A first pressure transmission member is formed of a soft material that is softer than the material of a second pressure transmission member. The second pressure transmission member has an area that is larger than that of the first pressure transmission member, and includes a pressurizing surface in contact with the first pressure transmission member, and a pressure receiving surface, which is disposed on the reverse side of the pressurizing surface, and which faces a bag material, the pressure receiving surface having an area that is larger than that of the pressurizing surface.

A method for molding a composite material in which a curved corner is formed between two planes by using a molding jig includes: shaping a laminated body in such a manner that a thickness of the laminated body is decreased from an outer side toward an inner side of the corner, by using the molding jig in which the angle formed by the two planes is a first bending angle, the laminated body including fiber sheets laminated so as to have the corner curved at the first bending angle; and shaping the laminated body in such a manner that the thickness is decreased from the outer side toward the inner side by curving the corner so as to form a second bending angle, by using the molding jig in which the angle formed by the two planes is the second bending angle smaller than the first bending angle.

A method for molding a composite material in which a curved corner is formed between two planes by using a molding jig includes: shaping a laminated body in such a manner that a thickness of the laminated body is decreased from an outer side toward an inner side of the corner, by using the molding jig in which the angle formed by the two planes is a first bending angle, the laminated body including fiber sheets laminated so as to have the corner curved at the first bending angle; and shaping the laminated body in such a manner that the thickness is decreased from the outer side toward the inner side by curving the corner so as to form a second bending angle, by using the molding jig in which the angle formed by the two planes is the second bending angle smaller than the first bending angle.

A screw system including a plurality of segmented blades. Each blade segment of the plurality of blade segments including a mounting portion and a vane portion. The mounting portion, having a helical length, for removably attaching the blade segment. The vane portion extending from the mounting portion along the helical length thereof. The vane portion having a front surface that is not parallel to a back surface from the mounting portion to a tip of the blade segment, along the helical length.

The pipe structure according to the present invention includes: a fiber-reinforced plastic pipe 5; moisture-proof foils 11, 12 which individually cover an outer circumferential surface of the pipe 5 and an inner circumferential surface thereof; and an intermediate part 4 which is made of metal and fitted to an end of the pipe 5, wherein end portions of the moisture-proof foils 11, 12 are tightly sandwiched between the pipe 5 and the intermediate part 4. This configuration reliably prevents an FRP pipe from absorbing moisture, and thus, prevents the FRP pipe from shrinking due to moisture exhaustion in outer space, whereby it is possible to obtain the pipe structure having excellent dimensional stability.

A method for producing a fiber-reinforced plastic from a prepreg is provided with: executing a first heating to retain the prepreg in a first atmosphere, a temperature of the first atmosphere being above a room temperature and not higher than 100 degrees C.; after executing the first heating, executing a second heating to retain the prepreg in a second atmosphere, a temperature of the second atmosphere being not lower than 150 degrees C. and lower than a curing temperature of the prepreg; and after executing the second heating, executing a third heating to retain the pregreg in a third atmosphere, a temperature of the third atmosphere being higher than the curing temperature, wherein at least the first atmosphere and the second atmosphere are under reduced pressure below an atmospheric pressure.

This disclosure is directed to a thermoplastic composite material forming method and tooling used to perform the method. More specifically, this disclosure is directed to a method of fabricating large, complex thermoplastic composite part shapes with a consolidation tool having a conformable tooling bladder that heat thermoplastic material in the tool and provide thermoplastic material consolidation pressure in directions in the tool to form a part shape of thermoplastic composite material. A novel tooling concept is used to fabricate large, complex thermoplastic composite part shapes which are not easily producible using traditional methods. The tooling concept employs a consolidation tool that provides a method to apply thermoplastic material consolidation pressure by a conformable tooling bladder that provides thermoplastic material consolidation pressure in directions in the tool that are not achievable by conventional clamshell type molds where the mold parts move in substantially vertical tool opening and tool closing directions.

An example system for processing composite material includes a cure tool, a source of pressurized gas, and a vacuum bag forming an enclosed volume between the cure tool and the vacuum bag. The system further includes composite material positioned on the cure tool within the enclosed volume. The source of pressurized gas is configured to inflate the vacuum bag, thereby moving a portion of the vacuum bag away from the cure tool and the composite material. An example method includes placing composite material onto a cure tool, placing a vacuum bag over the composite material and the cure tool to form an enclosed volume between the cure tool and the vacuum bag, processing the composite material while the composite material is within the enclosed volume, and inflating the vacuum bag to move a portion of the vacuum bag away from the cure tool and the composite material.

Disclosed herein are components, systems, and methods to improve characteristics of a manufactured article. Specifically, embodiments of a high pressure system includes an apparatus that subjects the article to specific pressures and temperatures for an amount of time to improve characteristics of the article. Methods of manufacturing include use of the high pressure system to subject the article to specific pressures and temperatures for an amount of time to improve characteristics of the article.

Disclosed herein are components, systems, and methods to improve characteristics of a manufactured article. Specifically, embodiments of a high pressure system includes an apparatus that subjects the article to specific pressures and temperatures for an amount of time to improve characteristics of the article. Methods of manufacturing include use of the high pressure system to subject the article to specific pressures and temperatures for an amount of time to improve characteristics of the article.