Abstract: Abrasive jet stream polishing, wherein an abrasive is suspended in a flowable jet medium and projected at high velocity and pressure at a workpiece is provide, where the jet is projected at the surface to be polished at an oblique angle. The method is substantially improved by forming the medium of a polymer having reformable sacrificial chemical bonds which are preferentially broken under high shear conditions. Projecting the medium and suspended abrasive breaks the reformable sacrificial chemical bonds while polishing. The chemical bonds will reform, permitting recycling of the medium and abrasive for reuse in the method. The jet is effective at relatively low pressures of about 5 to about 80 MPa.

Abstract: A pleated, all poly(tetra-fluoro ethylene) filter element (20) incorporating a poly(tetra-fluoro ethylene) filter membrane (24) is shown and described. The membrane is supported by an all poly(tetra-fluoro ethylene) paper (26) and (28), which permits filtrate to pass through the paper and across the poly(tetrafluoro ethylene) membrane. A sandwich is formed by placing a layer of poly(tetra-fluoro ethylene) filter membrane (24) between the two layers of poly(tetra-fluoro ethylene) support paper, (26) and (28), and the sandwich is then pleated prior to assembly around a core (14) and between end caps (12) and (18), which are bonded to the poly(tetra-fluoro ethylene) paper and poly(tetrafluoro ethylene) filter membrane by a hot-melt process.

Abstract: A method of welding at least two layers of a thin thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (10A,B) to form a weld seam (12) to produce polyurethane barrier products such as, but not limited to, gloves (20), condoms (30), inflatable catheter balloon cuffs (48A,B), ostomy pouches (50), organ bags (60), and instrument covers (70) through a process of pre-heating a sealing die platen, the at least two layers of the polyurethane (10A,B) softened while under pressure from the preheated die platen, followed by welding the at least two layers of polyurethane (10A,B) film by transmission of a radio-frequency energy to the film (10A,B) to produce a weld seam (12) and then allowing the weld seam (12) to cool, the resultant product having seam integrity.

Abstract: A seamless knitted glove with a cuff having an ambidextrous and universal size made from crimped and textured stretchable continuous filament nylon yarn of four ply of about 70 deniers or less. Also, a method of making a seamless knitted glove with a cuff having an ambidextrous and universal size comprising the steps of knitting an eight and a half inch to nine inch glove using crimped and textured stretchable continuous filament nylon yarn of four ply of about 70 deniers or less with a 13 gage knitting machine, heat shrinking the glove to less than seven inches, and heat stretching the glove to about seven inches.

Abstract: Investment casting molds, and particularly mold cores, are formed of sintered ceramics to near net shape and are then machined to net shape, dimensions and surface finish, by ultrasonic machining with formed tools having the final configuration in mirror image form. Form machining of fired mold shells and cores is rapid, precise, readily controlled, and can produce castings of exceptional accuracy of shape, dimensions and surface finish.

Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane is produced having an outer surface, and inner surface enclosing a lumen, and a continuous network of interconnecting pores extending from the outer surface to the inner surface, wherein substantially all of the pores have an elongated dimension and a shortened dimension, the elongated dimension being oriented substantially parallel to the axis of the hollow fiber, wherein the ratio of the elongated dimension to the shortened dimension is substantially constant from the outer surface to the inner surface, and wherein the pores change shape to increase the shortened dimension in response to a high pressure differential imposed across the membrane by increasing fluid pressure within the lumen.

Abstract: A method of welding at least two layers of a thin thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (10A, B) to form a weld seam (12) to produce polyurethane barrier products such as, but not limited to, gloves (20), condoms (30), inflatable catheter balloon cuffs (48A, B), ostomy pouches (50), organ bags (60), and instrument covers (70) through a process of pre-heating a sealing die platen, the at least two layers of the polyurethane (10A, B) softened while under pressure from the preheated die platen, followed by welding the at least two layers of polyurethane (10A, B) film by transmission of a radio-frequency energy to the film (10A, B) to produce a weld seam (12) and then allowing the weld seam (12) to cool, the resultant product having seam integrity.

Abstract: Abrasive jet stream cutting, wherein an abrasive is suspended in a flowable jet medium (64) and projected at high velocity and pressure (75) at a workpiece (76) is substantially improved by forming the medium of a polymer having reformable sacrificial chemical bonds which are preferentially broken under high shear conditions. Projecting the medium and suspended abrasive breaks the reformable sacrificial chemical bonds while cutting. The chemical bonds will reform, permitting recycling of the medium and abrasive for reuse in the method. The jet is effective at pressures of about 14 to 80 MPa.

Abstract: Plastisol coatings and adhesives having reduced bulk density are provided by incorporating hollow thermoplastic microspheres, wherein the surface of the microspheres is wet by a surfactant which preferentially wets the surface of the microspheres, where the total solids content of the plastisol does not exceed the critical pigment volume concentration, and where the temperature and pressure of processing and use of the microsphere filled plastisol are kept to the minimums required for effective operation. Preferred hollow thermoplastic microspheres having a thermally bonded surface coating of a solid particulate material, such as calcium carbonate, silica, or the like are employed where the thermoplastic of the microspheres is wet by a surfactant which preferentially wets the surface of the thermoplastic and where the solid particulate material on the surface is wet by a surfactant or plasticizer which preferentially wets the solid particles are particularly effective in such plastisol coatings and adhesives.

Abstract: A method of welding at least two layers of a thin thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (10A, B) to form a weld seam (12) to produce polyurethane barrier products such as, but not limited to, gloves (20), condoms (30), inflatable catheter balloon cuffs (48A, B), ostomy pouches (50), organ bags (60), and instrument covers (70) through a process of pre-heating a sealing die platen, the at least two layers of the polyurethane (10A, B) softened while under pressure from the preheated die platen, followed by welding the at least two layers of polyurethane (10A, B) film by transmission of a radio-frequency energy to the film (10A, B) to produce a weld seam (12) and then allowing the weld seam (12) to cool, the resultant product having seam integrity. A glove is made of polyurethane film layers having a weld around the periphery of the layers.

Abstract: A process for maintaining a high rate of mass transfer of nutrients contained in a liquid feed stream to a biofilm of microorganisms supported on a bed of particulate matter. The microorganisms in the biofilm are subjected to a continuous, uniform flow of the liquid feed steam and a countercurrent flow of respiratory air so as to support biofilm growth. The bed is periodically pulsed with air at a pressure sufficient to shed microorganisms from the biofilm, and at intervals sufficient to avoid preferential channeling of the liquid feed steam through the bed and/or to disrupt and rearrange the bed of particulate matter.

Abstract: Microsphere beads are mixed with a surface barrier liquid or mixture of such a liquid with a solid effective to prevent agglomeration and surface bonding of the microspheres; by the control of the application of heat and balancing temperature and active mixing, removal of water from the microspheres is achieved.The surface barrier liquid or mixture of such a liquid with a solid in the present invention is any one of a wide diversity of materials which meet the requirements of the intended function, i.e., to prevent the agglomeration of the microspheres during the process. Suitable materials include, by way of example, plasticizers, diluents, extenders, monomers and oligomers, and the like.

Abstract: Dip molding of thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers to form medical and surgical gloves, condoms, instrument and appliance covers, and other rubber goods is improved by a controlled viscosity, controlled rate of evaporation solvent system, including a strong polar solvent, a weak solvent or non-solvent to control viscosity, and a blush resistor to control the rate of evaporation and the effects of humidity. For particularly enhanced barrier film formation, a leveling agent is also included. One or more layers are dipped in sequential steps in thicknesses of 0.5 to 1.5 mils per layer, with complete integral film formation and substantially complete freedom from porosity and pin holes. Cross-linkable polyurethanes may be cured after fully molded.

Abstract: Dip molding of thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers to form medical and surgical gloves, condoms, instrument and appliance covers, and other rubber goods is improved by a controlled viscosity, controlled rate of evaporation solvent system, including a strong polar solvent, a weak solvent or non-solvent to control viscosity, and a blush resistor to control the rate of evaporation and the effects of humidity. For particularly enhanced barrier film formation, a leveling agent is also included. One or more layers are dipped in sequential steps in thicknesses of 0.5 to 1.5 mils per layer, with complete integral film formation and substantially complete freedom from porosity and pin holes. Cross-linkable polyurethanes may be cured after fully molded.

Abstract: The present invention provides an under-frame lift axle assembly for a vehicle, particularly an off-road vehicle, which includes a suspension lower link element having one end mounted to the frame of said vehicle by a first pivotal joint, an axle assembly, adapted to mount a wheel and tire thereon, distal to said first pivotal joint, and a second pivotal joint, permitting articulation of the lower link, medially located on said suspension lower link element, a retractable suspension assembly, such as an air bag suspension assembly, mounted between said frame and the suspension lower link element intermediate to said first pivotable joint and said second pivotal joint, an upper link member to limit or prevent articulation of said suspension lower link element at said medial second pivotal joint when said suspension assembly is deployed to bear a share of the vehicle weight, a lift device , such as a second air bag assembly or the like, to lift said suspension link element and said axle assembly away from groun

Abstract: Abrasive jet stream cutting, wherein an abrasive is suspended in a flowable jet medium (64) and projected at high velocity and pressure (75) at a workpiece (76) is substantially improved by forming the medium of a polymer having reformable sacrificial chemical bonds which are preferentially broken under high shear conditions. Projecting the medium and suspended abrasive breaks the reformable sacrificial chemical bonds while cutting. The chemical bonds will reform, permitting recycling of the medium and abrasive for reuse in the method. The jet is effective at pressures of about 14 to 80 MPa.

Abstract: A stylus probe with both a contact sensing and a capacitive proximity sensing capability provided by positioning a capacitive sensor means (10) on the tip-end of a grounded, thin conductive stainless steel tube (12) so that the capacitive sensor means (10) is electrically insulated from the grounded tube, and a conductive lead wire (16), conductively attached to the capacitive sensor means (10), extends through the tube (12) with an electrically insulative material (18) dispersed between the tube (12) and the lead wire (16) to electrically insulate and space the lead wire (16) from the tube (12). The connecting-end of the tube (12) has an elastomer material (20) and (22) placed in an annular fashion and in direct contact with a mounting means and the tube (12) so as to dampen vibrations of the tube (12) caused by probe deflection. The stylus probe further comprises a tubular member with a length:width ratio of from about 40:1 to about 300:1 to give up to a 45.degree.

Abstract: A game toy provides amusement that cannot be obtained with games simulating actual contests, so that players can compete over the number of pieces held by avoiding loss of pieces. The game toy has piece retention means 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d for keeping the player's pieces in predetermined positions, a moving object 3 for moving the pieces from the positions when it collides with the pieces, collision prevention means 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d being operated by the player to prevent collision between the pieces and the moving object when the moving object approaches the pieces, a support means 5 for supporting the moving object 3 so that it can freely spin vertically, and a drive means for rotating the support means 5 around the vertical axis.

Abstract: A method of making a porous polymeric material by heating a mixture comprising polyvinylidene fluoride and a solvent system initially comprising a first component that is a latent solvent for polyvinylidene fluoride and a second component that is a non-solvent for polyvinylidene fluoride wherein, at elevated temperature, polyvinylidene fluoride dissolves in the solvent system to provide an optically clear solution. The solution is then rapidly cooled so that non-equilibrium liquid-liquid phase separation takes place to form a continuous polymer rich phase and a continuous polymer lean phase with the two phases being intermingled in the form of bicontinuous matrix of large interfacial area, and cooling is continued until the polymer rich phase solidifies. The polymer lean phase is removed from the solid polymeric material.

Abstract: A method of welding at least two layers of a thin thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (10A, B) to form a weld seam (12) to produce polyurethane barrier products such as, but not limited to, gloves (20), condoms (30), inflatable catheter balloon cuffs (48A, B), ostomy pouches (50), organ bags (60), and instrument covers (70) through a process of pre-heating a sealing die platen, the at least two layers of the polyurethane (10A, B) softened while under pressure from the preheated die platen, followed by welding the at least two layers of polyurethane (10A, B) film by transmission of a radio-frequency energy to the film (10A, B) to produce a weld seam (12) and then allowing the weld seam (12) to cool, the resultant product having seam integrity.