A welding apparatus (1) for radio-frequency, RF, welding, comprises: a clamp (10) having two electrodes (100, 101; 100′, 101′) being movable with respect to one another for clamping one or more items (2; 2′) therebetween for a welding process; and an RF power supply (11) for providing an RF welding current to the electrodes (100, 101; 100′, 101′) of the clamp (10), the RF power supply being adapted to change the frequency of the RF welding current during the welding process.

This disclosure is directed to pipe fittings, systems, and methods. Specifically, this disclosure provides pipe fittings with pairs of circumferential sealing zones and a pressure-testing chamber between the sealing zones. This disclosure also provides pipe fittings with sensors for detecting a breach in one or more sealing zones. The disclosure also provides data trackers for collecting information about the pressure-testing chamber and/or breaches in the sealing zones. Finally, this disclosure provides a dormant power source that becomes powered upon an aqueous breach of one or more sealing zones.

A method for joining two objects by anchoring an insert portion provided on one of the objects in an opening provided on the other one of the objects. The anchorage is achieved by liquefaction of a thermoplastic material and interpenetration of the liquefied material and a penetrable material, the two materials being arranged on opposite surfaces of the insert portion and the wall of the opening. Before such liquefaction and interpenetration, an interference fit is established in which such opposite surfaces are pressed against each other, and, for the anchoring, mechanical vibration energy and possibly a shearing force are applied, wherein the shearing force puts a shear stress on the interference fit.

A method for connecting the joint of two ends of at least one chassis sealing element. In order to allow a secure and quick connection of the ends and allow an additional unhindered passage of air and moisture between hollow chambers within the chassis sealing element via the joint when using a profiled hollow chamber, the ends are first arranged at a distance to each other, and a shapeless bonding agent is applied to at least one end. The bonding agent is then heated, and the ends are brought into mutual contact, whereby the ends are bonded at the joint by way of the heated bonding agent.

The present disclosure is directed to a for manufacturing a switching apparatus for electric systems. The method includes (i) providing a first housing shell of the switching apparatus; (ii) providing a second housing shell of the switching apparatus; (iii) assembling the first and second housing shells and a number of operating components of the switching apparatus, thereby obtaining a preliminary assembly of the switching apparatus; and (iv) joining first and second coupling edges of the first and second housing shells through a vibration welding process, thereby forming a junction between the first and second housing shells and obtaining a sealed outer casing for the switching apparatus.

A power convertor configured to output power to an electrofusion welding coupler for performing electrofusion welding. The power convertor comprises an array of connected DC to DC power convertor circuits. In use, the array of connected DC to DC power convertor circuits is configured to receive, at a first interface, power at a first voltage level from a battery and output power, at a second interface, at a second voltage level to provide power to electrofusion welding cable means. The DC to DC power convertors are arranged in a buck-boost configuration which can operate in a boost mode in which the first voltage level is less than the second voltage level and in a buck mode in which the first voltage level is greater than the second voltage level.

A system and method for welding thermoplastic components is provided. The system includes a component positioning system and a welding subsystem. The component positioning system includes a trailing force applicator having first and second lateral side trailing force applicators disposed on opposite lateral sides of a weld line. The welding subsystem is configured to weld the thermoplastic components together at a weld zone. The first and second lateral side trailing force applicators are laterally spaced apart from the weld zone, and at least a portion of the first and second lateral side trailing force applicators are disposed aft of the weld zone. During welding the first and second lateral side trailing force applicators and a welding subsystem probe are moved relative to the thermoplastic components, or vice versa.

A post-moulding station is described which is used in the manufacturing of a wind turbine blade. A blade shell forming part of a wind turbine blade is initially moulded in a blade mould, the blade shell subsequently transferred to a post-moulding station which allows for various post-moulding operations to be carried out on the blade shell away from the mould, thereby increasing the productivity of the blade mould in the manufacturing process. The post-moulding station may be operable to perform the closing of first and second blade shells to form a wind turbine blade, and may be formed from an adjustable structure which can provide relatively easy access to the contained blade shell for working thereon. Accordingly, the manufacturing equipment may be of reduced cost, combined with an increase in the overall productivity of the manufacturing system.

The present disclosure generally relates to devices and methods for furniture protection. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to foam-film sheets configured to protect furniture from damage. An exemplary foam-film sheet as disclosed herein includes a sheet of foam material having a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge; a sheet of film material having a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge; a first seal between a portion of the foam material proximate its first lateral edge and a portion of the film material proximate its first lateral edge; and a second seal between a portion of the foam material proximate its second lateral edge and a portion of the film material proximate its second lateral edge, wherein the film and foam are substantially unsealed along the entire transverse width between the first and second sealed portions near the lateral edges of the foam material.

A welding apparatus is suitable for welding polymeric materials, and particularly but not exclusively those that may be thin or brittle. A welding apparatus is provided for welding polymeric materials along a weld zone of the polymeric material. The welding apparatus has a carrier for supplying heat to the weld zone to cause melting of the polymeric material, wherein the heating element is arranged to reciprocate relative to the carrier between a retracted and an extended configuration, such that as the element moves from the retracted to the extended configuration the heating element melts and penetrates the surface of the polymeric material. The carrier also has a trailing contact surface trailing the heating element along the weld zone arranged to constrain molten polymeric material in the weld zone. The heating element is also arranged to reciprocate relative to the trailing contact surface.