A method for producing a component from two or more sub-components includes the steps of: producing each of the sub-components using an additive manufacturing process in which a resin, which is radiant-energy-curable, is partially cured using a selective application of radiant energy, wherein each sub-component includes a joint surface in which the resin is partially cured which is cured to a lesser degree than the remainder of the respective sub-component, so as to leave the joint surfaces in a condition suitable for bonding; assembling the sub-components with their respective joint surfaces in mutual contact; and performing a secondary cure of the partially-cured resin at the joint surfaces using an application of radiant energy, so as to further cure the partially-cured resin and bond the sub-components to each other, thereby forming the component.

A separating film with an anti-adhesion layer for preventing an adhesive connection between a thermally curable levelling compound, applied in the region of a joining zone of a first component, and a joining zone of a second component to be joined to the first component. The anti-adhesion layer is provided, at least in parts, with a heating layer. As a result of the actively electrically heatable heating layer of the separating film, which is an integral part of the separating film, the processing time for joining two components, which are subject to tolerances, using a thermally curable levelling compound (known as liquid shimming), can be reduced by at least 40% compared with the conventional process.

A pipeline system is enclosed including unlined or plastic lined pipes. A mechanical metal to metal connection is employed that can provide a fluid tight seal. A pipe coupling may be employed to span the connection. Plastic lined pipes can have their plastic liners connected to form a fluid tight bladder. Electro fusion may be employed.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method of joining resin tubes, in which the degree of freedom of selecting a tube material is large, and further a defect such as stiffness and contraction at joining portions of the tubes is not developed. The method of joining resin tubes according to the present invention is a method of joining resin tubes so that a first tube is joined to a second tube, the first tube and the second tube each being made of synthetic resin, the method comprising: a surface activation step of activating each of a joining region of the first tube and a joining region of the second tube; and an adhesion step of adhering the joining region of the first tube obtained via the surface activation step with the joining region of the second tube obtained via the surface activation step to each other.

A pipe manipulation apparatus having a base frame and a sliding end slidable towards and away from the base frame, each of the base frame and sliding end having at least one pipe support coupled with a press clamp pivotable between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the open position, a pipe is placeable on to the at least one pipe support and, in the closed position, the inner surfaces of the press clamp and the pipe support define a bore in which a lengthwise portion of the pipe is receivable. The pipe manipulation apparatus may be portable, tiltable, and/or rotatable to accommodate pipes of various locations and angles.

A method of creating a weld between a liner of a section of lined pipe and an electrofusion fitting. The fitting comprises 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 comprises 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.

A method for creating a termination by attaching some kind of fitting to the end of a tensile member such as a cable. The end fitting is provided with an internal cavity. The cavity has a proximal portion that is adjacent the area where the tensile member exits the fitting and a distal portion on its opposite end. A length of the tensile member's filaments is placed within this expanding cavity and infused with liquid potting compound. The method exploits the characteristic of a liquid potting compound as it transitions to a solid. The potting compound in one portion of the cavity is typically transitioned to a solid at a more rapid rate than other portions. Once the potting compound in one portion of the cavity has transitioned sufficiently to hold the filaments at the desired level, tension is placed on the tensile member and a small linear displacement may be imposed on the tensile member. This linear displacement tends to pull the filaments residing in the potting compound into better alignment and improve load sharing.

A method for fabricating a composite structure. A first section for the composite structure is formed in which the first section has a first end with a chevron shape, wherein first composite layers in the first section has a first step pattern at the first end. A second section for the composite structure is formed in which the second section has a second end with a counterpart shape to the chevron shape and in which second composite layers in the second section have a second step pattern at the second end. The first end the second end are positioned such that a first composite layer in the first composite layers in the first step pattern overlap the second composite layers in the second step pattern at a splice location.

A system for coating a field joint of a pipeline places at least one body having a thermoplastics material around the field joint. The body is heated in a mould cavity around the field joint to effect thermal expansion of the thermoplastics material. Thermal expansion of the body in the mould cavity is constrained to apply elevated pressure between the body and pipe sections joined at the field joint. The elevated pressure improves bonding and fusing between the body, which forms a field joint coating, and the parent coatings and the exposed pipe sections of the pipe joints. The body need not be fully molten, which reduces the mould residence time including in-mould heating and cooling phases.

A method for creating a termination by attaching some kind of fitting to the end of a tensile member such as a cable. The end fitting is provided with one or more internal cavities. Each cavity has a proximal portion that is adjacent to the area where the tensile member exits the fitting and a distal portion on its opposite end. A length of the tensile member's filaments is placed within this expanding cavity and infused with liquid potting compound. The method exploits the characteristic of a liquid potting compound as it transitions to a solid. Once the potting compound in at least a portion of the cavity has transitioned sufficiently to hold the filaments at a desired level, tension is placed on the tensile member and a small linear displacement may be imposed on the tensile member. This linear displacement tends to pull the filaments residing in the potting compound into better alignment and improve load sharing. The invention can be applied to single fittings having multiple cavities and to multiple fittings having only one cavity per fitting.