A structural reinforcement for an article including a carrier that includes: (i) a mass of polymeric material having an outer surface; and (is) at least one consolidated fibrous insert having an outer surface and including at least one elongated fiber arrangement having a plurality of ordered fibers arranged in a predetermined manner. The fibrous insert is envisioned to adjoin the mass of the polymeric material in a predetermined location for carrying a predetermined load that is subjected upon the predetermined location (thereby effectively providing localized reinforcement to that predetermined location). The fibrous insert and the mass of polymeric material are of compatible materials, structures or both, for allowing the fibrous insert to be at least partially joined to the mass of the polymeric material. Disposed upon at least a portion of the carrier will be a mass of activatable material.

Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a generally circular, oval or rectangular sealing ring for an acoustic device, the sealing ring being configured for being in contact with the skin of a user during use. The method includes: forming, in an injection molding step, a covering being generally U-shaped in cross-section; and attaching the end sections of the covering to a support element. The invention also relates to a sealing ring of the above-mentioned type.

A method for applying a sealant to the surface of an object includes forming an annular dose of synthetic plasticised material supplied from an extruder, depositing the dose on the surface of object and compression forming the dose to form a seal. The extruder includes an annular outlet which is opened and closed to deposit successive doses. Each dose that exits the annular outlet is separated from a supply of plasticized material in the extruder.

A compression molding technique, assembly and method for producing an acoustic/environmental sealing component, such as for use in a vehicle pillar. A two part mold defines a negative impression cavity of the completed part and within which is deposited a compounded and expandable resin as any of loose beads, granules or a syrup. The resin is heated within the mold to a temperature below that necessary for it activation/expansion, concurrent with being compression formed. A pre-formed rigid substrate not limited to a nylon is incorporated into the mold and against which is compression formed the resin.

A method of forming a seal about at least a portion of an object comprises placing a form about at least the portion of the object, flowing a viscous substance into the form and about at least the portion of the object, and removing the form from the object by unwinding or unraveling the form to form the seal.

Provided is a downhole tool member containing a polyglycolic acid resin composition that is easy to process during extrusion molding or injection molding, is able to reduce cracks during cutting and transportation, and has sufficient strength in a well in a high temperature environment. The downhole tool member according to an embodiment of the present invention contains a polyglycolic acid resin composition, in which a weight-average molecular weight Mw is from 150,000 to 300,000, and a melt viscosity My (Pa.Math.s), measured at a temperature of 270 C. under a shearing speed of 122 sec.sup.1, satisfies Mv<6.210.sup.15Mw.sup.3.2.

Methods and systems are provided for a housing for a fastener of a vehicle component. In one example, a housing for a fastener includes a central conduit adapted to receive the fastener, and a radial key extending outward from an outer surface of the housing. The radial key is first pressed against a vehicle component in an axial direction of the housing to form a first section of a channel within an interior of the vehicle component, and the key is then rotated against the interior to form an undercut, second section of the channel in a circumferential direction of the housing.

This disclosure may generally relate to additive manufacturing operations and, more particularly, to systems and methods for three dimensional (3D) printing a sealing element. Specifically, examples of the present disclosure may be implemented to manufacture a sealing element which may be disposed in a wellbore to seal off a portion of a well.

One or more embodiments of the present invention provide a method for forming a continuous strip of a first compound that is encapsulated by a second compound. The apparatus allows the mixture ratio of the first compound to the second compound to vary. The first compound may be a sealant, and the second compound may be a rubber.

A method for obtaining and applying a sealing gasket element on a slide-valve sliding in a cavity of an apparatus for the recirculation and mixing of chemically reactive polymeric components, comprises the steps of: obtaining from an elastic-plastic material a precursor element of the seal element, with a grid structure having a reticular shape; positioning the precursor element around the slide-valve; exerting on the precursor element, through temporary clamping elements, a radial compression and contraction action to insert it and couple it to one or more housing seats provided on the slide-valve so as to obtain the seal element well coupled to the latter; progressively removing the clamping elements to sequentially release successive parts of the gasket element and gradually free the slide-valve to gradually introduce the parts of the slide-valvefreed in successionin the housing cavity allowing the sealing gasket element to gradually expand radially due to the elastic return by adhering tightly to the inner surface of the same housing cavity. The special equipment for fitting the sealing gasket element on the slide-valve and the so obtained recirculation and mixing apparatus is also described.