A preform-charge fixture creates a preform charge, which is a partially consolidated assemblage of preforms that can be efficiently transferred to a mold to create a finished part in a molding process, such as compression molding. In the illustrative embodiment, the preform-charge fixture includes peripheral cleats that are movable towards a central cleat to create a small gap therebetween that receives and constrains preforms in a desired position. The fixture also includes clamps, which are operable to engage an uppermost layer of preforms in the gap and apply a slight amount of downward pressure thereto to assure that the preforms are properly seated. The fixture also accommodates an energy source that heats the preforms so that, in conjunction with downforce applied by the clamps and/or gravity, the preforms can be tacked together, forming the preform charge.

The invention is a mold (100) of an apparatus to produce plastic pipe that consists of the body (2) that has been supported to its place, the roll like roll organs (1.1) that have been supported to the body by the roll organs (3) that have been set to move the plastic pipe axially in its production process, additionally, it consists of at least four chain organs (1) the chains (1) of each of which consist of the mentioned roll organs and joints (1.4) between them where each chain has been set to go round at least two chain wheels (1.2, 1.3) and each joint has been supported at the ends of its axis (1.6) to at least two like conductors (1.7) that have been set to conduct the mentioned circular motion of the chain and the conductors of each chain organ contain a part that is essentially in the same direction as the center axis (C) of the mold and the roll organ center axes that are in the place of these parts are in the same center line as the mold center axis and the mentioned roll organs have been set to be in contact with the inside surface or the outside surface of the plastic pipe during the production of the plastic pipe and at least one chain wheel of each chain organ has been set to be powered to rotate by motor power around its axis at such a speed and in such a direction that the roll organs that are in chain in the before mentioned position are able to move in the direction of the production of the plastic pipe at its production speed.

A method of constructing a mandrel generally complementary to a spar cavity of a spar includes connecting a first component and a second component to form a central space there between and inserting a center component within the central space such that the center component retains the first component and second component in a desired position forming an outer surface of the mandrel which corresponds to an inner surface of the spar cavity.

An apparatus for manufacturing an annular or semi-annular composite component having a circumferentially-extending base and a flange, the apparatus including: a loom for weaving a woven preform of fibre reinforcement material for the composite component; a rotatable mandrel configured to receive and draw the woven preform through the loom for weaving; and a guide disposed between the loom and the rotatable mandrel, configured so that a woven preform drawn by the rotatable mandrel along a guide path under tension engages the guide to transition to a flanged profile at a lip of the guide before being received on the mandrel.

A tubular membrane comprises a support tube made out of one or more flexible tapes of porous support material which have been helically wound into a tube shape with overlapping tape edges which have been sealed to each other, and a semi-permeable membrane layer made of membrane forming material on an inner wall of the support tube. At least one inwardly projecting helical ridge is provided on said inner wall of the support tube, which helical ridge is covered with or forms part of the membrane layer.

Embodiments are directed to systems and methods for creating a tubular composite structure. In one embodiment, a device comprises multiple layers of cured composite fabric bonded together to form a tubular composite structure, wherein alternating groups of the multiple layers comprise on-axis fabric and off-axis fabric. The tubular composite structure may form a spar for an aerodynamic component. The composite fabric may comprise one or more of carbon, fiberglass, or other composite materials, or a combination of materials. One or more stacks of the fabric wrap completely around the tubular composite structure, and other stacks of fabric may not wrap completely around the tubular composite structure.

An installation for shaping a fiber preform as a body of revolution presenting a profile that varies in radial section, the installation including a storage mandrel for storing a fiber texture, follower rollers, and a mold in the form of a body of revolution on which the fiber texture is to be shaped by winding, the follower roller(s) being placed between the storage mandrel and the mold in the form of a body of revolution. The storage mandrel, each follower roller, and the mold present radii across their axial widths that vary to define outer surfaces having profiles in relief. A follower roller has sectors releasably fastened on the outer surface of the roller, each sector extending over a fraction of the circumference of the roller and over all or part of the axial width of the roller.

A method for producing a film and a film winding device are provided. When transferring of the film is slowed for winding of the film to be suspended and after winding of the film is suspended, transferring of the film is accelerated for winding of the film to be resumed. The film has a tension at a first level during a period extending from slowing of transferring of the film to suspending of winding of the film. Alternatively, the film has a tension at a first level during a period extending from a predetermined time point during a period during which winding of the film is suspended to a time point at which the accelerating starts. The first level of the tension is higher than a second level that the tension has immediately before slowing of the transferring of the film starts.

A filament winding apparatus includes a rail extending in a first direction, a core material support device that supports a core material, and a winding device that winds a fiber bundle onto an outer peripheral surface of the core material, the winding device including: a guide unit having an opening through which the core material passes, and guiding the fiber bundle; and a main frame on which the guide unit is mounted; wherein the main frame is movable relative to the core material in the first direction, the main frame is movable in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and the main frame is rotatable around a first rotational axis extending in a third direction orthogonal to each of the first direction and the second direction.

There is disclosed an apparatus for winding filaments to form a structure. The apparatus includes a carrier which mounts spools of fiber, a mandrel, and a guide element which directs fiber tows, comprising filaments from the spools, onto the mandrel. The system further includes a heating element which applies heat to the fiber tows, and a diaphragm element which defines an orifice about the mandrel. The diaphragm element includes one or more displaceable portions which define a physical dimension of the orifice and which: displace to vary the physical dimension of the orifice; and apply a predetermined pressure to the fiber tows disposed on the mandrel. Also disclosed and described is a related method.