Abstract: Disclosed is a rubber composition suitable for use as a cap ply rubber composition. The rubber composition comprises: (a) at least one natural or synthetic rubbery polymer; (b) from 0.1 to 20 phr of at least one hydrazide compound; (c) from 0.1 to 10 phr of at least one methylene donor; (d) from 0.1 to 10 phr of at least one methylene acceptor resin; and (e) from 0.1 to 10 phr of zinc oxide is disclosed. A method of making the same is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rubber composition suitable for use as a cap ply rubber composition. The rubber composition comprises: (a) at least one natural or synthetic rubbery polymer; (b) from 0.1 to 20 phr of at least one hydrazide compound; (c) from 0.1 to 10 phr of at least one methylene donor; (d) from 0.1 to 10 phr of at least one methylene acceptor resin; and (e) from 0.1 to 10 phr of zinc oxide is disclosed. A method of making the same is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rubber composition suitable for use as a cap ply rubber composition. The rubber composition comprises: (a) at least one natural or synthetic rubbery polymer; (b) from 0.1 to 20 phr of at least one hydrazide compound; (c) from 0.1 to 10 phr of at least one methylene donor; (d) from 0.1 to 10 phr of at least one methylene acceptor resin; and (e) from 0.1 to 10 phr of zinc oxide. A method of making the same is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rubber composition suitable for use as a cap ply rubber composition. The rubber composition comprises: (a) at least one natural or synthetic rubbery polymer; (b) from 0.1 to 20 phr of at least one hydrazide compound; (c) from 0.1 to 10 phr of at least one methylene donor; (d) from 0.1 to 10 phr of at least one methylene acceptor resin; and (e) from 0.1 to 10 phr of zinc oxide. A method of making the same is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and system for purifying production water obtained from oil and gas operations so that the purified water need not be disposed of by forced injection back into the geological formation but can be put to a beneficial use such as agriculture, irrigation, industrial or municipal or potable applications. The production water is treated in a ceramic microfilter after it has been pretreated (preferably by aeration and with a walnut shell filter) to remove volatile hydrocarbons and heavier oils, such as paraffins and asphaltenes, that could foul the ceramic filter. The permeate from the ceramic microfiltration can then be treated with activated charcoal or otherwise treated to meet the specific requirements for the intended beneficial use.

Abstract: A puncture resistant pneumatic tire has a tread portion and a pair of lateral tread edges. A belt package is located radially inward of the tread portion and a carcass structure has at least one body ply which extends between and is turned up around a pair of bead cores. A protective band extends circumferentially about the tire radially beneath the tread portion and includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced metal rods, each of which extends in a lateral direction between the tread edges. The protective band may be located radially inward or outward of a spiral ply layer and the rods may be arranged in a staggered laterally offset layered relationship. The rods have a circular cross-section with a diameter of between 1/16 inch and ¼ inch and a length of between 7 inches and 8 inches and will deflect and dislodge the pointed end of road debris before it completely punctures the tire.

Abstract: An elastomeric composition is provided, wherein the composition comprises an elastomer; a reinforcing filler comprising silica; an organosilane polysulfide; and a blocked mercaptosilane, wherein the weight ratio of the blocked mercaptosilane to the organosilane polysulfide is about 0.25:1 to about 5:1. The elastomeric composition may be utilized as a component of a pneumatic tire. Also provided is a method of producing an elastomeric composition, wherein the composition comprises an elastomer; a reinforcing filler comprising silica; an organosilane polysulfide; and a blocked mercaptosilane, wherein the weight ratio of the blocked mercaptosilane to the organosilane polysulfide is about 0.25:1 to about 5:1.

Abstract: A puncture resistant pneumatic tire has a tread portion and a pair of lateral tread edges. A belt package is located radially inward of the tread portion and a carcass structure has at least one body ply which extends between and is turned up around a pair of bead cores. A protective band extends circumferentially about the tire radially beneath the tread portion and includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced metal rods, each of which extends in a lateral direction between the tread edges. The protective band may be located radially inward or outward of a spiral ply layer and the rods may be arranged in a staggered laterally offset layered relationship. The rods have a circular cross-section with a diameter of between 1/16 inch and ¼ inch and a length of between 7 inches and 8 inches and will deflect and dislodge the pointed end of road debris before it completely punctures the tire.

Abstract: An elastomeric composition is provided, wherein the composition comprises an elastomer; a reinforcing filler comprising silica; an organosilane polysulfide; and a blocked mercaptosilane, wherein the weight ratio of the blocked mercaptosilane to the organosilane polysulfide is about 0.25:1 to about 5:1. The elastomeric composition may be utilized as a component of a pneumatic tire. Also provided is a method of producing an elastomeric composition, wherein the composition comprises an elastomer; a reinforcing filler comprising silica; an organosilane polysulfide; and a blocked mercaptosilane, wherein the weight ratio of the blocked mercaptosilane to the organosilane polysulfide is about 0.25:1 to about 5:1.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods to remove metals from water in a cost effective and efficient manner using an inorganic cross-flow filter.

Abstract: A control valve that minimizes sticking of the plug assembly by particles such as welding byproducts in the associated heating system. The valve port having a continuous decrease of diameter from the port opening toward the valve seat and an additional stepped decrease in diameter adjacent to the valve seat, which enables particles wedged in the clearance between the plug and port to be released and guided away from the port.

Abstract: A spincup having a wafer backside deposition reduction apparatus is used to reduce wafer backside particle deposition of materials on a wafer during processing. The spincup includes an opening for accommodating a wafer supporting chuck and a particle guard which circumscribes the chuck. The particle guard contacts the base of the spincup and circumscribes the chuck. When the chuck supports a wafer, a wafer backside region is defined between the chuck and the particle guard. The spincup further includes an exhaust channel coupled to the wafer backside region to independently exhaust the wafer backside region. In one embodiment, the exhaust channel includes an exhaust port for connecting a vacuum generator to the exhaust channel and a shroud contacting a base of the spincup and the particle guard. In another embodiment, the exhaust channel includes exhaust tubes which replace the exhaust manifold shroud and exhaust port.

Abstract: A crosslinkable low viscosity short arm star polymer blend made by anionically polymerizing a conjugated diene and, optionally, a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon to form living polymer arms and coupling said arms with a coupling agent for star polymers and blending said star polymer with a compatible organic liquid such that the amount of organic liquid in the blend ranges from 5 to 50 percent by weight. A preferred embodiment is an epoxidized version which is selectively epoxidized at the exterior sections of the polymer to enhance the crosslinkability of the polymer.

Abstract: A laminate having at least one non-dielectrically heatable first material, (processable at an optimum starting temperature), and at least one dielectrically-heatable second material, (processable at a higher optimum finish temperature), is initially brought to its starting temperature. The dielectrically heatable second material is then heated to its finish temperature, by being subjected to radio frequency (RF) or microwave radiation at selected frequency(s). The laminate is then stretched so as to shape the laminate while the first material and second material are at or near to their optimum processing temperatures.

Abstract: A thermoplastic laminated billet is made by dielectrically heating a stack of thermoplastic billets or layers within a mold press, wherein the sequence of dielectrically heatable and non-heatable individual layers is such that no more than a tie layer separates a heatable and non-heatable layer so that only that portion of the non-heatable layer nearest the heatable layer or layers melts. The laminated billet is formed within the mold press that has electrodes formed therein, the electrodes capable of impressing on the dielectrically heatable layers used to form the laminated billet sufficient energy to melt the heatable layers and at least a portion of the adjacent non-heatable layers.

Abstract: A thermoplastic laminated billet is made by dielectrically heating a stack of thermoplastic layers within a mold press, wherein the sequence of dielectrically heatable and non-heatable individual layers is such that no more than a tie layer separates a heatable and non-heatable layer so that only that portion of the non-heatable layer nearest the heatable layer or layer melts. The laminated billet is formed within the mold press that has electrodes formed therein, the electrodes capable of impressing on the dielectrically heatable layers used to form the laminated billet sufficient energy to melt the heatable layers and at least a portion of the adjacent non-heatable layers.

Abstract: A plastic container having enhanced insulation is made from a partially-laminated billet having a laminated outer periphery and gas trapped between the unlaminated portion of the billet layers, by heating the billet to a temperature below the softening point of at least one of the layers, which expands the gas trapped between the layers and separates the unlaminated layers. The billet is then clamped about its outer periphery and drawn into the shape of the container using solid-phase forming techniques. The separated layers insulate the contents of the container from the surrounding environment.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the fabrication of a thermoplastic container having a lid bonded thereto. The container and lid are formed from laminated thermoplastics wherein at least one of the layers that forms the laminate is dielectrically heatable. The heatable layers of the cup and lid are placed in contact with one another, dielectrically heated, and melt together to form a continuous bonded area or lid seam between the cup and lid. The materials of the cup and lid are selected such that the resultant bonded area forms an exygen barrier between the contents of the container and the outside environment. The strength of the bonded area is selected such that the lid may be manually-removed from the container.

Abstract: Four different versions of multi-position selector switches can be assembled from a kit of parts by selecting various combinations of the parts and assembling them into a housing consisting of an insulating case and cover. Inventory of parts is reduced by mutual use of some parts in two or more versions. The possible selector switch versions are a three position selector switch having three momentary pushbuttons for selectively closing two normally open contacts and opening a normally closed contact a two-position slector switch having two momentary pushbuttons for selectably closing a normally open contact or opening a normally closed contact, a three-position selector switch having three maintainable pushbuttons for selectively closing two normally open contacts and opening the same, and a three-position selector switch having three pushbuttons including a momentary pushbutton and two maintainable pushbuttons for selectively closing two normally open contacts and for opening the maintained contact.

Abstract: A microprocessor based controller for electric liturgical lights similar to an array of votive candles including controllable duration of "burn" as well as selective actuation by the user in a variety of modes. The duration of burn for all lights is controlled by a singular timer which is located within the stand supporting the array. Data indicative of the operational state of a light array may also be transferred to a remote light array for continuation of operation at the remote site.