A method of manufacturing a composite (e.g. fibre-reinforced polymer) connector for a fluid transfer conduit comprises: providing a tubular mandrel which extends substantially parallel to a central axis C; winding continuous fibre reinforcement, impregnated with a thermosetting polymer, around the mandrel to form a tubular hub portion which extends substantially parallel to the central axis C; curing the hub portion; placing the hub portion into a mould featuring at least one cavity; and introducing polymer into the mould so as to fill the at least one cavity to form a flange portion around the hub portion.

Method for manufacturing a continuous composite tube comprising translating a tube liner through a manufacturing station wherein the manufacturing station comprises a winding station and a consolidation station located at a distance downstream of the winding station; winding a composite tape on the tube liner at the winding station for forming a tape layer; consolidating the composite tape on the tube liner at a consolidation zone of the consolidation station by pressing and heating to the tape.

Provided is a rolled retraction cord, which has flexibility and is made of a sheet rolled into a non-firm multilayer strip. The sheet has a first side edge and a second side edge, the first side edge and the second side edge are opposite and parallel to each other, and the rolled retraction cord is formed by rolling the first side edge of the sheet toward the second side edge of the sheet. Further provided is a method for manufacturing the rolled retraction cord.

A method of manufacturing a gas tank comprises: a step (a) of preparing a liner having a hollow cylindrical shape; a step (b) of forming a first layer by winding a first fiber bundle impregnated with resin around the liner; a step (c) of forming a second layer by winding a second fiber bundle impregnated with resin around the liner with the wound first fiber bundle in such a manner that portions of the second fiber bundle overlap each other in a direction parallel to a center axis of the liner; a step (d) of causing a section where the portions of the second fiber bundle overlap each other to get into the first layer; and a step (e) of curing the resin.

A can to contain a liquid and/or a gas is closed with a bottom element and a cover element. The innermost layer is a straight-wound barrier layer having a folded seam extending in a longitudinal direction. The barrier layer includes an inner diffusion-tight layer and an outer kraft paper layer. At least two further straight-wound layers made of paper or cardboard are around the barrier layer of the can shell. Adjoining cardboard or paper surfaces of the barrier layer and a next wound layer are adhered directly to each other. Each of the two further wound layers is longitudinally wound and include in the longitudinal direction an overlapping region with itself. The overlapping region of the next wound layer adjoining the barrier layer is offset relative to the folded seam of the barrier layer and the overlapping regions of the two further wound layers are located at different peripheral regions.

A balloon wrapping apparatus and a balloon wrapping method are disclosed by which a balloon can be wrapped appropriately. The balloon wrapping apparatus for wrapping a balloon of a balloon catheter provided with the balloon at a distal portion of an elongated shaft includes: a pleating section that forms the balloon with wing shapes projecting in radial directions; a folding section that includes a plurality of blades aligned in a circumferential direction, and that folds the wing shapes formed in the balloon along the circumferential direction by moving rotationally the blades; and a rotational support portion that supports a portion of the shaft which portion is on a proximal side of the balloon, and that rotates the shaft in a direction opposite to a rotary movement direction of the blades in a state in which the balloon is positioned in relation to the folding section.

A balloon wrapping apparatus is disclosed by which a balloon can be accurately positioned and inserted in relation to a pleating section. The balloon wrapping apparatus for wrapping a balloon provided at a distal portion of an elongated shaft includes: a pleating section that forms the balloon with wing shapes; a folding section that folds the wing shapes formed in the balloon along a circumferential direction; a support base that supports a portion other than the distal portion of the shaft, and that makes the distal portion of the shaft insertable into the pleating section and the folding section; and a core metal member to be inserted in the shaft. The core metal member is inserted in the shaft from a distal end position of the balloon to at least the proximal side of a proximal end position of the balloon.

A balloon wrapping apparatus and a balloon wrapping method are disclosed by which a balloon can be accurately positioned in relation to a pleating section and to a folding section. The balloon wrapping apparatus for wrapping a balloon of a balloon catheter provided with the balloon at a distal portion of an elongated shaft includes: a pleating section having a plurality of blades aligned with space parts therebetween in a circumferential direction, and forms the balloon with wing shapes projecting in radial directions by clamping the balloon in the space parts by moving rotationally the blades; and a folding section having a plurality of blades aligned in a circumferential direction, and that folds the wing shapes formed in the balloon in the circumferential direction by moving rotationally the blades; and a support base that supports a part of the shaft which part is on a proximal side of the balloon.

Methods and articles of manufacture are disclosed for pipes and Architectural shells and/or Panels (AP) of desired shapes, sizes, and curvatures that can be manufactured onsite or offsite. The disclosed pipes, Architectural shells and Panels, which use resin-impregnated fabrics in combination with spacer sheets, are easy to manufacture, inexpensive, fast to produce, and can easily be repaired, reinforced and refurbished.

A plastic tube has an inner tube, a stiffener layer, and an outer tube. The inner tube is arranged the support organ. A corrugated stiffener preform is formed with corner area walls shaped thinner than the other walls. The preform is fed upon the inner tube to form a stiffener layer that advances with a certain pitch upon the inner tube. The corner parts of every stiffener yield and the brush angle () between the lamellas of the outside gets greater than the corresponding brush angle between the lamellas of the inner side. The stiffener is joined to the inner tube with a melted plastic layer and fed upon the stiffener plastic tape joined to the stiffener with a melted plastic layer. Between the settled edges of the plastic tape a spiral weld joint is formed so that the plastic tape forms the outer tube.