Methods and apparatus for bonding a strand of a yarn to a strand of a thermoplastic to form a bonded yarn. The bonded yarn may be used to weave a bonded fabric.

An apparatus and method for joining pipes includes a plate for melting mating surfaces of the pipes to be joined. Additionally, the apparatus utilizes a vacuum in order to push the first and second pipes together in lieu of hand or mechanical pressure which may be inconsistent. Additionally, the vacuum allows the pipes to be joined to settle on each other in order to create a pressure about a periphery of the end of the pipe being joined to the other pipe. The consistent pressure creates a very strong joint between the first and second pipes.

A composite housing and a method of assembling a composite housing for a scanning assembly. A body of the housing defines an opening of a first perimeter. A polymethylpentene scanning plate is provided which has lip with a marginally larger perimeter than the first perimeter. During assembly of the composite housing, at least a part of scanning plate is thermally contracted to allow it to be positioned within the opening such that the peripheral side surface of the scanning surface faces the edge of the body. When the scanning plate returns to ambient temperature and expands at least a portion of the side surface of the scanning plate engages the edge of the body.

A method for the production of an elastic laminate, comprising the following steps in a same production line: to coextrude a first web of elastic film (F) with at least three layers (F1, F2, F1), comprising at least two different polymer materials, to feed contemporaneously said coextruded first elastic film (F) web and two second nonwoven webs (T1, T2) to a thermal, binding calender (14), wherein the first elastic film web is arranged between said two second nonwoven webs when entering the calender; wherein said first elastic film web, during the movement from the coextrusion step to the thermal binding step, passes from a melted state, in the coextrusion step, to a solidified and cold state when entering the calender, to join, through spot welding in said calender, said second nonwoven webs with respective opposite outer layers of said first elastic film web, thus producing an intermediate web (P1), to stretch mechanically said intermediate web according to a direction transverse to the same web.

A heating device for thermal joining of plastic materials having a base body, which is penetrated by a cooling recess and on which an electrically insulating support surface is configured, on which at least one electrically conductive heat conductor is arranged, which is provided with an electrically insulating coating on a contact surface facing away from the support surface. The support surface has at least one curved or angled support surface section and that the heat conductor overlaps the curved or angled support surface section at least in parts.

A composite housing and a method of assembling a composite housing for a scanning assembly. A body of the housing defines an opening of a first perimeter. A polymethylpentene scanning plate is provided which has lip with a marginally larger perimeter than the first perimeter. During assembly of the composite housing, at least a part of scanning plate is thermally contracted to allow it to be positioned within the opening such that the peripheral side surface of the scanning surface faces the edge of the body. When the scanning plate returns to ambient temperature and expands at least a portion of the side surface of the scanning plate engages the edge of the body.

A cover for a housing of a vehicle and a method of sealing a cover to the housing, where in at least one example, the cover comprises a cover body configured to cover an opening of the housing and to engage the housing at an interface around the opening. The cover may comprise a heating element embedded within the cover body and operable to at least partially melt a portion of the cover body as a part of a process for sealing the cover to the housing. The portion of the cover body may deform and conform to an interface feature at the mating surface of the housing due to the at least partial melting of the portion of the cover body, and, in some examples, the heating element may be configured to fail and be inoperable.

An apparatus and method for joining pipes includes a plate for melting mating surfaces of the pipes to be joined. Additionally, the apparatus utilizes a vacuum in order to push the first and second pipes together in lieu of hand or mechanical pressure which may be inconsistent. Additionally, the vacuum allows the pipes to be joined to settle on each other in order to create a pressure about a periphery of the end of the pipe being joined to the other pipe. The consistent pressure creates a very strong joint between the first and second pipes.

An apparatus and method for joining pipes includes a plate for melting mating surfaces of the pipes to be joined. Additionally, the apparatus utilizes a vacuum in order to push the first and second pipes together in lieu of hand or mechanical pressure which may be inconsistent. Additionally, the vacuum allows the pipes to be joined to settle on each other in order to create a pressure about a periphery of the end of the pipe being joined to the other pipe. The consistent pressure creates a very strong joint between the first and second pipes.

An apparatus and method for joining pipes includes a plate for melting mating surfaces of the pipes to be joined. Additionally, the apparatus utilizes a vacuum in order to push the first and second pipes together in lieu of hand or mechanical pressure which may be inconsistent. Additionally, the vacuum allows the pipes to be joined to settle on each other in order to create a pressure about a periphery of the end of the pipe being joined to the other pipe. The consistent pressure creates a very strong joint between the first and second pipes.