Second member (20) includes a material that is difficult to weld to first member (10). First member (10) is provided with first penetrating part (11) penetrating in a thickness direction. Third member (30) is arc-welded to an inner peripheral surface of first penetrating part (11) and opening surface (10a) of first member (10) via second penetrating part (21) of second member (20). Second member (20) is compressed by flange (31) and first member (10) by solidification contraction of third member (30), and second member (20) is therefore fixed between flange (31) of third member (30) and first member (10).

A method of mechanically connecting a connector to a first object includes providing the first object having an opening, providing a first connector element, a second connector element, and thermoplastic material in a solid state, placing the first and second connector elements relative to the opening, causing energy to impinge on the thermoplastic material until at least a portion thereof becomes flowable and flows relative to the first and second connector elements until it is in direct (intimate) contact with both the first and second connector elements, and causing the thermoplastic material to re-solidify (for example by letting the thermoplastic material to cool down to room temperature). The re-solidified thermoplastic material locks the first and second connector elements relative to one another to yield a connector assembly that is anchored in the opening by the thermoplastic material and/or by the locking of the first and second connector elements.

A substrate support structure includes: a substrate support including: a support body; and a protrusion including a base portion and a leading-end portion, the protrusion protruding from the support body; and a substrate having: a substrate body; a through hole provided at the substrate body; and a protruded portion surrounding the through hole, the protruded portion protruding from a first face of the substrate body, in which the base portion of the protrusion passes through the through hole, and the leading-end portion protrudes from the first face of the substrate body inside the protruded portion and engages with the substrate body such that the through hole is covered.

Second member (20) includes a material that is difficult to weld to first member (10). First member (10) is provided with non-through hole (11) having a depth not penetrating in a thickness direction. Third member (30) is welded, via penetrating part (21) of second member (20), to an inner peripheral surface and a bottom of non-through hole (11) and opening surface (10a) of first member (10) opened by penetrating part (11) of second member (20). Second member (20) is compressed by flange (31) and first member (10) by solidification contraction of third member (30), and second member (20) is therefore fixed between flange (31) of third member (30) and first member (10).

The present disclosure concerns apparatus and methods for reinforcing composite materials by insertion of reinforcement pins. Example embodiments include an apparatus for reinforcing a composite preform, comprising: a carriage for introducing reinforcement pins into the composite preform, the carriage comprising a drill module, a pin feeder module and a tamper module, the assembly being translatable relative to the composite preform, wherein the drill module and pin feeder module are exchangeable between a common actuation position on the carriage.

A mechanical system that assembles or deploys pre-stressed structures. The assembly or deployment process outputs and elastically deforms material to form flexural members having a sinusoidal shape and stored potential energy. The sinusoidal shaped members are oriented and deployed with support members as they take shape. Sinusoidal shaped members are formed from a series of contiguous flexures; each flexure's properties may be engineered using a simulation technique. Each flexure is formed from a region of a sinusoidal member's length that begins and ends at antinodes. During assembly or deployment support members are positioned at antinodes maintaining the flexures' shapes and the assembly's pre-stressed state. By controlling the forces applied to and position of each flexure formed during assembly, the distribution of potential energy within the assembly and its secondary shape can be engineered. Elastic potential energy may be harvested from the material forming the flexural members.

A system and a method for securing a first composite panel to a second composite panel include a latch assembly having one or more latches. The latch assembly is configured to be secured to one of the first composite panel or the second composite panel. One or more strikes are configured to retain at least a portion of the one or more latches. The one or more strikes are configured to be secured to the other of the first composite panel or the second composite panel.

A method is provided for producing a common connecting opening in two components, at least one of which is made from a plastically deformable material. In the method, at least the edge region of a first prefabricated opening of the first component is softened in order subsequently to introduce a mandrel which displaces the material softened by the heating so that a common connecting opening having a predetermined diameter is obtained.

An apparatus and method of forming a shell defining a first side and a second side, wherein the shell is formed from a one-piece integral structure, forming an opening configured to provide access to the storage compartment, the opening including a closure device, forming a first carry strap and a second carry strap, forming a plurality of reinforcement patches, and forming a base.

A method is disclosed for inserting a nail into at least one component part, the nail having a nail head, a nail shank and a nail tip. The method includes (i) arranging the at least one component part, (ii) positioning the nail, and (iii) driving-in the nail. A force is applied to the nail in the direction of the component part, such that it is pressed into the at least one component part. In addition to the application of force, vibrations are coupled into the nail, and a multipart nail is used.