A method of repairing a thermoplastic panel having a damaged portion therein that includes the steps of obtaining a patch member made of a thermoplastic material, positioning the patch member over the damaged portion, positioning the panel and patch member on a heat sink tool, using a hot forming tool to soften the panel and the patch member such that the material of the panel and the material of the patch member are welded together, and cooling the panel and patch member to integrally bond the patch member to the panel, thereby forming a panel and patch assembly.

A device to inspect a longitudinal heat seal in tubular bag material. The seal is formed by a heated sealing bar (14). Downstream of the bar (14) is a heat sensing camera (20) that sends a signal to a central processing unit (21). The unit (21) will then identify any faults in the seal.

A device and a method for performing and monitoring a plastic laser transmission welding process includes a processing beam source for emitting a processing radiation into a joining zone between two joining members so that a weld seam is formed, a measuring beam source for irradiating a measuring zone with a measuring radiation, a detection unit for detecting the measuring radiation reflected by an interface between the weld seam and its surroundings in the joining members, and an evaluation unit connected to the detection unit for determining the depth position of the interface in the joining members from the detected reflected measuring radiation.

An aerospace vessel including a fuselage, a means for causing the fuselage to fly coupled to the fuselage, and an environmental control system within the fuselage. The environmental control system includes a duct made of closed cell thermoplastic foam, such as polyvinylidene fluoride foam.

The present invention is a method for seaming a polymeric material. The method involves forming an interface between a plurality of separate polymeric sheets of materials. Next, heat and pressure are applied to facilitate the diffusion of the polymer molecules at the interface. A diffusion weld is made when the polymer molecules diffuse across the interface.

A method of heat welding a length of pipe with a coupling is disclosed. The coupling and the length of pipe are of a thermoplastic material. The method includes preparing a first end of the length of pipe; preparing a first groove of the coupling, wherein the first groove is configured to mechanically interface to an inner diameter (ID) and outer diameter (OD) of the length of pipe; heating the first and the first groove to a weldable temperature; joining the first end to the first groove; and permitting the first end and the first groove to cool sufficiently long to form a thermoplastic weld.

A yarn or thread may include a plurality of substantially aligned filaments, with at least ninety-five percent of a material of the filaments being a thermoplastic polymer material. Various woven textiles and knitted textiles may be formed from the yarn or thread. The woven textiles or knitted textiles may be thermal bonded to other elements to form seams. A strand that is at least partially formed from a thermoplastic polymer material may extend through the seam, and the strand may be thermal bonded at the seam. The woven textiles or knitted textiles may be shaped or molded, incorporated into products, and recycled to form other products.

A yarn or thread may include a plurality of substantially aligned filaments, with at least ninety-five percent of a material of the filaments being a thermoplastic polymer material. Various woven textiles and knitted textiles may be formed from the yarn or thread. The woven textiles or knitted textiles may be thermal bonded to other elements to form seams. A strand that is at least partially formed from a thermoplastic polymer material may extend through the seam, and the strand may be thermal bonded at the seam. The woven textiles or knitted textiles may be shaped or molded, incorporated into products, and recycled to form other products.

The invention provides a wind turbine blade comprising a first shell, having a first bonding region, and a second shell having a second bonding region, wherein the second bonding region of the second shell is bonded to the first bonding region of the first shell; and a temperature sensor positioned between the first bonding region and the second bonding region. Having a temperature sensor positioned within the turbine blade, in the region at which the two shells of the turbine blade are bonded together, allows for accurate determination and control of the temperature of the critical bonding regions during blade manufacture. The temperature sensor may be used during the service life of the wind turbine blade to detect delamination of the wind turbine blade.

An array of resilient floor tiles is assembled into a continuous sheet after being laid down. An array of included, sacrificial resistive wires is buried along the edges of the tiles and is controllably heated in order to cause welding of the edges of tiles across the paths of the wires to neighboring tiles. Subsequently the wires may be used to give the array integral tensile strength. The welded array is provided with greater strength for resisting use, expansive and contractile forces caused by environmental heat and cold and also long-term tile contraction owing to loss of plasticizer as may be seen with PVC-based tiles.