An inline edge-sealing apparatus and method for sealing the kerf surfaces of cut cellular PVC board includes a rotary saw with either a tandem sealing disc or with an integral elevated sealing surface that is dimensioned to provide precise interference with kerf surfaces for friction and heat to melt and seal the surfaces in an aesthetically desirable manner. A kerf splitter, such as a kerf splitting pin, rod or riving knife, may be provided following a saw blade with integral kerf-engaging surface to avoid disruption of the sealed surface when cut boards exit the saw blade teeth.

An apparatus for producing a rubber caterpillar track with tensile members has a cylindrical internal shape for forming the inside contour of the rubber caterpillar track, wherein the internal shape has a cylindrical dome which, in the circumferential direction (U) on its radial outer side, has a plurality of recesses for accommodating unvulcanized shaped elements for internal teeth, and has a cylindrical external shape for forming the outside contour of the rubber caterpillar track, wherein the external shape has a plurality of external shape segments in the circumferential direction (U). The external shape segments each have a recess on their radial inner side for accommodating an unvulcanized shaped element for external teeth. The invention further relates to a method for producing a rubber caterpillar track with tensile members.

A composite reinforcing bar is formed by providing a reinforcing material supply of fiber strands ravings; a resin supply bath, and a puller for pulling the resin-impregnated reinforcing material through the resin bath. The material is wound on a holder, while the resin remains unset, rotated about its axis on a drive system so that the material is wrapped around a plurality of guides at spaced positions around the axis such that the fed length of the body is wrapped from one bar to the next to form bent portions of the body wrapped partly around each guide and straight portions between the guides. The guide surfaces are shaped by a machining, blasting or similar process to form projections and recesses which retain a roughness on the outside surface of the reinforcing bar during the curing action while supported on the surface. This arrangement can be used with an optional sand coating to prevent the sand particles from being compressed into the resin or body.

A composite reinforcing bar is formed by providing a reinforcing material supply of fiber strands ravings; a resin supply bath, and a puller for pulling the resin-impregnated reinforcing material through the resin bath. The material is wound on a holder, while the resin remains unset, rotated about its axis on a drive system so that the material is wrapped around a plurality of guides at spaced positions around the axis such that the fed length of the body is wrapped from one bar to the next to form bent portions of the body wrapped partly around each guide and straight portions between the guides. The guide surfaces are shaped by a machining, blasting or similar process to form projections and recesses which retain a roughness on the outside surface of the reinforcing bar during the curing action while supported on the surface. This arrangement can be used with an optional sand coating to prevent the sand particles from being compressed into the resin or body.

In one aspect, there is a method of making a composite skin for a tiltrotor aircraft including providing a first skin in a mold, the first skin having a periphery defined by a forward edge, an aft edge, and outboard ends; providing a plurality of honeycomb panels having an array of large cells onto the first skin, each cell having a width of at least 1 cm; assembling the plurality of honeycomb panels along the longitudinal axis of the first skin to form a honeycomb core having an outer perimeter within the periphery of the first skin; positioning a second skin onto the honeycomb core, the second skin having an outer perimeter within the periphery of the first skin; and curing an adhesive to create a bond between the first skin, the honeycomb core, and the second skin to form a composite skin.

Particular embodiments of the invention include a closed-loop tread strip forming unit (100) and methods for forming tread strips using a closed-loop unit. Embodiments of such forming units include a tread strip extruder (110) located at a pre-cure end of the closed-loop tread strip forming unit. Such units include an uncured tread strip handling assembly (120) configured to transport the first uncured tread strip from the first tread strip extruder and to a first tread strip mold member (130). The unit further includes a curing press (150) having an inlet and an outlet, a pre-cure mold handling assembly (140) configured to insert the loaded tread strip mold member into the curing press, a post-cure mold handling assembly (160) configured to receive the loaded tread strip mold member from the outlet of the curing press, a return assembly (170) configured to transfer the first tread strip mold member to the pre-cure end to complete a closed-loop.

Provided are methods for producing a thermoplastic vulcanizate and thermoplastic vulcanizates provided therein. The method includes introducing vulcanizable rubber, thermoplastic resin, a masterbatch of a propylene-based elastomer and a cure accelerator for a phenolic resin curative to the reactor, and phenolic resin curative to a reactor and dynamically vulcanizing the rubber with the phenolic resin curative in the presence of the cure accelerator and the thermoplastic resin.

Provided are methods for producing a thermoplastic vulcanizate and thermoplastic vulcanizates provided therein. The method includes introducing vulcanizable rubber, thermoplastic resin, a masterbatch of a propylene-based elastomer and a cure accelerator for a phenolic resin curative to the reactor, and phenolic resin curative to a reactor and dynamically vulcanizing the rubber with the phenolic resin curative in the presence of the cure accelerator and the thermoplastic resin.

A system for manufacturing a part includes a mold having a contoured forming surface. The system also includes at least one tension strap, configured to attach to a consolidated laminate sheet, and a heating assembly, positioned relative to the mold and configured to supply heat to the consolidated laminate sheet, when attached to the at least one tension strap, to form a heated consolidated laminate sheet. The system additionally includes a strap retraction mechanism, configured to retract the at least one tension strap, when attached to the consolidated laminate sheet, to force the heated consolidated laminate sheet against the contoured forming surface of the mold. The heating assembly includes a flexible heating element configured to flex to conform to a shape of the heated consolidated laminate sheet as the heated consolidated laminate sheet is forced against the contoured forming surface of the mold.

A method of fastening a second object to a fiber composite part including a structure of fibers embedded in a matrix material includes: providing the fiber composite part including an attachment surface, with a portion of the structure of fibers being exposed at the attachment surface; providing the second object; placing the second object relative to the fiber composite part, with a resin in a flowable state between the attachment surface and the connector; pressing the second object and the fiber composite part against each other and causing mechanical vibration to act on the second object or the fiber composite part or both, thereby causing the resin to infiltrate the exposed structure of fibers and activating the resin to cross-link; whereby the resin, after cross-linking, secures the second object to the fiber composite part.