Joints for joining panels (60, 62) together, such as for joining honeycomb sandwich panels used in aerospace applications, and methods of joining said panels are disclosed. In some examples of disclosed joints, a first panel and a second panel can be joined together to form a joint. The first panel (60) can be a flat panel that includes a rabbet (80) formed along a first longitudinal edge, and the second panel (62) can be a curved panel that includes a notch (86) formed along a second longitudinal edge. In forming the joint, a portion of the rabbet (80) can be positioned within the notch (86), and the flat panel (60) and curved panel (62) can be oriented at a non-parallel and non-perpendicular angle to one another. Adhesive (99) is applied along the rabbet (80) and/or the notch (86) in order to secure the joint.

Joints for joining panels (60, 62) together, such as for joining honeycomb sandwich panels used in aerospace applications, and methods of joining said panels are disclosed. In some examples of disclosed joints, a first panel and a second panel can be joined together to form a joint. The first panel (60) can be a flat panel that includes a rabbet (80) formed along a first longitudinal edge, and the second panel (62) can be a curved panel that includes a notch (86) formed along a second longitudinal edge. In forming the joint, a portion of the rabbet (80) can be positioned within the notch (86), and the flat panel (60) and curved panel (62) can be oriented at a non-parallel and non-perpendicular angle to one another. Adhesive (99) is applied along the rabbet (80) and/or the notch (86) in order to secure the joint.

A system is described for reinforcing a thermoplastic workpiece including a subject surface and an underlying workpiece body volume. At least one substantially linear Z-pin having proximal and distal pin ends longitudinally separated by a pin body is provided. The proximal pin end is in direct contact with the subject surface. An ultrasonic energy source applies ultrasonic energy to the Z-pin to ultrasonically heat the Z-pin and thus locally melt the workpiece material of the subject surface and/or the workpiece body to create a melted workpiece material. The proximal pin end and at least a portion of the pin body of the Z-pin are penetrated into the melted workpiece material to create an inserted Z-pin length. The inserted Z-pin length is maintained in the workpiece body volume by solidified melted workpiece material around the inserted Z-pin length to reinforce the workpiece. A method of reinforcing a workpiece is also provided.

A system is described for reinforcing a thermoplastic workpiece including a subject surface and an underlying workpiece body volume. At least one substantially linear Z-pin having proximal and distal pin ends longitudinally separated by a pin body is provided. The proximal pin end is in direct contact with the subject surface. An ultrasonic energy source applies ultrasonic energy to the Z-pin to ultrasonically heat the Z-pin and thus locally melt the workpiece material of the subject surface and/or the workpiece body to create a melted workpiece material. The proximal pin end and at least a portion of the pin body of the Z-pin are penetrated into the melted workpiece material to create an inserted Z-pin length. The inserted Z-pin length is maintained in the workpiece body volume by solidified melted workpiece material around the inserted Z-pin length to reinforce the workpiece. A method of reinforcing a workpiece is also provided.

A vibration welding device 40 includes: a vibration welding mold that is configured including an upper mold and a lower mold divided in an up-down direction, that is fitted with a first component and a second component forming an elongated shape having a bent portion, and that is disposed with length directions of the first component and the second component along a left-right direction; plural first mold divisions that configure one of the upper mold or the lower mold, and that are divided in the left-right direction; a pressing device that is coupled to each of the plural first mold divisions, and that applies pressure to the first mold divisions; and a vibration device that is coupled to each of the plural first mold divisions, and that vibrates the first mold divisions.

A vibration welding device 40 includes: a vibration welding mold that is configured including an upper mold and a lower mold divided in an up-down direction, that is fitted with a first component and a second component forming an elongated shape having a bent portion, and that is disposed with length directions of the first component and the second component along a left-right direction; plural first mold divisions that configure one of the upper mold or the lower mold, and that are divided in the left-right direction; a pressing device that is coupled to each of the plural first mold divisions, and that applies pressure to the first mold divisions; and a vibration device that is coupled to each of the plural first mold divisions, and that vibrates the first mold divisions.

The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a strip (12) of rubber comprising discontinuous reinforcers, this method of manufacture comprising at least one step consisting in cutting the reinforcers of a strip (12) of rubber comprising reinforcers capable of being cut and progressing in a direction of conveying (DC). According to the invention, the method of manufacture is characterized in that each cutting of a reinforcer is performed by heating the reinforcer locally and remotely using a laser beam (18).

The invention also relates to a cutting device (14) for cutting the reinforcers (10) of a strip (12) of rubber, the cutting device (14) comprising a reinforcer cutting head (16) and a conveying device (17) allowing the strip to be made to progress in a direction of conveying (DC) and past the cutting head (16), the reinforcer cutting device (14) being characterized in that the cutting head (16) comprises an emission source (19) emitting at least one laser beam (18) allowing each reinforcer of the strip to be heated locally and remotely in order to cut it.

Peel ply for surface preparation and a method of surface preparation prior to adhesive bonding. A resin-rich peel ply is applied onto a curable, resin-based composite substrate, followed by co-curing. After co-curing, the composite substrate is fully cured but the matrix resin in the peel ply remains partially cured. When the peel ply is removed, a roughened, bondable surface with chemically-active functional groups is revealed. The composite substrate with the chemically-active, bondable surface may be bonded to another composite substrate to form a covalently-bonded structure.

Peel ply for surface preparation and a method of surface preparation prior to adhesive bonding. A resin-rich peel ply is applied onto a curable, resin-based composite substrate, followed by co-curing. After co-curing, the composite substrate is fully cured but the matrix resin in the peel ply remains partially cured. When the peel ply is removed, a roughened, bondable surface with chemically-active functional groups is revealed. The composite substrate with the chemically-active, bondable surface may be bonded to another composite substrate to form a covalently-bonded structure.

The invention relates to a planar structure for joining, in particular for the material-uniting joining, of at least two components. According to the invention, the planar structure is flexible and formed by at least one reaction strand. The reaction strand comprises a preferably cylindrical core, which is provided, at least in some areas, with a coating, which is constructed with a plurality of coaxially applied layers with a small thickness. To produce the layers, two different materials are used, the layers being constructed alternately with one of the two materials. Because of the high degree of flexibility of the reactive planar structure and its arbitrary area extent, components with a complex geometry in the region of the joint faces as well as large-format components can be joined in a material-uniting manner without problems. The reactive planar structure can be produced here using the methods known from textile engineering with virtually any dimensions and, in addition, by a continuous industrial production process. Moreover, the invention relates to a method for providing a material-uniting connection between two components, in particular by means of the planar structure according to the invention.