A method for joining at least two plastic parts (1, 5) along a predeterminable common joining point using infrared radiation (IR), is characterized in that each of the plastic parts (1, 5) to be joined is heated using infrared radiation at least along the joint by radiation sources without touching the respective plastic parts (1, 5). One radiation source is operated independently and spatially separated from the other radiation source. The radiation sources emit their respective infrared radiation to the respective plastic parts (1, 5) without contact and following the contour of the joint. The degree of heating by the respective infrared radiation is selected such that the joint is formed when the plastic parts (1, 5) are brought together.

A system for fusing thermoplastic composite structures includes a skin and a substructure on an inner surface of the skin. The system also includes a shaping surface of a tool, with the skin laid up on the shaping surface. The shaping surface is configured to maintain the shape of an outer mold line. The system further includes at least one insulation layer applied over a flange of the substructure and over exposed portions of the inner surface of the skin not in contact with the substructure, and a vacuum bag at least partly enclosing the skin and the substructure. Heat can be applied to the shaping surface to fuse the substructure to the skin such that the skin exceeds its melting point and at least a portion of a raised segment of the substructure does not exceed its melting point.

Systems and methods for induction welding a stiffener to a thermoplastic composite structure using a removeable metal mask to reduce excess heat along the edges of the stiffener generated from an electromagnetic field of an induction welding tool.

In order to thermally cure a thermosetting adhesive quickly and with less energy, the bonded article (10) according to the present invention comprises an adherend member (1) having a thermal conductivity of 1 w/m.Math.K or more, an adherend member (2) made of a material which can adhere to the adherend member (1), and an adhesion portion that is formed of a cured product of a thermosetting adhesive (3) and that is in contact with both the adherend member (1) and the adherend member (2), wherein the adherend member (1) has a heat transfer-inhibiting structure (4) which inhibits the transfer of heat from a portion thereof in contact with the adhesive (3) to a peripheral portion thereof.

An optical cable and method for forming an optical cable is provided. The cable includes a cable jacket including an inner surface defining a channel and an outer surface and also includes a plurality of optical fibers located within the channel. The cable includes a seam within the cable jacket that couples together opposing longitudinal edges of a wrapped thermoplastic sheet which forms the cable jacket and maintains the cable jacket in the wrapped configuration around the plurality of optical fibers. The method includes forming an outer cable jacket by wrapping a sheet of thermoplastic material around a plurality of optical core elements. The method includes melting together portions of thermoplastic material of opposing longitudinal edges of the wrapped sheet such that a seam is formed holding the sheet of thermoplastic material in the wrapped configuration around the core elements.

A process for producing a polymeric stiffened sheet-like component, for example a panel, for aircraft construction. Production includes integration of hollow stiffening profiles, for example closed omega stringers, onto a sheet-like component, for example an external skin, where the stringers and external skin are produced from thermoplastic composite material. The stringers are integrated onto the external skin by establishing contact between the stringers and the external skin and melting thermoplastic composite material with exposure to heat and pressure at the areas of contact between external skin and stringers. Melting of the other sections of the stringers is avoided with a pressurized cooling fluid with a temperature significantly below the melting point of thermoplastic composite material, the fluid flowing through the airtight enclosed space in the stringers. Use of closed airtight thermoplastic omega stringers allows integration of the stringers onto the external skin in absence of any flexible tube within the stringers.

A system includes a body having a pair of cable jaws. The pair of cable jaws further includes a dispensing track on an inner circumference of the pair of cable jaws to retain a segment of a thermoplastic cable material. The system includes a piston. The piston is configured to secure an overlapping segment of the thermoplastic cable material at the weld area. An induction coil is configured to apply an electromagnetic field. The system includes a power supply.

Disclosed herein is an apparatus for folding a side extending outward from a cup part in a battery case of a pouch-type secondary battery. The apparatus can include a body having a plate shape, adjacent to the side, and disposed to be elongated in a longitudinal direction of the secondary battery, wherein the body includes, a heating part disposed at one side thereof to heat an inner portion disposed at a relatively inner side of the side, and a pressing part disposed at the other side thereof to press an outer portion disposed at a relatively outer side of the side. When the heating part heats the inner portion, the body rotates to allow the pressing part to press the outer portion.

A system for assembling a container and closure comprising an expanding collet which has a plurality of pivoting collet segments, each configured to simultaneously pivot radially outward about a pivot point and comprising. The collet comprises a lip that is engagable with the rim of the open end of the container and an angled tip positioned radially inward from the lip and shaped to press a countersink portion of the closure against an interior wall of the container as the collet segments pivot radially outward. As the container and the chuck are brought together, the rim engages with the lips of the collet segments and causes the angled tips of the collet segments to pivot outward toward the interior wall of the container, thereby pushing the countersink portion of the closure against the interior wall of the container.

An automated heat shrink device, useful for forming a connection between two tubular sections having a polymeric outer surface jacket, for example, a connection between two sections of a district heating pipeline, and a method of use thereof. The device is configured such that it requires minimal clearance to either side of the pipeline when being used.