The invention provides a carbon fiber reinforced plastic electrofusion fitting and a self-monitoring method of strain for the fitting. Carbon fiber filled polymer is used to fabricate the fitting to improve the mechanical strength of the fitting. The fitting comprises an electrofusion fitting body embedded with a resistance heating wire and two terminals arranged on the electrofusion fitting body and connected to the two ends of the resistance heating wire respectively. For the self-monitoring of strain, at least one pair of electrodes are set on the surface of the electrofusion fitting. The resistance change between electrodes caused by fitting deformation due to temperature change or mechanical loading during operation can be measured, and could be further used for structural health monitoring of the electrofusion fitting. The combination of mechanical enhancement and strain sensing of the electrofusion fitting can improve the performance and reliability of plastic pipelines.

A control circuitry (11) comprises an adjustable capacitor (C1), and a bias source (111) configured to apply a bias voltage (V2) to said adjustable capacitor (C1) to adjust a capacitance value of the adjustable capacitor (C1). Such a control circuitry may for example be part of a sealing device (1) to seal a medical tubing (2), the sealing device (1) comprising a receptacle (100) to receive said medical tubing (2), the receptacle (100) comprising an electrode arrangement for causing a heat action on the tubing (2).

A multi-scale manufacturing system comprising a centrally located multi-axis and multi-dimensional first manipulating component associated with a housing for manipulating a substrate and a template, a control subsystem coupled to the first manipulating component for controlling movement thereof, a pre-alignment subsystem for pre-aligning the substrate and the template, an assembly station for applying nanomaterial to the template, an alignment station for aligning the template and the substrate together to form a workpiece assembly, and a transfer subsystem for applying pressure to the workpiece assembly for transferring the nanomaterial from the template to the substrate.

There is described a unit (1) for forming/advancing at least one pack (3) or at least one portion of a pack 5 (3), comprising: frame (12a, 12b), at least one carriage (14, 14b), which is movable along a path (13a, 13b) with respect to frame (12a, 12b) and is adapted to form/advance said pack (3) or said at least one portion of a pack (3), an electromagnetic stationary device 10 (50), at least one tag (52a, 52b) carried by carriage (14a, 14b), and wireless communication means (51) configured to establish a bidirectional communication between stationary device (50) and tag (52a, 52b).

A method for creating a termination by attaching some kind of fitting to the end of a tensile member such as a cable. The end fitting is provided with an internal cavity. The cavity has a proximal portion that is adjacent the area where the tensile member exits the fitting and a distal portion on its opposite end. A length of the tensile member's filaments is placed within this expanding cavity and infused with liquid potting compound. The method exploits the characteristic of a liquid potting compound as it transitions to a solid. The potting compound in one portion of the cavity is typically transitioned to a solid at a more rapid rate than other portions. Once the potting compound in one portion of the cavity has transitioned sufficiently to hold the filaments at the desired level, tension is placed on the tensile member and a small linear displacement may be imposed on the tensile member. This linear displacement tends to pull the filaments residing in the potting compound into better alignment and improve load sharing.

Elastomeric components, such as a shoe outsole, are treated with a plasma application to clean and activate the elastomeric component. The application of plasma is controlled to achieve a sufficient surface composition change to enhance adhesion characteristics while not adversely physically deforming the elastomeric component. The plasma treatment is applied to increase carbonyl functional group concentrations within an altered region of the elastomeric component to within at least a range of 2%-15% of carbon atomic percentage composition. The cleaning and activation is controlled, in part, by ensuring a defined height offset range is maintained between the elastomeric component and the plasma source by a generated tool path. The elastomeric component may then be adhered, with an adhesive, to another component.

A method, and an apparatus associated therewith, for detecting plastic tube ends clamped in a butt welding machine, the plastic tube ends being planed by means of a plane, which can be introduced between the plastic tube ends, and subsequently being heated by means of a heating mirror, which can be introduced between the plastic tube ends, and the plastic tube ends are welded together after removal of the heating mirror, the plane and/or the heating mirror being tilted in between the plastic tube ends by means of a controlled movement, wherein detection or sensing of the plastic tube ends during the controlled movement of tilting in the plane and/or the heating mirror is carried out by means of at least one sensor arranged on the plane and/or on the heating mirror.

A multi-scale manufacturing system comprising a centrally located multi-axis and multi-dimensional first manipulating component associated with a housing for manipulating a substrate and a template, a control subsystem coupled to the first manipulating component for controlling movement thereof, a pre-alignment subsystem for pre-aligning the substrate and the template, an assembly station for applying nanomaterial to the template, an alignment station for aligning the template and the substrate together to form a workpiece assembly, and a transfer subsystem for applying pressure to the workpiece assembly for transferring the nanomaterial from the template to the substrate.

A hybrid electrofusion processor selectively operating on either battery power or AC power.

An installation for welding a stack of parts made of thermoplastic composite materials (20) in a local welding plane (P), this installation including an electromagnetic induction head (8), pairs of elements for guiding and pressing the workpiece stack (20) in this local plane (P), and, on each side of the induction head (8), at least one pair of guide elements, each pair of guide elements having a lower guide element (14) and an upper guide element (10) that are superposed, receiving between one another the stack of parts (20) by guiding it in the direction perpendicular to the local welding plane (P).