B29C53/80

COIL CATHETER, METHOD OF USE, AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE
20230010429 · 2023-01-12 ·

A catheter device and manufacturing process for manufacturing the catheter device, wherein the catheter device has a halo-shaped coiled portion extending away from a perpendicular stem portion through a swan neck portion. Eyelets on the halo coil portion and swan neck portion facilitate flow out of the bladder through the catheter device vertical to the catheter, rather than perpendicularly as is the case with existing catheters. The catheter device is formed by using a straight catheter tube, heating and cooling it within a formed mold to have the halo coil and swan neck, such that it can be straightened using a pusher and stylet, inserted into the body while straightened, and thereafter return to its coiled shape when the stylet is removed.

Anti-rotational and anti-translational end ring for use in filament winding a pressure vessel

A polar end ring mechanism for use with composite pressure vessels. The end ring is designed to support a pressure vessel during its formation via filament winding. The end ring helps define an opening at one of the polar ends of a tank. Spikes positioned along a portion of the end ring help prevent rotation or translation of the tank during formation and provide an improved mechanical lock with the tank body. A cap may then be secured to the polar end ring after formation in order to close the pressure vessel.

High-pressure tank, manufacturing method for high-pressure tank, and manufacturing device for high-pressure tank
11821585 · 2023-11-21 · ·

A high-pressure tank, a manufacturing method for a high-pressure tank, and a manufacturing device for a high-pressure tank capable of simplifying a shape of a metal fitting and performing high-speed FW molding without causing an idle rotation of the metal fitting or a deformation of a liner, for example, when performing the high-speed FW molding are provided. A high-pressure tank includes a liner, a reinforcing fiber layer, and a metal fitting. The reinforcing fiber layer is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the liner. The metal fitting is attached to the liner. The liner includes a liner main body and a protrusion part is provided in a part (cylindrical part) of the liner main body. The protrusion part is formed to protrude in a direction moving radially inward from the cylindrical part and to be fittable to a rotating shaft.

Fabrication of three-dimensional kirigami structures with tunable properties

A method of forming a structural honeycomb includes cutting and folding a substrate sheet according to predetermined cutting and folding patterns and fold angles that cause the sheet to form a honeycomb having cells that each have at least one face abutting, or nearly abutting, the face of another cell. The honeycomb is then stabilized by joining abutting, or nearly abutting, faces to hold the honeycomb together. The honeycomb may have a prespecified three-dimensional shape. The folding pattern may include corrugation, canted corrugation, or zig-zag folds. Joining may employ fixed and/or reversible joinery, including slotted cross section, tabbed strip, angled strip, integral skin, sewn, or laced. At least some folds may be partially-closed to create bends and twists in the honeycomb structure. Some surfaces of the honeycomb may be covered with a skin or face sheet. The substrate sheet may have flexible electronic traces.

Apparatus for manufacturing a container
11420400 · 2022-08-23 · ·

An apparatus for manufacturing a container that includes a side wall (5) in the form of a tube and a base (7) at one end of the tube. The apparatus includes a tube forming unit (15) for progressively folding a length of a sheet (19) of a side wall material into an elongate tube shape (21) having a forward end (23) for receiving a base (7) of the container and welding together lengthwise extending sides of the sheet to form the tube. The apparatus also includes a base attachment unit (17) for positioning a base of the container on the forward end of the tube.

Automated fiber bundle placement apparatus
11459191 · 2022-10-04 · ·

An automated fiber bundle placement apparatus includes a supply device, a placement head, and an articulated robot. The articulated robot includes a head swing mechanism and a guide mechanism. The guide mechanism includes a position changing mechanism which includes a support member for supporting a tow guide, and which displaces the tow guide corresponding to a change in a position of an introduction section by a head swing mechanism.

Device for compacting a tubular structure, associated installation and method

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.

Method and apparatus for sealing a wiring harness

A method of sealing a wiring-harness includes the steps of: a) dispensing a length of a sealing-tape onto a platform, the sealing-tape having a first-surface and a second-surface opposite the first-surface. b) separating a plurality of wire-cables from a portion of the wiring-harness. c) applying the plurality of wire-cables to a first-half of the first-surface of the sealing-tape. d) folding a second-half of the sealing-tape over the separated plurality of wire-cables such that the second-half overlays the first-half. e) pressing the second-half of the sealing-tape such that the second-half contacts the first-half between the separated plurality of wire-cables, thereby forming a cable-band. f) coiling the cable-band into a generally cylindrical-shaped seal. g) compressing the cylindrical-shaped seal isostatically such that interstitial-voids within the cylindrical-shaped seal are reduced in size. An apparatus for sealing a wiring-harness is also provided.

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PAINT-ROLLER MANUFACTURING WITH INTEGRATED FINAL CUTTING ONLINE AND FOR CONDITIONING PAINT-ROLLER COVER FABRIC
20220250305 · 2022-08-11 ·

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.

Filament winding device

A filament winding device includes: a supporting unit that supports a mandrel on which a plurality of fiber bundles impregnated with a resin are wound, the supporting unit movable in the axial direction of the mandrel; and a helical unit having a plurality of fiber bundle guide units arranged radially in the circumferential direction of the mandrel and guide the corresponding plurality of fiber bundles to the mandrel, the helical unit supplying the plurality of fiber bundles to the mandrel through the fiber bundle guide units. Each of the fiber bundle guide units has a pressing roller for pressing a fiber bundle supplied to the mandrel, against the circumferential surface moving in the axial direction. The pressing roller can come into the contact with the circumferential surface of the mandrel and be rotationally driven about a roller axis extending in a roller axis direction perpendicular to the axial direction.