Abstract: A damping apparatus and method uses one or more tension elements fabricated from shape memory alloy to cycle through a superelastic stress-strain hysteresis to provide energy dissipation. The method and apparatus can be used for damping of any structures, such as machine parts, building structures, offshore platforms, and nanostructures that are subject to any type of vibration, such as acoustic, seismic, blast, impact, wave and wind. The tension elements can be wire loops or bands that are prestretched into approximately the middle of the stress-strain hysteresis. Such a damping apparatus can be designed to have any selected stroke or force capacity by adjusting the length, thickness and number of the tension elements. Moreover, any type of complex force-deflection hysteresis can be designed, for example, a triangular flag, a rectangle, a rectangular flag, a bowtie, or a staging characteristic that provides for hardening or softening.

Abstract: Methods and systems for forming hinged starch-bound matrices. Starch-based compositions are molded between heated molds in order to form a cellular matrix and also to remove the water from the starch-based compositions in order to form a binding matrix of solidified starch. The molding apparatus is configured to form one or more creases within the hinge area in order to define one or more lines upon which the hinge will bend. The molding apparatus is also configured such that the region of the mold corresponding to the inner surface of the hinge area will transfer heat more slowly to the inner hinge surface, resulting in reduced thickness of the skin of the inner hinge. This increases the collapsibility, or ability of the inner surface of the hinge to fold or buckle, during the bending action. This in turn reduces the bending radius of hinge such that the hinging action exerts less strain on the outer surface of the hinge.

Abstract: A smart delivery system is provided for transmitting video, audio, hyper-text and web documents to end users via the internet over telephone lines, fiber optics, satellite link, or other direct communications on a non-realtime discontinuous basis in which the server providing the information periodically ascertains whether the end user terminal is busy. If so, the transmission to the end user is terminated and the information is stored until such time as the "busy" indication is terminated. In one embodiment, the indication for the end user of incoming information is in the form of an icon generated on-screen on which the user can click to obtain the sought-after information.

Abstract: An apparatus for hermetically sealing implantable devices, such as a microstimulator, moicrotransducer, microtelemeter, or the like, prevents entrapment of water vapors and other volatile gases, and allows hermeticity testing at all manufacturing levels. The venting of water vapors and other volatile gases is accomplished with a tubular feedthrough that allows such gases trapped within the sealed device to vent during the manufacturing process. The tubular feedthrough also establishes a conduit through which leakage tests or other hermeticity tests can be conducted prior to and after sealing the feedthrough. The tubular feedthrough, when made from conductive materials, also provides for electrical connections between electronic circuits sealed within the device and electrodes and other electrical terminals on the outside of the capsule.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for evaluation and inspection of a composite-repaired structure generates a frequency-varying electrical signal to test and evaluate the composite-repaired area. The electrical signal is converted into a mechanical signal and transmitted through the composite-repaired area of the structure. The transmitted mechanical signal is received and converted into an electrical signal for processing. The processed signal is compared with a baseline reference signal to determine whether the composite-repaired area is damaged or undamaged. The baseline reference signal is obtained at the time of the composite repair of the structure.

Abstract: An in-car used mobile phone fixing seat assembly to which other electrical appliances are addible, including an electrically conductive flexible supporting member and a mobile phone fixing seat. One end of the supporting member is connected with a cigarette lighter plug for inserting into a lighter socket of the car. The other end of the supporting member is disposed with a connecting section for engaging with the fixing seat. The fixing seat has a receptacle for receiving and powering on a mobile phone and peripheral electrical equipments. The position and angle of the fixing seat can be freely adjusted according to a user's requirements.

Abstract: This invention relates to porous polyfluoroethylene (PTFE), shaped articles prepared therefrom, and to methods of preparing said articles.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved transesterification process for the preparation of bis(3-hydroxypropyl) terephthalate monomer from 1,3-propanediol and a dialkyl terephthalate using a lanthanum compound transesterification catalyst.

Abstract: An improved method for the selective oxidation of alkyl-5-valerate to monomethyl adipate (e.g., methyl-5-valerate to monomethyl adipate). By performing the air oxidation at high pressure (i.e.,>10 bars air and preferably 35 to 65 bars) and relatively moderate temperature (i.e., 20 to 120.degree. C.) in the absence of a catalyst, commercial rates of conversion can be sustained at optimum selectivity to the desired product. Such a high pressure process is particularly amenable to continuous operating the oxidation reactor at optimum selectivity at the expense of conversion per pass followed by product separation and recycle of reactants.

Abstract: An improvement in the sealing of bonded batts of fiberfill is obtained by providing a barrier layer of bonded bicomponent binder fibers on one or both faces of the remainder of the batt to prevent or reduce the tendency of the fiberfill to leak through such faces.

Abstract: A decorative cover for a movable garage door and method of attachment thereof are provided that allow festive ornamentation of ordinary garage doors while maintaining full use of such garage doors. The decorative cover can be made of weather resistant material and printed with various festive designs on its surface. The decorative cover is installed by draping it onto the front of the garage door. The cover is then joined together by any of several tethering and attaching methods to secure the cover to the garage door to allow full opening and closing without the cover riding up or down relative to the door. The attachment methods also take up slack in the cover.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the hydrogenolysis of halogenated hydrocarbons containing fluorine together with chlorine and/or bromine.

Abstract: Embodiments of a filter cartridge for a sports bottle are shown and described. Each embodiment has a member for containing or attaching to a filter media and having a means of securing the cartridge inside the bottle neck without requiring modification of the bottle or bottle cap. The preferred cartridge includes a generally cylindrical cup or ring for holding media, and an extension that fits between the cap and the bottle neck to secure the cartridge in place while preserving a water-tight seal. The extension has a slanted inner surface that diverts the cap's knife edge inward slightly and then seals with the outside surface of the knife blade. As the cap is installed and the knife presses down against the extension, the knife forces the expandable or flexible extension outward slightly to seal against the neck.

Abstract: A yarn cutting apparatus comprising a cutter body, piston and a cutting mechanism. The cutting body has a cylindrical bore extending from a first end to a second end and a body notch extending transversely from one side to the other side of the cutter body. The cutting mechanism comprises a first cutting element, having an element notch and a planar support surface and a planar cutting surface parallel with the support surface, slidably mounted in the cutter body to move within the cylindrical bore and a second cutting element resiliently mounted in the cutter body adjacent the body notch. The second cutting element has a cutting edge and a planar surface that is parallel with and in surface to surface contact with the planar surface of the first cutting element.

Abstract: Photosensitive donor elements, assemblages, and associated processes are described for use in a laser-induced thermal transfer process, said elements comprising in the order listed a support; a photohardenable layer comprising a binder, at least one photohardenable component, and an initiator; optionally a barrier layer; optionally a coversheet; at least one ejection layer comprising a first polymer having a decomposition temperature T.sub.1 ; at least one top layer having an outer surface and comprising (i) a second polymer having a decomposition temperature T.sub.2 and (ii) an imageable component. For photomask fabrication applications, the imageable component is preferably black. Assemblages made with these donor elements are useful for fabrication of photomasks on various photohardenable materials, including flexographic printing plates and photoresists.

Abstract: A plenum cable is provided which passes the category 5 requirements, including the UL 910 burn/smoke test, the cable containing at least four twisted pairs of insulated conductors, the insulation of one of the pairs of insulated conductors being foamed polyolefin which is free of flame retardant additive and the insulation of the other three twisted pairs of insulated conductors being fluoropolymer, the cable having a skew between twisted pairs of no greater than 30 nanoseconds.

Abstract: Purified terephthalic acid is prepared by a process of subjecting an aqueous solution of crude terephthalic acid to hydrogenation to reduce impurities, crystallizing this solution to produce a slurry of purified terephthalic acid in an aqueous liquor, and carrying out an integrated separation washing process.

Abstract: An adjustable automatic starting line throttle actuation controller for use with a drag racing vehicle. The device controls the throttle from a preset partial throttle opening to a wide open throttle during the initial staging process of the race, while the driver holds the throttle in a wide open position. The device can control the opening of the carburetor linkage of the carburetor to a preset low r.p.m. at the starting line (during the staging process) before a race begins, and control the opening of the throttle for the first portion of the race after the race starts. A preferred version of the device has a dual piston cylinder having respective piston rods connected to the carburetor and one connected to the throttle pedal. An electronic activation assembly controls which piston rod is being actuated.

Abstract: A Process using anaerobic, aerobic, and cometabolizing bacteria to biodegrade halogenated organic compounds in an unsaturated zone lyng between the ground surface and the underlying water table is disclosed. The process includes contacting in situ an electron donor compound with dehalogenating bacteria indigenous in or added thereto in the unsaturated soil zone which is between the ground surface and underlying water table. Further the halogenated component compounds also react with the bacteria and electron donor; thus, stimulating biodegradation while cycling between aerobic and anaerobic as well as cometabolic environments during the process.