A mat unit includes a plurality of gaps defined by a first layer that are in open communication with gaps defined by a second layer so as to permit debris to fall entirely through both gaps to pass completely through the mat unit. The mat unit is part of an omnidirectional mat cleaning system that includes a first direction of travel above the mat unit extending through a door opening defined by a building structure. A different second direction of travel is above the mat unit extending through the door opening or another door opening defined by the building structure. The mat unit is installed on a floor adjacent the door opening. The mat unit cleans shoes regardless of the direction of travel traveled above the mat unit.

To reduce the processing time in the case of repairing of excessively countersunk bolt openings or surface damage in fiber composite workpieces, it is proposed to countersink the corresponding surface spot to produce a contact surface and a depression for a fiber composite insert body. The fiber composite insert body is placed onto the contact surface and is fixed on the fiber composite workpiece in the depression. In the case of an excessively countersunk bolt opening, a new bolt opening is drilled into the fiber composite insert body, which new bolt opening is subsequently countersunk to the correct countersunk bore depth. In the case of the method, a three-legged application tool can be used which positions and orients the fiber composite insert body correctly and presses it onto the fiber composite workpiece during the curing of the adhesive.

A sealing method includes dispensing an adhesive on an edge surface of a first part, performing a first activation for hardening the adhesive to a predetermined hardness, performing a second activation for triggering appearance of adhesion strength of the adhesive, assembling the first part and a second part, and pressing the first part and the second part against each other.

A foam assembly system is provided. The system is configured to heat a surface of foam. After the heating of the foam, an adhesive is applied, typically a high solids adhesive. The foam is then bonded to another foam surface. It has been found that the pre-heating of the foam before adhesive application greatly enhances the bond strength between the foam and the second foam surface to which it is adhered.

In some embodiments, a method of forming a bonded assembly includes: providing a first object comprising a first surface having a plurality of locking orifices formed therein, each of the plurality of locking orifices including an opening on the surface of the object and a cavity extending in the first object; positioning an adhesive on at least one of the first surface of the first object and a second surface on a second object; positioning the first surface of the first object on the second surface of the second object with the adhesive between the first and second surfaces; and curing the adhesive to form the bonded assembly.

A fibrous preform (1) is produced, provided with a sandwich structure comprising an intermediate flexible core (4) and two outer fibrous frames (2, 3), respectively arranged on opposing outer faces of said flexible core (4) and assembled by sections of wire (8, 9) passing through said fibrous frames (2, 3), said preform (1) being impregnated with resin. Said preform is then hardened and the core (4) is removed, preferably by pre-densification with chemical vapour infiltration, and the structure produced is then densified with liquid-phase infiltration.

A system of jointing reinforced thermosetting resin (RTR) pipe, including: a first RTR pipe with a spigot portion, the spigot portion having a first joining surface; a second RTR pipe with a socket portion shaped to receive the spigot portion, the socket portion having a second joining surface; and a cavity between the first joining surface and the second joining surface, the cavity formed when the spigot portion is push-fit into the socket portion; and an injectable/curable material located in the cavity. Additionally, a method of jointing RTR pipe, including the steps of: push-fitting a spigot portion of a first pipe into a socket portion of a second pipe, forming a cavity between the spigot portion and the socket portion; injecting a joining compound into the cavity; and curing the joining compound.

A connecting joint for attaching a wind turbine rotor blade to a rotor hub includes a bolt having a blade end configured to be coupled to the rotor blade and a hub end configured to be coupled to the rotor hub. The bolt includes a neck region adjacent the blade end, wherein the neck region has a cross dimension less than a cross dimension of the blade end of the bolt. A wind turbine blade having such a connecting joint is also disclosed. Additionally, a method of making the connecting joint is disclosed.

A connecting joint for attaching a wind turbine blade to a rotor hub includes an insert configured to be coupled to the wind turbine blade. The insert includes a main body having an outer surface configured to interface with the blade, a first tubular extension extending from the main body and having inner and outer surfaces configured to interface with the blade, and a second tubular extension extending away from the main body and having inner and outer surfaces configured to interface with the blade. A wind turbine blade having such a connecting joint is also disclosed. Additionally, a method of making a wind turbine blade including the connecting joint is disclosed.

A method of producing a sealed structural joint between two components (23, 24) and such a sealed joint are provided. The method includes the steps of applying a layer of sealant (27) to the first component (23), applying liquid shim (28) to the second component (24), inserting an intermediate layer (29) between the sealant (27) and the liquid shim (28), the intermediate layer (29) having a series of raised structural features (31) to engage the first component (23). The features (31) are positioned to allow the sealant (27) to extend across the joint between the raised features (31) to form a continuous seal. The joint is then closed and cure of the liquid shim (28) and sealant (27) takes place to solidify the shim (28) to the desired thickness within the joint.