With the traction means tensioner, a traction means having at least two ends is tensionable. The traction means tensioner comprises a first fastening means, a second fastening means and a coupling means. The first fastening means has a first fastening portion at which the first end of the traction means as fastenable. The second fastening means has a second fastening portion at which the second end of the traction means is fastenable. The coupling means couples the first and the second fastening means to each other so that the first and the second fastening means are movable with respect to each other and their movability is at least restricted on one side. Further, the first and the second fastening means are pre-tensionable with respect to each other via at least one spring element.

A method of bonding a second object to a first object includes: providing the first object having a thermoplastic liquefiable material in a solid state; providing the second object having a surface portion that has a coupling structure with an undercut, so that the second object is capable of making a positive-fit connection with the first object; pressing the second object against the first object with a tool that is in physical contact with a coupling-in structure of the second object while mechanical vibrations are coupled into the tool; continuing to press and couple vibrations into the tool until a flow portion of the thermoplastic material of the first object is liquefied and flows into the coupling structures of the second object; and letting the thermoplastic material re-solidify to yield a positive-fit connection between the first and second objects by the re-solidified flow portion interpenetrating the coupling structures.

A friction stir processing tool for friction stir processing includes a shoulder for pressing against a workpiece surface and a pin, which protrudes beyond the shoulder and can be driven to rotate, for plasticizing introduction into at least one workpiece to be processed. The shoulder has an interruption opening on a circumferential region, so that the shoulder is not led around the entire circumference of the pin.

A welding tool for joining at least two workpieces at a joining region by friction stir welding includes a tool pin arranged along one axis of the welding tool, for applying frictional heat to the workpieces. The welding tool also includes a shoulder surrounding the tool pin, for separating the joining region from the surrounding area. The shoulder is moveable essentially parallel to the axis of the welding tool.

A welding tool for joining at least two workpieces at a joining region by friction stir welding includes a tool pin arranged along one axis of the welding tool, for applying frictional heat to the workpieces. The welding tool also includes a shoulder surrounding the tool pin, for separating the joining region from the surrounding area. The shoulder is moveable essentially parallel to the axis of the welding tool.

A joining method for joining a resin member and a metal member by heating is provided. Joining of the resin member and metal member is performed by heating a joining interface of the resin member and metal member to a temperature in a range of equal to or higher than a decomposition temperature of the resin member and lower than a temperature at which gas bubbles are generated in the resin member and by cooling a surface of the resin member on the opposite side from a joining surface thereof with the metal member to a temperature that is lower than the melting point of the resin member.

A sealing structure for a front cover of an engine includes a front cover made of resin of an engine in which a through-hole, into which a boss part of a torsional damper is to be inserted, is provided, and a sealing apparatus to seal between the through-hole of the front cover and the shaft part. The sealing apparatus includes a support ring that is made of resin and has an annular shape, and an elastic body part that is made of an elastic material, has an annular shape and is attached to the support ring. The elastic body part has an annular seal lip that contacts the shaft part such that the shaft part is able to slide, and the support ring is bonded to the front cover.

An apparatus for fabricating an elastic nonwoven material generally includes a first bonding module and a second bonding module. The second bonding module is positionable in close proximity to the first bonding module for receiving a first nonwoven fabric, a second nonwoven fabric, and at least one elastic strand therebetween. The second bonding module has a face with a width dimension and a circumferential axis and is rotatable about a rotation axis. The face has a plurality of ridges includes a first ridge and a pair of second ridges positioned on opposing sides of the first ridge along the circumferential axis. The first ridge defines a plurality of interspaced lands and notches, and the second ridges are configured to sever the at least one elastic strand when in close proximity to the first bonding module.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hollow structure body having a hollow structure, in which a first shaped product constituted by a first fiber-reinforced resin material containing first reinforcing fibers and a first matrix resin and a second shaped product constituted by a second fiber-reinforced resin material containing second reinforcing fibers and a second matrix resin are combined, wherein in an arbitrary cross section in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the hollow structure, a ratio Sc/St between compressive strength Sc of a structure in the first shaped product and tensile strength St of a structure in the second shaped product satisfies formula (1):
(σc/σt)*(Hc/Ht)<(Sc/St)<(σt/σc)*(Hc/Ht)  formula (1).

A flow rate sensor includes: a housing made from a resin material and having a bottom base portion and a side wall, at least one surface side of the housing being open; a cover made from a resin material, covering the one surface side of the housing, welded to an upper surface of the side wall of the housing, and defining, with the bottom base portion and the side wall of the housing, an auxiliary passage within which a gas to be measured flows that is taken in from a main passage; and a flow rate detection unit disposed within the auxiliary passage. A protruding portion for height control is provided to one of the housing and the cover at least in a vicinity of the side wall around the flow rate detection unit so as to suppress sinking in of the cover during welding.