Abstract: A method for removing processing oil from thin sheets of microporous plastic material is comprised of a tank having a liquid zone in its bottom portion which is divided into three sub-tanks having decreasing depths extending across the tank. Heating coils in each sub-tank vaporize the solvent to form a cleaning zone, containing vaporized solvent, above the liquid portion, and condensing coils located at the top of the tank condense the vaporized solvent and deposit it into the deepest sub-tank which also is supplied fresh make up solvent when required. A series of rollers feeds the material through the tank, from the side having the shallowest sub-tank toward the side having the deepest sub-tank, while repeatedly passing it between the cleaning zone where solvent is condensed on it to clean it, and the condensing zone where it is cooled to a temperature below the temperature of the vaporous solvent.

Abstract: The plate feed apparatus of the present invention is comprised of a cylindrical carrier having air inlet holes located in its periphery which are connected to a vacuum source. A stack of plates is fed toward the carrier on a conveyor belt and each time one of the air inlet openings becomes aligned with the plates the front plate in the stack becomes affixed to the carrier and is rotated with it away from the stack. The plates then are released from the carrier for further handling. In order to prevent the plate being carried from striking the remaining plates a gap must be provided between them. In one embodiment this is accomplished by locating rollers, whose axes are parallel with the axis of the carrier, at the periphery of the carrier in positions which are rotationally ahead of the air inlet openings. In a second embodiment a pair of levers are mounted rotatably outwardly of the carrier sides.

Abstract: The calender rolls of the present invention are comprised of relatively thin-walled hollow shells which are supported at each end by shafts having bores which extend into the cavities formed in the rolls. Fittings located at the ends of the shafts are rotatable relative to them so that by tying the fittings together they do not rotate along with the rolls. The fittings at one of the ends of the rolls are connected to a source of wet steam through a pressure regulator and the fittings at the other ends carry probes which extend through the shafts and curve downwardly towards the bottoms of the rolls. A valve regulates the amount of material which flows out of the cavities through the probes. The method by which the rolls are used comprises introducing wet steam into the cavities, maintaining its pressure at a constant level.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for removing processing oil from thin sheets of microporous plastic material is comprised of a tank having a liquid zone in its bottom portion which is divided into three sub-tanks having decreasing depths extending across the tank. Heating coils in each sub-tank vaporize the solvent to form a cleaning zone, containing vaporized solvent, above the liquid portion, and condensing coils located at the top of the tank condense the vaporized solvent and deposit it into the deepest sub-tank which also is supplied fresh make up solvent when required. A series of rollers feeds the material through the tank, from the side having the shallowest sub-tank toward the side having the deepest sub-tank, while repeatedly passing it between the cleaning zone where solvent is condensed on it to clean it, and the condensing zone where it is cooled to a temperature below the temperature of the vaporous solvent.

Abstract: A leak detector comprises a detector head which is to be scanned across a surface to detect a signal gas eminating from the surface. The opposite side of the surface from the head is supplied with a signal gas under pressure so that signal gas passes through leaks in the surface. Detection of signal gas by the head should then constitute detection of a leak. A curtain 1 of barrier gas is provided around a sample inlet 2 to protect the inlet from spurious signal gas. Orifices 36 provide narrow high velocity jets 38 which impinge on the surface S within curtain 1 and break up jets such as 34 of signal gas which escape under the curtain 1 without allowing the signal gas to reach the sample inlet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for serially removing the forwardmost plate from a stack of plates comprises rotating a cylindrical carrier having a chordal segment defined on its periphery with the stack of plates oriented so that the forwardmost plate is tangentially adjacent to the periphery of the carrier. A vacuum source draws air into an air inlet located on the chordal segment thereby creating a low pressure area. Accordingly as the chordal segment becomes parallel with the stack the low pressure causes the forwardmost plate to be drawn into contact with the chordal segment and thus block the air inlet. The plate continues to rotate with the carrier until it reaches a desired location where an air valve causes the vacuum to be temporarily discontinued thus allowing the plate to drop free of the carrier. An advance mechanism causes the stack to be advanced one plate thickness during each rotation of the carrier to position the next plate into contact with the carrier after each plate has been removed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for fabricating battery plate envelopes from a sheet formed of microporous plastic material having a width greater than that of a battery plate to be enveloped. A battery plate is pushed edgewise into the sheet to fold the sheet about the battery plate with edges overlapping the battery plate on both sides. The folded sheet is fed with the battery plate therein into the interface between a pair of opposed pressure rollers each of which include a pair of axially aligned sealing wheels. A continuous seal is formed between the overlapping edges of the sheet by compressing the edges into one another between the sealing wheels. Each set of sealing wheels may comprise gear teeth whose teeth continuously mesh with those of the teeth mounted on the opposing pressure roller.

Abstract: A battery separator having ribs on at least one side thereof and formed of a sintered resin, the rib tops having a coating thereon consisting of a low-density polyethylene wax.