Abstract: The invention provides an appliance for localized heating of a polymer material surface to be repaired by blowing a hot fluid inside a confinement chamber (2) that is defined by a deformable cap (1). The cap (1) is made of a blanket (6) incorporating a framework (7) for shaping the confinement chamber (2) under the effect of tensions applied locally by the framework (7) to the blanket (6) in its general plane (P). Force generator means (9) cause the framework (7) to change between a flexible state in which the framework (7) is arranged in the general plane of the blanket (6), and a rigid state for shaping the confinement chamber (2). The force generator means (9) comprise a force generator source that produces a suction, and the framework (7) is made up of strips of felt (8, 8?) housed in a pouch of the blanket (6).

Abstract: A device for repairing a damaged zone in a first cavity, with a first diameter, of an intermediate layer interposed between two layers that have a second cavity with a second diameter smaller than the first diameter. The device includes a stop that forms an abutment at the interface between the first cavity and one of the second cavities, a ring having a deformable corrugated shape, an initial inside diameter, an initial outside diameter smaller than the second diameter, and being positioned in the first cavity, a deformation element having an elastically variable outside diameter initially smaller than the initial inside diameter of the ring, and a tool being able to increase the outside diameter of the deformation element so that it deforms the ring in the first cavity in order to reduce the difference between the first and second diameters.

Abstract: A sealant mold for sealing a domed nutplate unit particularly at a lower region about an adhesively attached interface with a substrate such as an aircraft fuel tank wall. The sealant mold is formed from a lightweight plastic material, and includes an inner cap in combination with an outer skirt to define a gap or trough for receiving and supporting a metered quantity of a curable sealant material. The mold is fitted onto a dome of the nutplate unit with an inner cap inboard edge landed onto a dome shoulder. The outer skirt is then displaced downwardly about the landed inner cap to extrude the sealant material about the lower region of the nutplate unit particularly such as the adhesively attached interface with the substrate. The sealant material is allowed to cure, after which the sealant mold can be stripped quickly and easily from the cured sealant material.

Abstract: A fluid inversion liner apparatus controls fluid loss to permit lining of pipe in smaller spaces by requiring less fluid. The apparatus includes a housing, a liner feeding assembly, and a nozzle. A tubular flexible liner is insertable through the liner feeding assembly. The liner has a first end couplable to the nozzle forming a fluid seal at the nozzle. A fluid injection port is provided for introducing fluid such as air or water into the housing. The liner feeding assembly is adjustable for conforming to the liner as the liner passes through the liner feeding assembly. Thus, fluid introduced into the housing through the fluid injection port is prevented from passing out of the housing through the liner feeding assembly. As a result, fluid pressure between the interior of the housing and the liner draws the liner through the liner feeding assembly and out of the nozzle.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for lining the wall of a manhole. The apparatus may include a liner assembly, which includes an expansion device, an auxiliary bladder, a primary bladder, and a liner. The auxiliary bladder is first inflated near the top of the manhole. Next the primary bladder may be expanded to press the liner against the wall of the manhole. The liner, being impregnated with a resinous material, is pressed against the wall until the resinous material cures and hardens. The expansion device, auxiliary bladder, and primary bladder are then removed from the manhole. The result is a repaired manhole wall.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for changing the shape of seals is provided. The apparatus includes an elastomer member that applies force onto the seal to change the size of the seal. An embodiment of the invention includes returning the seal to its original diameter by deforming the elastomer that is positioned about at least a portion of the seal.

Abstract: In manufacturing composite material by curing fluid, strength deterioration of the composite material due to repair before the fluid is cured is reduced. A suction hole is formed in a bag film (3) for sealing a space for fibers being impregnated with resin, after start of impregnation. The suction hole is covered by a plate (56) with holes (57). The resin is sucked from the space through the plate (56). According to such composite material manufacturing method, a defect, which occurs during fibers are impregnated with resin, can be repaired before the resin is cured without causing disorder and damage in the fibers. In a composite material formed from one repaired in the above way, the repaired portion is strong, namely, there is no strength deterioration due to repair after curing, and thus, the material is preferred as compared with a composite material which is repaired after resin is cured.

Abstract: A method for repairing and reinforcing a pipeline includes covering a defect in a pipeline section with a composite wrap, isolating the wrap from the ambient environment, and applying a compressive force on the wrap so that the pressure on the wrap is substantially equal to the pipeline pressure. Isolating the wrap involves the use of a housing having a cavity that substantially conforms to the shape of the wrapped section. The cavity may contain a pressurized gas or liquid. Because the pressure acting on the surface of the wrap is at least substantially equal to the pressure of the pipeline section, the wrap cures as if the pipeline is at zero pressure. Once the wrap has effectively cured, the compressive force may be relieved and the housing removed. The composite is now under load and is immediately sharing load with the pipeline.

Abstract: Installation of a flexible cured in place liner by inverting the liner utilizing an inversion sleeve assembly with an installation apparatus having at least one selectively operable rigid gland. The sleeve assembly includes a sleeve portion of an absorbable material secured in an apparatus with an inversion boot fitted at the distal end with an inlet port for inversion and/or curing fluid. The sleeve assembly and apparatus are particularly well suited for inverting with air and curing the liner with steam introduced through a perforated lay flat hose using an apparatus with two glands. The installation sleeve is the same dimension as the liner to be installed and is reusable thereby substantially reducing the set up time to install using the dual gland apparatus. Preferably, the flexible sleeve is a length of dry cured in place liner inverted on to itself to expose two impregnable surfaces. The sleeve may have a built in fluid inlet port for use with a dual gland apparatus.

Abstract: A patch may be used to rework a composite structure in the filed. The patch is bonded to the structure by a layer of adhesive and includes perforations that allow the escape of air from the adhesive as the patch is compressed against the structure. A spacer may be introduced between the patch and the structure to control the thickness of the adhesive layer.

Abstract: The present application is directed to methods of preparing a wet composite patch for use in various applications, such as, for example, reworking a composite part of an aircraft. The method comprises heating the composite patch to a temperature that causes resin containing gaseous components to flow from the patch through a flow path. The gaseous components are vented from the resin while restricting the flow of resin from the composite patch by restricting the flow of resin through the flow path. Systems for performing the methods of the present application are also disclosed.

Abstract: A retread autoclave envelope for a vehicle tire casing is a two-part vacuum envelope. A first part has a generally J-shaped cross-section which provides an annular cavity for receiving a first sidewall and the peripheral tread of the tire assembly. A second portion of the envelope forms a closure along a sealed joint against the first envelope portion and lies along the tire casing sidewall. The joint has a contact surface area on the inside surface of a lip of the first part of the envelope and a surface on an outer rim of the closure formed by the second part of the envelope. The closure portion has a generally Z-shaped cross-section. The envelope parts are dimensioned such that the outer diameter of the tire assembly is greater than the inner diameter of the first part of the envelope in the crown area. The first part extends from a near side of the tread across and beyond the far shoulder of the tire assembly to the annular lip in the sealing area of the joint.

Abstract: A sealing ring and rim assembly for use with an outer curing envelope to retread a tire casing. The assembly includes a rigid annular rim having a fixed diameter and a resiliently expandable elastomeric annular sealing rim captured on the rim. An inflatable bladder is located between the rim and the sealing ring so that, when the bladder is inflated, the sealing ring expands into uniform sealing engagement with an inner peripheral bead of the tire casing. The use of an inflatable bladder ensures that sealing pressure will be uniformly exerted so that an endless band of seal is created about the entire circumference of the tire bead. In addition, one particular size of the assembly is capable of use on a variety of tires having a tire bead circumference within a range of circumferences.

Abstract: A process for producing a printing form on a form cylinder, which process operates reliably even in the case of large form cylinders and high laser powers, contains the process steps of drawing a blown film tube onto the form cylinder, transferring surface elements of the tubular film, in accordance with an image, as a result of heating by a laser beam, and removing the blown film tube from the form cylinder.

Abstract: A patch of fibre reinforced plastics composite material, a repair kit including such a patch and a method of using such a patch and repair kit are provided. The patch (1) is for attachment to a surface (17) of a fibre reinforced plastics composite structure (11) over an area of damage (10) to the structure. The patch defines an outer surface (3), a bonding surface (4) opposed thereto and a peripheral edge. The patch includes fibre reinforcement and plastics matrix material with the latter being in a final state of hardness. The patch defines a series of small apertures (6) therethrough to allow the passage of gases and other matter through the patch to prevent entrapped air weakening the repair.

Abstract: The present invention includes an apparatus and method for in situ repair of damaged bearing surfaces of shafts or journals. The apparatus consists of a bracket assembly supporting a forming material axially aligned with and sized to the damaged shaft or journal. The former stock is self-sizing to the diameter of the damaged shaft or journal encountered. After cure of the repair material used with the invention, a new surface is created, which is then ready to accept a replacement bearing. The apparatus is reusable for subsequent repair needs.

Abstract: It was difficult until now to carry out intermediate repairs of monolithic refractory lining walls of steel casting and handling ladles when the slag area of the lining was worn before other areas. According to this new process for reconstructing the refractory lining in the upper area of the wall, repairs may be economically carried out in that the gap between the lower end of the template and the lining that projects under the area to be reconstructed is sealed by inflating a hose-like sealing body and by deflating again the sealing body before removing the template. This process is useful for steel casting and handling ladles and for similar metallurgical vessels.

Abstract: A system for filling a gap between jacket ends at a joint between two lengths of jacketed pipe is disclosed, comprising: a mold and two pairs of side straps encircling the mold. The mold comprises a sheet of material having first and second ends and opposing side edges, the sheet including a pair of slots cut into the side edges at a predetermined distance from the second end and defining a flap. One pair of straps encircles the mold but passes under the flap through the slots. The second pair of straps encircles the mold and passes over the flap. The mold is positioned around a pipe joint so as to define an annular gap and an infill material is placed in the gap.

Abstract: An improved tire section repair unit for the repair of a damaged section of a tire. The repair unit includes two curved side walls pivotally connected to the base of the unit. A locking arm is provided that securely encloses the entire system of curved walls, base and internal air bag and heat pad arrangement situated about the tire under repair. The pivotable side wall design permits the repair of tires of varying sizes. A locking arm arrangement permits the use of lightweight side walls to enclose the system. As a result, the repair unit of the present invention is more transportable and less cumbersome to use.

Abstract: An extrusion head (1) defined by a number of superimposed plates (7,8,9,10) and by a casing (55) housing the plates (7,8,9,10) and defining two shoulder surfaces (68,69) forming an angle and perpendicular to the plates (7,8,9.10); the plates (7,8,9,10), when packed together, defining an intermediate guide duct (35) for guiding reinforcing wires and two supply ducts (11,23) for supplying extruded elastomeric material located on opposite sides of the intermediate duct (35), and providing for locking together a wire guiding device (36) and a die (37) presenting respective flat shoulders (42,43;50,51) parallel to a first (68) of the shoulder surfaces (68,69) and pressed by the plates (7,8,9,10) into contact with one another and with the first shoulder surface (68), with the die (37) located between the first shoulder surface (68) and the wire guiding device (36).

Abstract: A method of repairing cracks in brick walls by drilling spaced apart injection ports into the crack. Verification ports are drilled generally in alignment with the injection ports on each side of the crack. The wall is saturated with water and grout is injected into the injection ports until a limiting pressure is reached or until grout begins to flow from the verification ports. An apparatus for repairing cracked brick walls includes a grout delivery tube having a nozzle and an expandable sleeve to seal to the tube within injection ports. Valves and a grout circulation loop control the injection of grout from the delivery tube.

Abstract: An envelope expander for mounting an annular envelope of a flexible resilient material upon a tire supported upon a tire support with the tire axis in a horizontal position includes a vertically disposed rigid gate-like frame having a central opening of a diameter exceeding that of a tire. A plurality of expander members adapted to grip the envelope at spaced locations along the edge of a circular opening in one side of the envelope are mounted on the frame for coordinated power driven movement radially of the frame opening between radially inner and outer end limits. With the expander members at their radially inner end limits, the envelope opening is slightly stretched and manually mounted on the members. The expanding members are then driven to their radially outer end limits, expanding the envelope opening to a diameter greater than that of the tire.

Abstract: Sealing rings for use with an outer curing envelope to retread a tire. Each ring includes an outwardly opening annular channel member having a base portion molded to conform to the contour of the tire bead, and an annular outer flange portion having an enlarged sealing rib for underlapping the outer curing envelope at the outer side of the tire casing near it maximum width. Two rings are required, one on each side of the tire casing, to form with the outer curing envelope a complete seal enclosure around the outside tire.

Abstract: An expandable annular envelope sealing device for manually sealing a curing envelope between an outer annular portion and the bead of a tire to be retreaded in an autoclave. This envelope sealing device includes two opposed, expandable semicircular half-rings and either a toggle-actuated sealing lever or, preferably, a turnbuckle sealing lever for fine tuning adjustment of the expansion of the half-rings.

Abstract: A curing jacket for use in conjunction with a tire to be recapped having a pair of sidewalls and a tread. The curing jacket includes a unitary tubular envelope having first and second edges. The curing jacket is sized to encase the tire by extending around a circumference of and adjacent to interior and exterior surfaces of the sidewalls and tread of the tire. An O-ring on the first edge of the tubular envelope fits within a seat on the second edge to provide an airtight seal. Air is evacuated from the envelope through a valve. The jacketed tire is cured in a curing oven.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for vulcanizing a rubber repair patch on a tire incorporating an internal fluid pressure bag placed within the interior of the tire and against the patch, an inflatable mandrel within the tire and against the internal bag, an external fluid pressure bag engaging the exterior of the tire radially opposite the internal bag, and a retainer device, such as a retainer strap radially encircling and engaging the external bag and the mandrel to cause the internal and external bags to be forced toward each other to squeeze the patch and tire between them, upon inflation of the mandrel.This invention is paticularly characterized in utilizing internal and external fluid pressure bags having walls of two-dimensional flexibility and utilizing a heat-conductive hydraulic fluid within both bags having a boiling point greater than the vulcanizing temperature.

Abstract: A heat pad for pressing against a curved surface of an annular tire to vulcanize a tire patch having a channel-shaped sheet member of resilient conductive rubber material with reinforcing electrodes adhered to the sheet member at the elongated side edges, a cover of insulating rubber material encasing the sheet member and an intermediate portion between the electrodes stretchable to conform to the curved surface of the tire under pressure from a pressing member urging the pad against the tire.

Abstract: In combination with a tire casing, including a pre-formed, pre-cured, or uncured tread disposed about its periphery, and a curing envelope covering said tread and at least the outwardly facing side walls and bead portion of the tire casing, means are disclosed for effecting a tight and uniform seal between the said curing envelope and tire casing. These comprise a pair of annular sealing members, each having a central hub and a peripheral circumferential surface adapted to engage with the bead portion of the tire casing; a pair of unitary backing members, each having a central hub and portions at equal radial distances from the said hub which are engageable with the inwardly facing peripheral edge of said tire casing; and threaded fastener means extending between each said annular member and said backing member to enable the annular and backing members to be drawn toward one another to effect a clamping action between the members and intervening envelope and tire bead as the members are drawn together.

Abstract: The present invention covers the method and apparatus to retread tire casings using a precured tread system where an envelope or flexible fluid tight member is used to cover a retread tire casing assembly and then placed in an autoclave where the autoclave is pressurized and a reduced differential pressure is provided between the envelope member and the precured tread. This invention includes the automatic pressurizing of the system and the monitoring of the system during operation as a total system and/or for individual curing stations.

Abstract: A system for plugging holes in vessels which comprises the combination of a storage and delivery system for a foam-forming material, and a hole-plugging assembly. The hole-plugging assembly includes a flexible nonelastic bag member which is inserted in a folded position into the hole to be plugged and properly positioned with an associated locating means. Thereafter, a unitary foamable material is injected into the bag member to expand it and seal the hole. The locating means further assists in maintaining the inflated bag member in proper orientation and sealing engagement while the foam is curing.

Abstract: A method of tire repair in which flexible heating pads are applied to both the inside and outside of a patch area of a tire casing, and held in place under equalized pressure against the patch area by inflatable means. An inner tube is the inflatable means to hold a first flexible heating pad against the inner wall of the casing and patch area, and an inflatable air bag is the inflatable means to hold a second flexible heating pad against the outer wall of the casing and patch area. A belt or girdle of flexible sheet material surrounds the inflatable air bag and casing to force the air bag against the second flexible heating pad when it is inflated. The flexible heating pad for use on the inside of the casing includes a structure which enables the heating pad to conform to the interior surface of the casing and patch area and maintain contact therewith throughout the heating surface area of the heating pad when the inner tube is inflated.

Abstract: A method and assembly for making a power transmission belt having driving teeth on opposite surfaces thereof and a tensile member embedded therein. The disclosure also relates to a belt made by the method and apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus for curing a tire repair wherein an electrical heater pad is placed against the repair area on the inside of the tire, and is supported by a flat air bag which lies against the inside of the tire, and is supported by a sausage-shaped air bag. Another electrical heater pad is placed against the repair area on the outside of the tire, and is held against the tire by another flat air bag which is held against the tire by straps passing around the tire cross-section. A buckle is shown which allows the straps to be pulled up as tight as possible by hand; the bags are then inflated to hold the heater pads firmly against the tire. The repair is then cured by passing currents through the heater pads.