A method of production of a frac plug is disclosed comprising providing a blank defining an interior of the frac plug, placing a glass material around the blank such that a fiber reinforcement within the glass material is off axis to a longitudinal axis of the frac plug and wherein the placing forms a glass material blank, removing the blank from the glass material blank and performing at least one mechanical processing of an exterior of the glass material blank.

A method of determining a void volume during manufacture of a composite pipe formed of concentric layers of adjacently positioned, helical windings of composite tape has the steps of: (a) scanning the surface of a layer of adjacently positioned, helical windings to generate scanning information; (b) using the scanning information to locate gap(s) between adjacent windings and to determine the number of gaps and characteristic dimensions of each gap in the layer; and (c) generating a calculated void volume of the layer, using the number of gaps and the characteristic dimensions of each gap for the layer. The invention also relates to a corresponding apparatus for determining a void volume during manufacture of a composite pipe formed of concentric layers of helically wound composite tape.

A method and apparatus for tacking and trimming a thermoplastic tow. A thermoplastic tow is received from a braiding system over a braided structure on a surface. The thermoplastic tow is tack welded to the braided structure. A portion of the thermoplastic tow is trimmed to thereby trim the thermoplastic tow received over the braided structure.

A method of fabricating a gas turbine casing out of composite material of varying thickness, the method including making a strip-shaped fiber texture by three-dimensional weaving; winding the fiber texture as a plurality of superposed layers onto a mandrel of profile corresponding to the profile of the casing that is to be fabricated, so as to obtain a fiber preform of shape corresponding to the shape of the casing that is to be fabricated; and densifying the fiber preform with a matrix; wherein, before beginning to wind the fiber texture onto the mandrel, a reinforcing band of width smaller than the width of the fiber texture is placed on the mandrel in a zone that is to form a retention zone of the casing.

A method of fabricating a gas turbine casing out of composite material of varying thickness, the method including making a strip-shaped fiber texture by three-dimensional weaving; winding the fiber texture as a plurality of superposed layers onto a mandrel of profile corresponding to the profile of the casing that is to be fabricated, so as to obtain a fiber preform of shape corresponding to the shape of the casing that is to be fabricated; and densifying the fiber preform with a matrix; wherein, before beginning to wind the fiber texture onto the mandrel, a reinforcing band of width smaller than the width of the fiber texture is placed on the mandrel in a zone that is to form a retention zone of the casing.

Woven preforms, for example those used for jet aircraft engine fancases, may need additional stiffeners to improve the strength and/or dynamic performance of the preform assembly, as well as to serve as attachment points. The present invention describes several improved woven preforms that include circumferential or axial stiffeners, as well as methods of manufacturing the same. One embodiment includes circumferential stiffeners added to a woven preform. Another embodiment includes sub-preforms with integral flanges that combine to make integral stiffeners. A further embodiment includes an intermediate stiffener wrapped onto a base sub-preform wrap, wherein the intermediate stiffener wrap incorporates intermediate stiffeners. Another embodiment incorporates bifurcations in one or more layers of an outermost wrap of a multi-layer fabric composite that forms a preform, wherein the bifurcated outer wrap is folded to form stiffeners that may be oriented circumferentially or axially.

A tubular structure for transporting heat transfer fluid including at least: i) a layer (1) in contact with the fluid including at least one thermoplastic polymer P1 that is semicrystalline with Tm1 greater than or equal to 160° C., as determined according to the standard 1 1357-3 (2013) or amorphous with Tg1 greater than or equal to 100° C., as determined according to the standard 1 1357-2 (2013), said layer (1) containing no fibers, ii) a layer (2) including at least: (a) a thermoplastic polymer P2 that is semicrystalline, in particular a polyamide with Tm2 greater than or equal to 170° C. or amorphous with Tg2 greater than or equal to 100° C., or a polyolefin with Tm greater than 100° C.; (b) optional continuous fibers, the polymer P2 being identical to P1 or different from P1 in which case the polymers P1 and P2 adhere at least partially to one another.

A tubular structure for transporting heat transfer fluid including at least: i) a layer (1) in contact with the fluid including at least one thermoplastic polymer P1 that is semicrystalline with Tm1 greater than or equal to 160° C., as determined according to the standard 1 1357-3 (2013) or amorphous with Tg1 greater than or equal to 100° C., as determined according to the standard 1 1357-2 (2013), said layer (1) containing no fibers, ii) a layer (2) including at least: (a) a thermoplastic polymer P2 that is semicrystalline, in particular a polyamide with Tm2 greater than or equal to 170° C. or amorphous with Tg2 greater than or equal to 100° C., or a polyolefin with Tm greater than 100° C.; (b) optional continuous fibers, the polymer P2 being identical to P1 or different from P1 in which case the polymers P1 and P2 adhere at least partially to one another.

A polar end ring mechanism for use with composite pressure vessels. The end ring is designed to support a pressure vessel during its formation via filament winding. The end ring helps define an opening at one of the polar ends of a tank. Spikes positioned along a portion of the end ring help prevent rotation or translation of the tank during formation and provide an improved mechanical lock with the tank body. A cap may then be secured to the polar end ring after formation in order to close the pressure vessel.

A polar end ring mechanism for use with composite pressure vessels. The end ring is designed to support a pressure vessel during its formation via filament winding. The end ring helps define an opening at one of the polar ends of a tank. Spikes positioned along a portion of the end ring help prevent rotation or translation of the tank during formation and provide an improved mechanical lock with the tank body. A cap may then be secured to the polar end ring after formation in order to close the pressure vessel.