A connector, which is configured to be anchored in a first object with thermoplastic material, defines a proximodistal axis and has a plate portion extending around the proximodistal axis and having a proximal face and a distal face, the proximal face being adapted for a tool to be pressed thereagainst. The connector further includes an attachment structure accessible from the proximal side of the plate portion and/or an interaction element having a sensor and/or actuator. An anchoring skirt protrudes distally from the plate portion and distally and radially outwardly, whereby an outer pocket open towards radially outwardly is formed between the distal face of the plate portion and a proximal face of the anchoring skirt, and an inner pocket open towards distally is formed radially inwardly of the anchoring skirt. The plate portion extends radially further than the anchoring skirt.

A system for coupling pipes includes a first pipe having a tapered, spigot end; a second pipe having a tapered, spigot end; and a coupler having two tapered socket ends adapted to internally receive the respective tapered, spigot ends of the first pipe and the second pipe. The first pipe and the second pipe are made from a reinforced thermosetting resin (RTR). The coupler comprising a resistive element implanted therein and connected to electrodes extending to an exterior of the coupler. A thermoplastic material is disposed between an exterior of the first pipe and an interior of the coupler. A thermoplastic material is disposed between an exterior of the second pipe and the interior of the coupler. Upon application of electricity to the electrodes, the resistive elements are heated sufficiently to melt the thermoplastic material such that, when the heat is removed, the hardened thermoplastic material seals the first pipe and the second pipe to the coupler. A method of coupling pipes includes disposing a thermoplastic material between an exterior of a first pipe and an interior of a coupler; disposing a thermoplastic material between an exterior of a second pipe and the interior of the coupler; inserting the first pipe and the second pipe into the coupler; and applying of electricity to electrodes of the coupler such that resistive elements of the coupler heat sufficiently to melt the thermoplastic material such that, when the heat is removed, the hardened thermoplastic material seals the first pipe and the second pipe to the coupler.

A method of installing and sealing a friction fastener to at least an upper substrate and a lower substrate includes providing an expandable sealant to an underhead volume of the friction fastener, installing the friction fastener through the upper substrate and into the lower substrate using a joining device, and applying heat in-situ to the expandable sealant such that the friction fastener is sealed to at least the upper substrate. The heat in-situ is applied to the expandable sealant via installing the friction fastener and/or with an external heating source disposed downstream from the joining device.

A first structure made of a first polymer is joined to a second structure made of an incompatible second polymer by the steps of welding small bands of compatible tubing or material to the first structure to create raised structures or ribs, and mechanically linking the second structure with the ribs or raised structures at the desired attachment point. The mechanical linkage may be accomplished by using heat shrinking or mechanical compression (such as crimping) to force the incompatible second polymer around the ribs or raised structures or, in the case of raised structures formed as threads or nubs, by inter-engagement between the threads or nubs on the first structure and corresponding structures, such as internal threading, nub-receiving slots, or internal surfaces, of the second structure. The option of using the welded raised structures as threads or nubs for a threaded, bayonet, pin-and-slot, snap-fit, or similar connection enables the second structure to be removed from the first structure and replaced whenever the second structure becomes worn during use. The first structure may be an surgical laser fiber with an ETFE buffer layer, and the second structure is a protective structure may be made of PTFE, PET, FEP or PFA.

A thermoplastic plastic nut includes a nut main section having a second thread to screw a first thread of a bolt; and a thin wall section weldable to the first thread and disposed to protrude upwardly from the nut main section. A material of the nut main section contains a thermoplastic resin and a material of the thin wall section contains the thermoplastic resin. Thus, a thermoplastic plastic nut, a nut welding device and a nut welding method are provided to make it possible to easily prevent the loosening of the nut.

Embodiments described herein relate to a substrate support assembly. The substrate support assembly includes an ESC base assembly having a base channel disposed therein, a facility plate, the facility plate coupled to the ESC base assembly with a vacuum region therebetween, and a seal assembly. The seal assembly includes an upper flange coupled to the base channel of the ESC base assembly, the upper flange disposed in the facility plate, a lower flange coupled to the upper flange, the lower flange disposed in the facility plate, a gasket disposed between the upper flange and the lower flange, and an insulator tube coupled to the lower flange. A passage is connected to the base channel, the passage is defined by connected openings of the upper flange, the gasket, the lower flange, the insulator tube, and the base assembly.

Systems for positioning and bonding a nutplate to a substrate having an aperture include a nutplate engagement fixture and a temperature sensor retention fixture. The nutplate engagement fixture includes a rigid tube and an elastomeric tube engaged with the rigid tube, the elastomeric tube having an elongated tube sized to provide a friction fit with the aperture and retain the elastomeric tube within the aperture. The rigid tube is operable to engage the nutplate at one end and the elastomeric tube is configured to anchor the nutplate engagement fixture at the aperture and secure the nutplate in contact with the substrate. The temperature sensor retention fixture includes a fixture body sized and configured to engage with the nutplate and at least one passageway within the fixture body sized and configured to allow a temperature sensor to be inserted or embedded therein with an end proximal a surface of the nutplate.

A device for assembling plastic objects including caps for coupling to base support at least partially counter-shaped to the cap. The device includes at least part of an assembly line defining assembly path and assembly plane including the assembly path and plurality of spindles moveable along the assembly path by an apparatus and configured to controlledly pick up the caps, the spindles position and push the caps onto the base supports along the assembly path; positioning apparatus including first and second detectors, controller with auxiliary control system to translate and rotate spindles along directions perpendicular to assembly path and plane and third encoder to detect spindle orientation relative to assembly path. First detector to detect first orientation, second detector to detect second orientation and controller to detect first orientation and second orientation by detectors and operate auxiliary control system to align base support and cap.

Composite laminates fabricated from one or more respective laminae of composite material (e.g., fiber-reinforced polymers) may be pre-formed and fully cured, yet configured to be selectively conformable to a desired radius of curvature. To repair a damaged composite structure, a plurality of such composite laminates may be bonded together to form a repair part that may be bolted to or otherwise secured to the damaged composite structure, thereby repairing the structure using repair parts that may match the parent material of the damaged composite structure. Methods of forming said repair parts from a plurality of such composite laminates may provide advantages in costs and lead time, over conventional techniques. Kits may include a plurality of such pre-formed and cured composite laminates that may be stacked and combined together in a plurality of different arrangements to create a customizable repair part for a given damaged composite structure.

Embodiments are directed to a removable cap with a top hole and a seal with a heat induction closure for sealing an opening of a container. Advantageously, the cap and the seal do not need to be removed for a probe to access contents of the container, when used in a diagnostic analyzer, thereby eliminating operator steps of cap removal and seal peeling/perforation. Automated opening of the cap and seal combination is provided by puncturing the seal. The seal retains its opened shape required for unobstructed, non-contact probe access to contents of the container. The seal is comprised of three layers: a first polymer sealing layer capable of being heat-sealed to a container; an aluminum foil layer on top of the first polymer sealing layer, configured to heat seal the first layer by inductive heating; and a second polymer layer on top of the aluminum foil layer for protection.