Parts (10) for connection to at least one further part (30, 30). The part (10) has at least two weld sections (11, 11) to be welded individually to at least one of the further parts (30, 30) by vibration welding. Each weld section (11, 11) has at least one weld surface (13, 13), for connection to the corresponding further part (30, 30), and is spatially separated from each other weld section (11, 11) by at least one vibration decoupling zone (14, 14, 23, 26). The part (10) has a particular arrangement of the weld section (11, 11) with respect to the center of gravity (S) or has a particular mass distribution with respect to the weld section (11, 11). Methods for connecting a part to at least one further part (30, 30) and a composite part (90) containing a part (10) and a further part (30, 30) are also disclosed.

A method includes a rotation locking step during which the rotation of the threaded hub about the central axis is blocked by heating a portion of the plug to soften, then by forcing the softened thermoplastic material to penetrate into, and then solidify in, a female cavity hollowed in the wall of the orifice to constitute a male member which fits into the female cavity. The female cavity forms, against the action of the male member, a guiding end stop preventing the male member, and therefore the hub, from rotating about the central axis to oppose any rotary screwing/unscrewing of the plug and maintaining a degree of freedom in axial translation along the central axis of the male member within the female cavity, so as not to impede a sliding of the hub and of its screw thread along the central axis against the wall.

The terminal portion of a prefabricated skirt is connected to a casing of a thruster body in the vicinity of an end wall thereof using a method including positioning the terminal portion of the skirt with circumferential clearance around the casing of the thruster body in the vicinity of the end wall; keeping the skirt in position relative to the casing of the thruster body; closing both ends of an annular space between the terminal portion of the skirt and the casing of the thruster body; injecting elastomer into the annular space; and curing the elastomer.

An add-on part (10) for connecting to a component (30). The add-on part (10) has a longitudinal axis (A) and a welding section (11) to be welded to the component (30) by torsional ultrasonic welding. The welding section (11) has a contact surface (12) for contact with a torsion sonotrode (70) and a welding surface (13) for connecting to the component (30). The welding section (11) is delimited, at least in some sections, by an inner vibration-decoupling zone (14). The inner vibration-decoupling zone (14) extends, at least in some sections, at an inclination to or parallel to the longitudinal axis (A). The method comprises a) bringing the welding surface (13) in contact with a welding region (31), b) applying a force to the contact surface (12) such that the welding surface (13) is pressed against the welding region (31), and c) introducing a torsional ultrasonic vibration into the welding section.

At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an earpiece having a balloon and a stent where the balloon is mounted on the stent and the stent incorporates two or more channels including at least an inflation channel and an acoustic channel. In some embodiments the stent is configured to pass audio signals through the acoustic channel where the acoustic channel is independent of the inflation channel of the balloon. Other embodiments are disclosed.

The present invention provides a to method for reinforcing a wind turbine blade, such as a root end. The root end comprises a first and a second bushing for attaching the wind turbine blade to a wind turbine hub, the bushings being located between an inner sidewall of the root end and an outer sidewall of the root end, the bushings being separated by retaining material, the method comprising forming a first injection channel in the retaining material; forming a first pressure release channel in the first retaining material, wherein the first pressure release channel is formed to be in fluid communication with the first injection channel in a region between the inner sidewall and the outer sidewall; and injecting adhesive material into the first injection channel at least until adhesive material enters the formed first pressure release channel. The invention also provides a wind turbine blade having a root end that has been reinforced using such a method. Further aspects are provided.

At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an earpiece having a balloon and a stent where the balloon is mounted on the stent and the stent incorporates two or more channels including at least an inflation channel and an acoustic channel. In some embodiments the stent is configured to pass audio signals through the acoustic channel where the acoustic channel is independent of the inflation channel of the balloon. Other embodiments are disclosed.

A method for manufacturing a plastic fuel tank including: a) inserting a plastic parison including two distinct parts into an open two-cavity mold; b) inserting a core, bearing at least part of a reinforcing element configured to create a link between the two parison parts, inside the parison; c) pressing the parison firmly against the mold cavities, for example by blowing through the core and/or creating suction behind the cavities; d) fixing the part of the reinforcing element to at least one of the parison parts using the core; e) withdrawing the core; f) closing the mold, bringing its two cavities together to grip the two parison parts around their periphery to weld them together; g) injecting a pressurized fluid into the mold and/or creating a vacuum behind the mold cavities to press the parison firmly against the mold cavities; and h) opening the mold and extracting the tank.

An implantable prosthetic valve that is radially collapsible to a collapsed configuration and radially expandable to an expanded configuration comprises an annular frame having an inflow end and an outflow end, a leaflet structure positioned within the frame and secured thereto, and a laminate sealing member comprising an encapsulating material. The laminate sealing member has a main portion that encapsulates at least a portion of the frame and an end portion extending from the inflow end of the frame, and the end portion of the laminate sealing member is folded to form a cuff adjacent the inflow end of the frame and secured to the main portion of the laminate sealing member.

The present disclosure relates to laminated sealing members for prosthetic valves and methods of making the same. In a representative embodiment, an implantable prosthetic valve that is radially collapsible to a collapsed configuration and radially expandable to an expanded configuration comprises an annular frame having an inflow end and an outflow end, a leaflet structure positioned within the frame and secured thereto, and a laminate sealing member comprising an encapsulating material. The laminate sealing member has a main portion that encapsulates at least a portion of the frame and an end portion extending from the inflow end of the frame, and the end portion of the laminate sealing member is folded to form a cuff adjacent the inflow end of the frame and secured to the main portion of the laminate sealing member.