A method and an apparatus for producing a three-dimensional decoration piece that does not damage the tacky bonding or adhesion strength of the lower layer material of the decoration piece. The method includes putting an upper layer material on a first table operating as cathode; lowering an upper mold operating as anode onto the first table, emitting a high frequency wave for dielectric heating; stopping the high frequency dielectric heating; moving a second table carrying a lower layer material having a tacky bonding property to below the upper mold; and lowering said upper mold onto the second table. In the apparatus, the second table or the lower mold is provided on the top surface thereof with recessed sections that are transversally and inwardly separated from a position where an edge of the first machining means contacts, by 0.2 mm to 1 mm; and a cushion member being arranged in the respective recessed sections.

A connection arrangement includes a first plastic component, a second plastic component, and a closed induction ring. The first plastic component has a first joining region designed as a receptacle, and at one end, the second plastic component has a second joining region introduced into the first joining region. At the joining regions, the induction ring is at least partially fused into the two plastic components such that at one contact region between a first plastic melt of the first plastic component and a second plastic melt of the second plastic melt, a material-conclusive connection is generated. In this case, the induction ring is melted into the first plastic component while forming at least one first undercut, and is melted into the second plastic component while forming at least one second undercut such that between the plastic components and the induction ring, one each form-fitting connection is created.

A method of joining workpieces includes the steps of bringing a first workpiece and a second workpiece together, induction heating a susceptor material, and pressing the workpieces together. Each workpiece may include a thermoplastic material, and the workpieces are brought together at a joint interface so that a protrusion of the first workpiece is aligned with a receptacle of the second workpiece. The susceptor material is in contact with the thermoplastic material of the first workpiece during heating such that the thermoplastic material of the first workpiece softens. The step of pressing is performed while the thermoplastic material of the first workpiece is softened, thereby reshaping the first workpiece where the susceptor material is in contact with the thermoplastic material of the first workpiece. The protrusion is deformed to form an interlock with the receptacle at the joint interface.

A method or apparatus for joining a first component to a second component with an amalgamation plate includes heating the first component, the second component, the amalgamation plate, or combinations thereof, with either a joining tool or a heating element. The components are attached to the amalgamation plate with the joining tool, such that the first component, amalgamation plate, and the second component are fixedly attached to one another, and the amalgamation plate may be substantially surrounded by the first component and the second component, such that it is hidden from exposure. Portions of the amalgamation plate may be embedded into the components via rotation and/or linear force. A portion of the amalgamation plate may be recessed within the joining tool or an anvil before attaching the amalgamation plate to the either component.

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.

A connecting arrangement includes a first plastic component, a second plastic component, and a closed induction ring that is arranged between the first and second plastic components in a joining gap that is partially filled with molten plastic. The first plastic component has a first joining region that is configured as a stepped receiving opening with a first joining contour. The second plastic component has a second joining region that is configured as a stepped shoulder with a second joining contour. The second joining region is inserted into the first joining region to form the joining gap. The first and second joining contours are adapted to one another so as to center the first joining region, the second joining region, and the induction ring in the joining gap with respect to one another. A method in one embodiment includes welding the first and second plastic components of the connecting arrangement.

Disclosed herein are methods, devices, and systems for manufacturing wind turbine blades which in some instances require using new blade joint designs. The blade joint designs described herein may allow for contact in places where welds will be made, which allows for existing manufacturing tolerances to be used while still enabling the use of thermal welding for wind turbine blades.

Induction welding process for welding two parts using at least one susceptor including discontinuous conductive elements, and assembly of at least two parts obtained using the induction welding process. An induction welding process can join at least first and second parts, and the process can include a step of positioning at least one susceptor, including discontinuous conductive elements, between the first and second contact faces of the first and second parts, and steps of holding the first and second parts pressed against each other and of producing an electromagnetic field to generate an induced current that engenders heating of the susceptor. An assembly of two parts can be obtained using the process.

A method of fabricating a blade. The blade comprises subassemblies made of thermoplastic composite materials, each subassembly comprising an internal arrangement and at least one external arrangement, each internal arrangement comprising a stack of intermediate layers comprising reinforcing fibers impregnated with a semicrystalline thermoplastic matrix, each external arrangement comprising at least one surface layer comprising reinforcing fibers impregnated with an alloy of a semicrystalline thermoplastic polymer and of an amorphous thermoplastic polymer. An assembly film comprising an amorphous thermoplastic material and a ferromagnetic member is interposed between two surface layers of two distinct subassemblies that are to be assembled together by a method of local heating by induction.

A method creates a weld between a liner of a section of lined pipe and an electrofusion fitting. The fitting has at least one heating element, which is suitably disposed on or in an outer surface of the electrofusion fitting and is electrically isolated from an inner surface of the fitting. The method includes locating an end of the electrofusion fitting within an end of the section of lined pipe, locating an induction coil within a bore of the electrofusion fitting in the vicinity of the at least one heating element, and supplying electrical power to the induction coil to energise the at least one heating element by electromagnetic induction.