Abstract: A method of forming a wound roll, such as a regenerator, including the steps of inserting wires at the lateral edges of an elongated strip as the strip is being wound around a spool. Spacers, such as localized bumps, are formed on the strip to space strip layers apart to form uniform gaps. An offset is added to the angle of rotation between each spacer-forming step to inhibit the nesting of bumps in the cavities of adjacent strip layers.

Abstract: A filter material comprising a blend of at least three types of fibers: (a) polypropylene fibers (b) polymethaphenylene isophtalamide fibers and (c) fibers of a third type selected from the group of acrylic and modacrylic. In a preferred embodiment, the blend contains about ten weight percent polymethaphenylene isophtalamide fibers, about 50 weight percent polypropylene fibers and about 40 weight percent modacrylic fibers. Performance of the blend is superior to the prior art filtration materials, especially at the preferred compositions.

Abstract: A structurally reinforced automobile body including damper stiffener extensions extending from the damper stiffeners to automobile body members rearward of the damper stiffeners, preferably opposite sides of the rear panel, the side panel outer extensions, the side panel outers or the rear frame members. A box-beam parcel shelf mounts at opposite sides to the region of the automobile body to which a suspension component attaches, such as the wheel house or rear inner panel. The box-beam parcel shelf substantially rigidities the automobile body, especially in combination with the damper stiffener extensions, which together form a contiguous structural reinforcement with the rear panel.

Abstract: A laminar flow, wet electrostatic precipitator (ESP) with planar collecting electrodes preferably made of membranes, such as a woven silica fiber. The collecting electrodes are spaced close to planar discharge electrodes to promote laminar flow (Re<2300). Charging electrodes are positioned upstream of the wet ESP to charge the particulate entering the wet ESP to promote collection. The wet ESP is preferably downstream from a conventional turbulent dry ESP for collecting a substantial portion of the larger particulate in the gas stream prior to the gas stream entering the wet ESP.

Abstract: A roll coater for placing binder on the fibers prior to being wound around a rotating drawing drum. The drawing drum draws fibers out of orifices in the bottom of a slowly reciprocating furnace. The fibers form a mat on the drawing drum that is later removed and expanded. The roll coater includes a graphite or other material coating drum that rotates in a bath of liquid binder and/or wetting agents, and reciprocates with the furnace. The fibers scrape over the surface of the coating drum after being formed but before winding around the drawing drum. The binder and/or wetting agent picked up on the surface of the coating drum coats the fibers with binder and/or wetting agent. Liquid binder and/or wetting agent is replenished in the bath in which the coating drum is partially submerged by a float, sensor, pump and large container of binder/wetting agent.

Abstract: A composite scaffold plank for resting on two spaced, substantially parallel horizontal scaffold support members. The plank has an elongated planar panel with elongated reinforcing ribs mounted at a lateral edge substantially perpendicularly to the second major surface of the planar panel. The reinforcing ribs are substantially parallel and equally spaced from one another. There are notches defining tabs at each end of the planar panel that form a finger joint with another similar plank abutting the plank's end. Transverse channels formed in the ribs fit over the frame's horizontal support members.

Abstract: A device for a baby bottle has an absorbent panel attached to a collar. The collar removably mounts in a surrounding engagement to a cap of the bottle and can be absorbent for enhancing the total absorbing capacity of the device. The panel extends from the collar toward a mouthpiece of the bottle, for gently compressing against a baby's chin when the baby is suckling from the bottle. After feeding, the panel and the collar wipe clean the baby's mouth region and are washable for reuse.

Abstract: A means and method for inserting drivers into a surgical stapling cartridge, including a pallet that holds the cartridge firmly. The pallet has a central slot and laterally positioned lip members that are biased toward the slot. The cartridge is positioned in the slot and the lip members are released to extend their lips over the lateral flanges on the cartridge, thereby holding the cartridge in position. A finger extends into a recess formed at one end of the cartridge, thereby positively positioning the cartridge in the slot. The cartridge is released for removal by a tongue inserted between the lip members, thereby separating them by displacement.

Abstract: A casting game includes a panel with targets. The targets are doors that pivot between a closed position, in which the doors are substantially parallel to the panel, and an open position, in which the doors are transverse to the panel. A user casts an object, such as a simulated lure, at the panel aiming to hit a door with a force sufficient to make the door pivot from the closed position to the open position. The user resets the game by maneuvering the lure to cooperate with structures on the apparatus that force the door to pivot from the open position to the closed position.

Abstract: A method of forming a wear-resistant reinforcing coating on a substrate, such as concrete, wood, metal or particulate. A reinforcing fiber mat is placed on the substrate and a liquid matrix material is mixed with small colored stones. The mixture of matrix material and stones is poured onto the mat, and the liquid wets the mat and contacts the substrate. After curing, a composite coating is formed with stones as the wearing surface. A membrane can be interposed between the substrate and the reinforcing coating to prevent adhesion and “starving” of the mat.

Abstract: An apparatus that can be mounted to a quiver on a bow provides camouflage and cover for the bow and a shooter. The apparatus is a hollow shaft with a first end having a tapered tip, and a second opposite end. A plurality of holes is formed perpendicularly through the sidewall. The holes are confined to an area of the shaft body that is substantially three-fourths of the circumference of the sidewall. A plurality of artificial foliage bundles is attached to the shaft body by a basal wire stem that is mounted in a respective one of the holes.

Abstract: A mobile screening machine with a frame on tracks, having a hopper and a main conveyor mounted to a frame. The main conveyor conveys particulate matter from the hopper to a screening device positioned beneath the upper end of the main conveyor. The particulate is screened into three grades of coarseness, with the coarsest falling into a chute, the middle coarseness falling onto one lateral conveyor and the finest falling onto an underscreen conveyor, which preferably is driven downhill onto another lateral conveyor. The tracks permit the machine to be driven around the work site and onto and off of a trailer, and the entire machine can be remotely controlled. The downhill conveyor permits loading of the hopper from both sides of the frame.

Abstract: A heat exchanger in which a fluid and a surface transfer thermal energy effectively with a smaller pressure drop than is conventionally realized. In a preferred embodiment, gas at one end of a piston flows into a piston chamber and passes radially through a plurality of axial slots formed through the piston sidewall and into a gap between the piston sidewall and the surface of the housing in which the piston slidably mounts. Between each pair of through-slots, longer axial slots are formed that extend only partially through the sidewall radially, and almost the entire length of the piston. Thus, around the circumference of the piston the slots alternate in structure between through-slots and longer slots. Gas that enters the gap through the through-slots flows circumferentially through the gap and into the longer slots. The gas exits the longer slots at the opposite end of the piston from the first gas space.

Abstract: A tool for boring has a first shaft for drivingly linking at a first end to a portable rotatable machine. At a second end, the tool has a fastener to which a modular auger section can be drivingly linked. A second shaft of the tool has an outer surface to which a radially inwardly extending edge of a helical flight is attached. A cylindrical collar is attached to a radially outwardly extending peripheral edge of the flight and is mounted radially outwardly of the second shaft. An insulator interposed between the shafts electrically insulates the shafts from each other. The shafts can be unlinked through a shear pin breaking in response to a predetermined amount of relative torque to the shafts.