Abstract: A method for manufacturing a connection for composite tubing is disclosed. The method includes maintaining tension on the composite fibers while “winding in” the connector to the composite tubing. The tension on the fibers results in the fibers bridging across traps of the connector as they are being wound. The bridging results in improved load bearing characteristics of the connection.

Abstract: A connector for joining a segment of composite pipe is disclosed. The connector includes an end connector having at least one fiber trap on its outer surface thereof. The end connector is attached to a liner portion of the segment of composite pipe. Fibers forming an outer surface of the segment of composite pipe are wound around the at least one trap under tension. The connector includes a binder which impregnates the fibers. The tension is maintained on the fibers in the trap during cure of the binder.

Abstract: A fiber reinforced plastic article is disclosed which include a liner, at least one single material fiber layer wound on the liner, and at least one composite fiber layer wound on the single material fiber layer. The at least one single material fiber layer and the at least one hybrid fiber layer are impregnated with resin.

Abstract: A variable damper assembly 10 is provided for use with a vehicle power steering system and includes a variable orifice valve 20 which controls the flow of fluid between one chamber side 30 of the damper assembly to another chamber side 32 of the damper assembly. Variable orifice valve 20 is communicatively coupled to a source of pressurized fluid 110 by use of a conduit 112 and an electronically controlled valve assembly 114. The pressurized fluid received through conduit 112 controls the operation of valve 20. Based upon the pressure of the received fluid, valve 20 selectively increases and reduces the fluid flow rate between chamber sides 30 and 32, thereby causing the damper assembly 10 to have enhanced damping characteristics during certain vehicle operating conditions (e.g., during relatively high vehicle speed operating conditions).

Abstract: A method for auditing an activity, which is implemented at an organization, documents an activity to be audited within a database. The database is included in a network accessible by the organization and an auditing entity. The activity is audited. A determination is made if the audited activity produces a finding. If the audited activity produces the finding, the finding is documented within the database. A notification of the finding is automatically transmitted, via the network, from the auditing entity to the organization.

Abstract: A rack and pinion power steering system 10 is provided and includes a variable orifice valve 22 which controls the flow of fluid in and out of a hydraulic cylinder 20. Variable orifice valve 22 is communicatively coupled to a source of pressurized fluid 30 by use of a conduit 42 and an electronically controlled valve assembly 38. The pressurized fluid received through conduit 42 controls the operation of valve 22. Based upon the pressure of the received fluid, valve 22 selectively increases and decreases the volume of fluid flow in and out of cylinder 20, thereby causing cylinder 20 to have enhanced damping characteristics during certain vehicle operating conditions (e.g., during relatively high vehicle speed operating conditions).

Abstract: Resin impregnation of fiber bundles for use in making a composite material is described. The impregnated fiber bundles are suitable for use as a prepreg tape or for inline use in extrusion, pultrusion and filament winding operations. The improvements of the disclosed method and impregnation head enable high fiber take-off speeds without excessive damage or fraying of the fiber bundles. Encapsulated air or voids in the impregnated product are consistently less than 1% by volume of the impregnated product and decrease with increased take-off speed. These improvements are achieved by passing the fiber bundles through a multi-chambered impregnation head in which the resin is injected into a downstream chamber. The cross sectional area of the fiber bundles, the velocity of the fibers bundles, the size of the openings to the chamber, the viscosity of the resin and the pressure at which the resin is pumped into the downstream chamber all control the pressure within the downstream chamber.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for coupling a stub end flanged connector to a fiber reinforced plastic pipe. The method includes tapering an end of the fiber reinforced plastic pipe on the outside surface of its fiber overwrap. An inside surface of a stub end connector is correspondingly tapered. The stub end connector is then bonded to the fiber reinforced plastic pipe. A liner of the plastic pipe is then flared to correspond to a flared end of the stub end connector. Then at least one stiffness transition layer is bonded over the plastic pipe and the stub end connection, over an axial span at least including a termination of the taper in the stub end connector.

Abstract: A computerized modeling tool that is used to form displayable images, which allow a user to assess the fit of a cardiac assist device within a prospective surgical patient's chest cavity. The computerized modeling tool includes a processing device that receives (i) a plurality of two-dimensional cross sectional digitized images representative of the prospective patient's chest cavity, and (ii) at least one data file representative of a three-dimensional model of the exterior of the cardiac assist device. The processing device processes this information to form a first composite displayable image of the cardiac assist device positioned within the chest cavity with selected anatomical segments displayed in uniquely associated colors presented on a display, to allow a user to view the displayable image to assess possible positions of the cardiac assist device within the chest cavity.

Abstract: The curing of a resin in a continuous manufacturing process is monitored by a sensor which measures the surface thermal energy of the resin. The surface thermal energy is measured without physically touching the resin. The surface thermal energy measurements are processed and sent to an automatic controller. The controller adjusts either the speed of the resin or the heat applied to the resin or both in order to optimize the curing process.

Abstract: A turret winder for winding web material on spindle-supported cores has a turret which is moveable into three indexing positions, one of which is a web transfer, cutting and winding station, and another of which is a winding completion station. Frames adjacent to the turret support carriages which support a secondary lay-on roll. The carriages include a primary carriage which is moveable vertically with respect to the turret and a lay-on roll carriage which is moveable horizontally with respect to the primary carriage. The lay-on roll carriage has an arm which is engaged by the turret during movement of the spindle between the above two positions so that arcuate movement of the spindle is translated to movement of the lay-on roll carriage in such a manner that the lay-on roll accurately follows the movement as the building roll moves to the winding completion station.

Abstract: A multilayer microelectronics module formed by laminating together individual thermoplastic polymer sheets formed by injection, compression or other suitable molding techniques. Metal pieces to form vias of a desired shape and size are inserted into the molded sheets, preferably by in situ insert molding. The vias provide an electrical connection from the top to the bottom surfaces of the sheets.

Abstract: A "green" sheet manufacturing method and apparatus contemplates perforating the "green" sheet with through-holes as it is calendared, rolled or extruded by rollers. To this end, the rollers are each machined with punches of a length one-half the thickness of the "green" sheet and that mate with punches on the other. Any flash or diaphragm obtaining in the through-holes are removed by subsequently exposing the "green" sheet to new mechanisms providing fluid pressure or vibration, or spiking. The bosses or punches may be supplemented with enlargements and other bosses providing for pads and counterholes and grooves in the "green" sheet. The through-holes may be shaped to have a smaller diameter interiorly than at the outer edges to lock in place solder or other conductive media squeegeed into them. The locking action may be enhanced by slightly off-setting bosses or mating punches to produce through-holes whose top and bottom halves are slightly off-set.

Abstract: There is disclosed a high density electronic connector assembly (system) having a first insulating portion and a second insulating portion adapted to be mated together and held in precise dimensional relation to each other with a suitable steady force. There are a plurality of contact members projecting down beneath the first portion on very close centers. There is a like plurality of socket holes in the second portion, with a respective printed-circuit (conductor) land at the bottom of each hole. Each land is adapted to act as a spring element to establish a minimum normal contact force. Seated in each hole is a small metal ball. Each ball is adapted to press against a respective contact member of the first portion when the upper and lower portions are fully mated. There is also disclosed a method of seating and re-flow soldering the balls to the respective lands in the socket holes.

Abstract: The provision of a container system that has a compartmented core surrounded by a carrier body frame to which top and bottom covers are removably attached. A band of resilient sealing material (e.g., a closed cell inert polymer or a rubber) on the top and bottom covers each completely surrounds the compartment core, and three ribs on the top and bottom of each of the covers likewise frame the compartment core, so that the ribs engage the resilient sealing material and form a barrier that completely surrounds the compartment core.

Abstract: An improved connection through a substrate layer is formed by embedding a conductive element such as a pin on one or more balls or spheres in a thermoplastic material which is preferably a liquid crystal polymer. The substrate may be heated to facilitate the embedding process in which material of the substrate layer is reflowed under pressure to retain the conductive element by means of a preload force. The formation of such connections with either pins or plural conductive elements allows independence of aspect ratio of the connection and, hence, feature size of conductive patterns on the substrate and the thickness of the substrate layer.

Abstract: Two movable die members that are situated opposed to each other in an extrusion die assembly, the axis of movement of the two die members is parallel to the longer sides of the rectangular cross-section of a throat opening of the extrusion die assembly. The members move in a reciprocating back and forward movement to impart shearing forces to the surface of the extruded material with a resultant multiaxial orientation of the molecules or fibrils.

Abstract: There is disclosed a high density electronic connector assembly (system) having a first insulating portion and a second insulating portion adapted to be mated together and held in precise dimensional relation to each other with a suitable steady force. There are a plurality of contact members projecting down beneath the first portion on very close centers. There is a like plurality of socket holes in the second portion, with a respective printed-circuit (conductor) land at the bottom of each hole. Each land is adapted to act as a spring element to establish a minimum normal contact force. Seated in each hole is a small metal ball. Each ball is adapted to press against a respective contact member of the first portion when the upper and lower portions are fully mated. There is also disclosed a method of seating and re-flow soldering the balls to the respective lands in the socket holes.

Abstract: Extrusion method and apparatus in which the liquid precursor of the extruded material is forced through a die formed by two surfaces moving in opposite directions relative to one another and transversely to the direction of material flow. Immediately upon exiting this dynamic die, the extracted material is removed as a sheet or film through a take-off system. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first die is formed by members rotating on a common axis in opposite rotational directions.

Abstract: Two movable die members that are situated opposed to each other in an extrusion die assembly, the axis of movement of the two die members is parallel to the longer sides of the rectangular cross-section of a throat opening of the extrusion die assembly. The members move in a reciprocating back and forward movement to impart shearing forces to the surface of the extruded material with a resultant multiaxial orientation of the molecules or fibrils.