A tool device and its use for manufacturing a bicycle rim, having opposite rim flanks, a rim well and a rim base and rim flanges configured on the radially outwardly ends of the rim flanks, wherein the tool device includes two molding devices and a circular device. The circular device forms the rim well and the axially inwardly oriented surfaces of the rim flanges. The circular device includes an annular unit of a less elastic material and at least one cover of a more elastic material. Alternately, the molding devices each include a molding unit of a less elastic material and at least one cover of a more elastic material, for attachment thereto. The thickness of the cover is between one eighth of the minimum wall thickness of the rim well of the rim manufactured and eight times the minimum wall thickness of the rim well of the rim manufactured.

A method and apparatus for constructing a tubular assembly 40 comprising an inner portion (24) and a further portion (23) surrounding the inner portion. The inner portion (24) comprises reinforcement (37) and the further portion (23) being formed from a strip (50) of material comprising two opposed longitudinal marginal side portions (53). The apparatus comprises an assembly station (220) comprising a wall (253). The apparatus comprises means for advancing the inner portion (21) along a first path (231) extending passed the wall (253), and means for advancing the strip (50) along a second path (232) and causing the strip to encircle the wall (253) and thereby wrap about and surround the inner portion (21). The apparatus further comprises means (321) for introducing resinous binder into the reinforcement (37) as the strip (50) is being wrapped about the inner portion (21).

A process for forming a flexible composite driveshaft includes providing a mandrel having a rigid region and a compressible region, applying fiber tape to the mandrel using automated fiber placement with in-situ laser curing in the rigid region and without in-situ laser curing the compressible region, and compressing the fiber tape and compressible material in the compressible region to form diaphragms that extend radially outward to a diameter that is at least twice the size of a diameter of the composite driveshaft in the rigid region.

Fluid transfer assemblies for transferring fluid into or out of a single vessel and distributing the fluid to multiple other vessels are provided. The fluid transfer assemblies are customizable, substantially aseptic, and single-use. The fluid transfer assemblies may be manufactured by solidifying polymeric materials to form a body around a mandrel with protrusions engaged to fluid conduits and leaving recesses in the solidified polymeric material to stretch the resultant body and remove the mandrel with protrusions. The resultant fluid transfer assembly may be surrounded by a rigid housing and valves may be engaged with the conduits and/or body to control the fluid flow within the fluid transfer assembly.

Disclosed is an elastomeric bladder tool and related systems and methods. In one embodiment, the elastomeric bladder tool comprises an elastomeric inner layer substantially defining an inner cavity of the elastomeric bladder tool, an elastomeric outer layer substantially defining an outer surface of the elastomeric bladder tool, and a permeable middle layer positioned between the elastomeric inner layer and the elastomeric outer layer. The permeable middle layer has greater permeability than both the elastomeric outer layer and the elastomeric inner layer to allow for evacuating of gases that have entered the permeable middle layer.

A method of forming a sole assembly of an article of footwear including an interior space and an exterior surface includes providing a first portion of the sole assembly. The first portion includes a first surface that at least partially defines the interior space and a first chamber surface that opposes the first surface. The first portion is made from a first material. The method also includes providing a second portion of the sole assembly that includes a second surface that at least partially defines the exterior surface of the article of footwear and a second chamber surface that opposes the second surface. The second portion is made from a second material that is different from the first material. The method additionally includes operably securing the first and second portions such that the first chamber surface and the second chamber surface cooperate to at least partially define a chamber.

A method of forming a sole assembly of an article of footwear that includes an interior space that receives a foot of a wearer is disclosed. The article of footwear also includes an exterior surface. The method includes providing a first portion of the sole assembly. The first portion includes a first surface that at least partially defines the interior space. The first portion also includes a first chamber surface that opposes the first surface. Moreover, the method includes providing a second portion of the sole assembly. The second portion includes a second surface that at least partially defines the exterior surface of the article of footwear. The second portion also includes a second chamber surface that opposes the second surface. The method further includes operably securing the first portion to the second portion such that the first chamber surface and the second chamber surface cooperate to at least partially define a substantially sealed chamber within the sole assembly.

A composite skin and composite stiffeners are co-cured in an autoclave. Uncured stiffeners are placed in channels of a tool, and an uncured skin is placed on the tool contacting the stiffeners. The vacuum bag is sealed over the tool. Bladders placed in the stiffeners are exposed to autoclave pressure through a manifold system employing vent tubes that pass through the vacuum bag along a side of the tool.

The disclosure is directed to a method of manufacturing a layered component. The method includes changing a working pressure in a bladder having a shape and containing a fluid and a plurality of jamming media to convert the bladder into a rigid state. The working pressure is different than an ambient pressure. One or more layers of precursor material are laid on the bladder while the bladder is in the rigid state. The one or more layers of precursor material are processed to form the layered component. The working pressure in the bladder is returned to the ambient pressure to return the bladder to a flaccid state. The bladder, while in the flaccid state, is removed from the layered component.

Systems and methods are provided for utilizing pellet-loaded bladders to consolidate and/or harden composite parts. One embodiment is a method for fabricating a composite part. The method includes laying up a preform that is made of fiber reinforced material and that includes a cavity, inserting one or more bladders that are loaded with expandable pellets into the cavity, inflating the bladders in response to a triggering condition, consolidating the preform while the bladders are inflated, deflating the bladders, and removing the bladders from the cavity.