Abstract: A method of removing water and/or methanol from fluid mixtures of the water or methanol with other compounds uses vapor permeation or pervaporation of the water or methanol, as the case may be, from the mixture through a membrane having an amorphous perfluoropolymer selectively permeable layer. The novel process can be applied in such exemplary embodiments as (a) removing water or methanol from mixtures of compounds that have relative volatility of about 1-1.1 or that form azeotropic mixtures with water or methanol, (b) the dehydration of hydrocarbon oil such as hydraulic fluid to concentrations of water less than about 50 ppm, (c) removing water and methanol byproducts of reversible chemical reactions thereby shifting equilibrium to favor high conversion of reactants to desirable products, (d) drying ethanol to less than 0.5 wt.

Abstract: A stitchbonded fabric has a regionally segmented base layer in which one or more physical properties in at least one region is substantially different from those of another region. Typical physical properties that can differ among substrate regions include density, basis weight, chemical composition, thickness, porosity, permeability, elongation, elasticity, tensile strength, barrier properties, dyeability, abrasion resistance, and texture. The stitchbonded fabric thus has an improved combination of properties. In one aspect the base layer is discontinuous such that at least one region is devoid of all substrate material. The base layer is stitched continuously over its full extent such that all regions including open areas devoid of substrate material are stitched. The stitchbonded fabric with a discontinuous base layer advantageously can provide enhanced stretch capability to the overall fabric, especially in the cross direction and is particularly useful for stretchable skirts of mattress covers.

Abstract: A residual feed pick-up system for poultry farming utilizes a tractor and trailer combination in which the blower for a pneumatic conveyor is mounted on the trailer. The hydraulic motor that drives the blower is also located on the trailer. Feed pick-up can be effected by the trailer accompanied by a standard over-the-road tractor equipped with a conventional and economically available hydraulic power takeoff unit commonly known as a PTO. The feed supplier to the poultry farm can use any of such commonly configured tractors in its normal operating fleet combined with the trailer having the onboard hydraulically driven blower for low-volume, residual feed pick-up service, thereby increasing reliability and availability of the service at advantageously low cost.

Abstract: A stitchbonded fabric has a substrate material of uniform composition and physical properties and stitching threads stitched through and over the extent of the substrate in which the substrate has one or more slits defined by opposite facing lips that are unparted when the fabric is stitched. The fabric can be tensioned such that the lips part and thereby produce varied performance characteristics such as increased stretch and aesthetically pleasing effects as are useful in fabric utilities such as mattress cover skirts. The lips can pucker to give the fabric texture. The fabric can be extended and/or contracted laterally to further buckle out of plane. The puckering and buckling give the fabric additional functional properties such as dust-catching ability in cleaning wipe utilities.

Abstract: A method of increasing the rate of conversion of reactants to reaction product of enzyme catalyzed, reversible, i.e., equilibrium, reactions having water or methanol as byproduct includes removing water and/or methanol from the reaction mass during reaction by permeation of the reaction mass through a selectively permeable perfluorinated polymer or copolymer membrane.

Abstract: A cover for concealing utility equipment on real property such as air conditioner condenser units, telephone and electric cabinets, and trash containers, has a modular, rigid and stiff skeletal frame and a shell of flexible openwork material. The shell includes artificial foliage such that the cover appearance closely simulates natural plants and is aesthetically compatible with the local environment. Lengths and angles between components of the cover and the number of components can be adjusted such that a single cover kit is alone or in combination with supplementary components adaptable to fit objects of different sizes and shapes.

Abstract: A process makes stitchbonded fabric having a regionally segmented discontinuous base layer of webs of substrate material extending in the machine direction which webs are laterally separated by a region devoid of substrate material. The region devoid of substrate is formed prior to stitching by either (a) slitting the substrate and folding the material adjacent the slits outwardly in contact with substrate material outboard of the slit, or (b) slitting the substrate while applying tension in the machine direction that moves adjacent lips of the slit material away from each other. Once the discontinuous base layer is formed, threads are stitched through the laterally separated webs of substrate material and the intermediate region devoid of substrate material.

Abstract: Novel modifications to a standard Pro-lok Blue Punch manual punch press machine have been developed which permit the modified machine to accurately and consistently cut Sargent brand L and R series keys to code. Modifications to the same machine are presented such that both Sargent L and R series keys may be cut to code on the same Pro-lok Blue Punch manual punch press machine. Primary features of the modifications are (1) moving the indexing stops from the lower jaw to the upward facing surface of the die and (2) providing two indexing stops on the die such that each stop is laterally positioned on opposite sides of the punch from the other.

Abstract: A device for propping up hair comprising a bob member for being attached to the back of the hair a comb attached to the bob member for supporting the bob member.

Abstract: A laminated multilayer textured composite has an embossed fibrous outer layer bonded to one side of an adhesive layer to form a three-dimensional structure defined by all of fibers in depressed areas between elevated areas being fully embedded in the adhesive and most of the fibers in the elevated areas of the elevated areas being free of adhesive. The composite provides an abrasion resistant, surface stable material for covering floors, walls, furniture and the like. An optional backing layer can be simultaneously adhered to the second side of the adhesive layer primarily for improved cushioning and dimensional stability. The composite can be formed by a simultaneous pressure embossing and thermal laminating process.

Abstract: A process for the separation or concentration of olefinic hydrocarbons from mixtures of olefinic and paraffinic hydrocarbons uses a polyimide membrane, The process is well suited to separating propylene from propylene/propane mixtures. The novel method the membrane exhibits good resistance to plasticization by hydrocarbon components in the gas mixture under practical industrial process conditions.

Abstract: A multilayer composite has a generally adhesion resistant, protective layer and an adjacent second polymeric film. The composition of the protective layer includes a fluoropolymer and the second polymeric film is a polymer free of fluoropolymer. The size of the protective layer facing the second polymeric layer is rendered bondable to the non-fluoropolymer of the second polymeric layer prior to assembling the layers in the composite. The composite is well adapted to being produced in a vertical coating tower. The tower utilizes a carrier web onto which the fluoropolymer layer and second polymeric layer are deposited from respective casting films. Mirror image composites can be formed simultaneously on opposite sides of the carrier web.

Abstract: A process for the separation or concentration of olefinic hydrocarbons from mixtures of olefinic and paraffinic hydrocarbons uses a polyimide membrane. The process is well suited to separating propylene from propylene/propane mixtures. The novel method The membrane exhibits good resistance to plasticization by hydrocarbon components in the gas mixture under practical industrial process conditions.

Abstract: A microwavable package has a pad for absorbing fat, grease, oil, moisture, and like liquid exuded from food, primarily meat, during cooking. The pad has a high-melting, liquid-transmissible, stiff, shrink-resistant, preferably foraminous face layer in contact with the food. A body layer is in contact with the face layer opposite the food. During cooking, the food releases liquid that transfers through the face layer where it contacts and is absorbed by the body layer. The face layer resists adhering to the food and therefore can be easily separated from the food after cooking.

Abstract: A textile laminate for covering diverse substrates includes a backing layer to be placed adjacent to the substrate, a substantially non-shrinkable fibrous layer coextensive with the backing layer and an adhesive component to bind the fibrous layer to the backing layer. The adhesive component is activated to adhere the fibrous and backing layers only at selected bonding points in a pattern bond. The backing layer is a material adapted to irreversibly shrink by at least about 25% such that after the backing layer shrinks, the fibrous layer separates from the backing layer at locations away from the bonding points and forms pile-like loops that protrude in a direction normal to the plane of the textile laminate.

Abstract: A system and a process for recovering high concentrations of methane from crude natural gas and solid waste landfill exhaust gas uses a sequential combination of a pressure swing adsorber unit operation to remove volatile organic compounds from the crude feed gas mixture followed by a membrane separation unit operation. The membrane separation uses a membrane which is selectively gas permeable to reject transmission of methane and thus to produce a permeate depleted in methane relative to the feed mixture. The permeate is also free of volatile organic compounds and is recycled to the pressure swing adsorber unit operation to regenerate saturated adsorbers.

Abstract: This invention developed a communication method which satisfies confidentiality to secure the contents from tapping transmission and user authentication to confirm the identification of parties involved in the communication.

Abstract: A wound-up cylindrical package is provided of a substantially non-stretchable fabric that has edge regions in which different amounts of elastic elements are incorporated. The fabric is subsequently removed from the package without excessive gathering or twisting for convenient use as a skirt material in the fabrication of a fitted mattress cover.

Abstract: Disclosed is an intercrosslinked multilayer polymeric article having at least one thermoplastic polymer layer intercrosslinked by UV radiation at the interface with a core layer of a crosslinkable polymer. The selection of the thermoplastic polymer and the crosslinkable polymer is such that a coextruded composite product of these materials has poor interlayer adhesion prior to radiation treatment. However, the interfacial intercrosslinking provides superior bonding between the layers. The same UV radiation for intercrosslinking typically can also cure the crosslinkable polymer to give the multilayer article excellent structural integrity. Also disclosed is a method for preparing an intercrosslinked multilayer polymeric article.