peripheral surface positioned therebetween, a groove, and a pair of peaks. The groove may be located on the front surface and may originate near the center of the front surface and terminate at the edge of the front surface. The groove may revolve around the center, getting progressively farther away from the center as it revolves. The peaks may be located at opposing edges of the groove, wherein the peaks of one portion of the groove contact the peaks of neighboring portions of the groove to form a blade. The die is pressed against an adhesive charge, such that the blade cuts the material to form an elongated, continuous noodle.