This invention relates to a wind turbine blade with retrofitted coating in and around areas where the blade is especially exposed to erosion damages, which is established by the coating including a glue layer, a fiber reinforced polymer layer and one or more non-reinforced polymer layers over the fiber reinforced layer, since the polymer layers stretch themselves out over the fiber reinforced layer and includes areas of the wind turbine blade's surface, which are less exposed to erosion damages. A method for creation of such a wind turbine blade and creation of such a coating and the coating itself, is also established with the invention.

An in-situ melt processing method for forming a fiber thermoplastic resin composite overwrapped workpiece, such as a composite overwrapped pressure vessel. Carbon fiber, or other types of fiber, are combined with a thermoplastic resin system. The selected fiber tow and the resin are prepared for impregnation of the tow by the resin. The resin is melted; and, carbon fiber is impregnated with the melted resin at the filament winding machine delivery head. The molten state of the composite is maintained and is applied, in the molten state, to the heated surface of a workpiece. The portion of the surface being wrapped is heated to the melting point of the thermoplastic resin so that the molten composite more efficiently adheres to the heated surface of the workpiece and so that the uppermost layer of fiber resin composite is molten when overwrapped resulting in better adherence of successive layers to one another.

A preform-charge fixture creates a preform charge, which is a partially consolidated assemblage of preforms that can be efficiently transferred to a mold to create a finished part in a molding process, such as compression molding. In the illustrative embodiment, the preform-charge fixture includes peripheral cleats that are movable towards a central cleat to create a small gap therebetween that receives and constrains preforms in a desired position. The fixture also includes clamps, which are operable to engage an uppermost layer of preforms in the gap and apply a slight amount of downward pressure thereto to assure that the preforms are properly seated. The fixture also accommodates an energy source that heats the preforms so that, in conjunction with downforce applied by the clamps and/or gravity, the preforms can be tacked together, forming the preform charge.

A preform-charge fixture creates a preform charge, which is a partially consolidated assemblage of preforms that can be efficiently transferred to a mold to create a finished part in a molding process, such as compression molding. In the illustrative embodiment, the preform-charge fixture includes peripheral cleats that are movable towards a central cleat to create a small gap therebetween that receives and constrains preforms in a desired position. The fixture also includes clamps, which are operable to engage an uppermost layer of preforms in the gap and apply a slight amount of downward pressure thereto to assure that the preforms are properly seated. The fixture also accommodates an energy source that heats the preforms so that, in conjunction with downforce applied by the clamps and/or gravity, the preforms can be tacked together, forming the preform charge.

The present disclosure relates to a fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) tube, the tube comprising a plurality of concentric layers of an FRP material forming a shell of the tube. At least one blind threaded longitudinal bolt hole is provided from a transverse end surface of the shell. The bolt hole extends in at least three of the plurality of layers, a middle layer encompassing a plane passing through a center of the bolt hole, an inner layer encompassing a plane of an innermost extent of the bolt hole, and an outer layer encompassing a plane of an outermost extent of the bolt hole. The fibre filament of each of the inner and outer layers has been wound at a first angle to the longitudinal axis and the fibre filament of the middle layer has been wound at a second angle to the longitudinal axis.

The present disclosure relates to a fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) tube, the tube comprising a plurality of concentric layers of an FRP material forming a shell of the tube. At least one blind threaded longitudinal bolt hole is provided from a transverse end surface of the shell. The bolt hole extends in at least three of the plurality of layers, a middle layer encompassing a plane passing through a center of the bolt hole, an inner layer encompassing a plane of an innermost extent of the bolt hole, and an outer layer encompassing a plane of an outermost extent of the bolt hole. The fibre filament of each of the inner and outer layers has been wound at a first angle to the longitudinal axis and the fibre filament of the middle layer has been wound at a second angle to the longitudinal axis.

A ultrasonic welding method of joining dissimilar-material workpieces, such as sheet materials, and the joined components formed thereby. The method includes applying ultrasonic energy to a thermoplastic piece to fill a hole of a dissimilar piece to form a weld point that is made up with polymer from the thermoplastic piece. In general, the geometry of the thermoplastic piece is not altered during the process. The dissimilar piece generally has a higher melting temperate and can be metal, thermoset polymers, or other thermoplastic material. The welded pieces can be arranged in a lap, laminate, or double lap configuration. In some embodiments, the hole of the dissimilar sheet material includes undercut features that improve the mechanical interlock between the dissimilar pieces. In some embodiments, the weld point has a mushroom cap to improve mechanical interlock.

A ultrasonic welding method of joining dissimilar-material workpieces, such as sheet materials, and the joined components formed thereby. The method includes applying ultrasonic energy to a thermoplastic piece to fill a hole of a dissimilar piece to form a weld point that is made up with polymer from the thermoplastic piece. In general, the geometry of the thermoplastic piece is not altered during the process. The dissimilar piece generally has a higher melting temperate and can be metal, thermoset polymers, or other thermoplastic material. The welded pieces can be arranged in a lap, laminate, or double lap configuration. In some embodiments, the hole of the dissimilar sheet material includes undercut features that improve the mechanical interlock between the dissimilar pieces. In some embodiments, the weld point has a mushroom cap to improve mechanical interlock.

A blinder for sight-aimed devices comprising one or more thin leaves of fiber-reinforced polymer, optionally within a fabric envelope.

The disclosure relates to an alternative joining method and to the use of the shaped part produced by means of the alternative joining method in drive technology and connection technology.