Abstract: A non-compliant fiber-reinforced medical balloon comprises a first fiber layer and a second fiber layer embedded in a continuous matrix of thermally-weldable polymer material defining a barrel wall, cone walls and neck walls. The fibers of the first fiber layer run substantially parallel to one another and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. The fibers of the first fiber layer have a pattern of different lengths and are divisible into a first group and a second group based on length. Each fiber of the first group begins in the neck wall at one end of the balloon, extends continuously in the longitudinal direction and terminates in the neck wall at the opposite end of the balloon. Substantially all of the fibers of the first group have a generally uniform length. Each fiber of the second group begins in the cone wall at one end of the balloon, extends continuously in the longitudinal direction and terminates in the cone wall at the opposite end of the balloon.

Abstract: There is provided an optical fiber module including a reel having a flange on one side of both sides thereof, a first optical fiber being wound around the reel, a first adhesive being applied to a roll of the first optical fiber so that lines of the first optical fiber are fixed to each other and the roll of the first optical fiber is fixed to the flange of the reel, and a first sheet member being fixed to the roll of the first optical fiber with the first adhesive.

Abstract: The invention relates to composite hose, which is capable of being used without leakage, and which has a longer length and/or diameter than has been previously achievable. A composite hose comprises a tubular body of flexible material arranged between an inner and an outer helically wound wire. The hose further comprises an axial strengthening means adapted to reduce deformation of the tubular body when the tubular body is subjected to axial tension, the axial strengthening means being adapted to exert a radially inward force on at least part of the tubular body when axial strengthening means is subjected to axial tension. The hose can have length above 30 m and a diameter above 400 mm. A method of, and apparatus for, making the hose are also described, which involves the use of a non-metallic mandrel.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a chemical mechanical polishing pad is provided, comprising: providing a polishing layer; providing a chemical mechanical polishing pad manufacturing assembly, comprising: a subpad layer having a top surface, a bottom surface and at least two wrap around tabs; a backing plate having a top side and a bottom side; a sacrificial layer having at least two recessed areas designed to facilitate attachment of the subpad layer to the backing plate; an unset reactive hot melt adhesive applied to the top surface of the subpad layer, wherein the unset reactive hot melt adhesive is applied in a pattern of parallel lines; wherein the subpad layer is disposed on the top side of the backing plate and the sacrificial layer is disposed on the bottom side of the backing plate, and wherein the at least two wrap around tabs extend to the bottom side of the backing plate; stacking the polishing layer and the chemical mechanical polishing pad manufacturing assembly with the unset reactive hot melt adhesiv

Abstract: The invention relates to a curved product, and in particular an armor product. The armor product is produced by a filament winding process in which a plurality of reinforcing elements in the form of fibers and/or tapes are impregnated with a polymer matrix and wound onto a mandrel. The polymer matrix comprises a solution and/or dispersion of a polymer in a carrier fluid, which carrier fluid is at least partly evaporated during and/or after winding. The armor product comprises a high amount of reinforcing elements with respect to the total mass of the product.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide medical devices and methods for treating a target site within the body, such as for treating vascular abnormalities. For example, one embodiment provides medical device including a first tubular member that includes a first portion, a second portion, and a central portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion. Each of the first and second portions have a radius that is larger than that of the central portion, and the second portion has a preset, relaxed configuration in which a portion of the second portion has a partial discoid shape defined by an inversion of a portion of a discoid into itself.

Abstract: An insert for forming an end connection in a uni-axial composite material, and an end connection comprising at least one insert, is disclosed. The insert comprises a sleeve which comprises a plurality of fibres having a multi-axial arrangement. At least a portion of the interior surface of the sleeve comprises a thread formation. A method of forming an end connection in a uni-axial composite material is also disclosed. The method comprises providing a sleeve comprising a plurality of fibres having a multi-axial arrangement and providing a thread formation on at least a portion of the interior surface of the sleeve. The sleeve is positioned and secured within the uni-axial composite material.

Abstract: A method for the production of a friction lining. The friction lining is produced in alternating layers wound in a helical shape and a star shape.

Abstract: Mandrels of various configuration, and action, including collapsible mandrels, to be used in forming composite articles with preselected three dimensional shapes and construction are disclosed and described. In one aspect, such a mandrel may have a plurality of discrete segments coupled about a longitudinal axis and collectively forming an enclosure with a substantially continuous exterior working surface. The working surface can have a network of intersecting grooves formed therein, and such grooves can cooperatively establish a substantially continuous interconnected lattice corresponding to the three dimensional geometric configuration to be imparted to a composite article formed. The mandrel may optionally include a removable core assembly to aid in collapse of the mandrel.

Abstract: A device and method for the manufacture of medical devices, specifically, endovascular grafts, or sections thereof. Layers of fusible material are disposed upon a shape forming member and seams formed between the layers in a configuration that can produce inflatable channels in desired portions of the graft. After creation of the seams, the fusible material of the inflatable channels may be fixed while the channels are in an expanded state. A five axis robotic seam forming apparatus may be used to create the seams in the layers of fusible material.

Abstract: There is described a method for making a vehicle (2), including a body comprising carbon fibres, preferably a military vehicle. The method consists of the body being wound up over a mandrel with threads (28) wetted in glue. The threads (28) contain carbon fibres. The threads (28) wound around the mandrel (22) are subsequently cured. After the curing, the body is drawn off the mandrel (22), and the ends of the body are cut off at appropriate angles. Then the front end and rear end of the body are closed with closure elements, preferably closure elements containing carbon fibres and armouring materials. During the winding process, one or more layers of lightweight ceramic and/or other armouring materials (26) are laid in, which thereby become integrated in the basic body.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a one-piece composite fuselage section that minimizes out-of-plane fiber distortion. This is accomplished by fabricating a mandrel having a coefficient of thermal expansion in the hoopwise direction that is sufficiently greater than that of the laid-up composite ply assembly. As a result of this differential in the coefficients of thermal expansion in the hoopwise direction, the laid-up composite ply assembly is stretched circumferentially as the mandrel expands radially during cure, thereby eliminating or reducing out-of-plane fiber distortion. At the same time, the mandrel and part being fabricated should have substantially the same coefficient of thermal expansion in the lengthwise direction. As the outer surface of the mandrel increases in circumference, the circumferentially oriented reinforcing fibers of the inner plies are stretched, while the circumferentially oriented reinforcing fibers of the outer plies do not reduce in circumference and thus do not form waves or wrinkles.

Abstract: A tool set comprising: a moulding tool comprising a moulding surface and a mandrel recess in the moulding surface; a first mandrel configured to fit into the mandrel recess and form a first component; and a second mandrel configured to fit into the mandrel recess and form a second component which has a different shape or size to the first component. A method of manufacturing a part, the method comprising: arranging a set of components on one or more inner mould line tools; forming a layer around the inner mould line tool(s); fitting a pair of outer mould line tools on opposite sides of the inner mould line tool(s); moulding the part by compressing the layer and the components between the inner and outer mould line tools; and removing the inner mould line tool(s) from the part.

Abstract: A mechanism for laying a strip on a receiving surface rotating about a first axis. The mechanism includes a laying head moving along a second axis oriented parallel to the axis of rotation of the surface and along a third axis oriented parallel to a radial direction passing through the point of contact between the receiving surface and a strip applicator of the laying head. The laying head is rotatable about a front axis oriented substantially perpendicular to the second and third axes and passing through the contact point. the laying includes a device for estimating the value of the of the angle ? formed by a tangent to the transverse profile of the surface and the second axis. The movements of the laying head are determined by the value of the angle ? in such a way as to displace the laying head in a direction parallel to the tangent following the transverse profile of the receiving surface.

Abstract: A method for reducing cost and weight in paint roller manufacturing processes and other continuous processes for producing tubular goods from polymers. The method may utilize a perforated substrate such as a perforated polypropylene strip or may include a perforating step which removes overage from an unperforated substrate. An unperforated substrate, which may be of a thinner gauge than the perforated substrate, is fed onto a mandrel. The perforated substrate is fed onto the unperforated substrate to form a tube. Adhesive is applied upon the outer surface of the perforated substrate. A cover may be applied about the tube, and the resulting product is then cut into finished-size paint rollers. The removal of the overage results in a reduction in the weight of the paint roller. In certain embodiments the overage from a perforation step is collected, and may be reused in a subsequent implementation of the method or resold.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tubular-shaped component (19) for an aeronautical fuselage made of composite materials comprising an outer skin (1) without joints having a cylindrical or cylindrical-conical shape, a plurality of stiffeners or stringers (2) longitudinally arranged in said outer skin (1) and a plurality of anchoring elements (3) for anchoring other elements to subsequently be incorporated transversally arranged between said stiffeners or stringers (2). The invention also comprises a jig (18) comprising a support body (12) and a plurality of panels (9) that can shift between an extended position (10) and a retracted position (10?) in both directions and a process for manufacturing said component (19) in the last step of which once the tubular component (19) is formed and cured, it is separated from the jig (18) by means of a longitudinal movement after the shifting of those elements of the jig (18) preventing it, and particularly the panels (9) that can be shifted.

Abstract: A polarizing plate comprising a polarizer, and a cycloolefin polymer film having a surface bonded to at least one surface of the polarizer, the surface of the cycloolefin polymer film having a mean surface roughness Ra falling within the range from 10 nm to 200 nm, and a shrinkage ratio of the polarizer, after being allowed to stand in an atmosphere at 105° C. for 10 hours, being equal to or smaller than 20% in the direction of transmission axis thereof, is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for making electric energy storage assemblies the device including multiple feed means for feeding sheet structures, means for laminating sheet structures received from the various feed means, winder means for winding the resulting laminate, and control means for controlling continuously and in controlled synchronous the feed means, the laminator means, and the winder means.

Abstract: A tool for use in bonding a composite multi-layer shell having complex curvature by the delta-alpha high temperature bonding process. The tool includes a plurality of segments that combine to form a mandrel assembly having a substantially continuous outer surface. The outer surface has a substantially axisymmetric shape including a complex curvature. When the segments are combined to form the mandrel assembly, at least one of the segments is configured to be movable in a substantially inward direction without substantial obstruction by any other segment. The segments are constructed of a first material have a first coefficient of thermal expansion that is greater than a second coefficient of thermal expansion of a second material of a composite multi-layer shell to be bonded together using the tool.

Abstract: Housings for electrical or electronic components made using braid or woven fabric sheets having multiple sections treated with different materials as well as processes and materials for making such housings are disclosed.

Abstract: A modular fiber placement machine head assembly and refrigerated creel assembly affixed to a cradle for an interchangeable platform system adapted for composite fiber manufacturing through an automated, computer controlled, fiber placement machine is described.

Abstract: An unvulcanized rubber strip (3) is supplied to an outer peripheral surface of a rotating cylindrical body (4) from a sending-out roller (16) which laterally moves in an axial direction of the cylindrical body (4), thereby spirally winding the rubber strip (3) to form a winding body (5). In a tilting reference plane (29) defined as a plane which is in parallel to a plane (4S) passing through an axis (4i) of the cylindrical body (4) and which passes through an axis (16i) of the sending-out roller (16), the sending-out roller (16) is held such that the sending-out roller (16) can tilt positively and negatively within an inclination angle (?) of 0 to 45° with respect to a tilting reference line (N) which is parallel to the axis (4i) of the cylindrical body (4). The sending-out roller (16) is laterally moved while changing the inclination angle (?).

Abstract: Fiber filtration tubes containing flocculant are produced by winding a preformed mat of natural fibers about a mandrel. The tubes may be joined end to end to produce products of significant length, and are highly suitable in removing even very fine sediment during use in erosion control.

Abstract: A continuous, fully automated and highly productive system for the production of open core elements utilizes a fluting method and related apparatus effective for providing large pitch flutes for the input webs used in forming the core elements. A wide variety of core elements can be produced for uses ranging from large light weight building panels to small light weight packing elements.

Abstract: A hollow telescopic fishing rod has a rod body made from resin and reinforcing fibers. The rod body has an inner circumferential surface, wherein concave surface portions and convex surface portions are formed in the inner circumferential surface of the rod body. The reinforcing fibers are applied to the convex surface portions in the circumferential direction.

Abstract: The invention is a composite pole with an integral mandrel therein and methods of making the same. A preferred embodiment is a fiberglass reinforced resin composite pole such as a utility pole or a lighting pole. The integral mandrel is preferably an expanded plastic foam such as expanded polystyrene. The integral mandrel is contoured to be in the desired inside configuration of the composite pole and fiber reinforced composite naterial is applied to the mandrel. The pole is used with the mandrel remaining therein, thus strengthening the pole. Passages may be placed into the mandrel for routing conduits and pipes as desired.

Abstract: An energy absorbing system is provided. The system comprises a fitting having a crack inducing surface extending radially outward in relation to an axis. An energy absorbing structural element formed by a hollow body extends along the axis and has a first end adapted to interact with the crack inducing surface of the fitting so as to radially spread the hollow body. Cracks are formed in the hollow body in response to forces applied in a direction substantially parallel to the axis which forces push the crack inducing surface against the first end. The hollow body may have layers of reinforcing flat material embedded in a matrix material and may comprise a single winding of the flat material about the axis. A number of layers of the flat material in the hollow body may be different in different areas.

Abstract: A device and method for the manufacture of medical devices, specifically, endovascular grafts, or sections thereof. Layers of fusible material are disposed upon a shape forming member and seams formed between the layers in a configuration that can produce inflatable channels in desired portions of the graft. After creation of the seams, the fusible material of the inflatable channels may be fixed while the channels are in an expanded state. A five axis robotic seam forming apparatus may be used to create the seams in the layers of fusible material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to pre-filled contained media volumes and methods of media filling using pre-filled contained media volumes. In particular, the present invention relates to apparatus and methods of media filling a tooling for a fuselage using pre-filled contained media volumes. In one implementation, the pre-filled contained media volume comprises a bag formed of a porous fabric and media located in that bag. The pre-filled contained media volume is attached to a tooling prior to filling the tooling with additional media.

Abstract: A hollow telescopic fishing rod has a rod body made from resin and reinforcing fibers. The rod body has an inner circumferential surface, wherein concave surface portions and convex surface portions are formed in the inner circumferential surface of the rod body. The reinforcing fibers are applied to the convex surface portions in the circumferential direction.

Abstract: Provided is a method for manufacturing a papermaking belt structure using tapes made of a solid thermoplastic resin surrounding a fibrous matrix. The method calls for applying a layer of CD oriented tapes to a mandrel surface, then applying a layer of MD oriented tapes over the CD layer, applying pressure and heat to the mandrel containing the CD and MD layers so to melt the resin and entirely bond/encapsulate the fibrous matrix. The belt structure thus obtained may thereafter be grooved, drilled or other processed as desired. Additionally, the above method can be reversed as to the MD/CD order of layering. Also, a layer entirely of resin can be applied, preferably prior to, but also after or in between the MD/CD layers. Also, rubber can comprise one or more layers.

Abstract: Composite laminar structures which exhibit nonlinear surfaces and which exhibit a variable ply angle relative to a defined axis and methods of forming the same are disclosed. A change in ply angle may be induced by the formation of a ramp structure, such as by the introduction of one or more adjacent or periodically placed plies of varied width. Varied width plies may be introduced by cutting or trimming the width of a nominal width ply during lay-up of the composite material. In another embodiment, the ramp structures may be formed by introducing multiple sections of composite material, each of which exhibits a substantially serpentine profile along an edge thereof so as to define a plurality of fingers extending transversely relative to the respective length of each section. The plurality of sections may then be layered adjacent to one another, or periodically dispersed, with each respective set of fingers being offset relative to the set of fingers of a next closest layer.

Abstract: An improved pipe belling apparatus and method are shown in which a spiral strip of thermoplastic material is extruded and wrapped spirally about a mandrel and integral gasket. The heated material is allowed to cool and the connection thus formed is stripped from the mandrel. The gasket is retained within a groove which is simultaneously formed of the thermoplastic extrusion.

Abstract: Process for manufacturing an assembly made of a composite material and wing and stabilizing element obtained by this process. The junction zone for a part (P) made of a composite material comprising two parts (A1, A2) in which the principal directions intersect at a non-singular angle, is made in a single operation by continuous lay-up. The 0° directions of the lay-up coordinate systems (R1, R2) of the parts (A1, A2) are oriented such that these directions make an angle of close to 180°??°, where ±?° represents the other directions of the lay-up coordinate systems (R1, R2). Thus, the layers of fibers oriented at 0° in one of the coordinate systems correspond approximately to a lay-up direction of ±?° in the other coordinate system.

Abstract: A method of making a catheter balloon or other tubular medical device or component, in which a sheet of polymeric material is wrapped on a mandrel and heated to fuse sections of the wrapped sheet together to form a tube. The mandrel has a metallic core and a jacket on an outer surface of the metallic core, and the wrapped sheet of polymeric material is heated without corroding the metallic core of the mandrel. In a presently preferred embodiment, the sheet is formed of a fluoropolymeric material, and the resulting fluoropolymeric tube forms at least a layer of a catheter balloon.

Abstract: A method for manufacture of a hollow complex three-dimensional fiber golf club head having at least one hole. A fluid-removable core is shaped in the general form of the golf club head, placed in a flexible pressurizable bladder around the core, at least one ply of fiber impregnated with a curable resin is wrapped over the core and bladder, and a cured part is formed by pressurizing the bladder while the core, bladder, and impregnated fiber is in a female mold to force the plies against the inner surfaces of the mold. After heating to cure the resin, the bladder and the fluid-removable core is removed from the interior of the cured part by disintegrating core with a fluid sufficient to allow removal of the bladder.

Abstract: A system and method for adjusting a location of a center of gravity of an aircraft relative to a center of lift of a wing of the aircraft. In one innovative aspect, a modular spar tunnel mold is provided and configured to be detachably fixed at a selected location within a main mold for a fuselage portion of the aircraft.

Abstract: A system and method for adjusting a location of a center of gravity of an aircraft relative to a center of lift of awing of the aircraft. In one innovative aspect, a modular spar tunnel mold is provided and configured to be detachably fixed at a selected location within a main for a fuselage portion of the aircraft.

Abstract: A spiral wound abrasive belt is formed from an abrasive media including a plurality of webs. The webs of the abrasive media may include coated abrasives joined by splicing media or other suitable joining material. Alternatively, the webs may include individual single or multiple layers that form a coated abrasive simultaneously along with the spiral belt without the use of additional joining material. A method of forming the spiral belt includes draping the abrasive media over a fixed hub at an angle to form the spiral belt while abutting the edges of the outermost web and overlapping the outermost web and adjacent web or webs. Heat and pressure may be applied to the joined edges to form a strong bond along the spiral seam. Another method includes introducing the webs forming the abrasive media at an angle and draping the webs over a fixed hub. The abrasive media may then be passed around an adjustable hub that provides tension in the spiral belt while allowing for different circumferentially sized belts.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing composite parts includes positioning a plurality of composite layers on an application surface formed by a plurality of tooling members and filler members on a mandrel. A part formation aid is disposed on the composite layers above each tooling member. The filler members are then removed, and the composite layers slit over the recesses. The mandrel, the tooling members, the composite layers, and the part formation aids are placed in a vacuum bag. As the bag is evacuated, each part formation aid forces the side edge of the composite layers formed by the slit around the respective tooling member, thereby forming a composite part with a desired shape, thickness, and density. In an alternate embodiment, a flanged composite panel is formed around a rectangular mandrel after positioning composite layers on an outer surface of the mandrel and an outer surface of a filler member disposed on one end of the mandrel.

Abstract: A process is proposed for the fabrication of parts with large dimensions formed of a skin (10) and stiffeners (12, 16) such as aircraft fuselage segments made of a composite material with a thermoplastic matrix. After stiffeners have been made separately by lay-up, consolidation and shaping, these stiffeners are placed on a tooling (23) and the skin (10) is simultaneously fabricated and assembled to the stiffeners (12, 16) by diffusion welding. More precisely, the skin (10) is laid up and continuously consolidated by the lay-up head (36) such that the required part is obtained directly.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a multi-layered structure which for a given external geometry a section of interest may be integrally reinforced by varying the relative proportions of the layers in that section. That is, the layers making up the structure may have varying relative proportions to the structure's overall thickness between two or more positions while the structure maintains a constant thickness between the positions. By varying the relative proportions of the structure's layers, the mechanical properties of the structure may be selectively altered from a first position to a second position without altering the structure's external profile. This is especially desirable in composite sandwich structures used in aerospace applications which often require additional reinforcement at structural interfaces.

Abstract: A coating is applied to reinforcing fibers arranged into a tow by coaxially aligning the tow with an adjacent separation layer and winding or wrapping the tow and separation layer onto a support structure in an interleaved manner so that the separation layer separates a wrap of the tow from an adjacent wrap of the tow. A coating can then be uniformly applied to the reinforcing fibers without defects caused by fiber tow to fiber tow contact. The separation layer can be a carbon fiber veil.

Abstract: A tape delivery end-effector apparatus is, in an exemplary embodiment, a multiple-channel system for applying materials in tape form to a tooling mandrel. The end-effector apparatus is mounted on a multi-axis fiber placement machine and uses the machine's computer controlled guidance system. A preset constant tension is independently applied to each tape unspooled from spool holders by a separate servo motor, servo amplifier and feedback transducer for each spool holder. The transducer continuously measures the tape spool diameter. Two sets of rollers guide the tapes to the mandrel.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process of forming a prepreg material having substantially no voids. According to the process of the invention, the reinforcing material is heated to a temperature above the temperature of the impregnating resin. The prepreg formed has substantially no voids and does not require lengthy consolidation when formed into useful articles.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to components of fiber-reinforced plastics which can also be used as load-bearing components in mechanical and automotive engineering. A construction for such components is created that can be used flexibly and enables a defined design of the components. A method is created for this purpose that makes it possible to design and produce such load-bearing components to specific requirements. The method can be automatable and can make highly replicable results possible. The components thus produced of a fiber-reinforced plastic can have low weight with high strength properties and can be economical to produce.

Abstract: Reinforcing textile sheets (10, 11, 12, 16, 17) are superposed on mandrels (9, 14 and 15). The reinforcing textile sheets superposed on the mandrels are placed in a closed jig (2, 3). A thermosetting resin is introduced into the closed jig to impregnate the superposed reinforcing textile sheets. The thermosetting resin impregnated into the superposed reinforcing textile sheets is made to half-set in the closed jig to form a half-set composite material wing component member including a rear spar, ribs, an upper skin and a lower skin. The half-set composite material wing component member is taken out of the jig and the mandrel is removed from the half-set composite material wing component member. The half-set composite material wing component member and a half-set front spar are bonded together with an adhesive to form a half-set wing structure. The half-set wing structure is subjected to a high-temperature setting process to set the wing structure and the adhesive simultaneously.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a wall thickness program onto an elastomeric tubular component, such as an expandable bladder and/or cover element, for incorporation into a packing device for use in a subterranean well includes steps of contouring upon a surface a diametrical configuration defining a wall thickness program for the tubular component. The diametrical configuration is transferred from the surface onto at least one of the walls of the tubular component as a wall thickness program whereby the transfer diametrical configuration conforms substantially as a mirror image of the program on the contoured surface. An elongated mandrel may be provided as the surface onto which the diametrical configuration of the wall thickness program is contoured, such as by machining. Thereafter, the elastomeric tubular component may be prepared on the mandrel, such as by wrapping elastomeric ribbon in layers therearound as the mandrel is manipulated.

Abstract: Bicycle frame components without laps made by a method comprising; shaping a fluid-removable core in the general form of the component, placing a flexible inflatable bladder around the core, wrapping over the assembly of core and bladder at least one ply of fiber impregnated with a curable resin, forming a cured part by inflating the bladder while the assembly of core, bladder, and impregnated fiber is in a mold to force the plies against the inner surfaces of the mold, such that compaction of the fiber against the mold is predominantly from the bladder inflation and not from the core, and heating to cure the resin to form a cured part, removing the bladder and the fluid-removable core from the interior of the cured part by disintegrating the fluid-removable core with a fluid sufficient to allow removal of the core and the bladder.

Abstract: A frame, a drive mechanism for rotating a mandrel, at least two spindles mounted to the frame, a tensioner, and a belt extending between the first and second spindles may be used to roll pre-preg strips or similar sheets of composite materials around the mandrel. The belt travels over the spindles, and the spindles guide the belt through changes in its direction of travel. The mandrel is mounted in the drive mechanism in contact with the belt, which changes its direction of travel around the mandrel. The lower surface of the belt bears against upper portions of the spindles, and the mandrel contacts the upper surface of the belt. As the drive mechanism rotates the mandrel, pre-preg sheets are fed between the mandrel and the belt and are thereby wrapped around the mandrel. The belt presses the pre-preg sheets against the mandrel. The wrapped mandrel may then be removed from the apparatus and cured in any suitable manner known in the art to produce a composite tubular article.