A molding process of a co-cured short-fiber resin-based damping composite material and a molding part. Different from a traditional centrifugal processing process of a thin-walled tube of a resin-based composite material, the process uses raw materials including three kinds of materials with different densities and including two kinds of short-fiber epoxy resin with different densities and a damping material. During centrifugal molding, the three kinds of materials are made into fluids to be respectively injected at a uniform speed in three times according to the sizes of the densities. Layering is performed by using different centrifugal forces applied to the three kinds of materials. Co-curing is performed according to a resin curing process after the three kinds of materials are stably distributed, and a tubular thin-walled part of the embedded co-cured short-fiber resin-based damping composite material with a uniform wall thickness is obtained.

A connection, and methods of making an using such a connection, the connection comprising a first layer; a second layer concentrically disposed about the first layer; and a laser-induced seal between portions of the first and second layers; wherein the laser-induced seal provides a fluid-tight engagement between the first and second layers. As to particular embodiments of the connection, the first layer can be incorporated into a first conduit and the second layer can be incorporated into a second conduit.

Processes for making a fluid conduits and fluid conduits made thereby are disclosed. The fluid conduits include a mono-layer formed of at least 80 wt %, based on total weight of the mono-layer, of a thermoplastic elastomer in an amount of at least 80 wt % with respect to the total weight of the mono-layer. The thermoplastic elastomer is preferably a block copolymer elastomer formed of hard segments (e.g., polyesters, polyamides and/or polyurethanes) and soft segments (e.g., aliphatic polyethers, aliphatic polyesters and/or aliphatic polycarbonates) and exhibits a melt flow rate measured at 230° C. under a load of 10 kg (MFR 230° C./10 kg), according to ISO1133 (2011) of at most 40 g/10 min and having a heat resistance of at least 250 hours at 175° C. at which the elongation at break remains at least 100% as measured according to ISO 527 with a test speed of 50 mm/min.

A method for manufacturing a fibrous tubular structure including lobes, in which fibers are draped/deposited on a mandrel having a shape corresponding to that of the fibrous structure, includes draping/deposition carried out such that at least one group of fibers has a same orientation with respect to the axis (A) of said fibrous structure, then, the fibers having been draped over an angular sector less than the total periphery of the mandrel, one of the ends of the fibrous structure is separated from the mandrel in order to allow the continuation of the draping on the same mandrel.

Novel plumbing products, including faucets, are fabricated, e.g., using metallic 3-dimensional or other 3-D printing techniques, to have complex geometries, such as multiple channels that may diverge and re-converge near the spout. The geometries of the various channels can resemble interwoven net-like patterns that define various shapes between the channels. The plumbing fixtures may be formed from one or more of stainless steels, INCONEL, brass, bronze, polycarbonate, PVC, acrylics, rigid polyolefins, PET, carbon fiber, AES, or other plumbing fitting suitable corrosion resistant materials. In some embodiments, the handles of an exemplary faucet can include the same or a similar multiple channel configuration as the spout, providing an advantageously, aesthetically pleasing faucet system. In exemplary embodiments, faucet spouts and their handles are formed so as to couple to standard faucet underbodies, standard valve platforms, or standard threaded hose/waterway connections.

Methods and structures are disclosed. An example method includes: rotating a tubular mandrel about a longitudinal axis of the tubular mandrel; depositing a composite material on an inner surface of the tubular mandrel to form a composite tubular member on the inner surface of the tubular mandrel; inserting and expanding an inner expandable mandrel within the composite tubular member to cause the inner expandable mandrel to press the composite tubular member against the inner surface of the tubular mandrel; curing the composite tubular member; removing the inner expandable mandrel; placing a frame within the composite tubular member; and removing the tubular mandrel so as to obtain the composite tubular member with the frame placed therein.

Disclosed is a dip-coating method as a method of coating an outer surface of a target mold including steps of: preparing and putting a supporting liquid in a container; applying a coating material to the target mold; dipping the target mold in the supporting liquid; shaking the target mold surrounded by the coating material in the supporting liquid; curing the coating material surrounding the target mold in the supporting liquid; and taking out the coated target mold from the supporting liquid.

The present invention relates to molded foam having no hollow space caused in a plate-shaped portion. The molded foam comprises a tube body and a plate-shaped portion joined to the outer side of the tube body. The expansion ratio of the molded foam is lower than two, and a value of a thickness B/a thickness A as a relationship between the thickness A of the tube body at the periphery of a point joined to the plate-shaped portion and the thickness B of the plate-shaped portion is less than 2.82.

A method and system for manufacturing composite parts free of wrinkles and mark-offs from bagging compression. The method can include placing composite material around a rigid mandrel and sealing opposing end of an elastomeric hollow membrane within a rigid external vessel. Then the method can include inflating the hollow membrane from a natural state to an inflated state. In the natural state, the hollow membrane can have a cross-section smaller than the cross section of the rigid mandrel with the composite material thereon. The method can then include inserting the rigid mandrel and the composite material into the membrane while it is in the inflated state, followed by releasing the membrane from the inflated state to naturally contract toward its natural state. Then the method can include heating the composite material to a cure temperature while the composite material is compressed by the membrane.

A method of manufacturing a composite (e.g. fibre-reinforced polymer) connector for a fluid transfer conduit includes: providing a tubular mandrel which extends substantially parallel to a central axis C; providing a former on the tubular mandrel which extends substantially perpendicular to the central axis C; and winding continuous fibre reinforcement, impregnated with a thermosetting polymer, around the mandrel to form a tubular hub portion which extends substantially parallel to the central axis C and over the former to form a flange portion 308 which extends from the hub portion at an angle to the central axis C. Winding the continuous fibre reinforcement over the former includes passing the continuous fibre reinforcement across a first surface of the former that is substantially perpendicular to the central axis C and across a second surface of the former such that the former is encapsulated as a core for the flange portion.