Abstract: A composite tool handle includes one or more load-bearing jackets surrounding a core of lightweight or reinforcing material. The interface between the core and the jacket is corrugated to increase the flexural strength of the tool handle while minimizing weight. The composite tool handle is manufactured by pultrusion wherein the core having a corrugated outer surface is fed through a pultrusion die tube. Resin coated fibers are channeled into the space between the core and the die tube for compression and heating to form a fiber-resin jacket having an internal surface conforming to the shape of the core for key-lock engagement therewith. The outer surface of the fiber-resin jacket can be formed with a corrugated or other discontinuous surface shape by placing one or more external mold members into the space between the resin coated fibers and the die tube for pultrusion therewith through the die tube, and for separation from the fiber-resin jacket upon exiting the die tube.

Abstract: A slot draw attenuator apparatus and method are provided for producing webs of spunbonded thermoplastic filaments having improved cover even at low basis weights. The filaments are introduced to a slot draw attenuator having corona electrodes mounted in an elongate insulator bar and staggered and spaced along one wall of the attenuator slot near the exit end thereof. The corona electrodes are electrically connected to a high voltage source. The opposing wall of the slot is grounded. A corona is created in the attenuator slot so that the filaments are charged as they exit the attenuator. The electrostatic charge induces repelling forces in the filaments so that the filaments spread before they are randomly deposited upon a forming belt.

Abstract: An apparatus and method were developed for providing a uniform, consolidated, unidirectional, continuous, fiber-reinforced polymeric material. The apparatus comprises a supply means, a forming means, a shaping means, and a take-up means. The forming means further comprises a pre-melting chamber and a stationary bar assembly. The shaping means is a loaded cooled nip-roller apparatus. Forming takes place by heating a polymeric prepreg material to a temperature where the polymer becomes viscous and applying pressure gradients at separate locations along the prepreg material. Upon exiting the forming means, the polymeric prepreg material is malleable, consolidated and flattened. Shaping takes place by passing the malleable, consolidated, flattened prepreg material through a shaped, matched groove in a loaded, cooled nip-roller apparatus to provide the final solid product.

Abstract: In the prepreg manufacuturing method according to the present invention, at least one of a first and second release papers is coated with a matrix resin having a low viscosity. Reinforcing fibers are supplied in between the release papers and arranged on the matrix resin layer. Then, the reinforcing fibers are impregnated with the matrix resin by heating and pressing the release papers. After separating one of the papers, a room-temperature curing type hardener is applied onto the matrix resin layer to form a high viscosity layer on a surface layer of the matrix resin layer. Thereafter, a cover film is laid over the surface layer to make a prepreg.

Abstract: A ferrite chip bead includes a ferrite substrate, a plurality of outer electrodes formed at opposite sides of the ferrite substrate, and a plurality of conductive leads each extending transversely through the ferrite substrate and having opposite ends protruded outwardly of opposite side surfaces of the ferrite substrate and connected to corresponding outer electrodes. Conductive leads are embedded in the ferrite substrate by introducing conductive leads in a central portion of a nozzle for extruding the ferrite substrate such that the conductive leads are embedded in the ferrite substrate being extruded, or by introducing conductive leads between ferrite substrate sheets being fed to be bonded together for forming the ferrite substrate such that the conductive leads are interposed between the ferrite substrate sheets being bonded. The ferrite chip has no tendency for outer electrodes to short-circuit from the ferrite substrate upon carrying the chip bead on a circuit board.

Abstract: The fabrication of wiring harnesses requires many steps, such as a wire laying out step of laying out electric wires coated with insulative sheaths in a laying out array and cutting with measured length, a stripping step of the insulative sheaths at the ends of the electric wires, a crimping step of pressing terminals together with the bared ends of the electric wires in crimp contact, an inserting step of inserting into connectors the terminals pressed in crimp contact, etc. This system has an apparatus for each step modularized, and a module incorporated in the system can be increased or decreased in number depending upon a type of the desired wiring harness. For example, it is assumed now that a wiring harness fabrication line consists of an automated wire laying out module (1), a stripping module (3), two terminal-crimping modules (5), and a terminal-inserting module (7).

Abstract: An improved cutting apparatus and method used in a wire scribing device, said cutting apparatus having a cutter blade attached to a wiring head, and having a z-axis actuator for precisely controlling the movement of the cutter blade in the z-direction. A gauge height finder, attached to the wiring head determines a distance between the wiring head and the substrate, wherein the determined distance is used to control the z-axis actuator for lowering the cutter blade so as to precisely cut the conductor on the surface of the substrate. Furthermore, the cutting apparatus may include a cutter bracket attached to the wiring head, having a preloaded spring fixed thereto. Wherein this spring is preloaded to a preset force and wherein the spring is positioned above the cutter blade so that an upward force on the cutter blade is transmitted to the spring.

Abstract: The method of making a tubular pultruded member having a longitudinal axis and a substantially uniform wall thickness throughout includes providing a heated die with a mandrel extending through the forming die section and a bath of liquid polymer, simultaneously pulling continuous reinforcing fibers and at least one carrier tape with wall spacers through the liquid polymer bath around the mandrel and into and through the heated die to shape and cure the liquid polymer into a tubular pultruded member, the wall spacers having a thickness equal to the uniform distance between the outside surface of the mandrel and the inside surface of the die.

Abstract: The device consists of a placing head whose wire drive roller and placing wheel are interconnected by an intermediate gear which may be retracted so as to disconnect them, said placing head being translation-mobile with respect to the distributing machine/head interface, complementary means providing a variable pressure of the placing head on the shape.Application for wire placing so as to form a complex structural piece.

Abstract: Pile weatherstripping having rows of pile sandwiching a fin is fabricated so as to precisely locate the height of the fin with respect to the height of the pile. A travelling endless band receives webs providing the fins on opposite sides thereof with the edge of each web, which defines the height of the fin, precisely positioned on a side of the band and the other edge overhanging the edges of the band. Alignment of the webs on the band is provided either by an aligning fixture or by coining the webs to provide lines of indentations which index the webs at the edges of the band. The yarn which forms the pile is wound around the webs and the band and serves to wrap the overhanging portions of the webs around the band, or a guide may be used to facilitate wrapping of the webs around the band, prior to winding of the yarn. Backing strips are attached, as by ultrasonic welding, along the edges of the band. Then the yarn is slit without cutting into the webs.

Abstract: Transverse fibers are added to a pultruded part by forming a body of fibers and resin in a first die part which body is dimensioned smaller than that of the die through which the body is to be passed. A fluid including cut fibers is then applied under pressure to the body just upstream of the die so that cut fibers become integrated with the body into the spaces defined in the body. The continuous fibers, the cut fibers, and the resin are then passed through the die and become integrated into a pultruded part with the transverse cut fibers providing a transverse strength.

Abstract: A pultruded part is formed from thermosetting resin which is carried on continuous longitudinal fiber reinforcement into a die which shapes the resin and fibers into the required transverse cross sectional shape and then acts to set the resin. Some of the fibers have applied thereto a second resin material of a different characteristic so that these fibers carry the second resin into the part at localized regions to form localized regions of the second resin extending longitudinally continuously of the part. This allows a resin of an increased strength to be used at areas of increased strength requirement, for example areas of screw fastening, screw ports, junction between two legs and in order to provide a thinner part for reduced thermal transfer.

Abstract: An apparatus and method provides for thermally bonding a textile web while supporting the web continuously from the lay down point until the web is thermally bonded. The apparatus includes a heated transfer roll adjacent an endless moving belt. The transfer roll is located outside the belt loop on the opposite side of the belt from a guide roll. The belt passes around a first portion of the transfer roll with the web sandwiched between the belt and transfer roll. The heated transfer roll heats the web and the web is transferred to the transfer roll. The web is then directed through a nip formed by a calender roll positioned adjacent a second portion of the transfer roll for thermally bonding the web.

Abstract: A delivery head is adapted for use in a fiber placement system for laying a plurality of tows, forming a band, onto a mandrel to form an irregular shaped object. The delivery head has cut and add sections and includes a plurality of pathways for guiding a respective plurality of tows from an inlet to an outlet of the delivery head. The cut and add section is provided in the form of a module which includes apparatus for selectively actuating any of a plurality of cutting elements and for selectively actuating any of a plurality of advancing devices for advancing respective ones of the tows toward the outlet of the delivery head.

Abstract: A fluid mixture separation membrane element (10) includes elongated hollow pressure-resistant nonpermeable transport arteries (12) and a plurality of flexible hollow fibers (14) of semipermeable material having internal flow channels (20). The hollow tubular transport arteries (12) have exteriors (18) and interior flow passages (16). Each hollow fiber (14) has spaced opposite end portions (22, 24) and an elongated tubular portion (26) extending between and interconnecting the opposite end portions (22, 24). The opposite end portions (22, 24) of each hollow fiber (14) are attached by either an adhesive (28) or another suitable mechanism to the tubular transport artery or arteries (12) so as to provide flow communication between the internal flow channels (20) of the hollow fibers (14) and one of the interior flow passages (16) or the exteriors (18) of the hollow transport arteries (12).

Abstract: Redirect rollers are fitted with non-rotating upstanding fins to provide enhanced guidance for spaced tows which wrap the rollers.

Abstract: The invention provides an extruder die assembly for use in the production of fiber reinforced thermoplastic product which overcomes the problem of poor wetting of the fiber filaments. The die assembly also facilitates the production of fiber-reinforced products having high fiber concentration in the end product. The die assembly includes a cone-shape passage defined by decreasing radius from the inlet to the outlet. A plurality of pins are disposed within the passage. A thermoplastic melt is fed through the die assembly in the opposite direction to that of the fiber feed. As the fiber feed travels through the passage the pins spread the fibers helping to ensure that the molten thermoplastic thoroughly wets the fiber filaments.

Abstract: An exemplary pultrusion mandrel of the invention comprises a first portion for arranging a fiber reinforcement substrate thereabout, a second portion having an elongated body and internal heater, and a resin injector system intermediate therebetween and having a plurality of resin injector ports integrally disposed at different angles for wetting inward surfaces of the substrate being formed. The mandrel is preferably used in conjunction with an external die. Also disclosed is an exemplary method for continuous pultrusion.

Abstract: To maintain tension on a fiber tow as it travels between a spool of the tow and a fiber placement head in a computer controlled fiber placement machine, closed tension loop servo control tow velocity feed forward is provided to control spool rotation so as to not only provide closed loop tension control but to also cause rotation in anticipation of expected tow movement such as due to tow payout upon commanded movements of the fiber placement head. Gain scheduling based on spool radius is also provided. Additionally, a compliant roller is provided to reduce tension dips and spikes from disturbances on the tow, and an inner velocity loop is included with the closed tension loop to provide more effective control of tow tension. The servo control is reconfigurable into an open or pseudo-closed loop mode with a safety low power supply to slowly reel-up slack tow after tow threading, for example, and to otherwise maintain low tension on the tow to hold it in the machine while allowing servicing thereof.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for manufacturing a sheet-prepreg reinforced with fibers wherein a sheet of fibers such as warp or woven fibers such as fabrics is conveyed between a pair of band belts one of which is coated with a film of thermoplastic resin which has been heated higher than its softening point to enhance resin-impregnating efficiency and prevent the impregnated resin from contacting air. Further, when the sheet of fibers or woven fibers is conveyed in this manner, the molten resin is not maintained on the manufacturing line, thereby preventing it from being deteriorated by heat. The apparatus can be thus kept under operation for a long time and the sheet-prepreg reinforced with the fibers can be made much higher in quality and the deterioration of the impregnated resin can be further delayed.

Abstract: A combination filament winding and tape laying apparatus and method for applying matrix impregnated fibrous material to a generally cylindrical mandrel which is rotated about its cylindrical axis in a stationary horizontal position. A filament winding head is moved horizontally along the length of the mandrel by a carriage for filament winding. A platform is attached to the carriage. A tape applying head is mounted on the platform for applying tape whereby it is unnecessary to move the mandrel from a filament winding machine to a tape laying machine when both operations are required. The tape laying head is preferably portable.

Abstract: The present invention contemplates a method of continuously forming a layered composite material into a rigid structure as the material is moved from an upstream location to a downstream location. The uncured layered composite material is pulled from a supply at the upstream location through a forming die to form the material into a structural member having a desired shape. The member is moved downstream into a heating die where it is at least partially cured. After it leaves the heating die it is cooled and continues to move downstream where it is cut into suitable lengths. The cooling can be accomplished by a cooling die located downstream from the heating die. A liner is provided within the dies having the same shape as the structural member through which the structural member slides as it moves in the downstream location.

Abstract: An applicator is utilized in applying a thermoplastic composite filament to a mandrel so as to form a structure. The filament and the surface of the mandrel are caused to move simultaneously and in a common direction relative to the applicator so that the filament is continuously fed from the applicator into engagement with the surface of the mandrel. At least one stream of heated fluid is applied to the filament so that it impinges thereon not only at location preceding the location of the applicator, but also along the length of the filament to and beyond the applicator and up to and including the region where the filament first comes into contact with the mandrel. At the same time a stream of heated fluid is applied directly to the surface of the mandrel within that region so that the mandrel is heated prior to being contacted by the filament.

Abstract: A molding apparatus and method are provided which are of the type which utilize a die set comprising at least one die which defines at least one mold cavity for receiving resin impregnated fibers therethrough. Any one die of the die set comprises first and second mold base sections which are positionable with respect to one another so as to form a mold base which defines a channel therethrough. A mold insert defines a mold cavity completely therethrough and is adapted to be removably mounted in the channel. The die set is removably clamped between first and second clamp members so as to enable easy and convenient addition or removal of dies to or from the die set if desired.

Abstract: A fiber placement head for a fiber placement machine of the type in which a number of individual resin-impregnated fiber tows or "towpregs" are fed at independent rates from a creel assembly for application as a fiber band onto the surface of a mandrel includes cooling chutes for each fiber tow which reduces their temperature to reduce the tack of the tows. A cut, clamp and restart mechanism is provided wherein the cutting and clamping operations are performed by a unitary knife blade and clamping block, and the restart or rethreading of cut tows is obtained by the engagement of a pinch roller with a continuously rotating rethread shaft which are operative independently of the movement of the fiber placement head relative to the mandrel. The tows are pressed or compacted onto the mandrel by a compaction shoe, and feed and rewind rollers are provided to interpose a protective film between the compaction shoe and fiber band to avoid damage to the tows.

Abstract: A winding device having a rotational axis and two side walls arranged perpendicular to the rotational axis. Each side wall is provided with two slits extending from the middle portion to both extreme ends of the side wall. A supply of bolts is arranged to the winding device whereby the bolts have a smaller diameter than the width of the slits and a greater length than the distance between the two side walls.

Abstract: A molding apparatus and method are provided for molding hollow articles. Resin impregnated fibers are passed through a mold cavity as defined by a heated die and around a mandrel which extends through the mold cavity. The mandrel is stabilized by a mandrel stabilizer fixedly positioned downstream from the inlet end of the die. The mandrel stabilizer includes a plurality of elongated members spaced around the mandrel, wherein each elongated member has an end in contact with the outer surface of the mandrel.

Abstract: This lay-up device for automatic positioning of a web of fibers on a mold comprises a lay-up head adapted to move under the control of a numerical control unit, in translation along three axes X, Y, Z and in rotation about the vertical axis Z as well as about a horizontal axis oriented in the direction of feed motion of the machine; the lay-up head (2) carries a roller (10) for applying the web of fibers (4) to be deposited on the surface (6) to be covered; the roller (10) is mounted on a support (18) connected to the head (2) by means of an articulation (20) about a horizontal axis of rotation X' which extends substantially in the direction of feed motion of the machine; this articulation, which is deformable without play (20) and has very slight flexibility, is constituted by a full portion reserved between two slits (22-22') formed between the main support (16) and the auxiliary support (18) of the head (2).

Abstract: A weaving machine alternately lays catalyzed resin wetted fiberglass strands within respective right angle sets of uniformly spaced, open-ended intersecting slots within the upper face of a weaving form by driving reciprocating carriages mounted on rails via rotating wheels across the top of the form bearing said right angle sets of uniformly spaced, open-ended slots. A horizontal base plate supports hydraulic cylinders whose projectable and retractable piston rods suspend a running bar having horizontal apertures through which the fiberglass strands pass. After passage across the form, the running bar is dropped to force the wetted strands into aligned slots. Detents engage the strands at each side of the open slots. A hydraulic rotary motor has a rotary drive shaft in the form of a horizontal threaded rod passing through and engaging the threads of a horizontal tapped bore of a nut fixed to the carriage base plate. The hydraulic motor is rotated bidirectionally to reciprocate the carriages across the form.

Abstract: A process and equipment for making seamless composite tubes. Composite material is applied on a mandrel which includes an inflatable bladder and inserted in a single piece mold. The bladder is pressurized for pressing the composite material against the mold wall for molding and curing thereof. In order to prevent seizing of the tube by the mold and thus allow easy removal of the cured tube, the mold is composed of a composite of resin impregnated carbon fiber material wherein the carbon fiber material has a negative coefficient of thermal expansion along the length thereof and is oriented at an angle of between about 15 and 40 degrees relative to a radial plane of the mold. In order to eliminate the use of inefficient and inconvenient cure ovens, a heat generating element is disposed internally of the mandrel for curing of the composite material.

Abstract: A method for collecting yarns and an apparatus therefor which are characterized by that yarns of a plurality of fibrous materials are held and collected by a running belt a part of which is made round into a cylindrical form, run at this state for a prescribed distance together with the belt, and are released from the belt in the collected form, anda method for loading a bundle of yarns and an apparatus therefor which are characterized by that a cylinder tool which is provided with a ring whose inner diameter is expanded toward the top at one end of the tool is inserted into a cylindrical case, the bundle of yarns is loaded into the cylinder tool from the one end until the top end of the bundle is exposed to the other end of the case, then, the top part of the bundle and the case are held, and the cylinder tool is removed off toward the one end, as the bundle is allowed to remain in the case.

Abstract: A processing device for a continuous manufacturing of curved strips with a constant or non-constant cross-section, with the curved strips including reinforcing elements embedded in a stabilizable material and produced inside a molding element wrapped around a mandrel at a first end. The reinforcing elements are disposed in the molding element and the elements are impregnated with a stabilizable material, which material is stabilized over at least a portion of a length of the mandrel. The molding element is axially discontinuously displaced relative to the mandrel so as to run toward a second end of the mandrel opposite the first end, with the molding element being disengaged from the mandrel at the second end thereof.

Abstract: A filament winding system includes a head that selects the number of tows to be within a winding band while winding and positioning the winding band directly on the mandrel according to contours of the mandrel. Half of the tows are conveyed in an upper portion of the head and the remaining half are conveyed in a lower portion of the head with both halves meeting at an applicating roller at the discharge end of the tows. The head includes cut and add assemblies wherein the individual tows are selectively cut and later can be added to the band.

Abstract: An apparatus for splicing the tow ends of man-made fiber tows, including a pair of jet carriers having oppositely directed pairs of jets to which compressed air can be supplied, whereby the connection of tow ends introduced between the pair of jet carriers is effected by aerodynamic turbulence. In order to enable an automatic splicing procedure, the pair of jet carriers is disposed on a jet carrier transport device that is movable in a direction transverse to the longitudinal orientation of the fiber tows. In addition, a cutting mechanism is provided that is movable parallel to the jet carrier transport device and cuts off projecting fiber ends after completion of splicing. A holding device having holders fixes the tow ends in position.

Abstract: An apparatus for thermally splicing a plurality of associated pairs of yarn ends employed in tufting carpet is provided, having an electrically conductive wire extending across a width of a beam of yarn ends as a heating element, the wire being biased in tension between a pair of springs attached to the wire and to terminal mounted on a bracket member. A yarn end spacing and gaging bar is also mounted to the bracket to retain the associated pairs of yarn ends in a contacting relation in recesses disposed between teeth on the bar, the pairs of yarn ends being made up of yarn ends severed from a spent beam of yarn and associated yarn ends from a fresh beam of yarn. The apparatus maintains the heating element in a substantially fixed position with respect to the plurality of associated pairs of yarn ends to effect a substantially simultaneous heating and melting together of the pairs of yarn ends, and is preferably removably mounted to a beam rack holding the fresh beam.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a nonwoven fabric from continuous filaments, which are drawn off at a high speed in the form of a tow, under the influence of a gaseous propellant, from spinnerets of spinning plates of a spinning beam and after passing through a filament draw-off apparatus are laid down by means of a delivery apparatus, embodied as a spreader, on a delivery belt moving in the production direction. In the production direction, two spinning beams are disposed spaced apart from one another, and at least one spinning beam is rotatable, together with the delivery and spreading apparatus, in a plane extending parallel to the delivery belt. A varied pattern of laying down of the nonwoven fabric, or a new nonwoven product, can thus be produced during ongoing operation.

Abstract: A sheet-shaped photoconductor composed of a plurality of optical fibers is prepared by melt-spinning a spinning dope into optical fibers and, before the as-spun fibers are completely solidified, bonding the fibers to one another along the entire length thereof. The melt-spinning is carried out using a nozzle having a plurality of annularly arranged orifices. The as-spun fibers are arranged linearly in parallel to but not in contact with one another by using a grooved guide, and then the optical fibers are brought into contact with and fusion-bonded to one another by using a fusion bonding guide having a concave curved face in the central portion thereof, and the thus-formed sheet-shaped photoconductor is taken up.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing a filament harness which comprises feeding a plurality of strands in a downstream direction onto a support which receives the strands. There is a head which contacts the strands and a control means for causing relative motion between the support and the head to form the plurality of wires into a predetermined, desired pattern. In addition, the product produced by the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of preparing a reinforcing web for a composite structure. A continuous strand is deposited in a bed of pins according to a desired pattern such as overlapped rows of shingled loops.

Abstract: An improved spandex fiber is provided that is particularly useful for use in tricot-knit fabrics with nylon yarns. The fiber is formed from a polyether-based spandex polymer made from a poly(tetramethylene ether) glycol of about 2,200 molecular weight which was capped with methylene-bis(4-phenylisocyanate) and the resultant product then chain extended with a diamine mixture of ethylene diamine and 2-methyl-1,5-pentanediamine in a molar ratio of about 70/30.

Abstract: A connector splicing optical fibers wherein a glass sleeve, having a precision cut bore formed therein, is provided with funnel-shaped access openings at each end thereof for receiving the ends of the glass fibers to be spliced. In one embodiment, a permanent splice is made by applying a bonding agent and sealant to the funnel-shaped openings, and in another embodiment, a retainer ring is employed to thereby provide a disconnectable splice.

Abstract: A drum is rotatably mounted next to a tool. Resin-preimpregnated filament tows are independently fed to the drum, through several collimating guides positioned along the drum. The drum operates reciprocally: when it rotates in one direction, segments of the tows are gathered or wound up onto the drum and preheated; upon counterrotation in the other direction the gathered segments are unwound and forcibly compacted against the tool, or against previously laid filaments. In the gathering part of the operating cycle the drum does not translate with respect to the tool, but rather spins in place at a dwell point. In the depositing part of the cycle, however, the drum effectively rolls along the tool (or filament-pack) surface. Heat from the drum penetrates deeply into the pack of already laid filaments, when present, to facilitate generalized consolidation of the workpiece--enough in many cases to make autoclave postconsolidation unnecessary.

Abstract: A fiber placement machine has a head for controlling fiber tows running from an upstream supply creel to a downstream work laydown zone, and the head includes a bracket supporting a presser member which impresses and compacts the fiber against a workpiece. The head includes a relatively rigid fiber guide assembly and a drive for moving the fiber guide to an advanced position near the presser member and a retracted position away from the presser member. In the advanced position, fiber tows run uninhibited through channels in the fiber guide. However, when it is desired to cut the fibers, the fiber guide is run to the retracted position, at which point the guide is clamped to the incoming fiber tows. After the exiting cut fiber has been laid down on the workpiece by the presser member, the incoming fibers may be restarted by driving the fiber guide and its clamped fiber tow to an advanced position where the fiber tow end may be grabbed in the nip formed between the presser member and the workpiece.

Abstract: A filament winding system includes a head that selects the number of tows within a winding band while winding and positions the winding band directly on the mandrel according to its contours.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a fiber reinforced plastic structure, comprising the steps of winding a continuous long-staple fiber impregnated with a liquid resin around a plurality of winding jigs until the resultant bundle of resin impregnated fibers attains a predetermined thickness; setting rings tightly in place on the linear portions of the resin impregnated fiber bundle between the jigs; and moving the tightly set rings relative to the linear portions thereby wringing the resin impregnated fiber bundle and expelling bubbles entrapped within the fiber bundle.

Abstract: In an apparatus intended especially for connecting electrical conductors by ultrasonic welding, in which a two-part anvil comprising three working surfaces is associated with a sonotrode for defining a compaction chamber on all sides, the two anvil parts are moveable in two different directions relative to each other and the sonotrode and are each driven by a pneumatic cylinder and piston assembly. To achieve an easily handled apparatus, the two pneumatic cylinders are disposed alongside each other axially parallel to each other and to the central axis of the sonotrode in a housing and act upon transmission elements, which deflect the working movements of the pneumatic pistons through a right angle into the anvil parts. As a result the apparatus has a slender external form of small dimensions and enables a pistol grip handle to be fitted, by a trigger of which the functional parts of the apparatus are controlled.

Abstract: The tapping or splicing apparatus for electrically connecting cables of the type having plural insulated conductors and drain wires comprises a base having an upper surface and a lower, substantially flat surface for juxtaposition with a floor surface. A plurality of insulation displacement contacts are supported on the base upper surface, each contact being configured to receive and electrically connect insulated conductors from at least two electrical cables. A detachable cover is secured to the base, the cover having an extent covering the contacts and including an upper surface that tapers downwardly toward the cover periphery. At the cover periphery there are plurality of cutouts extending through the upper surface of the cover, each cutout configured to accommodate a cable therein in a manner to present a gradual taper of the apparatus beneath carpets in an undercarpet wiring system to minimize its height effect in use.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for pultruding reinforced plastic articles. The apparatus includes a first, hot die having a long tapered portion. The hot die partially consolidates resin-impregnated fibers into an oversized form. After exiting the hot die, the partially consolidated material is passed through a second, cooling die which finally consolidates the material and forms it into the desired, final shape. The cooling die is at a temperature less than the temperature of the hot die. Preferably, the cooling die has a tapered portion which is shorter than the tapered portion of the first die. A method is disclosed for pultruding plastic articles using the apparatus.

Abstract: A process for preparing a fiber reinforced plastic structure having points of branching, which comprises the steps of, positioning pins at points of branching in the structure and repeatedly hanging and repeatedly stretching a resin-impregnated strand of continuous long-staple fibers over and between said pins, thereby completing the structure of the points of branching.

Abstract: Single mode optical fiber cable with a plurality of buffer tubes wherein the buffer tubes each encase a plurality of single mode optical fibers, the fibers run in a random pattern through the buffer tube and the remaining space is filled with soft filler material which prevents the ingress of moisture while allowing free movement of the fibers within the tube, the fibers all having equal overlength.