Methods for making structural shims (220) for the mating assembly of parts, such as for installation between a skin (212) and substructure (214) of an aircraft. The methods include the steps of disposing a hardenable composition (216) into a gap between the first (212) and second parts (214), hardening the hardenable composition to provide a shim pattern (218) that is dimensionally stable, and removing the shim pattern from the gap without damage. The shim pattern can be used to provide a digital model thereof, which can in turn be used to fabricate the structural shim (220).

A chuck for gripping and moving cylindrical bodies, in particular fittings and pipe segments, including a main body defining an axis of rotation and a plurality of jaws fastened to the main body; the jaws are movable between a position of maximum closure, in which they are at the minimum distance from the axis of rotation, to a position of maximum opening, in which they are at the maximum distance from the axis of rotation; the chuck has an adjuster means for adjusting the positions of maximum closure and maximum opening and a movement means for moving the jaws between the positions of maximum closure and maximum opening; the chuck includes a fixing means adapted to allow the axial fixing of the chuck to a support member and the connection of the chuck to the support member so that they are angularly rotatable with respect to each other.

A pipe processing apparatus, for forming branches on pipes made of thermoplastic material, including a base adapted to be fastened to the outer wall of a pipe and a supporting structure which extends from the base; a support member is slidingly associated with the supporting structure and is adapted to receive an interchangeable processing/handling means configured to interact with the pipe; the apparatus also includes a movement means which engages the support member in order to move it on command along a processing axis. The supporting structure includes a single elongated structural element.

A heat sink for use in induction welding includes a number of tiles, wherein the tiles are electrically non-conductive and have a thermal diffusivity of greater than about 25 mm2/sec. A joint flexibly joins the tiles together.

A pipe joining system and pipe joint are shown m which two sections of molecularly oriented pipe are joined using heat shrinking techniques. A first section of pipe is provided having a straight, pre-formed socket with an internal diameter and with an end opening having enough clearance to allow a mating spigot section having a given external diameter to be inserted into the socket end opening. After the spigot end is inserted to a given depth, the socket is heated sufficiently so that the internal diameter of the socket end comes into contact with the external diameter of the spigot end, the molecularly oriented pipe being in a rubbery state and exhibiting a low elastic modulus which allows the socket end to conform tightly to the spigot end external diameter without deforming the spigot end.

Compaction systems and methods of compacting components are provided. In one aspect, a laminate of a component can be laid up on a tool of a compaction system. The laminate defines a cavity. A noodle is positioned relative to or in the cavity. A noodle ring is then positioned relative to the noodle. For instance, the noodle ring can be placed over the noodle. A cross section of the noodle ring can be shaped complementary to a cross section of the noodle. A plunger of the compaction system is moved so that it engages the noodle ring. Particularly, the plunger is moved in such a way that a force is applied on the noodle ring so that the noodle ring compacts the noodle into the cavity.

An induction welder is provided that includes a first lead, a second lead and an induction welding coil. The induction welding coil is electrically coupled with the first lead and the second lead. The induction welding coil is configured as or otherwise includes a conductive element. This conductive element is configured into at least a plurality of loops arranged within a common plane.

A cap and a method for forming the same are provided. An integrally formed outer layer of fabric and an integrally formed moldable layer are adhesively bonded together to form a moldable front panel. A curved front side of the front panel is then formed by a mold. After that, the front panel and a plurality of side panels are connected to form a crown, and a peak is subsequently connected to the front panel of the crown to form the cap. Once the curved front side of the front panel is formed by heating and pressure application through the mold, the integrally formed moldable layer keeps the front panel in shape, so there is no need to support the outer layer of fabric and curve the front panel with two pieces of buckram that are stitched together, as is conventionally required.

An apparatus is described for securing an edge of the material to a support surface. A guide surface is positioned adjacent the edge to be secured. A weld head engages the edge of the material in a plurality of locations. A drive mechanism advances the weld head on the guide surface. The weld head engages the edge of the material and transfers energy to secure the edge of material in the desired position on the support surface.

A heatsink, a method of manufacturing the heatsink, and an induction welding apparatus including the heatsink. The heatsink includes a carrier sheet and a plurality of tiles. The carrier sheet comprises an electrically non-conductive material and has a contoured profile. The plurality of tiles comprises a thermally conductive and electrically non-conductive material. Each tile of the plurality of tiles has a bonding surface bonded to the carrier sheet and a contact surface opposite the bonding surface. The contact surface is configured to contact a structure to be induction welded.