A void between two or more composite laminate parts is filled by a composite laminate filler that is laid up and integral with at least one of the parts.

A composite wheel assembly and method of fabricating the same is provided. The wheel assembly includes a composite wheel rim, a wheel center, and a plurality of attachment fasteners for attaching the wheel center to the wheel rim. The wheel rim includes a plurality of attachment inserts that are configured to selectively engage with respective attachment fasteners. Each attachment insert is encapsulated by a plurality of composite layers of the wheel rim or is otherwise secured to the wheel rim. The attachment inserts extend from and/or are positioned within a drop well region of the wheel rim. The method of fabricating the wheel assembly includes forming first and second preforms and positioning the same onto a mold assembly. The method further includes positioning the attachment inserts between the first and second preforms such that the attachment inserts are secured therebetween.

A method of manufacturing a cured composite structure includes inserting a plurality of radius filler segments into a radius cavity extending along a length of an uncured composite base member to form an uncured structural assembly. The plurality of radius filler segments are placed in end-to-end arrangement within the radius cavity and each having opposing segment ends and being formed of a thermoplastic material. The method additionally includes heating the structural assembly at least to a base member cure temperature that causes the segment ends of end-to-end pairs of the plurality of radius filler segments to fuse together and form a continuous radius filler element that extends along the length of the composite base member. The method also includes allowing the structural assembly to cure to form a cured composite structure.

A method of making a composite article comprised of a first component (10) and a second component (30) includes (a) providing a first component (10) and an optically transparent member (22) having a build surface with the first component having a first three-dimensional interfacing segment formed thereon; (b) immersing the first three-dimensional interfacing segment in polymerizable liquid (21); (c) forming an intermediate object by irradiating a build region with light through an optically transparent member and also advancing the first three-dimensional component and the build surface away from one another to form from the polymerizable liquid (21) a second component (30) on said first three-dimensional interfacing segment, with the second component including a second three-dimensional interfacing segment in contact with the first three-dimensional interfacing segment; then (d) optionally washing the intermediate; and then (e) further solidifying the second three-dimensional component (30) on said first three-dimensional component (10) to form said composite article.

To improve the range of application of manufacturing methods for fiber-reinforced polymer or metal hybrid composite components, and preferably to enable the introduction of fiber bundles into a larger number of geometries, such as branches, merging points and intersections, a production method for producing a component including a composite material with a fiber reinforcement which is formed from fiber bundles and resin is disclosed. A component body with tube-like cavities is initially provided. Curable resin is introduced into the cavities. A pulling apparatus for the fiber bundles is also inserted into at least one of the cavities. The pulling apparatus includes at least one pulling member suitable for pulling the fiber bundles and transmitting compressive force. As a result of pulling of the pulling member, the fiber bundles are pulled into the cavities.

A dispenser apparatus for a curable liquid material is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a flexible bag defining a first compartment for accommodating a first component of a curable liquid material, and a second compartment for accommodating a second component of the curable liquid material and adapted to communicate with the first chamber to enable mixing of the first and second components to initiate curing of the curable liquid material. A first clamp temporarily prevents mixing of the first and second components, and an elongate nozzle communicates with the second compartment to dispense the mixed curable liquid material therefrom. A second clamp temporarily prevents passage of the curable liquid material from the second compartment to the nozzle.

A method for plugging a subset of cells of a honeycomb structure that includes: covering a first end face of the honeycomb structure with a mask that comprises a body and a plurality of openings, wherein the plurality of openings of the mask is coincident with a plurality of cells of the honeycomb structure; providing a plenum, a movable plunger and a flow plate; positioning a cylinder between the honeycomb structure and the plenum; dispensing a plugging material into the plenum; moving the plunger toward the flow plate with a force to push the plugging material through the flow plate into the cylinder, the moving generating a pressure in the plenum and the cylinder that forces the plugging material through the mask into the plurality of cells of the honeycomb structure to a predetermined depth; and determining the pressure within the cylinder during the moving of the plunger.

A method for manufacturing a composite structure in which a first member and a structure material as a second member are integrated, the method including: an arrangement step of arranging a structure precursor including a resin and reinforced fibers in a mold made of the first member; a heating step of heating the structure precursor to equal to or higher than a temperature at which a storage elastic modulus (G′) of the structure precursor is less than 1.2×10.sup.8 Pa; a shaping step of expanding the structure precursor by heating to form a structure material as a second member, and bringing the structure material into close contact with the first member to obtain a composite structure; and a cooling step of cooling the composite structure.

A method for manufacturing a laminated iron core includes preheating a laminated body in which a plurality of iron core pieces are laminated and which includes a resin filling hole, measuring a temperature of the laminated body after preheating the laminated body, determining whether or not the temperature measured is within a predetermined range, feeding the laminated body into a molding device in a case where it is determined that the temperature is within the predetermined range, and filling the resin filling hole of the laminated body with a resin material in the molding device.

A barrier including an outer edge and a plurality of elements such as bristles projecting inwardly from the outer edge. An electrical fitting including a body having an inner cavity, an aperture within the inner cavity between a first portion and a second portion, and a barrier positioned within or adjacent to the aperture, the barrier including an outer edge and a plurality of bendable elements. A method of assembling an electrical fitting including providing a barrier including an outer edge and a plurality of bendable elements projecting inwardly, placing the barrier within an inner cavity of the electrical fitting, placing a conductor into the second portion of the inner cavity, a distal portion of the conductor extending through the barrier and into a first portion of the inner cavity, and filling the first portion of the inner cavity with a sealing compound.