A method of induction welding a first thermoplastic composite (TPC) to a second thermoplastic composite (TPC) using an induction coil includes forming a weld interface area between the first TPC and the second TPC, cooling the first TPC with a cooling apparatus before heating by the induction coil, and inductively heating the weld interface area with the induction coil after cooling the first TPC.

A method and installation for joining a cover layer to an object in a continuous process. Joining is effected with the aid of a joining material having thermoplastic properties, wherein the joining material is arranged between the cover layer and the object and is liquefied using ultrasonic vibration energy. Before application of the ultrasonic vibration energy, the joining material is preheated in a contactless manner with the aid of electromagnetic induction in the region of the glass transition temperature of the joining material or above this glass transition temperature. The object is in particular a chip board and the cover layer an edge strip to be joined to an edge of the chip board.

A method of joining together liner sections within a polymer-lined pipe energises an induction coil inside the pipe to spot-heat part of a circumferential interface between the liner sections. This melts and fuses the polymer material locally. The induction coil is then moved along the interface to heat other parts of the interface successively above the melting temperature. An apparatus for performing the method has a power supply for energising the induction coil and a drive system for moving the energised induction coil relative to a body of the apparatus. The apparatus may be configured as a carriage that is movable along the pipe.

A heat sink for use in induction welding includes a number of tiles, wherein the tiles are electrically non-conductive and have a thermal diffusivity of greater than about 25 mm2/sec. A joint flexibly joins the tiles together.

A method of induction welding a first thermoplastic composite (TPC) to a second thermoplastic composite (TPC) using an induction coil includes forming a weld interface area between the first TPC and the second TPC, cooling the first TPC with a cooling apparatus before heating by the induction coil, and inductively heating the weld interface area with the induction coil after cooling the first TPC.

A cover for a housing of a vehicle and a method of sealing a cover to the housing, where in at least one example, the cover comprises a cover body configured to cover an opening of the housing and to engage the housing at an interface around the opening. The cover may comprise a heating element embedded within the cover body and operable to at least partially melt a portion of the cover body as a part of a process for sealing the cover to the housing. The portion of the cover body may deform and conform to an interface feature at the mating surface of the housing due to the at least partial melting of the portion of the cover body, and, in some examples, the heating element may be configured to fail and be inoperable.

Induction welding process for welding two parts using at least one susceptor including discontinuous conductive elements, and assembly of at least two parts obtained using the induction welding process. An induction welding process can join at least first and second parts, and the process can include a step of positioning at least one susceptor, including discontinuous conductive elements, between the first and second contact faces of the first and second parts, and steps of holding the first and second parts pressed against each other and of producing an electromagnetic field to generate an induced current that engenders heating of the susceptor. An assembly of two parts can be obtained using the process.

A method creates a weld between a liner of a section of lined pipe and an electrofusion fitting. The fitting has 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 includes 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 composite sandwich panel includes a first composite part and a second composite part. A plurality of stiffeners extend between the first and second composite parts. A fiberglass composite perimeter edge closeout is positioned along one or more edges of the first and second composite parts. The fiberglass composite perimeter edge closeout controls a magnetic flux to bond the first and second composite parts to the plurality of stiffeners.

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.