A method of induction welding a first thermoplastic composite (TPC) to a second thermoplastic composite (TPC) includes inductively heating a weld interface area between the first TPC and the second TPC, and cooling a surface of the first TPC opposite the weld interface area while inductively heating the weld interface area.

A heat sink for use in induction welding includes a number of tiles, where the tiles are electrically non-conductive and thermally conductive, a joint flexibly joining the tiles together, and a fluid path formed through the heat sink for communicating a coolant therethrough.

A heat sink for use in induction welding includes a flexible backing and a number of tiles disposed on the flexible backing in a single layer, wherein the tiles are electrically non-conductive and thermally conductive.

A method for assembling a body and a cover of a vane by polymerisation of a resin. The covens positioned on a junction face of the body covered with this resin. A sheet is placed against a pressure side of the vane, formed by an outer face of the cover and an outer face of the body, so as to define a space sealed with a bead of mastic sealant. The bead of mastic sealant is deposited on the outer face of the body, around the junction face of this body. The space between the sheet and the pressure side of the vane is placed under vacuum during a heating operation of the vane in an autoclave, in order to press the cover against the body of the vane.

A method of assembling a member and a cap of a vane using a tool which allows the application of a pressing force of the cap against the member during a step of polymerisation by heating a resin for bonding these components. To this end, the tool includes an inflatable bladder and a pocket which surrounds the bladder and the vane so that the inflated bladder applies the pressing force. The heating can be carried out by resistors which are mounted in the bladder and/or using a device for supplying external heat.

Described herein are methods and systems for manufacturing composite stringers using independently movable pallets with independent vacuum controls. Specifically, a stringer forming system comprises a base plate and a plurality of sets of pallets (e.g., two or more sets of pallets), slidably coupled to the base plate and forming an adjustable cavity. Each pallet comprises a primary vacuum zone, fluidly connected to a separate vacuum port. The system allows for independent application of a reduced pressure to the primary vacuum zone of each pallet. For example, a reduced pressure is applied only to pallets that are already covered with a composite layup and to pallets that are being covered. Any pallets that are exposed are kept at an ambient pressure and decoupled from a vacuum source, thereby reducing the vacuum leakage through the overall system. As the composite layup is being formed over new pallets, these new pallets are subjected to the reduced pressure.

A packaging machine comprising a control unit, a plurality of measuring devices and a plurality of working units for different process. The control unit is functionally connected to the working units and to the measuring devices. The measuring devices may detect actual process values at the respective working units and forwarding these values to the control unit for monitoring the respective working units. The control unit may create a specific program sequence for each of the individual working units and/or a program sequence coordinated with respect to the working units, by comparing the actual process values from the respective measuring devices with associated target process values from a memory. The individual working units may function according to this program sequence, depending on the actual process values detected at these working units, and/or the working units are coordinated with one another based on the actual process values.

An induction heat sealing device (300) for providing a transversal sealing of a tube (104) of packaging material, said induction heat sealing device (300) comprising a main body (302) comprising a first and a second sealing surface (314a, 314b) arranged to face the packaging material during a sealing state (S), a recess (308) provided in the main body (308) for receiving a knife during a cutting state (C), wherein the first and second sealing surface (314a, 314b) are placed on opposite sides of the recess (308), and an electric conductor arrangement (306a, 306b, 306c, 306d), provided in the main body (302), for inducing eddy currents in the packaging material during the sealing state (S), wherein at least part of the first and second sealing surface (314a, 314b) are inclined and provided with a first and a second top section (316a, 316b), respectively, such that particles in a product held inside the tube (104) are pushed away from a sealing band of the tube as the sealing band is pressed towards the first and second top section (316a, 316b).

Systems and methods are provided for fabricating composite parts. One embodiment is a method for fabricating a composite part. The method includes forming a skin panel preform comprising fiber reinforced material, disposing rigid end caps at the skin panel preform at end locations of stringer preforms that will be placed at the skin panel, locating the stringer preforms at the skin panel preform via the rigid end caps, and anchoring the stringer preforms to the skin panel preform.

In an example, a method is described. The method comprises placing a repair patch over a repair area of a structure, the repair patch comprising a repair-patch hole. The method also comprises sealing the repair patch and repair area with a vacuum bag having a seal ring around a periphery of the vacuum bag. The method also comprises evacuating, via an adhesive injection apparatus attached to the repair-patch hole and the seal ring of the vacuum bag, the repair area and an injection channel of the adhesive injection apparatus. The method also comprises forcing adhesive through the evacuated injection channel and into the evacuated repair area.