A system for coupling pipes includes a first pipe having a tapered, spigot end; a second pipe having a tapered, spigot end; and a coupler having two tapered socket ends adapted to internally receive the respective tapered, spigot ends of the first pipe and the second pipe. The first pipe and the second pipe are made from a reinforced thermosetting resin (RTR). The coupler comprising a resistive element implanted therein and connected to electrodes extending to an exterior of the coupler. A thermoplastic material is disposed between an exterior of the first pipe and an interior of the coupler. A thermoplastic material is disposed between an exterior of the second pipe and the interior of the coupler. Upon application of electricity to the electrodes, the resistive elements are heated sufficiently to melt the thermoplastic material such that, when the heat is removed, the hardened thermoplastic material seals the first pipe and the second pipe to the coupler. A method of coupling pipes includes disposing a thermoplastic material between an exterior of a first pipe and an interior of a coupler; disposing a thermoplastic material between an exterior of a second pipe and the interior of the coupler; inserting the first pipe and the second pipe into the coupler; and applying of electricity to electrodes of the coupler such that resistive elements of the coupler heat sufficiently to melt the thermoplastic material such that, when the heat is removed, the hardened thermoplastic material seals the first pipe and the second pipe to the coupler.

A method of manufacturing a heat exchanger array that includes stacking a plurality of heat exchanger units in an aligned configuration with respective first ports of the heat exchanger units aligned. The heat exchanger units can include a first and second sheet coupled together to define an cavity between the first and second sheets; the first port at a first end of the heat exchanger unit defined by the first and second sheets; and a second port at a second end of the heat exchanger unit defined by the first and second sheets. The method further includes stacking the plurality of heat exchanger units in an aligned configuration with the first ports of the plurality of heat exchanger units aligned and generating a first plurality of respective couplings between adjacent sheets of adjacent heat exchanger units about adjacent first ports. The coupling can be generated by an adhesive.

The present invention relates to a method for connecting two joining elements, these elements being connected by means of a thermally activatable adhesive with a flat heating element arranged therein, by suitable heating of the adhesive. The invention also relates to an assembly produced in this way from two joining elements and to an arrangement designed for carrying out a corresponding method.

A method of securing a first component part and a second component part together, the method comprising providing an electrically conductive member between a first surface of the first component part and a facing first surface of the second component part and securing the first and second components together by passing a current through the electrically conductive member. The electrically conductive member is distributed across at least 50% of the surface area of the first surface of the first component part.

A method to integrate a first part and a second part comprising composite material, both parts being at least partially thermoplastic parts, that comprises the steps of providing the first part, placing the first part in a tool, applying an in-situ consolidation process, such that integration layers of thermoplastic material are laid on thermoplastic plies of the first part and the integration of the first part with the integration layers is obtained, the integration layers being the first layers of the second part, wherein the applied in-situ consolidation process comprises the sub-steps of melting each tape by a heat source, and welding to the layer below, compressing by a roller, and cooling down below melting temperature of thermoplastic, laying the rest of the second part, and curing or consolidation of a remainder of the second part.

A method for joining primary and secondary members includes providing a primary member, a secondary member and a heating element which is joined to one of the primary and secondary members. The heating element includes an electrically insulating matrix material and an electrically conductive reinforcing element extending through the matrix material. The method further includes bringing the other of the primary and secondary members and the heating element into engagement and controlling a flow of electrical current in the reinforcing element so as to resistively heat and fuse at least some of the matrix material of the heating element with a matrix material of the other of the primary and secondary members. The method may be used to join a primary member such as a composite tubular and a secondary member such as a component for terminating the composite tubular.

Thermoplastic assemblies, methods of defining thermoplastic assemblies, aircraft that include the thermoplastic assemblies, and aircraft that are formed utilizing the methods are disclosed herein. The methods include heating a joining structure and pressing a thermoplastic layer against a base of the joining structure. The pressing includes transferring thermal energy from the joining structure to the thermoplastic layer and penetrating the thermoplastic layer with a plurality of reinforcing projections of the joining structure. The pressing also includes adhering the thermoplastic layer to a surface of the base and to a surface of the plurality of reinforcing projections. The thermoplastic assemblies include the thermoplastic layer and the joining structure.

A method of manufacturing a heat exchanger array that includes stacking a plurality of heat exchanger units in an aligned configuration with respective first ports of the plurality of heat exchanger units aligned. The method can further include generating heat in the first coupling elements at the same time and at a temperature sufficient to generate a first plurality of respective couplings between adjacent sheets of adjacent heat exchanger units about adjacent first ports and without a coupling being generated between the first and second sheets of a given heat exchanger unit.

A method of manufacturing a heat exchanger array that includes stacking a plurality of heat exchanger units in an aligned configuration with respective first ports of the heat exchanger units aligned. The heat exchanger units can include a first and second sheet coupled together to define an cavity between the first and second sheets; the first port at a first end of the heat exchanger unit defined by the first and second sheets; and a second port at a second end of the heat exchanger unit defined by the first and second sheets. The method further includes stacking the plurality of heat exchanger units in an aligned configuration with the first ports of the plurality of heat exchanger units aligned and generating a first plurality of respective couplings between adjacent sheets of adjacent heat exchanger units about adjacent first ports. The coupling can be generated by an adhesive.

Thermoplastic assemblies, methods of defining thermoplastic assemblies, aircraft that include the thermoplastic assemblies, and aircraft that are formed utilizing the methods are disclosed herein. The methods include heating a joining structure and pressing a thermoplastic layer against a base of the joining structure. The pressing includes transferring thermal energy from the joining structure to the thermoplastic layer and penetrating the thermoplastic layer with a plurality of reinforcing projections of the joining structure. The pressing also includes adhering the thermoplastic layer to a surface of the base and to a surface of the plurality of reinforcing projections. The thermoplastic assemblies include the thermoplastic layer and the joining structure.