A pressurizing pre-impregnating die head for a fiber reinforced plastic sheet machine is provided. The die head includes a body; at least one group of fiber channels arranged in a longitudinal hole-through manner in a middle of the body, and a fiber yarn conveyed in the fiber channel. The body includes a feeding port and discharging ports, which communicate with each other. The discharging ports are located in outer sides of the fiber channel. Thermoplastic base materials in a molten state are paved on two sides of the fiber yarn. The thermoplastic base materials may be paved on surfaces of the two sides of the fiber yarn when being extruded.

An example method of forming a composite structure is described that includes applying a laminated charge onto an expandable pallet, moving the expandable pallet at a translation rate and relative to a die conveyor that comprises a plurality of die sections, and driving the plurality of die sections on the die conveyor at an angle relative to the expandable pallet so as to drive the plurality of die sections progressively deeper into a recess defined by the expandable pallet and shape the laminated charge into at least part of a shape of the composite structure.

Systems and methods are provided for applying lengthwise curvature to composite parts. One embodiment is a method that includes fabricating a preform for a curved pultruded gap filler by continuously: heating fiber reinforced material to a sticking point temperature for a constituent material within the fiber reinforced material, and feeding the fiber reinforced material through a die that exhibits a curvature through which the fiber reinforced material travels while the fiber reinforced material is heated to the sticking point temperature, the die forming the fiber reinforced material into a preform for a gap filler. Fabricating the curved pultruded preform further includes varying path lengths of fibers within the preform as the preform passes through the die, and pulling the preform out of the die.

A reinforcing structure for a wind turbine blade A reinforcing structure for a wind turbine blade (12) is described. The reinforcing structure comprises one or more pultruded strips (42C) having spanwise grooves (54). The grooves (54) impart transverse flexibility to the strips (42C), allowing the strips (42C) to conform to the curvature of a wind turbine blade mould (44). An associated method of making a reinforcing structure for a wind turbine blade (12) is described. The method comprises providing an elongate mould (44) extending in a longitudinal direction and defining a mould surface at least part of which is concave-curved in transverse cross section. One or more pultruded strips (42C) with spanwise grooves (54) are arranged in the mould (44) to form the reinforcing structure. The pultruded strip(s) are bent along the grooves (54) so that they substantially conform to the transverse curvature of the mould surface. In preferred embodiments the reinforcing structure is a spar cap (36).

Systems and methods are provided for shaping flat charges. One embodiment is a forming system for shaping a flat charge. The forming system includes female dies that are elongate and are configured to hold the flat charge, and a male die that is elongate and is configured to press into the flat charge between the female dies to form the flat charge while the flat charge is supported, the male die includes notches that extend along a length of the male die and are dimensioned to retain gap fillers of the flat charge at widthwise locations of the flat charge corresponding to corners at the female dies while the flat charge is formed.

A die or die assembly for forming a bundle of fibres into a rod or tube comprises a body (84) defining a passage 86) for conducting the bundle fibres through the die from an inlet to an outlet, a constriction (91) in the passage having an entrance shaped to form the fibres of the bundle into a desired configuration as the bundle passes through the die, and one or more conduits (92) through which a treatment fluid e.g. steam, for curing the bundle of fibres may be introduced into the passage, and wherein at last one conduit is arranged to discharge fluid in the immediate vicinity of the entrance to the constriction to facilitate passage of the fibres through the die and reduce the risk of blockage.

A method and an equipment for preparing a pultruded polyurethane composite by a polyurethane pultrusion process, and the pultruded polyurethane composite obtained by the method and use thereof are provided.

A system for a composite battery tray structure, the system including a floor extending in a longitudinal and transverse direction, the floor configured to receive at least one battery, at least one cross member disposed on the floor and extending in the transverse direction, the at least one cross member having a top surface, bottom surface and sidewalls extending vertically therbetween, the at least one cross member having a first flange extending vertically upward from the top surface, the at least one cross member having a second flange extending laterally from the bottom surface, the at least one cross member being hollow, with a support rib extending between the sidewalls and a lid disposed above the cross member, the lid having a channel extending upward, the channel configured to receive the first flange of the at least one cross member.

Assay cartridges are described that have a detection chamber, preferably having integrated electrodes, and other fluidic components which may include sample chambers, waste chambers, conduits, vents, bubble traps, reagent chambers, thy reagent pill zones and the like. In certain embodiments, these cartridges are adapted to receive and analyze a sample collected on an applicator stick. Also described are kits including such cartridges and a cartridge reader configured to analyze an assay conducted using an assay cartridge.

A method for manufacturing at least one impregnated fibrous material including a fibrous material made of continuous fibers and at least one thermoplastic polymer, the method including a step of impregnating the at least one fibrous material in a pultrusion head by injecting a reactive composition in the melt state including at least one precursor of the thermoplastic polymer in the presence of the fibrous material, the at least one fibrous material on entry into the pultrusion head being divided in its thickness into layers, with each layer circulating in its own channel within the pultrusion head, the reactive composition being injected into each channel and/or between the layers when they are recombined at the exit from each channel, the channel being heated, in which the precursors of the thermoplastic polymer are at least partly polymerized.