Abstract: A polymer blend comprises PBI, PAEK, and PEI. A method of making the foregoing blend comprises the steps of intimately blending PBI, PAEK, and PEI by dissolving PBI, PAEK, and PEI in a strong acid or melt blending PBI, PAEK, and PEI.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a contactless card in smart card field and a control method thereof. The contactless card comprises a card chip, an antenna resonant circuit, and a confirmation unit. The confirmation unit, being separated from the antenna resonant circuit and connected to the I/O interface of the card chip, is used for confirming a card operation command by a cardholder so as to send a confirmation message to the card chip. The control method can be realized according to the following steps: putting a contactless card into a valid range for its reader; determining by the contactless card whether a command transmitted from the reader needs to be confirmed by the cardholder, if not, responding to the command by the contactless card, otherwise waiting for confirmation message by the contactless card; and receiving the confirmation message from the cardholder and responding to the command by the contactless card.

Abstract: A method for baling a cellulose acetate tow is disclosed. The method includes the following steps: laying the cellulose acetate tow into a can; pressing the laid tow with a press having a first platen and a second platen, each platen facing each other, each platen having a contoured face, the contoured face having at least three sloped portions, a first sloped portion located adjacent a peripheral edge of the platen having a first slope, a second sloped portion located adjacent the first sloped portion having a second slope, and a third sloped portion located adjacent the second sloped portion having a third slope, wherein the first slope is greater that the second slope, and the second slope is greater that the third slope; and packaging and securing the pressed tow; whereby the pressed tow having substantially flat surfaces.

Abstract: A gas filtration media comprises a microporous membrane. The microporous membrane includes an ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), an inorganic material, wherein the ratio of inorganic material to polymer is in the range of 4:1 to 1:4, and less than 30% by weight of the membrane being a processing oil.

Abstract: In the manufacture of a fiber tow, particularly cellulose acetate tow, the tow is plasticized prior to entry into the crimper. The preferred plasticizer is water.

Abstract: A process for making a cigarette tow comprising: spinning a dope; taking-up the as-spun cellulose acetate filaments; lubricating the filaments; forming a tow from the filaments; crimping the tow with a stuffer box crimper; drying the crimped tow; and baling the dried crimped tow. The process further comprises at least two of the following: A. crimping further comprising one roller of the pair of nip rollers being adapted to induce crimp into the tow; B. crimping further comprising one roller of the pair of nip rollers being made of a solid ceramic material; C. crimping further comprising a pair of tow edge lubricators; D. crimping further comprising a steam injector; E. further comprising plasticizing the tow; F. lubricating the filaments further comprises a finish consisting of a water emulsion.

Abstract: A direct methanol fuel cell has a proton conducting membrane (PCM), a catalyst in contact with the PCM, a gas diffusion layer in contact with the catalyst, and a conducting plate in contact with the gas diffusion membrane. The gas diffusion layer comprises a microporous membrane. The microporous membrane may be a microporous membrane, a laminate of a microporous membrane, and a skinned microporous membrane.

Abstract: In the manufacture of a fiber tow, particularly cellulose acetate tow, a stuffer box crimper has a steam injector in communication with the stuffer channel of the crimper. The steam injector consists of a single pair of injectors vertically aligned with one another above and below the stuffer channel of the crimper.

Abstract: In the manufacture of a fiber tow, particularly cellulose acetate tow, a stuffer box crimper has a pair of tow edge lubricators adapted to lubricate the lateral edges of the tow immediately prior to contact with the nip rollers of the crimper.

Abstract: A sealable article container which comprises a flat material having a peripheral edge portion around an outer edge of the material, and binding means, the binding means being located in the peripheral edge portion. The flat material is made of a plastic film, paper sheet, cloth, netting, or mesh. The binding means is selected from the group consisting of: double-backed tape, tongue and groove strips, hook and loop sealing strips, adhesives, or the like. In operation the flat material is placed upon a surface with the binding means facing up, and an article or multiple articles being placed upon the flat material and within the binding means, and thereafter the flat material being folded upon itself so that binding means seals with binding means to form a container for the article or multiple articles.

Abstract: A method for adapting hearing aids to the individual requirements of a hard-of-hearing patient in situations which are close to reality, wherein an example of a sound and a scene corresponding to said example of a sound are optically indicated to a patient such that the visual impression thereof is also taken into account in order to judge the acoustic result. A suitable device therefor comprises an enclosed area with room for a specialist to carry out the adaptation and room for a patient, a monitor being provided in both places, in addition to a computer which is used by the specialist to carry out said adaptation and which provides the monitors with video sequences.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for supporting a payload within a vehicle, especially a land vehicle. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a cradle that permits the payload to translate fore and aft during sudden decelerations of the vehicle, such as when an off road vehicle runs into an obstacle. Preferably, the payload motion is damped by dampeners that couple the payload to the vehicle.

Abstract: An articulated assembly for replacing or supporting a joint between two limbs of an animal. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to an orthotic knee brace for supporting a human knee. The knee brace includes an upper leg attachment and a lower leg attachment which are interconnected with a hinge and a damper. In some embodiments, the hinge is a four bar linkage and the damper is a hydraulic shock absorber.

Abstract: A process is presented for the production of high molecular weight polybenzimidazole, in two steps. Step one: provide a first reaction vessel and charge it with at least one aromatic hydrocarbon tetraamine, and a heterocyclic ring making up the dicarboxylic component. Heat the reactants under agitation. Terminate the agitation while continuing to heat the reaction mixture to about 230° C. while allowing the reaction mass to foam. Cool the reaction mass to a friable foamed mass. Crush the friable foamed mass to obtain a ground prepolymer. Step two; provide a second reaction vessel, transferring the ground prepolymer to it. A pressure wash of the first reaction vessel and the means for agitation to obtain a second ground prepolymer. Transfer the second ground prepolymer to the second reaction vessel. Heat the ground prepolymer and second ground prepolymer under agitation to a higher temperature than the first step until the desired degree of polymerization is achieved.

Abstract: An article of manufacture comprises an ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) mixed with a processing oil and a lubricant selected from the group consisting of fatty acid esters, ethoxylated fatty acid esters, glycol esters, PEG esters, glycerol esters, ethoxylated esters, sorbitol esters, ethoxylated sorbitol esters, aromatic ethoxylates, alcohol ethoxylates, mercaptan ethoxylates, modified ethoxylates, amide surfactants, phosphate esters, phosphonate esters, phosphite esters, alkyl sulfates, fatty acid ethers, alkyl ether sulfates, alkylaryl ether sulfates, sulfonates, naphthalene sulfonates, sulfosuccinates, sulfonated esters, sulfonated amides, alkyl ether carboxylates, alkylaryl ether carboxylates, quaternary amines, amino quaternary amines, ethoxylated amines, imidazoline derivatives, betaines, sultaines, aminopropionate, catechol derivatives, saturated fatty acids, unsaturated fatty acids, and combinations thereof. The method for making those articles is also disclosed.

Abstract: A woodturning tool for creating containers has a first rigid arm, and a second rigid arm. The first rigid arm has two ends with a cutting blade at the first end. The second rigid arm has two ends with a guiding device at the first end. The cutting blade and the guiding device are operatively aligned. The first and second rigid arms are adapted to move relative to one another.

Abstract: A method for baling a cellulose acetate tow is disclosed. The method includes the following steps: laying the cellulose acetate tow into a can; pressing the laid tow with a press having a first platen and a second platen, each platen facing each other, each platen having a contoured face, the contoured face having at least three sloped portions, a first sloped portion located adjacent a peripheral edge of the platen having a first slope, a second sloped portion located adjacent the first sloped portion having a second slope, and a third sloped portion located adjacent the second sloped portion having a third slope, wherein the first slope is greater that the second slope, and the second slope is greater that the third slope; and packaging and securing the pressed tow; whereby the pressed tow having substantially flat surfaces.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for measuring operating vision. An optotype mark is displayed (step 103). A subject's response to the optotype mark is accepted via an input device (step 104). A determination is made as to whether or not the response is correct (step 105). When the current response of the subject is correct and the previous response or one of the previous response and the last-but-one response is incorrect, an optotype mark corresponding to the same visual acuity is presented (step 112). When the previous response is correct or both the previous response and the last-but-one response are correct, an optotype mark corresponding to a visual acuity one level higher is presented (step 110). When the current response is incorrect, an optotype mark corresponding to a visual acuity one level lower is presented (step 111).