A pressure testing system for a hollow component, such as a component formed by a filament winding system and method, includes an outer frame defining a base, and a support mechanism coupled to the base and having at least one movable platform for supporting the hollow component within the outer frame.

A FW apparatus includes a bobbin driving unit, a winding device, and a tension applying device. A FW method using the FW apparatus includes a temporary suspending step of temporarily suspending operation of the winding device in the middle of winding the fed-out fiber portion around the workpiece. In the temporary suspending step, the length of the feeding path is increased by moving the pressing member while causing the pressing member to press against the fed-out fiber portion in a state of continuing to feed out the fed-out fiber portion from the fiber roll portion.

A FW apparatus includes a bobbin driving unit, a winding device, and a tension applying device. A FW method using the FW apparatus includes a temporary suspending step of temporarily suspending operation of the winding device in the middle of winding the fed-out fiber portion around the workpiece. In the temporary suspending step, the length of the feeding path is increased by moving the pressing member while causing the pressing member to press against the fed-out fiber portion in a state of continuing to feed out the fed-out fiber portion from the fiber roll portion.

A method of spreading fibres, the method comprises providing a continuous fibre bundle having an initial width W.sub.a and causing the fibre bundle to run, in a running direction, through tensioning means and past or through fluid flow means, the tensioning means intermittently varying the tension in the fibre bundle and the fluid flow means producing a fluid flow through the fibre bundle as the tension varies in the fibre bundle, whereby the width of the fibre bundle increases to a spread width W.sub.b. Apparatus (1) is also disclosed, which apparatus (1) comprises a tensioning means (3) to intermittently vary the tension in the fibre bundle (2) and a fluid flow means (4) for producing a flow of fluid through the bundle (2).

A method of spreading fibres, the method comprises providing a continuous fibre bundle having an initial width W.sub.a and causing the fibre bundle to run, in a running direction, through tensioning means and past or through fluid flow means, the tensioning means intermittently varying the tension in the fibre bundle and the fluid flow means producing a fluid flow through the fibre bundle as the tension varies in the fibre bundle, whereby the width of the fibre bundle increases to a spread width W.sub.b. Apparatus (1) is also disclosed, which apparatus (1) comprises a tensioning means (3) to intermittently vary the tension in the fibre bundle (2) and a fluid flow means (4) for producing a flow of fluid through the bundle (2).

In a method of manufacturing a rubber coated twisted wire cord, when an outer circumferential surface of a twisted wire cord that is moving from an unreeling unit to a winding unit is coated with unvulcanized rubber extruded by a rubber extruder, by a coating unit disposed between the unreeling unit and a winding unit, in a state of additional tension being imparted on the moving twisted wire cord by a tension imparting unit disposed at a nearby position on an upstream side from the coating unit in a moving direction of the twisted wire cord, the unvulcanized rubber coats the outer circumferential surface of the twisted wire cord in this state to continuously manufacture a rubber coated twisted wire cord.

A method of spreading fibres, the method comprises providing a continuous fibre bundle having an initial width W.sub.a and causing the fibre bundle to run, in a running direction, through tensioning means and past or through fluid flow means, the tensioning means intermittently varying the tension in the fibre bundle and the fluid flow means producing a fluid flow through the fibre bundle as the tension varies in the fibre bundle, whereby the width of the fibre bundle increases to a spread width W.sub.b. Apparatus (1) is also disclosed, which apparatus (1) comprises a tensioning means (3) to intermittently vary the tension in the fibre bundle (2) and a fluid flow means (4) for producing a flow of fluid through the bundle (2).

A method of spreading fibres, the method comprises providing a continuous fibre bundle having an initial width W.sub.a and causing the fibre bundle to run, in a running direction, through tensioning means and past or through fluid flow means, the tensioning means intermittently varying the tension in the fibre bundle and the fluid flow means producing a fluid flow through the fibre bundle as the tension varies in the fibre bundle, whereby the width of the fibre bundle increases to a spread width W.sub.b. Apparatus (1) is also disclosed, which apparatus (1) comprises a tensioning means (3) to intermittently vary the tension in the fibre bundle (2) and a fluid flow means (4) for producing a flow of fluid through the bundle (2).

A filament winding system, components, and methods include a rotatable mandrel and a filament source with a set of filaments for wrapping about the rotatable mandrel and forming a component. The filament winding system can also include a mandrel assembly, a tensioner assembly for the set of filaments, and a cutting assembly.

A filament winding system, components, and methods include a rotatable mandrel and a filament source with a set of filaments for wrapping about the rotatable mandrel and forming a component. The filament winding system can also include a mandrel assembly, a tensioner assembly for the set of filaments, and a cutting assembly.