Methods and structures are disclosed. An example method includes: rotating a tubular mandrel about a longitudinal axis of the tubular mandrel; depositing a composite material on an inner surface of the tubular mandrel to form a composite tubular member on the inner surface of the tubular mandrel; inserting and expanding an inner expandable mandrel within the composite tubular member to cause the inner expandable mandrel to press the composite tubular member against the inner surface of the tubular mandrel; curing the composite tubular member; removing the inner expandable mandrel; placing a frame within the composite tubular member; and removing the tubular mandrel so as to obtain the composite tubular member with the frame placed therein.

Methods and structures are disclosed. An example method includes: rotating a tubular mandrel about a longitudinal axis of the tubular mandrel; depositing a composite material on an inner surface of the tubular mandrel to form a composite tubular member on the inner surface of the tubular mandrel; inserting and expanding an inner expandable mandrel within the composite tubular member to cause the inner expandable mandrel to press the composite tubular member against the inner surface of the tubular mandrel; curing the composite tubular member; removing the inner expandable mandrel; placing a frame within the composite tubular member; and removing the tubular mandrel so as to obtain the composite tubular member with the frame placed therein.

A method for obtaining and applying a sealing gasket element on a slide-valve sliding in a cavity of an apparatus for the recirculation and mixing of chemically reactive polymeric components, comprises the steps of: obtaining from an elastic-plastic material a precursor element of the seal element, with a grid structure having a reticular shape; positioning the precursor element around the slide-valve; exerting on the precursor element, through temporary clamping elements, a radial compression and contraction action to insert it and couple it to one or more housing seats provided on the slide-valve so as to obtain the seal element well coupled to the latter; progressively removing the clamping elements to sequentially release successive parts of the gasket element and gradually free the slide-valve to gradually introduce the parts of the slide-valvefreed in successionin the housing cavity allowing the sealing gasket element to gradually expand radially due to the elastic return by adhering tightly to the inner surface of the same housing cavity. The special equipment for fitting the sealing gasket element on the slide-valve and the so obtained recirculation and mixing apparatus is also described.

A method of making a waveguiding optical component includes processing a polymer optical material to form a billet having an axis of light transmission and having residual stress maintaining a transverse extent of the billet; placing the billet into a mold, the mold being configured to constrain transverse expansion of the billet according to a desired shape of the waveguiding optical component; and heating the billet in the mold to induce relaxation of the residual stress and corresponding transverse expansion of the billet, thereby forming the billet into the waveguiding optical component with the desired shape. An alternative method begins with a collection of individual canes or fiber segments which are fused during the heating process, bypassing a separate process of forming a billet.

An installation for compacting strands or a preform including strands, the strands or the preform including at least a first portion in which the strands are twisted at a first angle and a second portion in which the strands are twisted at a second angle different from the first angle, the installation including a mould which includes the strands or the preform, and wherein the mould has at least a first part in which the first portion of the strands or of the preform is disposed, having a first thickness and a second part in which the second portion of the strands or of the preform is disposed, having a second thickness different from the first thickness.

Methods and structures are disclosed. An example method includes: rotating a tubular mandrel about a longitudinal axis of the tubular mandrel; depositing a composite material on an inner surface of the tubular mandrel to form a composite tubular member on the inner surface of the tubular mandrel; inserting and expanding an inner expandable mandrel within the composite tubular member to cause the inner expandable mandrel to press the composite tubular member against the inner surface of the tubular mandrel; curing the composite tubular member; removing the inner expandable mandrel; placing a frame within the composite tubular member; and removing the tubular mandrel so as to obtain the composite tubular member with the frame placed therein.

A device for making a double-sided toothed belt has an inner mold having teeth and an outer mold. The outer mold includes segments arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the inner mold and mutually adjacent. The device has a force transmission element arranged on the radial outer side of the segments. A pressure vessel has a cylindrical wall surrounding the force transmission element. The force transmission element is formed as a bellows fastened with two ends in pressure-tight fashion to the pressure vessel. The force transmission element is arranged in a ring-shaped space formed between the wall of the pressure vessel and the radial outer side of the segments. The pressure vessel has a pressure medium bore which opens into the ring-shaped space radially outside the force transmission element. The segments and the inner mold each have one axial passage bore through which fluid can be conducted.

A method of manufacturing a polymeric stent by forming a pattern on a polymer tube with a laser, where the pattern formed on the polymer tube comprises a plurality of repeating units comprising a plurality of unit cells, each having a V-shaped configuration and polymeric stents formed by the methods. The pattern may be formed on the polymer tube (e.g., polylactic acid tube) using a second harmonic generator laser in which a wavelength ranging from 940 nm to 1552 nm is converted.

A method of manufacturing a polymeric stent by forming a pattern on a polymer tube with a laser, where the pattern formed on the polymer tube comprises a plurality of repeating units comprising a plurality of unit cells, each having a V-shaped configuration and polymeric stents formed by the methods. The pattern may be formed on the polymer tube (e.g., polylactic acid tube) using a second harmonic generator laser in which a wavelength ranging from 940 nm to 1552 nm is converted.

Disclosed is an apparatus for forming a plastic fuel tank for a vehicle, wherein when a parison is formed into semi-finished products having a shape of the fuel tank, the semi-finished products are formed by press forming using first and second molds and an intermediate mold. The semi-finished products are formed without using a blow molding process.