Microscale valves for use in, e.g., micropump devices, may be formed of a slitted diaphragm bonded o the interior of a valve tube. A bump in the diaphragm and/or a backward-leakage stopper may increase the breakdown pressure of the valve. A push-rod may be used to pre-load the valve membrane to thereby increase the cracking pressure.

Each cell is pressurized with gas from outside of the cell, the amount of permeation of the gas permeated into each cell is measured, and a cell having the amount of permeation greater than (average value of all cells+A) (wherein A is a predetermined value of ? to 6?, where ? is the standard deviation) is considered to be defective. Alternatively, pressure is reduced for each cell, the degree of vacuum in each cell is measured, and a cell having the degree of vacuum worse than (average value of all cells+A) is considered to be defective. Then, a polymer compound is poured into the defective cells of the monolithic separation membrane structure and cured so that the defective cells are sealed. Alternatively, the polymer compound formed in advance as the sealing member is inserted into the defective cells to seal the defective cells.

A riser section includes two filament-reinforced tubulars and a coupling sleeve for connecting the two filament-reinforced tubulars. The coupling sleeve includes a screw thread at opposite ends for cooperating with a screw thread provided on sections of the filament-reinforced tubulars. The riser section includes two torque locks, wherein the torque locks are each mounted on one of the filament-reinforced tubulars, and are on opposite ends of the coupling sleeve. The torque locks are provided with coupling teeth extending in an axial direction. The coupling sleeve is at opposite ends provided with coupling teeth extending in the axial direction. When the tubulars are screwed into the coupling sleeve and the torque locks have been mounted to secure the rotational movement of the tubulars relative to the coupling sleeve, the coupling teeth of each of the torque locks engages the coupling teeth of the coupling sleeve such that they block rotation of the torque lock relative to the coupling sleeve and allow for movement of the torque lock relative to the coupling sleeve in the axial direction, and thus allow for elongation of the sections of the tubulars including the screw thread. The pitch of the screw thread of the tubulars increases in a direction away from the end of the tubular, and the pitch of the screw threads of the coupling sleeve increases in a direction towards the end of the coupling sleeve.

A method of manufacturing a composite (e.g. fibre-reinforced polymer) connector for a fluid transfer conduit comprises: providing a tubular mandrel which extends substantially parallel to a central axis C; winding continuous fibre reinforcement, impregnated with a thermosetting polymer, around the mandrel to form a tubular hub portion which extends substantially parallel to the central axis C; curing the hub portion; placing the hub portion into a mould featuring at least one cavity; and introducing polymer into the mould so as to fill the at least one cavity to form a flange portion around the hub portion.

A method of manufacturing a composite (e.g. fibre-reinforced polymer) connector for a fluid transfer conduit comprises: providing a tubular mandrel which extends substantially parallel to a central axis C; winding continuous fibre reinforcement, impregnated with a thermosetting polymer, around the mandrel to form a tubular hub portion which extends substantially parallel to the central axis C; curing the hub portion; placing the hub portion into a mould featuring at least one cavity; and introducing polymer into the mould so as to fill the at least one cavity to form a flange portion around the hub portion.

A tubing including an overmold is connected to a fitting by welding the overmold to the fitting. Methods for doing the same are also provided. Also provided are methods for forming an overmold on a tubing or on a tubing and fitting assembly.

A method of forming a joint between a composite component and a metallic component is disclosed. The method includes forming a first groove in an outer surface of the metallic component on a first end of the metallic component. The first groove extends circumferentially on the outer surface relative to a center axis of the metallic component, and the first groove extends radially inward from the outer surface relative the center axis. The method further includes inserting the first end of the metallic component into a first end of the composite component. A second groove on the composite component over the first groove of the metallic component such that the composite component extends radially inward into the first groove of the metallic component. A composite hoop reinforcement is then applied in the second groove in a circumferential direction and the composite component, and the composite hoop reinforcement are solidified.

There is disclosed a method of manufacturing a composite component. A preform for the component is laid-up on a lay-up tool so that a first surface of the preform conforms to a lay-up profile of the tool. The preform is transferred to a forming tool comprising opposing first and second forming surfaces, each having a near net shape profile corresponding to a respective side of the component. The preform is formed in the forming tool to a near net shape of the component. The preform has a preform bulk in excess of the near net shape of the component prior to forming, and the lay-up profile is offset relative to the near net shape profile of the first forming surface to accommodate a proportion of the preform bulk. Accordingly, both the first surface and an opposing second surface of the preform displace during forming to conform to the respective near net shape profiles of the forming surfaces.

The invention relates to a composite annular casing for a low-pressure compressor of a turbo machine, including a wall of generally circular form or in a circular arc; a mounting flange extending radially from one side of the wall, forming an edge together with the wall; a main fibrous reinforcement (38) extending in a continuous manner along the wall and the flange and forming an angled portion and rounded in the area of the edge; an auxiliary fibrous reinforcement (56) extending along the edge; and a matrix. The auxiliary reinforcement (56) comprises a core extending along the edge in such a way as to occupy the volume between the edge and the angled portion of the main reinforcement (38). The invention also relates to a turbo machine comprising a composite annular casing, as well as to a method of manufacturing a composite annular casing of a turbo machine.

A composite shaft assembly including a core structure formed by weaving fibre(s) into an open composite structure. The assembly further includes a first end piece and a second end piece having helically shaped groove(s) and/or axially groove(s) on an outer surface of an end portion of the first and second end piece. Woven into the helical and/or axial groove(s) on the first end piece and at least partially within through hole(s) disposed at an end of the groove(s) is the fibre(s) at a first end portion of the of the core structure. Woven into the helical and/or axial groove(s) on the second end piece and at least partially within through hole(s) disposed at an end of the groove(s) is the fibre(s) at a second end portion of the of the core structure. Structural adhesive(s) are applied over the fibre(s) and allowed to cure to form the composite drive shaft.