A method of determining a void volume during manufacture of a composite pipe formed of concentric layers of adjacently positioned, helical windings of composite tape has the steps of: (a) scanning the surface of a layer of adjacently positioned, helical windings to generate scanning information; (b) using the scanning information to locate gap(s) between adjacent windings and to determine the number of gaps and characteristic dimensions of each gap in the layer; and (c) generating a calculated void volume of the layer, using the number of gaps and the characteristic dimensions of each gap for the layer. The invention also relates to a corresponding apparatus for determining a void volume during manufacture of a composite pipe formed of concentric layers of helically wound composite tape.

A method for producing wound hollow profiles having variable curvatures and cross-sections. In this case, a core having at least one curvature or cross-sectional change is moved in a translatory manner relative to a system having at least a first and a second fibre feed which cause the formation of an axial fibre reinforcement and at least one first wound layer.

A compacter that includes a compacting roller assembly, borne by a support element. The roller assembly includes a straight central shaft, having a longitudinal axis, and a plurality of compacting rollers, mounted parallel to one another about the central shaft, each compacting roller having a peripheral surface rotating around the central shaft about a roller axis. The longitudinal axis of the central shaft is parallel to the central axis of the support element. Each roller axis is inclined by a nonzero incline angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the central shaft.

In an embodiment, a paint roller manufacturing system and method uses a fabric-coating applicator to apply a fabric adhesive onto a portion of a perforated paint roller cover fabric material having a plurality of perforations through which adhesive may flow, and into the plurality of perforations and into interstitial spaces of the fabric material, to yield a length of coated fabric. An inner strip and an outer strip are wound about a mandrel in offset relation. A strip-coating applicator is used to apply a strip adhesive to the outer strip as it is wound about the mandrel. Simultaneously with the step of applying the strip adhesive to the outer strip, a portion of the coated paint roller fabric material is received at the outer strip and the length of coated fabric is wound about at least the outer strip to form a paint roller tube.

Methods of making a composite article are provided herein. The method can include an unwinding step including unwinding a fiber substrate material from a creel at an unwinding velocity and an impregnation step including applying an uncured resin composition to the fiber substrate material to form a resin-fiber material. The method further includes a winding step comprising applying the resin-fiber material onto a shaped surface at a winding velocity and a solidifying step comprising applying heat to the resin-fiber material to initiate an exothermic reaction comprising polymerization, cross-linking, or both of the uncured resin composition. Temperature of the resin-fiber material can be monitored during operation of the method and a polymerization front velocity set point (v.sub.pfs) and an operating polymerization front velocity (v.sub.pfo) can be determined. Parameters can be adjusted to maintain a v.sub.pfo that is substantially the same as the v.sub.pfs. Systems for performing said methods are also provided.

A paint roller manufacturing system and method are described. In an embodiment, an inner strip of material and an outer strip of material are wound about a mandrel in offset relation. The inner strip of material and the outer strip of material each comprise material that results in a final paint roller which shrinks by less than 2.5 percent of the final paint roller axial length, or which has shrinkage that varies by less +/−0.1%, upon hardening and setting. An adhesive is applied to at least a portion of the outer strip as it is wound about the mandrel. A length of fabric is wound about at least the outer strip to form a paint roller tube, and compression is applied to the paint roller tube while advancing the paint roller tube in a direction parallel to the mandrel. A precision measuring or sensing device is used to control a cutting device causing the cutting device to cut the advancing paint roller tube into pre-selected lengths prior to the paint roller tube hardening and setting.

A laying unit for producing a fiber composite component includes a drive device which is formed for magnetic cooperation with a running face, which provides a magnetic field and/or is ferromagnetic, to advance the laying unit on the running face. A device for producing a fiber composite component including a laying unit of this type and a method for producing a fiber composite component including a device of this type are disclosed.

A sash (62) of a window opening up to 180 and capable of tilting is mounted onto a fixedly installed frame profile (63) and houses a pair of superimposing sashes that fit tightly therein when in closure position, i.e. an upper stationary sash (65) and a lower movable-divertible sash (64), each of the sashes (64,65) provided with laterally extending shafts (49) for connection with sash (62), roller wheels (50) provided onto the shafts (49) of sash (64) that roll within a predefined path created by insert guide profile members (19) and diverter guide members (66,68) to alternately bring sash (64) in a position of superimposing sash (65) and a position of alignment with the same. Lifting mechanisms (46) provided with a regulatory screw (84) for adjusting the pretension of a spring component thereof and thereby the force required by the user for moving the sash (64) are installed within the vertically extending sides of the sash (62).

The disclosure relates to a tape laying apparatus configured to lay prepreg tape to mould surface. The tape laying apparatus includes a tape supply spool, a compaction head, a cutting tool and at least one travel distance adjustment component. The tape supply spool is configured for the prepreg tape to be wound thereon. The compaction head is configured for delivering the prepreg tape to the mould surface from the tape supply spool. The cutting tool is movable along a cutting path. The cutting tool is configured to cut the prepreg tape passing through the cutting path. The at least one travel distance adjustment component is movably located between the cutting path and the compaction head and configured to push the prepreg tape passing through the cutting path so as to increase or decrease a travel distance of the prepreg tape from the cutting path to the compaction head.

A method and electronic measurement device are provided for putting multiple bends in a conduit while controlling the angular relationship of the bends relative to each other about the longitudinal axis of the conduit. The device includes an electronic component configured to generate a first signal that varies based on an angle of rotation of the component about an x-axis, and a housing carrying the electronic component and having a conduit mount structure configured to mount the housing on a conduit with the x-axis in parallel alignment with the longitudinal axis of the conduit.