An injection mold for the manufacture of an axisymmetric part of composite material including a mandrel supporting a fibrous preform and including an annular wall, and a plurality of counter-mold angular sectors assembled on the mandrel and intended to close the mold and to compact the fibrous preform wound on the mandrel. Each angular sector includes an annular base intended to come into contact with the fibrous preform. The annular base extends between the first and second lateral edges in a circumferential direction, the first lateral edge of the annular base of an angular sector being in contact with a second lateral edge of the annular base of an adjacent angular sector.

According to an aspect, a method of assembling a mandrel includes assembling a plurality of members via interlocking features arranged at opposing edges of each member of the plurality of members to form a compartment, the assembled members having a collective outer surface that conforms to an inner surface of the spar. A support member is inserted into the compartment formed radially inward from the assembled members, the support member making contact with a portion of each member of the plurality of members.

Described herein are methods and systems for forming composite stringer assemblies or, more specifically, for shaping composite charges while forming these stringer assemblies. A system comprises a bladder, having a bladder core, and a bladder skin. The bladder core is formed from foam. The bladder skin is formed from an elastic material and encloses the bladder core. When a composite stringer assembly is formed, the bladder is positioned over a charge base. The charge base later becomes a stringer base, such as a fuselage section or a wing skin. A charge hat is then positioned over the bladder and is conformed to the bladder. A combination of the bladder skin and the bladder core provides support during this forming operation and later while the stringer assembly is cured. In some examples, the bladder core is collapsible for the removal of the bladder from the cavity of the stringer assembly.

A method for forming a container assembly having a lid, a container and a cooperative closure mechanism, includes providing a lid form and flexible members biased toward the lid form, wherein the lid form and the flexible members are operable between a forming position defined by the lid form exerting a biasing force against the flexible members, and an extraction position defined by the biasing force being substantially removed from the flexible members, creating a lid form cavity defined by the lid form and the flexible members disposed in the forming position, injecting a lid material throughout the lid form cavity to form a lid, disposing the lid form and the flexible members in the extraction position, wherein the lid form is moved distal from the lid and the flexible members are biased away from the lid to separate the lid from the flexible members.

An improved device, system, and method to produce a molded component with an undercut includes an insert comprised of a plurality of separate pieces individually removable from the molded component. The pieces are arranged and functionally interlocked in an assembled configuration. Removal of a post member or piece from the insert creates a cavity within the same. Thereafter, one or more of the pieces is slidable, movable, or collapsible into the cavity and subsequently removed from the molded component. The remaining pieces are movable, often sequentially and iteratively, into the cavity and subsequently removed. Each of the pieces can have a different geometry. A plurality of the inserts can arranged into an array and connected to a bottom tool structure. The array of inserts can be configured to produce a molded component have a plurality of cells arranged in a matrix, such as a airflow diverter duct.

An improved device, system, and method to produce a molded component with an undercut includes an insert comprised of a plurality of separate pieces individually removable from the molded component. The pieces are arranged and functionally interlocked in an assembled configuration. Removal of a post member or piece from the insert creates a cavity within the same. Thereafter, one or more of the pieces is slidable, movable, or collapsible into the cavity and subsequently removed from the molded component. The remaining pieces are movable, often sequentially and iteratively, into the cavity and subsequently removed. Each of the pieces can have a different geometry. A plurality of the inserts can arranged into an array and connected to a bottom tool structure. The array of inserts can be configured to produce a molded component have a plurality of cells arranged in a matrix, such as a airflow diverter duct.

A method of producing a cascade array and a cascade array is provided. The method includes: forming a plurality of strongbacks from a first thermoplastic material; forming a plurality of comb subassemblies, each said comb subassembly including one of the plurality of strongbacks and a plurality of vanes comprising a second thermoplastic material extending outwardly from the respective one of the plurality strongbacks; and attaching the plurality of comb subassemblies into a unitary structure to produce the cascade array.

An injection tooling is configured to inject a polymer resin into a fiber preform for fabricating a part in the form of a body of revolution out of composite material, the part having an internal cavity with back-draft. In order to enable the part to be unmolded after the polymer resin has been injected and polymerized, the tooling includes, arranged at least in the internal cavity, firstly a sectorized ring made up of at least three mutually touching inserts including one forming a keystone, the ring having an outside surface that matches the internal cavity with back-draft and an inside surface that presents natural draft, and secondly a conical drum secured to the inside surface of the sectorized ring to support it and that is withdrawn, once separated from the sectorized ring, relying on the natural draft created by the inside surface of the sectorized ring.

A method of forming a sole assembly of an article of footwear including an interior space and an exterior surface includes providing a first portion of the sole assembly. The first portion includes a first surface that at least partially defines the interior space and a first chamber surface that opposes the first surface. The first portion is made from a first material. The method also includes providing a second portion of the sole assembly that includes a second surface that at least partially defines the exterior surface of the article of footwear and a second chamber surface that opposes the second surface. The second portion is made from a second material that is different from the first material. The method additionally includes operably securing the first and second portions such that the first chamber surface and the second chamber surface cooperate to at least partially define a chamber.

A method of forming a sole assembly of an article of footwear that includes an interior space that receives a foot of a wearer is disclosed. The article of footwear also includes an exterior surface. The method includes providing a first portion of the sole assembly. The first portion includes a first surface that at least partially defines the interior space. The first portion also includes a first chamber surface that opposes the first surface. Moreover, the method includes providing a second portion of the sole assembly. The second portion includes a second surface that at least partially defines the exterior surface of the article of footwear. The second portion also includes a second chamber surface that opposes the second surface. The method further includes operably securing the first portion to the second portion such that the first chamber surface and the second chamber surface cooperate to at least partially define a substantially sealed chamber within the sole assembly.