In a winding method of a sheet member for winding a sheet member having an inclined side portion 7a inclined with respect to a longitudinal direction at least on one side in the longitudinal direction around a winding cylinder 50 in more than one turn from a tip end of the inclined side portion 7a as a winding start tip, winding of the sheet member is started in a small-diameter portion 51a of the winding cylinder 50 to which a radial difference is given by providing a step 54 to make a diameter smaller on one side in an axial direction and larger on the other side in the axial direction.

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 tank including a liner; a reinforcing layer formed of fiber reinforced resin that is arranged on the liner; a label arranged on the reinforcing layer; and a surface layer formed of glass fiber reinforced resin that is arranged to cover the label. The reinforcing layer includes an inner layer, and an outer layer having a cover rate smaller than the inner layer and smaller than 100%, the cover rate being a percentage of a volume occupied by the fiber reinforced resin in space of the reinforcing layer, and the outer layer being arranged on the inner layer, and at least a part of the label is embedded in the reinforcing layer.

A core system for the production of a fiber composite component includes at least two core elements which are coupled to one another and are displaceable relative to one another. At least one core element has a surface which is oblique to a displacement direction. A method for producing the fiber composite component uses the core system.

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 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 method of constructing a mandrel generally complementary to a spar cavity of a spar includes connecting a first component and a second component to form a central space there between and inserting a center component within the central space such that the center component retains the first component and second component in a desired position forming an outer surface of the mandrel which corresponds to an inner surface of the spar cavity.

A method of constructing a mandrel generally complementary to a spar cavity of a spar includes connecting a first component and a second component to form a central space there between and inserting a center component within the central space such that the center component retains the first component and second component in a desired position forming an outer surface of the mandrel which corresponds to an inner surface of the spar cavity.

A filament winding assembly includes a rotating mandrel coupled to a shaft that rotates the rotating mandrel. The rotating mandrel includes a first perforated sleeve that defines holes and includes a winding surface. The rotating mandrel also includes a second perforated sleeve disposed inside the first perforated sleeve. The second perforated sleeve defines an interior volume and holes configured to form fluid pathways with the holes of the first perforated sleeve. The fluid pathways extend from the interior volume to the winding surface of the first perforated sleeve. The filament winding assembly includes a filament that is wound, under tension, around the winding surface of the first perforated sleeve. The filament winding assembly also includes a fluid source fluidically coupled to the interior volume of the second perforated sleeve. The fluid source exhausts fluid, through the fluid pathways, from the wound filament to reduce manufacturing defects of the wound filament.

A method of determining a void volume during manufacture of a composite pipe formed of concentric layers of adjacently positioned, helical windings of composite tape has the steps of: (a) scanning the surface of a layer of adjacently positioned, helical windings to generate scanning information; (b) using the scanning information to locate gap(s) between adjacent windings and to determine the number of gaps and characteristic dimensions of each gap in the layer; and (c) generating a calculated void volume of the layer, using the number of gaps and the characteristic dimensions of each gap for the layer. The invention also relates to a corresponding apparatus for determining a void volume during manufacture of a composite pipe formed of concentric layers of helically wound composite tape.