A fabric coated or impregnated with an elastomeric material may include a polyurethane dispersion layer combined with a sealant. The fabric may be applied in such a fashion so as to enable the elimination of solvent or fluid that is associated with the elastomer. The polyurethane dispersion layer generally comprises an elastomeric material dispersed or dissolved in a liquid medium, such as, but not limited to, water. At the same time, the integrity of the elastomeric composite which is formed from the dispersion and sealant layers may be maintained in order to minimize the presence of air voids and pockets. It has thus been realized that in doing so the performance of the self-sealing volume is dramatically improved. This method of construction usually may be accomplished without significantly adding to the weight or thickness of the volume and without affecting the outer dimension of the self-sealing volume.

A fuel tank includes: a tank main body made of a resin material; and a cover member which is formed using threads made of a fiber-reinforced composite material containing a thermoplastic resin fusible to a surface of the tank main body. The cover member has a twill weave structure at least in its portion fused to the upper surface of the tank main body. The threads each have a core-sheath structure in which a fiber made of a polypropylene resin is coated with a polyethylene resin.

A device and method for aligning preforms in a row and righting same, the method being intended for use with axisymmetric preforms having an annular supporting face. The method includes a first step of discharging the preforms in bulk onto a rotating horizontal platen; a second step of aligning the preforms against a fixed peripheral rail by way of the centrifugal force produced by the rotation of the rotating platen; a third step of successively righting the aligned preforms by tilting the preform bodies, performed under the annular supporting face. During the second alignment step, the main axis of the preforms is oriented essentially tangentially to the direction of movement.

The present invention provides a preform coating device (5) provided with: a rotating and holding part (9) that holds a preform (1) in a horizontal direction, and rotates the preform (1) about an axis (A) of the preform (1); and a dispenser (6) that has a slot (62) and discharges a coating liquid in a plane form from the slot (62) to the preform (1), wherein the discharge direction of the coating liquid is the direction of the normal to an outer peripheral surface of the preform (1).

Disclosed is a method for aligning preforms in a row and righting same, the method being intended for use with axisymmetric preforms having an annular supporting face. The method includes: a first step of discharging preforms in bulk onto a rotating horizontal platen; a second step of aligning the preforms against a fixed peripheral rail by way of the centrifugal force produced by the rotation of the rotating platen; a third step of successively righting the aligned preforms by tilting the preform bodies, performed under the annular supporting face. During the second alignment step, the main axis of the preforms is oriented essentially tangentially to the direction of movement. Also disclosed is a device for carrying out the method.

The present invention provides a preform coating device (10) provided with a cylindrical transfer roller (11) for rotating about a center shaft (111), and an application device for applying a coating liquid in a predetermined thickness to an external peripheral face of the transfer roller (11), the external peripheral face of the transfer roller (11) rotating so as to touch an external peripheral face of a preform (1), and the coating liquid thereby being transferred from the external peripheral face of the transfer roller (11) to the external peripheral face of the preform (1).