Abstract: A pressure sensitive adhesive consisting of a polyurethane foam is used for adhering decorative parts to automobiles and other vehicles. The adhesive is characterized by high tensile strength and elongation, excellent peel strength and good thermal and mechanical stress tolerance.

Abstract: A membrane separation process and apparatus for carrying out the process involves contacting a gas feed mixture with one side of a selectively gas permeable membrane and allowing the components to pass through the membrane to form a permeate composition in contact with the opposite side of the membrane and leave a retentate composition on the feed side of the membrane. The process includes introducing a sweep flow of feed gas into the permeate composition near the membrane at a rate effective to increase the enrichment of the retentate composition in the less preferentially permeable component of the feed mixture to a concentration much greater than is achieved without the sweep flow. This process is especially well suited to improve single stage membrane separation effectiveness so that the need for conventional multistage separations to achieve moderate to high purity retentate compositions can be obviated.

Abstract: A clear multilayer film for coating synthetic environmental surfaces includes an exposed protective layer and an underlying cushioning layer. The exposed layer is primarily a polymer blend of a fluorine substituted olefin polymer, such as polyvinylidene fluoride, with an acrylic polymer. The cushioning layer is of a low modulus polymer selected from among impact modified acrylic polymer, ethylene vinyl acetate polymer and metallocene catalyzed polyethylene and having an elastic modulus below about 30,000 psi (207 MPa). The cushioning layer should be substantially free of all fluorinated polymers. The multilayer film can have an optional additional thermally adhesive layer of a blend of a fluorine substituted olefin polymer with an acrylic polymer. The multi layer film offers superior protection to such substrates as outdoor building siding, vehicle body panels, and signs from stains, weather conditions, and especially impact damage.

Abstract: A shirt is made of light weight, breathable and liquid moisture repellent fabrics. The shirt body includes at least one of two types of stretchable fabric. One type is mono-directionally elastic and the other is orthogonally bi-directionally elastic. The shirt includes one or more gusset panels positioned at or near the hem. The hem of the shirt can be stretched over the coaming of an open cockpit vessel, such as a kayak. Thus the shirt can serve as a combination dry top and spray skirt for a kayak paddler, especially in low to moderate turbulence water conditions. The shirt is comfortable, thin and sufficiently stylish to be worn in activities other than boating, including sporting and non-sporting activities.

Abstract: The separation factor with respect to a gas binary of a selectively gas permeable membrane of a fluoropolymer can be increased by fabricating the membrane from a composition of a blend of the fluoropolymer with a nonfugitive, nonpolymeric fluorinated adjuvant. The composition can be made by dissolving the adjuvant and the polymer in a suitably compatible solvent then forming the membrane from the solution for example by casting, dipping, or spraying the solution on a substrate and devolatilizing the solvent. The extent of the selectivity increase varies widely with the combination of fluoropolymer and adjuvant and largely increases in direct relation with the proportion of adjuvant in the membrane composition.

Abstract: A gas separation membrane is formed from a copolyimide produced by copolymerization of monomers which include o-tolidine sulfone, at least one other hydrophilic diamine and 2,2-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane dianhydride. One or more additional aromatic dianhydrides can optionally be included. The novel membrane exhibits an excellent combination of high selectivity of gases to be separated from a gas mixture, high permeability and strong solvent resistance to hydrocarbon chemicals. The membrane is therefore useful in separating gases from gas mixtures in which vapor or liquid hydrocarbon contaminants are present, for example in the separation of carbon dioxide from methane and/or nitrogen in the purification of natural gas.

Abstract: A method of raising the concentration of a liquid mixture utilizes osmotic distillation to transfer a volatile component from the mixture in contact with one side of a nonporous, preferably high free volumes, gas permeable membrane to a strip solution in contact with the other side of the membrane. Due to its nonporous nature the gas permeable membrane resists penetration and wetting by oily components that may be present in the feed mixture. Similarly, occlusion of the membrane by solids to resisted. Preferably, an amorphous copolymer of perfluoro-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxole is useful for the gas permeable membrane. Osmotic distillation utilizing such high free volume, nonporous gas permeable membranes can concentrate difficult liquid mixtures such as pulpy fruit juices and especially, limonene-containing juices, for example, orange juice. The process can be operated at high flux for long durations between membrane cleanings.

Abstract: A process for data coding on any type of support (object, document, plant, animal, any material or materialized surface) calling for affixing on a surface a marking constituted by a plurality of elementary signs belonging to at least two different types, the marking being broken down into a plurality of coding zones each corresponding to coded information of a different nature. At least one configuration zone has content specific to the type of application and determines a characteristic of at least one of the other zones.

Abstract: A method of coating a substrate of insulation material with a barrier layer involves spreading a curable liquid on a surface of the insulation using a spreader blade having a composite cross section profile. The profile includes a leading surface that converges toward the substrate surface and a trailing surface that is parallel to the substrate surface. The coating method is useful for fabricating acoustical and thermal energy insulation boards of nonwoven webs of glass fibers and other conventional insulation material. Particular benefit is derived from the method in coating grooved insulation boards for lining curved air conveying ducts with an elastically deformable, flexible coating that covers the board surface between grooves and bridges the grooves while leaving the groove channels open.

Abstract: A gas recovery device utilizes membranes of a gas permeable, liquid impermeable substance to strip gas from gas-containing liquids, such as brine in subterranean geological formations. The device includes a shell defined by perforated outer walls and a plurality of elongated permeation tubes. Only one end of the tubes is attached to a plenum with the tube lumina in fluid communication with the plenum. The remainder of the tubes is not anchored and therefore is free to move. Substantially liquid-free gas is removed from the plenum through a pipe to a remote facility for storage and use. The gas recovery device can be deployed within the casing of a well suspended by the product discharge pipe and immersed in gas-containing brine flowing from a natural geological formation. The brine seeps into the well casing and flows through the perforations to surround the permeation tubes.

Abstract: A filter useful for the ultrafiltration and microfiltration of aqueous suspensions includes a microporous membrane structure that has pores of size effective to reject particles in the range of about 0.01-10 &mgr;m. At least a portion of the membrane structure in contact with the suspension has a surface energy less than that of polytetrafluoroethylene. Low surface energy can be achieved by coating a microporous substrate with a substance such as fluorine substituted dioxole polymer. The filter has superior resistance to fouling by species suspended in the aqueous suspension and can continuously filter flow of such suspension in excess of 100 L/(m2−h) for more than 150 hours. The new filter is useful in many traditionally fouling prone ultrafiltration and microfiltration membrane applications such as the filtering of shipboard generated graywater waste.

Abstract: A stuffed animal toy has a plush, padded body and one or more elongated appendages, such as arms, legs and tail. At least one flashlight module is resident within the appendage oriented to permit a directional beam of light to be emitted outwardly from the appendage. The flashlight module can be activated and deactivated by grasping the appendage and squeezing radially inward in repetition to turn the light on and off. The flashlight module is a self-sufficient battery powered, usually low voltage, direct current lighting unit. In one aspect, the flashlight module can be easily and quickly removed from the stuffed animal and utilized as a normal flashlight, independent of the stuffed animal. After such use, the module can be replaced into the appendage of the stuffed animal. While the module is removed, the stuffed animal can be utilized as a normal, plush toy plaything.

Abstract: A portable breathing air supply apparatus uses a membrane separation module to obtain oxygen enriched air from ambient air which is blown into the module by an electrically powered fan. Oxygen enriched air is withdrawn from the permeate side of the membrane by a vacuum pump and is stored in a reservoir while the user exhales. In a preferred mode, a conserver valve in a tube leading from the reservoir to the user's mouth or nose is triggered to feed the enriched air for a preselected duration after a sensor in the tube detects onset of inhalation. Power for the electrical components can be supplied by batteries. The portable apparatus is sufficiently compact and light to be transported by persons weakened by certain chronic breathing disorders, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema, and thus frees the user to roam for long periods away from a primary source of oxygen.

Abstract: A cover for the head of a golf club, especially a putter, has a pair of elongated jaws which each have a C-shape profile viewed perpendicular to the axis of jaw elongation. The jaws face each other to define an interior, open ended, tubular cavity adapted to accept the head of the putter. A handle is attached to each jaw cooperatively forming a V-shaped orientation at adjacent top jaw edges. The jaws are pivotally connected proximate the handles and a manually releasable spring cooperates with the pivotal connector to urge the bottom edges of the opposing jaws toward each other in a normally closed position of the cover about the club head. The jaws are lined inside the cavity with a soft, resilient material adapted to firmly grip and cushion the head against potential impact damage. The cover is suitable for many different club head shapes. Also, the jaws have linear bottom edges which adapt the cover to T style, L style and intermediate shaft-to-head connection point putters.

Abstract: A wire saw has a small diameter metal wire and a layer of abrasive grains firmly affixed to the wire surface by a brazed active metal bond. Preferably, the grains are present in a single layer. The grains are disposed on the surface of the wire in a preselected surface distribution. The wire saw can be made by a completely continuous process involving coating the wire with a paste of metal bond powder components combined with a fugitive liquid binder composition. Abrasive grains are deposited into a layer of the paste. Thereafter, the bond composition is fused at elevated temperature to braze the grains to the wire. The abrasive grains can include superabrasive materials, such as diamond and cubic boron nitride. Accordingly, the novel wire saw is suitable for cutting ultra thin wafers ceramic wafers with minimum waste of the work piece.

Abstract: A device for protecting a decorative ring or band worn on the finger includes a wristband, a retaining member worn on a finger beyond the ring or band, and means for connecting the retaining member to the wristband.

Abstract: A straight, thin, monolithic abrasive wheel formed of hard and rigid abrasive grains and a sintered metal bond including a stiffness enhancing metal component exhibits superior stiffness. The metals can be selected from among many sinterable metal compositions. Blends of nickel and tin are preferred. The stiffness enhancing metal is a metal capable of providing substantially increased rigidity to the bond without significantly increasing bond hardness. Molybdenum, rhenium, tungsten and blends of these are favored. The sintered bond is generally formed from powders. A diamond abrasive, nickel/tin/molybdenum sintered bond abrasive wheel is preferred. Such a wheel is useful for abrading operations in the electronics industry, such as cutting silicon wafers and alumina-titanium carbide pucks.

Abstract: A modular apparatus for cultivating marine animals caged within rearing units submerged in a body of water of the natural environment of the animals includes a row and column structure that floats at the water surface. The apparatus is moored by anchors deployed at the column ends and at position intermediate the column ends. The members of the rows, and optionally the columns, are constructed from substantially rigid tubes, especially plastic, corrugated wall, culvert pipe, filled with a substantially incompressible foam. The row members are releasably attached between adjacent columns in perpendicular orientation to the longitudinal axes of the columns.Each rearing unit is a perforated wall container suspended from a row member by a suspension assembly so as to hang above the water floor. Multiple rearing units can be suspended from each row member. The rearing units contain vertically oriented panels of substrate material, especially sheets of cementitious backer unit.

Abstract: An acoustical and thermal energy insulating liner for gas transfer ducts, primarily in heating, ventilating and air conditioning applications is provided for installation within ducts having curvilinear cross section. The liner is made from a rectangular central block of insulating material such as foam or nonwoven web of glass fibers. A plurality of grooves running the full length of the block second major dimension and parallel thereto are cut through the front face of the block to a depth short of the block thickness. The front face is coated with an elastically deformable substance that forms a barrier layer adjacent the substrate insulating material. The barrier layer bridges the gaps of the grooves and thus contains the insulating material at the floor and side walls of the grooves internal to the central block.The barrier layer can be formed after the grooves are cut by spreading across the front face of the central block a layer of foam.

Abstract: A novel method of operating an internal combustion engine employs a selectively gas permeable membrane to provide either oxygen or nitrogen enriched air feed to beneficially affect engine performance. By feeding enriched air from a membrane unit such performance parameters as reduced NOx emissions, lean burn limit, engine power, and reduced cold start emissions can be enhanced relative to feeding ambient air. The selectively gas permeable membrane unit further includes a nonporous membrane (i) having an oxygen/nitrogen selectivity of at least 1.4 and a permeability to oxygen of at least 50 barrers; (ii) formed from an amorphous copolymer of perfluoro-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxole; and (iii) being at a temperature below the glass transition temperature of the amorphous copolymer.A cylindrical module having many substantially parallel aligned small diameter hollow fiber membrane structures is ideally suited for carrying out the novel method.