A switching valve contains a sleeve member, a plug member, and a damping spring. The sleeve member includes a watering segment, a spraying segment, a peripheral fence, a side fence, a channel, a first watering chamber, and a second watering chamber. The peripheral fence has a first valve seat, a second valve seat, and at least one set of inlet. The first valve seat has a conical first closing face and a plurality of stop blocks. The second valve seat has a conical second closing face. The plug member includes a first sealing portion, a second sealing portion, and guiding ribs. The first sealing portion has a first ring, and the second sealing portion has a second ring. Each guiding rib has a guide face, and between any two adjacent guiding ribs is defined a slot. The damping spring is mounted between the side fence and the plug member.

An inflatable device is provided, comprising a carcass and an internal air intake mechanism assembly. The carcass defines a surface of the device and surrounds an inner volume of the device, and has an opening. The internal air intake mechanism assembly comprises a primary one way valve mechanism joined to the carcass to cover the opening. The primary one way valve mechanism extends into the inner volume and is configured for enabling air to be directed into inner volume from an environment external to the carcass, while preventing or limiting air flow from the inner to the external environment.

The present invention discloses a double-handle faucet, comprising two valve seats, two spools, two inlet pins, two handles, an outlet pipe, a connecting tube, an upper panel, and a lower panel. The double-handle faucet further comprises two semi-cladding members. The two valve seats, the connecting tube, and the two semi-cladding members are all made of a plastic material. Each of the valve seats is provided with an upper annular flange and a lower annular flange. Each of the inlet pins is further provided with a connecting ring. Each of the semi-cladding members comprises two first enveloping parts and a second enveloping part. The two first enveloping parts are located at both sides and correspond to the positions of the valve seats. The second enveloping parts of the two valve seats together cover the outer side of the connecting tube. The two semi-cladding members oppositely cover the outer side of two valve seats to fasten the inlet pin and the valve seats. As compared with the prior art, the present invention not only avoids lead contamination, but also has a low cost.

The present invention discloses a novel double-handle faucet comprising two valve seats, two spools, two inlet pins, two handles, an outlet pipe, a connecting tube, an upper panel, a lower panel, a cladding member, and two caps, the two valve seats, the connecting tube, the cladding member, and two caps are all made of a plastic material, each of the valve seats is provided with an upper annular flange and a lower annular flange, each of the inlet pins is further provided with a connecting ring, the cladding member comprises two first enveloping parts and a second enveloping part, the two first enveloping parts are located at both sides and are both provided with a chamber for accommodating the valve seats at respective side, the chamber is provided with a positioning step at the bottom, the connecting ring is abutted against the positioning step, the second enveloping part covers the outer side of the connecting tube, each of the caps is provided with a cover body and a circular engaging edge which is formed along the periphery of the cover body. As compared with the prior art, the present invention not only avoids lead contamination, but also has a low cost.

A diaphragm sealed flow cavity comprises a first body comprising a support surface, a diaphragm comprising an outer portion that is joined by a weld to the first body, a clamped portion, and an inner portion that is movable along an axis, with the clamped portion of the diaphragm being compressed between the bearing surface and the support surface. The diaphragm sealed flow cavity may include a cylindrical body having a crimped portion for joining the cylindrical body to the first body. The diaphragm sealed flow cavity may also include a member that applies a live load to the clamped portion of the diaphragm. In the exemplary embodiments, the diaphragm sealed flow cavity may be realized as part of a diaphragm flow control valve having a valve body, diaphragm and a housing.

A restriction engaging system includes, a restriction engager, one or more restrictions, and at least one counter configured to permit or prevent passage of a restriction engager through one of the one or more restrictions.

A stepper-motor gas valve control is disclosed that includes a main diaphragm in a chamber that controllably displaces a valve relative to an opening in response to changes in pressure, to adjust fuel flow through the valve. A servo-regulator diaphragm is provided to regulate flow to the main diaphragm, to thereby control the rate of fuel flow. A stepper motor is configured to move in a stepwise manner to displace the servo-regulator diaphragm, to control fluid flow to the main diaphragm. A controller mounted on the stepper-motor regulated gas valve control receives and converts an input control signal from a heating system to a reference value between 0 and 5 volts, and selects a corresponding motor step value. The control responsively moves the stepper-motor in a step wise manner to displace the servo-regulator diaphragm and thereby regulates the rate of fuel flow through the valve.

The invention allows securing greater discharge pressure and flow rate at high revolutions of an engine in order to secure lubrication and cooling, while reducing discharge pressure and flow rate at low and medium revolutions of the engine in order to improve efficiency. The invention includes a housing; a relief valve; a valve passage; a main discharge flow channel; a main relief flow channel; an auxiliary relief flow channel; a solenoid valve mounted on the auxiliary relief flow channel; and a spring. The solenoid valve is controlled so as to switch between communication and shut-off between the auxiliary relief flow channel and the large-diameter passage section in accordance with an increase or decrease in engine revolutions, and oil in the large-diameter passage section is discharged when the shut-off is implemented.

A valve assembly (10) is to be used in conjunction with a tubular member having an internal surface surrounding a passage into which the valve assembly is to be sealingly inserted. The valve assembly includes a tubular body (25) having a longitudinal passage and an outer surface to be located adjacent the internal surface. A seal (29) is mounted on the outer surface to engage the internal surface to sealingly connect the tubular body with the tubular member. A movable valve member (33) is movable between an open position providing for the flow of water from an upstream end to a downstream end of the passage of the tubular body and a closed position closing the passage. Resilient means, such as a spring (34) urges the valve member to the closed position. The resilient means is configured to provide for displacement of the valve member toward the open position when pressure beyond a predetermined pressure is applied upon the movable valve member.

A drain valve device includes a base and a control unit removably disposed in the base. The control unit includes a valve and a resilient component positioned between the valve and the base. The drain valve device opens automatically as soon as water entering the base exceeds a predetermined level. The drain valve device shuts automatically as soon as water entering the base is less than a predetermined level. The drain valve device has advantages, namely simple structure, convenient of use, prevention of intrusion of odor and pests, easy to clean, and unlikely to get clogged.

In one featured embodiment, a spring assembly for a valve comprises a spring, a spring seat including a cup-shaped portion for seating one end of the spring, and a ball received within a recess formed within the cup-shaped portion of the spring seat. The ball is defined by a ball diameter. A disc prevents the ball from contacting a piston. The disc is defined by an outer diameter and includes a center opening defined by an inner diameter. A ratio of the inner diameter to the ball diameter is between 0.60 and 0.65.

To provide an opening degree detection device for an automatically operated valve which is easily assembled into an automatically operated valve, makes it easy to ensure detection accuracy at the time of assembling the opening degree detection device, and is easily applicable to an existing automatically operated valve. The opening degree detection device includes: a base plate 4 which is detachably mounted on an automatically operated valve 2; a displacement sensor 5; and a target 6 having an inclined detection surface 6a which is detected by the displacement sensor 5. The target 6 is fixed to the base plate 4. The displacement sensor 5 is supported on a valve stem 14 by way of a sensor support member 21, and the sensor support member 21 is supported on the base plate 4 by way of a guide means.

A control valve having a retainer for securing a seat ring within the valve body of the device is disclosed. The seat ring is disposed within a bore in the fluid flow path of the valve body of the control valve, and the retainer is attached to the inner surface of the valve body to retain the seat ring within the bore. The retainer includes threaded openings therethrough for receiving bolts that are tightened down on the seat ring to hold the seat ring against the inner surface of the bore and/or a gasket to form a tight seal and prevent leakage when the control device is in the closed position.

A valve system oriented for an irrigation system which is activated by a control unit is disclosed. The system comprises a solenoid switch and a manual switch, wherein an electrical wire extends from the valve to the control unit. The manual switch operates as a hand handling rotating lever; another use of manual switch is to serve as a means to force close the solenoid valve's outlet opening so as to provide a mechanism responsive to preventing automatic opening of solenoid valve controlled by control unit.

Systems, methods and apparatus for providing an electromagnetic flow controller. In one embodiment, an electromagnetic flow controller can have two substrates, a permanent magnet, and two electrical traces. One of the substrates may deflect away from the other substrate upon applying an electrical signal to at least one of the two electrical traces.

A valve operating device includes a mounting for attachment to a vehicle and an elongate arm, the free end of which is only moveable across the underlying ground. The joints of the arm pivot around vertical axes and the arm is locked into a desired orientation by a brake at each joint. A valve turning machine is at the free end of the arm. The brakes are engaged and released by a control on the valve turning machine.

A system and method are disclosed for containing an underwater gas or oil leak. The system and method may include a vortex device comprising a vortex chamber, a high pressure inlet tangentially engaging the vortex chamber, a low pressure inlet axially engaging the vortex chamber, and a low pressure outlet axially engaging the vortex chamber opposite the low pressure inlet. The vortex device may be positioned underwater proximate an underwater leak. A vortex may be generated within the vortex device. The vortex device may then collect a leak flow issuing from the underwater leak. The vortex device may collect the leak flow via the low pressure inlet, the high pressure inlet, or both.

A fuel transfer system for an aircraft includes an upper tank, a lower tank, a fuel transfer line connecting the upper tank to the lower tank, an upper fuel transfer line outlet in the lower tank, a lower fuel transfer line outlet in the lower tank, an upper float valve associated with the upper fuel transfer line outlet, and a lower float valve associated with the lower fuel transfer line outlet. The upper fuel transfer line outlet, which is in the lower tank, is in fluid communication with the upper tank. The lower fuel transfer line outlet, which is located in the lower tank, is in fluid communication with the upper tank.

A pump system containing no external parts or valves is provided. The pump system is characterized by a common type of actuating mechanism and incorporates reversibly expanding actuators, preferably electroactive actuators. Fluid is caused to move at a selected flow rate and direction by sequentially activating contiguous actuators located inside the pump. The pump may be used to pump a variety of fluids and may be used in various industrial, commercial, medical, aeronautical, or military applications.

A system and method determine when fluid is not flowing properly from a secondary infusion source during a secondary infusion. The system includes an upstream pressure sensor and a processor programmed to receive signals from the sensor and analyze the signals to determine if secondary fluid flow is proper. The processor samples the output signals from the upstream pressure sensor and analyzes the sampled signals to determine if a pressure rise in the infusion line has occurred when the secondary infusion is initiated. If a pressure rise, indicating that fluid from the secondary container has begun flowing into the infusion line, has not been detected, the processor is programmed to provide a signal indicating that attention should be given to the infusion set up.

The present invention is one that prevents standard gas from remaining in a standard gas line to prevent a concentration of standard gas from being reduced due to adsorption, modification, or the like, and has: a diluent gas line provided with a diluent gas flow rate controlling mechanism; a standard gas line provided with a standard gas flow rate controlling mechanism; an output gas line joined by the diluent gas line and standard gas line and outputs the standard gas having a predetermined concentration; an exhaust gas line connected to an upstream side of the standard gas flow rate controlling mechanism in the standard gas line and provided with an on/off valve and a flow rate control part; and a control part that, depending on a flow rate of the standard gas flowing through the standard gas line or the type of the standard gas, switches on/off the on/off valve.

A valve box platform is disclosed. The valve box platform may include a peripheral wall having a receiving surface for receiving a valve box. A first recess may be positioned within the peripheral wall. The first recess may include a knockout portion selectively disclosed therein. The peripheral wall may also include a U-shaped recess having a rounded receiving portion with the U-shaped recess being aligned with the first recess.

Disclosed is a corrugated plastic composite spring for a vehicle suspension and an apparatus and method for manufacturing the same. The apparatus includes a corrugated extrusion part, a braiding part, and a pultrusion part. The corrugated extrusion part forms a preform having a hollow corrugated structure. The braiding part weaves a three-dimensional woven fabric on the preform. The pultrusion part impregnates the three-dimensional woven fabric with thermosetting resin.

A tubular structure and method for making a tubular structure are provided, where the tubular structure includes at least one layer of braided strands. In general, at least one portion of the braided strands exhibits a braid pattern of crests and troughs (e.g., a wave pattern, which may include sinusoidal, square, and/or sawtooth waves) along a length of the tubular structure. The wave pattern can be created by rotating the mandrel onto which the tubular structure is braided during the braiding process, such as by angularly oscillating the mandrel about its longitudinal axis or about its transverse axis. As a result, the tubular structures may have increased radial strength, collapse resistance, torque transmission, column strength, and kink resistance. The tubular structures may be used in medical devices, such as stent-grafts, as well as in other medical and non-medical devices, such as in hoses, tubing, filters, and other devices.

A yarn object which, even though made of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene, can be satisfactorily prevented from color fading caused by contact with other objects or the like, can be produced easily at low cast, and can maintain high strength. The yarn object is colored with a colorant. The yarn object includes a core yarn 2 colored with a predetermined colorant and an outer-layer yarn 3 disposed on the periphery of the core yarn. The outer-layer yarn 3 is disposed in such a manner that the core yarn 2 is prevented from contacting with other objects. The outer-layer yarn 3 includes a transparent filament and a space 4 is formed between the outer-layer yarns 3. The color applied to the core yarn 2 is externally visible through the transparent outer-layer yarn 3 and the space therebetween 4.

A textile sleeve and method of construction thereof is provided. The textile sleeve has a water-based, impervious coating for protecting elongate members contained within the sleeve. The sleeve has a flexible, tubular wall of tightly braided yarns with a coating applied thereto to render the wall impervious to fluid. The coating is a water-based coating applied as two distinct, first and second layers. The first, underlying layer includes a dielectric enhancing additive and a thickening agent to enhance the impermeability of the wall. The second, outer layer contains a similar formulation as the underlying first layer, however, it is free of the thickening agent.

A method and apparatus for fabricating microbraided structures is provided. A microbraiding device includes first and second carrier members that are movable with respect to each other. Each carrier includes a plurality of shelters. Spool-less strands of microfiber are retained in shuttles that are movable between the first and second shelters under magnetic forces. The microbraid structure is fabricated as the shuttles move between the first shelters, and as the first carrier member moves relative to the second carrier member.

A method is presented for making a composite material from strips comprising longitudinal fibers and a binder or resin, which material comprises a number of layer assemblies one on top of the other. Each layer assembly comprises m sets (with m at least 2) of parallel strips each extending in a different direction, Each layer assembly is manufactured by successive steps of depositing groups of parallel strips according to a well defined pattern (without longitudinally interweaving strips with previously deposited strips). Before completing a layer assembly, with the exception of the last layer assembly, by depositing its last group of parallel strips, the first group of parallel strips of the following layer assembly is already deposited. A composite material manufactured with such a method is presented too.

A braided carbon nanotube thread includes at least three carbon nanotube filaments braided into a thread. The carbon nanotube filaments include a plurality of carbon nanotubes, each of the carbon nanotubes having a length L. The carbon nanotube filaments are braided such that the carbon nanotube thread has at least 8 intersections per the length L of each carbon nanotube. The carbon nanotube thread has a tensile strength greater than the tensile strength of the constituent carbon nanotube filaments.

An elastic longitudinal net (1) for longitudinal food products, especially cold meat products, is formed as a sleeve having at least one longitudinal main warp (21) of a tightening chain weave having at least one substantially inextensible thread (213, 214), and at least one weft (3) having at least one elastic fiber and circumferential sections (31), the ends of which are interweaved substantially perpendicularly between the substantially inextensible fiber and longitudinal sections (32) existing between neighboring circumferential sections (31) and running in a concurrent manner relative to and weaved with at least one main warp (21). The longitudinal sections are interweaved through at least one main warp (21) substantially perpendicularly relative to its longitudinal axis, passing through loops (215, 216) of the at least one substantially inextensible thread (213, 214) of the main warp, forming a serpentine run having at least two external loops (321).

A medical balloon with a variable diameter that is reinforced with continuous fibers woven to form a fabric with a varying number of layers and fiber densities. Portions of the balloon having a relatively smaller diameter are reinforced with a fabric having a reduced fiber density and an increased number of layers to facilitate the placement of the layers. The fabric also includes a braiding pattern that facilitates the transition from a single layer fabric to a multiple layer fabric. Also described is a manufacturing method for the braiding and layering.

A vascular device is provided that includes a tubular structure and an occluding structure. The tubular structure has inner and outer layers, with the occluding structure located between the inner and outer layers. Each of the inner and outer layers may define a different pick count, and the tubular structure may include a leading edge at a transition between the pick counts. The leading edge may be disposed at the distal end of the vascular device when the device is deployed from a delivery device. Furthermore, the occluding structure may have first and second layers formed by the inversion or eversion of the occluding structure and the subsequent coupling of its free ends to form a continuous structure. Thus, any loose ends may be sealed to minimize unraveling and/or shifting of the occluding structure within the tubular structure. A method of making the vascular device is also provided.

Branched braided stent or graft devices and processes for fabrication of the devices are disclosed in which a trunk portion and two hinge leg portions are fabricated in one piece braided from a single plurality of filaments, whereby the legs contain the full plurality of filaments and the trunk portion contains a subset of the same plurality of filaments. The fabrication process involves braiding the hinged legs on a mandrel while retaining loops of filament between the hinged leg portions for subsequent braiding of the trunk portion of the stent or graft.

A three-dimensional preform, composite components formed with the preform, and processes for producing the preform and composite materials. The three-dimensional preform includes first and second sets of tows containing filaments. Each tow of the first set has a predetermined polygonal cross-sectional shape and is embedded within a temporary matrix. The preform is fabricated from the first and second sets of tows, in which the second set of tows are transverse to the first set of tows, adjacent tows of the second set are spaced apart to define interstitial regions therebetween, and the polygonal cross-sectional shapes of the first set of tows are substantially congruent to the cross-sectional shapes of the interstitial regions so as to substantially fill the interstitial regions.

A self-expanding, pseudo-braided device embodying a high expansion ratio and flexibility as well as comformability and improved radial force. The pseudo-braided device is particularly suited for advancement through and deployment within highly tortuous and very distal vasculature. Various forms of the pseudo-braided device are adapted for the repair of aneurysms and stenoses as well as for use in thrombectomies and embolic protection therapy.

A toothed cable is provided in which a strand can be securely joined to a core cable while maintaining flexibility of the strand. The toothed cable includes the core cable, a wire disposed spirally around the core cable at a fixed pitch, and the strand having a core thread and piles fixed to the core thread, the strand being disposed spirally along a groove having side walls and a bottom formed by the wire and the core cable. The toothed cable is obtained by a manufacturing method of disposing a meltable filament thread in the groove, disposing the strand in the groove with tension after the filament thread is disposed, melting the filament thread after the strand is disposed, and joining the strand to the core cable by solidifying the melted filament thread.

A braider for braiding wires to a tube comprising an iris assembly having stacked iris plates. Each of the iris plates includes a center aperture, a wire orifice disposed radially outward from the center aperture, and an arcuate channel. The iris plates are rotatable relative to each other to adjust a circumferential orientation of the wire orifices relative to each other. The arcuate channel(s) of each respective iris plate is coincident with the wire orifice(s) of the remaining iris(es). The braider comprises a feeder assembly configured for advancing the tube through the center apertures, and advancing the wires through the respective wire orifices. The braider further comprises a braiding assembly configured for braiding a plurality of filaments around the tube and the plurality of wires as they are fed through the iris assembly, thereby creating a braided tube assembly.

A method of braiding a stent includes braiding a number of elongate filaments around a mandrel using tensioned braiding carriers without spooling the filaments to the tensioned braiding carriers to form a braided stent having atraumatic ends.

A composite material comprising a plurality of fiber tape strips woven or braided together. Each of the plurality of fiber tape strips is made of a single layer of unidirectional fibers. The fibers are at least partially embedded in a thermoplastic matrix. A tubular composite part is made from this composite material and of an internal film. A method of manufacturing the composite material comprises weaving or braiding the fiber tape strips, especially in the form of a tube. A method of manufacturing a composite part comprises pressurizing the film inside the tube while heating both the tube and the film up to their forming temperature so as to bond the film to the woven fiber tape strips.

This invention provides new above knee (AK) and below the knee (BK) prosthetic sockets and implements specific manufacturing processes for the production of prosthetic sockets through the automated, computer controlled bi-axial and tri-axial braiding of sockets, over a mold or mandrel made of carved foam, plaster material or wax that is a replica of the patient's truncated limb, and is created by a Computer Aided Design (CAD) file controlling a Numerically Controlled (CNC) machine tool. This method of manufacture using aerospace fibers such as graphite or Kevlar, and high performance resins, is used to create a socket which is stronger and lighter weight than conventionally manufactured sockets. Braiding also allows incorporation of woven cloth, tapes and other reinforcements into the braiding process for added strength at selected areas. The method dramatically decreases the production time and cost of the prosthetic relative to conventional methods.

A system for making braided barbed sutures includes a filament winding assembly, and a guide assembly including at least one barbed insert dispenser opening defining a passageway for orienting a barbed insert. The guide assembly is adapted to dispense at least one barbed insert from the dispenser opening into the filament winding assembly for winding a plurality of filaments around the at least one barbed insert for making a braided barbed suture. The passageway of the dispenser opening is adapted to allow longitudinal movement of the barbed insert relative to the passageway while simultaneously preventing twisting movement of the barbed insert relative to the passageway. As the barbed insert is being dispensed, the barbed insert dispenser opening is selectively rotatable for imparting rotation to the barbed insert as the filaments are wound about the barbed insert. The passageway may be an elongated slit having a greater width than height.

The method produces an upper part of a shoe, in particular a sport shoe, with enhanced wearing comfort. The method entails supplying a shoe last, which corresponds to the inner shape of the upper part of the shoe to a radial braiding machine having an annular creel, which is designed for weaving and/or braiding along three axes; Guiding the at least one shoe last through the center of the creel and simultaneously weaving and/or braiding along three axes using a fiber material around the outer circumference of the shoe last; and Terminating the weaving and/or braiding and removing the woven and/or braided material from the shoe last.

A tubular fibrous architecture is disclosed. According to one aspect, the tubular fibrous architecture includes a closed tubular part in at least one of its ends or bottom. The closed tubular part includes an architecture in which a textile material, such as a thread, roving, ribbon or bundle of threads, is continuously output from the bottom. Each textile material that is output from the bottom is continuously wound about the tubular part. All of the textile materials at the junction between the bottom and the remainder of the tubular part are continuous and there is a continuous geometric transition between the bottom architecture and the architecture of the remainder of the tubular part such that the textile materials in the tubular part cross over. A method of making such a tubular fibrous architecture is also disclosed.

Vascular treatment and methods include a plurality of self-expanding bulbs and a hypotube including interspersed patterns of longitudinally spaced rows of kerfs. Joints between woven structures and hypotubes include solder. Woven structures include patterns of radiopaque filaments measureable under x-ray. Structures are heat treated to include at least shapes at different temperatures. A catheter includes a hypotube including interspersed patterns of longitudinally spaced rows of kerfs. Heat treating systems include a detachable flange. Laser cutting systems include a fluid flow system.

Vascular treatment and methods include a plurality of self-expanding bulbs and a hypotube including interspersed patterns of longitudinally spaced rows of kerfs. Joints between woven structures and hypotubes include solder. Woven structures include patterns of radiopaque filaments measurable under x-ray. Structures are heat treated to include at least shapes at different temperatures. A catheter includes a hypotube including interspersed patterns of longitudinally spaced rows of kerfs. Heat treating systems include a detachable flange. Laser cutting systems include a fluid flow system.

A braider comprises a plurality of horngears. The horngears can be arranged for forming at least two closed paths for braiding. Each horngear has a driving gear and a hornplate. Each horngear can be selectably operated in a first mode, to rotate with the driving gear, and in a second mode, in which the driving gear rotates, but the hornplate does not. Bobbin carriers are positioned on some of the horngears. A track is configurable in: a first flat braiding mode with the carriers arranged on the horngears, so that there is one or more separate closed path for forming a first flat braid configuration; and a second flat braiding mode for forming a second flat braid configuration different from the first flat braid configuration. A switch is provided for changing a configuration of the track between the first and second flat braiding modes.

The invention relates to a method for the operation of a plaiting machine (1) that comprises a ring (2) carrying fiber spools (3) for plaiting layers (16, 22) of fibers (3) about a mandrel (13, 17) carried by a carrier (12) capable of movement along the axis (AX) of the ring (2), wherein after plaiting the fibers (3) are cut in order to withdraw the mandrel (13, 17), and that comprises: a hub (5, 6; 18) carried by the carrier (12) and secured to the mandrel (13; 17) while being mounted upstream therefrom; an operation for tightening the fibers (3) around the hub (5, 6; IS) with a link (11, 14) surrounding said fibers (3) after the mandrel (13, 17) has passed through the ring (2); and in which the fibers (3) are cut between the mandrel (13, 17) and the hub (5, 6; 18) before withdrawing the mandrel (13, 17).

Vascular treatment and methods include a plurality of self-expanding bulbs and a hypotube including interspersed patterns of longitudinally spaced rows of kerfs. Joints between woven structures and hypotubes include solder. Woven structures include patterns of radiopaque filaments measureable under x-ray. Structures are heat treated to include at least shapes at different temperatures. A catheter includes a hypotube including interspersed patterns of longitudinally spaced rows of kerfs. Heat treating systems include a detachable flange. Laser cutting systems include a fluid flow system.

A manufacture method of a three dimensional (3D) braided composite tube with a throat section includes: providing an assembled mandrel comprising an upper mandrel and a lower mandrel, and braiding an 3D braided inner layer on the upper mandrel; winding fiber yarns to form a fiber yarn layer over the 3D braided inner layer; tightening the 3D braided inner layer to the assembled mandrel by an appropriate tension force when winding; and infiltrating resin and increasing temperature to cure the resin for obtaining a composite tube with a narrower throat section. The present invention takes advantage of winding fiber yarn outer layer to keep the radius of the throat of the 3D braided inner layer to meet design requirement. Additionally, the hoop strength of the throat section is increased so that the metal shell can be made thinner to reduce the weight of the rocket nozzle.

A tubular braid and mechanisms for forming the braid are described. The mechanism for braiding includes a disc, a mandrel, a plurality of catch mechanisms, and a plurality of actuators. The disc defines a plane and a circumferential edge. The mandrel extends from a center of the disc and is adapted to hold a plurality of filaments extending radially from the mandrel toward the circumferential edge of the disc. The plurality of catch mechanisms are positioned circumferentially around the edge of the disc and are adapted to engage a filament. The plurality of actuators are configured to move relative to one another and are adapted to move the plurality of catch mechanisms in a substantially radial direction relative to the circumferential edge of the disc.