IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO SAILS, BATTENS AND METHODS THEREOF

摘要

The application relates to battens for sails and aerofoils and discloses methods and apparatus. The method is for making fluid (e.g. air, gas or liquid) impervious bladders ("bladders") for inflatable aerofoil battens. The method involves forming a tube, by the steps of, i) applying a first matrix material to a forming body or bodies, ii) applying a first reinforcing material to the first matrix material, iii) applying a second matrix material over the first matrix material, and iv) compressing a lay-up resultant from (i) - (iii), and heating the lay-up resultant from (i) - (iii), to bond the first matrix material to the second matrix material and/or the reinforcement material. The apparatus relates to the batten that is formed from the method. Uses of the batten are also disclosed.