A fiber optic cable includes a cable core of core elements and a protective sheath surrounding the core elements, an armor surrounding the cable core, the armor comprising a single overlap portion when the fiber optic cable is viewed in cross-section, and a jacket surrounding the armor, the jacket having at least two longitudinal discontinuities extruded therein. A method of accessing the cable core without the use of ripcords includes removing a portion of the armor in an access section by pulling the armor away from the cable core so that an overlap portion separates around the cable core as it is being pulled past the cable core. A protective sheath protects the core elements as the armor is being pulled around the cable core.

A three-dimensional electronic, biological, chemical, thermal management, and/or electromechanical apparatus can be configured by depositing one or more layers of a three-dimensional structure on a substrate. Such a three-dimensional structure can include one or more internal cavities using an additive manufacturing system enhanced with a range of secondary embedding processes. The three-dimensional structure can be further configured with structural integrated metal objects spanning the internal cavities (possibly filled with air or even evacuated) of the three-dimensional structure for enhanced electromagnetic properties.

An interface pad for a concrete tie includes a resilient contact pad to cushion the tie from any overlying parts in a railway application, such as panels in a grade crossing or rails in a turnout. The pad may be flat or a cupped shape and may be of varying size to accommodate varying tie widths. The invention further comprises means and methods to correctly secure such an interface pad to a concrete railroad tie and minimize the possibility that the interface pad will be forcibly removed from the tie during installation of the tie.

A method for manufacturing components includes joining a first edge of a thermoplastic-containing first component part and a second edge of a thermoplastic-containing second component part to one another without any overlap. The first and the second edge are interconnected by friction stir welding. Friction stir welding involves rubbing a rotating friction stir welding pin against at least one metal object.

A bicycle saddle manufacturing method includes the steps of expanding a foamable material to form the foamable material into a semi-finished saddle body, and performing a thermoforming process to form the semi-finished saddle body into a saddle in a forming mold. As a result, the bicycle saddle manufacturing method of the present invention can avoid waste of material and environmental pollution.

Items may be packaged for shipping or storage using additive manufacturing techniques, also known as three dimensional (3-D) printing. Packages made by such processes may be referred to as 3-D printed packages and may include packing material printed at least partially around the item(s) and/or an outer cover printed about at least a portion of an exterior of the packing material and/or the item(s). A packaging system may include a 3-D printer and a computing device communicatively coupled to the 3-D printer. The computing device may obtain a packaging model describing a package for one or more items. A print module of the computing device may include instructions to print the package at least partially about the item(s) according to the packaging model.

A method is shown for installing a heat tube on a section of pre-insulated piping. A metal carrier pipe is covered with a first layer of foam insulation. Next, a wire brush is used to cut a longitudinal slot along the length of the pipe so that the pipe exterior surface is exposed from the insulation. A heat tube is then installed within the longitudinal slot, whereby the heat tube contacts the exterior surface of the metal carrier pipe. A second layer of foam insulation is then sprayed onto the exterior of the metal carrier pipe, covering the previously formed longitudinal slot and installed heat tube. A polyolefin coating is then applied over the insulation to form a protective outer jacket for the insulated pipe.

A process for manufacturing finished wire and cable having reduced coefficient of friction and pulling force during installation, includes providing a payoff reel containing at least one internal conductor wire; supplying the at least one internal conductor wire from the reel to at least one extruder; providing the least one extruder, wherein the at least one extruder applies an insulating material and a polymerized jacket composition over the at least one internal conductor wire, wherein the polymerized jacket composition comprises a predetermined amount by weight of nylon; and at least 3% by weight of a silica providing a cooling device for lowering the temperature of the extruded insulating material and the polymerized jacket composition and cooling the insulating material and the polymerized jacket composition in the cooling device; and, reeling onto a storage reel the finished, cooled, wire and cable for storage and distribution.

A film in which a decorative design layer is formed on a base film is positioned and locked relative to a cavity mold while the mold is open. A pressing portion includes a tip portion made of a soft material. The tip portion pushes the film toward the cavity mold and presses the film against a portion of the molding surface. In this state, vacuum suction causes the film to stick to the molding surface. After that, an article body is molded by injecting molten plastic into the cavity while the mold is clamped. The obtained decorative molded article includes the decorative design layer that decorates the design surface of the article body by causing the decorative design layer of the film to stick to the design surface of the article body.

Various components and methods related to a leading edge assembly are disclosed. The leading edge assembly can include an outer strike shell and a foam core. The foam core can be located inside the outer strike shell. The leading edge assembly can include a heating element with a plurality of sensors and wires. A method of manufacturing a leading edge assembly can include forming a composite layer, applying a metallic layer to the composite layer, installing an electronic device, and inserting a foam core into a cavity bounded by the composite layer and/or the electronic device.