A composite material shell having a base plate made of thermoplastic resin and reinforcing fibers and multiple decorative pieces. Each of the multiple decorative pieces is made of a composite material containing thermoplastic resin and reinforcing fibers. An area of each of the multiple decorative pieces is smaller than an area of the base plate, wherein the multiple decorative pieces are non-directionally arranged, are overlapped, and are welded on the base plate whereby the composite material shell provides unique reflection and depth variations of visual effect.

Methods and apparatus are provided for the production of thermoplastic composite sheets whose fibers are other than perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sheet and which are capable of being slit into sheets, strips and/or tapes of custom widths.

A composite product substantially reduced the impact force imposed by hard impactor which travelled at the speed in the range of 400 m/s to 1400 m/s simultaneously damping the vibrations and shocks appeared therein is disclosed. At the same time it is light weight with the weight lower than that of 22 to 38 kg/m2 and is flexible to adopt the shape suitable for the end applications. A method of manufacturing the composite product of the invention is also disclosed.

A system and method for fabricating large composite fuselages or other vehicle structures, in which the composite structure is fabricated and cured as on a tool, segmented and removed from the tool without disassembling the tool, and then reassembled off the tool to reform the large structure. The tool includes mandrel segments attached to a substructure. The attachments may be moveable to accommodate differential expansion and contraction during curing, and the tool may be rotatable to facilitate access. A composite material of resin and synthetic fibers is applied over the mandrel segments to fabricate the structure on the tool. Caul plates are secured over the composite material, and the composite material is cured on the tool. The resulting structure is cut into part segments which are then removed from the tool, and the part segments are joined to reassemble the large composite structure off the tool.

The invention proposes a method for manufacturing a grille for a cascade type thrust reverser, of a jet engine, said method including the following steps: a) manufacturing a first component comprising continuous or long fibres, pre-impregnated by a thermoplastic or thermosetting resin; b) manufacturing, subsequently or together with step a), a series of second components each including discontinuous fibres, pre-impregnated by a thermoplastic or thermosetting resin, step b) being carried out such that the second components are, on the one hand, arranged transversally with respect to a longitudinal direction of the first component on at least one side of the first component and, on the other hand, spaced from one another according to this longitudinal direction, so as to form a comb-shaped structure, wherein the second components are consolidated to the first component.

A sheet space-detecting device detects a space between a rear end of a preceding first fiber reinforced plastic sheet and a front end of a following second fiber reinforced plastic sheet in a conveyance path for fiber reinforced plastic sheets and includes: a light-detecting sensor that projects detection light on an area including the rear end of the first fiber reinforced plastic sheet, the front end of the second fiber reinforced plastic sheet, and a reference surface exposed from the space and receives reflected light thereof; and a spacer that supports the rear end of the first fiber reinforced plastic sheet and the front end of the second fiber reinforced plastic sheet in a state where the rear end and the front end are separated from the reference surface, in an area including at least a light-projected area on which the detection light is projected.

A floor may include a substrate having a top side and a bottom side. A top layer may be provided on the substrate. The top layer may consist of a printed thermoplastic film and a thermoplastic transparent or translucent layer provided on the printed thermoplastic film. The top layer may be directly adhered to the substrate by heat welding the printed thermoplastic film and the top side of the substrate, in the absence of a glue layer. The substrate may be a synthetic material board including a filler. The substrate at least at two opposite edges may include coupling means provided in the synthetic material board. The thermoplastic transparent or translucent layer may be provided with a structure.

The invention proposes a method for manufacturing a grille for a cascade type thrust reverser, of a jet engine, said method including the following steps: a) manufacturing a first component comprising long fibres, pre-impregnated by a thermoplastic or thermosetting resin; b) manufacturing, together with step a), a series of second components each including discontinuous fibres, pre-impregnated by a thermoplastic or thermosetting resin, step b) being carried out such that the second components are, on the one hand, arranged to transversally with respect to a longitudinal direction of the first component on at least one side of the first component and, on the other hand, spaced from one another according to this longitudinal direction, so as to form a comb-shaped structure, wherein the second components are consolidated to the first component.

A composite material shell having a base plate made of thermoplastic resin and reinforcing fibers and multiple decorative pieces. Each of the multiple decorative pieces is made of a composite material containing thermoplastic resin and reinforcing fibers. An area of each of the multiple decorative pieces is smaller than an area of the base plate, wherein the multiple decorative pieces are non-directionally arranged, are overlapped, and are welded on the base plate whereby the composite material shell provides unique reflection and depth variations of visual effect.

Disclosed herein is a molded laminated structure having negative draft angles and methods of manufacturing a molded laminated structure having negative draft angles. A preliminary structure having a first outer layer and a second outer layer is molded with a bend that divides the preliminary structure into two sections with an angle between the two sections of less than 180-degrees. Portions that extends from the sections are at positive draft angles. A groove is formed in the preliminary structure at the bend but not formed in a constant cross-section of the second outer layer. The preliminary structure is folding along the bend to at least partially close the groove and form a molded laminated structure with portions that extend at a negative draft configuration while retaining the second outer layer continuous throughout the molded laminated structure.