B29C66/114

Systems for manufacturing modular rotor blades
11186045 · 2021-11-30 · ·

A system for manufacturing a rotor blade comprises a first tooling, positioned at a factory location and configured to assemble a first blade module, comprising a first-module skin and a first-module spar, each comprising a first thermoplastic polymer and a first reinforcement material. The system also comprises a second tooling, configured to assemble a second blade module, comprising a second-module skin and a second-module spar, each comprising a second thermoplastic polymer and a second reinforcement material. The system further comprises a first support, positioned at a field location and configured to receive the first blade module, and a second support, positioned at the field location and configured to receive the second blade module. The system also comprises a spar welding assembly, positioned at the field location and configured to join the first-module spar with the second-module spar.

Coupling Polymeric Components to One Another Utilizing Electromagnetic Energy

A method of coupling polymeric components utilizing electromagnetic energy is disclosed. The method can include obtaining a first component having a first coupling portion, a second component having a second coupling portion, and a susceptor. The method can also include mating the first and second components such that the susceptor is proximate the first and second coupling portions. In addition, the method can include applying electromagnetic energy to the susceptor. The susceptor can convert the electromagnetic energy to heat, which can melt portions of the first and second coupling portions about the susceptor to couple the first and second components to one another upon solidification.

Tube sealer
11179898 · 2021-11-23 · ·

A device for sealing sample tubes comprises a tool assembly configured to interface with a rack holding a plurality of sample storage tubes, the tool assembly holding a plurality of punches and a die plate including a plurality of cutting holes, with each of the plurality of cutting holes accepting one of the plurality of punches. The tool assembly receives a foil sheet between the punches and the die plate. The device includes an actuator enabling linear movement of the tool assembly. Linear movement of the tool assembly towards the rack engages the die plate against the rack and punches the punches through the cutting holes of the die plate to punch a plurality of sealing sections from the foil sheet and to press and seal each of the sealing sections against a top end of each of the plurality of sample storage tubes in the rack.

JOINING STRUCTURE, METHOD OF PRODUCING SAME, AND WIRE EXTERIOR COVER

Provided are: a joining structure making it possible to join resin plates together without needing to provide a surplus resin plate section for joining, and offering excellent workability in the joining together of resin plates; a method of producing same; and a wire exterior cover using the joining structure. A joining structure 1 comprises a joining part 10 formed by butt-welding a plate surface part 22 of a first resin plate 21 made of a first resin, and an end surface part 24 of a second resin plate 23 made of a second resin. In the joining structure, a foam resin is used for the first resin and a foam resin or a non-foam resin is used for the second resin. The joining part 10 has a welding recess 25 in a surface 22a of the plate surface part 22. In an internal corner 10a of a reverse surface 22b, there is a padding section 27 formed by melt-flowing and solidifying of at least the first resin out of the first resin and the second resin.

Method for connecting components which have a fibre-reinforced thermoplastic plastic

A method for connecting components having a fibre-reinforced thermoplastic plastic includes provision of a first component with a first joining surface, provision of a second component with a second joining surface, flush placement of the first joining surface against the second joining surface in order to form a connection joint, placement of a friction stir welding tool against the connection joint, or a surface directly adjacent thereto, of at least one of the components, softening of the first component and the second component, in each case in a region adjacent to the connection joint, by rotation of the tool, such that the thermoplastic plastic of the two components locally fuses, and movement of the tool along the connection joint for the purposes of connecting the two components by formation of a fusion seam, wherein portions of reinforcement fibres are stirred in to increase the strength of the fusion seam.

Method for joining an element of metal material to an element of plastic material, and a hybrid component obtained by this method

A method for joining a metal material element to a plastic material element, in particular a composite material including a plastic matrix reinforced with fibers for use in the construction of motor-vehicle components. The method involves providing one or more slots in a portion of the plastic material element. For each slot, a corresponding tab is provided in the metal material element, having a shorter width and length than a width and length of the slot. The metal material and plastic material elements are arranged in a position of mutual coupling where each tab is inserted through the corresponding slot and has an end portion protruding beyond said portion of the plastic material element. A laser beam is directed above the protruding end portion, so as to locally melt the metal material of each tab and create an enlarged head on each tab that is welded above the plastic material element.

Method and sealing device for sealing the edges of composite fiber components
11214011 · 2022-01-04 · ·

A sealing device for sealing edges of composite fiber components includes a strip feeder to apply a thermoplastic semifinished product to a cut edge of a composite fiber component, and an ultrasonic welding apparatus to thermoplastically or integrally join the thermoplastic semifinished product to the cut edge of the composite fiber component by ultrasonic welding.

Thermally laminated tab liner
11787153 · 2023-10-17 · ·

Liner having an induction heat sealable layer for sealing to a rim of a container, and a pull tab for ease of removal of the liner from the container rim. An insert is disposed between multilayer upper and lower components, has a heat bondable polyolefin layer that is thermally laminated to polyolefin layers of the upper and lower components, forming a pull tab between the integrated polyolefin layers. The resulting composite resists delamination and can be formed in a single thermal lamination step, avoiding the multiple lamination steps, associated high equipment costs, and complex layer constructions of the prior art.

Injection molded screening apparatuses and methods

A disclosed screening apparatus includes a subgrid, and a screen element attached to the subgrid via laser welding at a plurality of attachment positions such that, under vibrational excitation, the screen element has a pre-determined profile of vibrational motion relative to the subgrid. The screen element may be attached at a maximal number of attachment locations to the subgrid to minimize relative motion of the screen element and the subgrid under vibrational excitation, or the screen element may be attached a sub-set of the maximal number of attachment locations to allow vibrational motion of the screen element relative to the subgrid. A disclosed method may include attaching a plurality of screen elements to a respective plurality of subgrids, attaching the plurality of subgrids to one another to form a screening pre-assembly, and cutting edges of the screening pre-assembly to form the screen assembly having a perimeter with a pre-determined shape.

Method for curing adhesive composition and method for manufacturing bonded structure

A method for curing an adhesive composition includes: arranging an adhesive composition that transmits laser light of a first wavelength in contact with a surface of a first adherend that contains, at least at its surface, a first light-to-heat conversion material that generates heat by absorbing laser light of the first wavelength; and curing the adhesive composition by irradiating the adhesive composition and the first adherend with laser light of the first wavelength. In a method for manufacturing a bonded structure, a first bonded structure is manufactured by bonding the adhesive composition to the first adherend by using the method for curing an adhesive composition.