Abstract: A snow melting apparatus 1 according to the present invention comprises a plurality of heating wires 10, a pair of fixing members 20, 20 and rod-shaped auxiliary fixing members 30. The plurality of heating wires 10 are arranged substantially in parallel with each other at predetermined intervals in a director perpendicular to its axial direction. The fixing members fix and hold the plurality heating wires at end portions thereof. The rod-shaped auxiliary fixing member holds the plurality of heating wires at intermediate positions thereof. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a snow melting apparatus which holds a certain flexing capability, which causes no damage to the joining force between a base layer and a surface layer of a driveway, and which does not fail completely even if the apparatus partially breaks at a single position therealong.

Abstract: A fuel cell separator unit having a crosslinked rubber layer is fabricated by coating a rubber-containing coating agent on the periphery of the surface of a separator to form a thin, unvulacanized rubber layer, and then vulcanizing or crosslinking the thin rubber layer. A tightly sealed fuel cell is constituted by providing both sides of the main body of the fuel cell with separator units fabricated in the manner described above. When a fuel cell separator fabricated through a crosslinking by radioactive ray irradiation, the performance of the fuel cell is not hindered by the ingredient(s) of a rubber packing. The present invention provides a fuel cell sealing structure which ensures a perfect sealing. According to the present invention, a step of attaching a thin rubber packing is no longer necessary.

Abstract: A semi-conductive silicone rubber composition contains carbon black. The carbon black contains thermal black obtained by thermally cracking a natural gas and having a specific surface area—nitrogen absorption method of 8.0 to 10.0 m2/g, a dibutyl phthalate absorption number (dibutyl phthalate absorption number) of 30 to 40 cm3/100 g and an averaged particle size of 200 to 330 nm.

Abstract: A blow molding method for forming a hollow resin product comprises a parison extruding step, a protrusion abutting step and a confronting rod abutting step. In the extruding step, a parison is extruded from a die head towards a position interposed between a pair of molding portions. Each molding portion has a mating surface and a parison-cutting-protrusion erected from the mating surface. In the protrusion abutting step, the protrusions are abutted from each other. In the confronting rod abutting step, the spherical surfaces formed at tip ends of the rods protruded from the mating surfaces of the molding portions are abutted from each other. These steps are simultaneously executed, to thereby remove a flash from a product when the molding portions are closed. In addition to this, the rods mounted on one of molding portions are mounted on the same so as to be adjustable in its protruding length from the mating surface.

Abstract: A process for preparing a mold used for producing, for example, high resilience polyurethane foamed articles, comprises the step of spraying an aqueous release compound on the inner, article-contacting surface of the mold, the release compound including: an aqueous carrier; and a release agent which forms a release film on the article-contacting surface, wherein the release film is formed by evaporating a majority of the aqueous carrier. An aqueous rinse solution is gently sprayed on the inner mold surface after formation of the release film. The rinse solution, now carrying residual water, emulsifier(s) and/or contaminants, is mechanically removed via an air entrainment device before significant evaporation of the rinse solution has taken place.

Abstract: The suction apparatus comprises an apparatus main body which is divided into lower and upper box bodies 11 and 15. In the apparatus main body, there are stored a first duct for sucking in air from the open air, a resonator connected to the first duct, a cleaner for cleaning the sucked-in air, and a second duct 30 for sending out the air, after it has passed through the cleaner, into the internal combustion engine. A plurality of ribs 19a, which are situated in the suction openings 30a of the second duct 30 and are used to reinforce the upper box body 15, are respectively inclined at an angle conformed to the installation angle &thgr; of the second duct 30, whereby the ribs 19a can contribute toward guiding the flow of the air.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for producing polymeric materials which are normally tenacious in their character to such degree that their processing by conventional means is not possible, for example substantially-amorphous polyolefins. By introducing a second catalyst capable of producing a powdery polymer into the polymerization system during production of the sticky polymers, these normally sticky, tenacious polymers are rendered into a form which may be processed using conventional means and equipment.

Abstract: A system for protecting surfaces and facilitating the removal of unwanted substances therefrom is disclosed, the system including a polymeric coating having a low volatile organics content (VOC) which is safe for the environment, and a cleaner for application to the coating to remove material from the coating, such as graffiti. The coating may be either a water-based epoxy comprising a bisphenol A resin and polyamide resin, or an aliphatic urethane comprising a polymer having reactive sites which react with a isocyanate and an aliphatic isocyanate. The cleaner is suitable for removing all manner of epoxy and urethane based spray paints, indelible inks, industrial chemicals, and the like. The cleaner comprises N-methyl pyrrolidone in a concentration of fifty percent by weight or greater and a surfactant.

Abstract: The suction apparatus comprises an apparatus main body which is divided into lower and upper box bodies 11 and 15. In the apparatus main body, there are stored a first duct for sucking in air from the open air, a resonator connected to the first duct, a cleaner for cleaning the sucked-in air, and a second duct 30 for sending out the air, after it has passed through the cleaner, into the internal combustion engine. A plurality of ribs 19a, which are situated in the suction openings 30a of the second duct 30 and are used to reinforce the upper box body 15, are respectively inclined at an angle conformed to the installation angle &thgr; of the second duct 30, whereby the ribs 19a can contribute toward guiding the flow of the air.

Abstract: The abrasion resistant hose of the present invention comprises an inner layer mainly formed with a thermoplastic polyurethane resin, an outer protective layer comprising a soft vinyl chloride resin united with the inner layer by thermal-fusion, and a spiral reinforcement comprising a hard synthetic resin buried in or attached to the outer protective layer. The inner layer is formed with a thermoplastic polyurethane resin containing substantially no migratory plasticizer or an internally-plasticized thermoplastic polyurethane resin (i.e., a thermoplastic polyurethane resin which is not externally-plasticized with a migratory plasticizer). The outer protective layer is formed with a soft vinyl chloride resin containing substantially no migratory plasticizer, united with the inner layer by fusion. An intermediate layer comprising a soft vinyl chloride resin containing no migratory plasticizer may be interposed between the inner layer and the outer protective layer.

Abstract: The blow-molded hose of a synthetic resin of the present invention is produced by blow-molding a single parison comprising a soft resin and a hard resin. The blow-molded hose comprises a monolayer (or single-layer) segment formed with either a soft resin layer or a hard resin layer and multilayer (laminating) segment formed with the soft resin layer and the hard resin layer, wherein, in the multilayer (laminating) segment, the thickness of the resin layer forming the monolayer segment is thinner than that of the other resin layer. Practically, the monolayer segment comprises the soft resin layer and forms the connection end (s) at the end (s) of the hose.

Abstract: A hose comprises a hose wall comprising a soft synthetic resin and a hard spiral reinforcement fused with or bonded to the hose wall for retaining the hose configuration. The hose wall comprises at least one layer of a chlorine-free thermoplastic elastomer such as a polystyrenic thermoplastic elastomer, a polyolefinic thermoplastic elastomer and a polyurethane-series thermoplastic elastomer. The reinforcement comprises a hard wire and a covering resin layer formed on the hard wire. The hose wall and the covering resin layer are formed with the same series elastomer. This hose is lighter and free from PVC resins, and has the same flexibility as that of the conventional PVC hoses.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are novel polymers and copolymers of alphaolefins produced using various Ziegler/Natta and Metallocene catalysts. Commercial production of these polymers is now possible for the first time owing to the polymer harvesting technology also disclosed herein.

Abstract: An air intake duct comprising a main body with bellows which is made by blow molding soft resin and ring-like reinforcements made of hard resin. As the soft resin, a material which is capable of keeping a form of a tube by itself is adopted. The reinforcements are previously mounted on the internal surface of a blow molding die and unite with the bellows in the main body in blow molding.

Abstract: A flexible hose 1 of the present invention is formed by blocking and interrupting a spiral groove 5 inside a hill 2 of a corrugated hose end portion 1a or 1b (inner surface helical concave portion) to form a closed section 4, or by blocking and interrupting a spiral groove 5 formed outside a valley 3 of a corrugated end portion 1a or 1b of a hose (outer surface helical concave portion) to form a blocked section 4. The flexible hose of the present invention can provide an improved air tightness when connected to a joint, requiring no troublesome steps or treatments.

Abstract: Methods of producing polyolefin polymers by polymerizing an .alpha.-olefin in the presence of a catalyst including a pro-catalyst having a magnesium halide, an aluminum halide, a tetravalent titanium halide, an electron donor, and a silane having the formula R.sub.1 R.sub.2 Si(OR.sub.3) (OR.sub.4), wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each an H, C.sub.1-6 alkyl, aryl, C.sub.5-12 cycloalkyl, each of which may be unsubstituted, mono- or di-substituted, and R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are H, C.sub.1-6 alkyl, or a mono- or di-substituted C.sub.1-6 alkyl, and a co-catalyst comprising an organometallic compound, or reaction products of the pro-catalyst and the co-catalyst, wherein the electron donor is present in an amount sufficient to reduce the stickiness of the resultant polyolefin polymers. Moreover, the polymers produced thereby, and methods of preparing resultant products from the polymers are part of the present invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for preparing a fiber, thread or yarn including a polymer blend of a predominantly atactic flexible polyolefin polymer having a high weight average molecular weight of at least about 100,000 and a heat of fusion of about 15 to 60 J/g with an isotactic polypropylene polymer, and forming the polymer blend into a fiber, thread or yarn, wherein the flexible polymer is present in an amount sufficient to increase the elasticity of the fiber, thread or yarn to inhibit substantial breakage thereof, for use in non-woven products. The invention also relates to the fiber, thread or yarn including the polymers, as well as non-woven products prepared therefrom. Moreover, the invention relates to composite articles including the fiber, thread or yarn in combination with adhesive compositions, and polymer blends used for such adhesive compositions.

Abstract: A heat insulated hose includes a cylindrical member. This cylindrical member is formed by helically winding a laminated tape having a base layer of a foamed resin, a permeable coat film laminated on an inner surface of the base layer, and an air-tight coat film laminated on an outer surface of the base layer, with adjacent side edges thereof abutted against each other. A resin reinforcing member is helically wound on an outer peripheral surface or inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical member in a manner striding over the adjacent side edges of the laminated tape. The respective side edges of the laminated tape is thermally fused with the resin reinforcing member, thereby integrally joining between the adjacent side edges.

Abstract: The flexible hose comprises a bellows hose wall 1 composed of an inner wall 2 and an outer wall 3 each made of a soft resin and a spiral hard reinforcement 4 interposed therebetween. As the hose contracts, a spiral groove 7 is formed inside of the hose. The inner wall 2 is not partially bonded or fused with the outer wall 3 and the hard spiral reinforcement 4 to form unbonded sites or fragments 8. As the hose contracts, the unbonded fragments 8 are separated from the outer wall 3 and the spiral hard enforcement 4 and move to the inward direction of the hose, and close the spiral groove 7. Therefore, even a fluid flows to any longitudinal direction, the flexible hose reduces a flow resistance.

Abstract: A laminated tape comprising a main layer of a polyester-series thermoplastic polyurethane resin and a covering layer formed of a soft vinyl chloride resin fused with at least one surface of the main layer is spirally wound, and its adjacent side edges are bonded each other to form a hose wall. The shrinkage ratio of the length of the hose in an unloaded condition is 25% or less relative to the original length of the hose as determined by measuring the original length and the length of the hose after the test which comprises subjecting the hose compressed in a longitudinal direction to ten heating/cooling-cycles successively, one cycle comprising a heating step for exposing the compressed hose to an atmosphere of 70.degree. C. for two hours and a cooling step for cooling the heat-treated hose at an atmosphere of -20.degree. C. for two hours, followed by returning the temperature of the hose to an ordinary or room temperature and allowing the hose to stand for one hour.