Abstract: The present application relaxes to a tobacco bale splitting apparatus for splitting a bale of compressed tobacco having a plurality of generally parallel tobacco leaves having stems The present application also relates to a method of splitting a tobacco bale.

Abstract: A hooded glass particulate synthesizing torch, provided with at least a glass particulate synthesizing torch body having a feedstock gas injection passage formed at the center of its front end, a combustible gas injection passage formed concentrically at the outer circumference of the feedstock gas injection passage, and a plurality of small diameter combustion aid gas injection passages formed in the combustible gas injection passage along the outer circumference of the feedstock gas injection passage and a hood projecting out at the outer circumference of the front end of the torch body, the torch hood satisfying 0.5≦D/L≦2.0, where, L is the focal distance, that is, a distance from a point P, to which the small diameter combustion aid gas injection passages are directed and on an extension of the center line of the torch body in front of the torch body, to the front end of the torch body, and D is the hood length, that is, the distance from the front end of the hood to the front end of the torch body.

Abstract: A mold for molding a core for use in casting hollow parts includes, a lower mold portion and an upper mold portion defining therein a cavity corresponding to the outer surface of the core. The lower mold portion includes a cutout disposed along a parting line defined between the lower mold portion and the upper mold portion and opening onto the cavity. After introduction of a ceramic slurry mixture into the mold the upper mold portion is removable, to expose a first side of the core and a protective flash formed in the cutout. Desirably, a heat shield is positioned over the protective flash and the exposed portion of the parting line of the lower mold portion so that the lower mold portion is not exposed directly to a flame during a preliminary firing to impart sufficient strength to the ceramic core so that the ceramic core may be handled.

Abstract: A glass sheet is separated by propagating a crack in the glass sheet by moving a laser beam across the surface of the glass sheet along a desired line of separation and then streaming coolant at the glass sheet at a predetermined distance behind the laser beam. By altering the profile of a laser beam used to score glass, and by changing the distance between the spot where the laser beam impinges on the glass and the spot struck by the stream of coolant, the penetration depth of the resultant median crack can be controlled.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for bending and tempering a sheet of glass heated to a formable state provides an improved rigid mold and pressing member for pressing the heated sheet against the rigid mold which cools and bends the sheet. The pressing member includes a conformable pressing element which permits a manifold to be positioned between the rigid mold and the pressing member to direct a gas to cool the heated sheet of glass during bending. The conformable pressing element is pressurized into a convex shape for initially pressing on a portion of the heated sheet and for rolling the heated sheet onto the rigid mold. The rigid mold and the conformable pressing element may each include a cover to increase the heat transfer from the heated sheet to the bending and tempering apparatus. Furthermore, the covers may have increased thermal conductivity in their peripheral regions for increased cooling of the edge of the sheet of glass.

Abstract: A process for producing hydrophilic growing media, preferably plugs, providing growing media having improved properties and a minimal amount of binding agent. The method forms a resilient, integral, dimensionally stable cohesive, homogeneous mass by contacting an aggregate with a hydrophilic urethane prepolymer and water. Upon curing, the prepolymer binds the aggregate material together. The mixing of the aggregate, prepolymer and water is conducted under specific, carefully controlled conditions, which enables the use of less prepolymer than would otherwise be necessary to obtain a given strength and stable air space. As result, trays can be filled without necessity of retooling.

Abstract: According to the invention, a) at least the first and second compositions of this material in the fluid phase are prepared, b) a sheet (61) of the first composition is poured continuously onto a flat support (4), c) a sheet (62) of the second composition is poured continuously onto sheet (61) of the first composition, and d) the thermal interdiffusion of the materials of the two sheets is ensured so as to obtain the desired gradient of composition in the cooled bar.

Abstract: Method of making a ceramic core for casting an industrial gas turbine engine airfoil having a large airfoil pitch by forming a precursor core (chill) of smaller dimensions than the final desired ceramic core, firing the chill, applying a thin ceramic skin to the fired chill to form a coated core of final dimensions, and then firing the coated core. Firing of the thin ceramic skin reduces airfoil pitch shrinkage resulting from the latter firing operation to reduce overall core dimensional tolerance variations.

Abstract: A smoking article comprises a smoking accessory and a cigarette. The smoking accessory includes a holder and a substantially air-impermeable sleeve which is coupled to a distal portion of the holder and is coaxial therewith. The cigarette is received in the smoking accessory such that a distal end of the cigarette is located substantially flush with a distal end of the sleeve. The cigarette includes a column of tobacco which is shorter than that used in conventional cigarettes, e.g., 20 mm in length or less. An air gap separates an outer surface of the cigarette from the sleeve, and plural openings are formed in the sleeve to supply air to the cigarette. In use, the sleeve restricts the flow of air to the cigarette, thereby slowing combustion and reducing sidestream smoke between puffs.

Abstract: An opaque silica glass article comprising a transparent portion and an opaque portion, wherein the opaque portion has an apparent density of 1.70-2.15 g/cm3 and contains 5×104−5×106 bubbles per cm3, said bubbles having an averaged diameter of 10-100 &mgr;m; and the transparent portion has an apparent density of 2.19-2.21 g/cm3 and the amount of bubbles having a diameter of at least 100 &mgr;m in the transparent portion is not more than 1×103 per cm3. The opaque silica glass article is made by a process wherein a mold is charged with a raw material for forming the opaque portion, which is a mixture comprising a silica powder with a small amount of a silicon nitride powder, and a raw material for forming the transparent portion so that the two raw materials are located in the positions corresponding to the opaque and the transparent portions, respectively, of the silica glass article to be produced; and the raw materials are heated in vacuo to be thereby vitrified.

Abstract: A living tissue replacement of crystallized glass having bioaffinity and mechanical strength is briefly obtained simply by pressure molding or machining without using a special equipment. A glass material having a softening point below its crystallization temperature and exhibiting viscous flow at temperatures below its melting point is heated at a temperature above its Tg and pressed at the temperature to mold to a desired shape, thereby manufacturing a living tissue replacement such as a dental crown. Molding can be done under a pressure of up to 20 MPa.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to low weight cigarette wrapping papers. In particular, the wrapping papers, although having a low basis weight, have an opacity of at least 70% and a tensile strength comparable with conventional papers. Wrapping papers made according to the present invention contain a white pigment having a medium particle size of from 0.1 microns to about 0.5 microns. In one embodiment, a black pigment can also be combined with the white pigment in small amounts.

Abstract: Ceramic sintered bodies having a different thickness along a predetermined axial direction are manufactured in the following manner. At first, a ceramic formed body to be sintered having different thickness along the predetermined axial direction is accommodated in a hot press apparatus. An upper forming mold and a lower forming mold each having a forming surface corresponding to an upper surface and a lower surface of the ceramic formed body to be sintered are set. A pressure along the predetermined axial direction is applied to the ceramic formed body to be sintered via the upper forming mold and the lower forming mold while heating the ceramic formed body to be sintered to perform a hot press sintering thereof. A thickness of a ceramic sintered body in such a manner that a maximum thickness in the predetermined direction is not two times larger or more than a minimum thickness in the predetermined direction.

Abstract: A mullite composition is comprised substantially of mullite grains that are essentially chemically bound wherein the composition has at least two adjoining regions that have substantially different microstructures. The composition may be produced by forming a mixture of one or more precursor compounds having the elements present in mullite; shaping the mixture into a porous green shape applying a nucleation control agent to a portion of the porous green shape and then heating the porous green shape under an atmosphere and to a temperature sufficient to form the mullite composition.

Abstract: A bending mold for bending glass sheets is provided. The mold comprises a frame having longitudinally parallel side walls and a bottom. Support devices having support surfaces are connected between the side walls. An elongated member is provided on the bottom of the frame and is movable in relation to the frame. Support arms are connected by joints between the support device and the elongated member. Movement of the elongated member twists the support devices about a horizontal twisting center.

Abstract: A multi-ply paper includes a fiber material base layer, which is unbleached or made of wastepaper, and a top layer. Instead of a conventional “white” fiber material top layer, the top layer is in the form of a white or colored top coating.

Abstract: Improved flavorful and aromatic tobacco materials and a method for producing flavorful and aromatic components from all natural tobacco materials are provided. A first tobacco material is contacted with a second tobacco material to form a tobacco blend. The first tobacco material has a higher content of nitrogen source and a lower content of sugar source than the second tobacco material. The moisture content in the first and second materials of the tobacco blend is increased to at least about 20%. The tobacco blend having an increased moisture content is then subjected to heat treatment in a substantially atmospheric environment for a time and under conditions sufficient to generate flavorful and aromatic substances in said first and second tobacco materials.

Abstract: Method is disclosed for making glass having both polarizing and non-polarizing regions integral thereto by either ion-exchange or by exposure to light and heat. The polarizing regions of the resulting glass is effective in polarizing light radiation, that is, the glass exhibits permanent dichroic behavior and has at least some polarizing effect in the wavelength range of 400 to 700 nm. The base glass composition contains Cu, Ag and at least one halide such that the resulting precipitated crystal phase consists of a halide.

Abstract: A method of a fabricating silica glass by sol-gel process is provided. The method includes mixing silica, a binder, a dispersing agent and a gelling agent, and forming a sol without air bubbles; injecting the sol into a mold, the injection of the sol into the mold being controlled by the pressure of an inert gas; gelating the sol injected into the mold and demolding the gel; and drying the demolded gel, and thermally-treating the dried gel. Therefore, incorporation of impurities and air bubbles during injection of a sol into a mold is minimized, and injection amount and injection rate of the sol can be controlled.

Abstract: A ceramic-metal composite that is tough and stiff has been prepared and is comprised of an inert ceramic (e.g., alumina) embedded and dispersed in a matrix comprised of a metal (e.g., aluminum), a reactive ceramic (e.g., boron carbide) and a reactive ceramic-metal reaction product (e.g., AlB2, Al4BC, Al3B48C2, AlB12, Al4C3, AlB24C4 or mixtures thereof) wherein grains of the inert ceramic have an average grain size greater than or equal to the average grain size of grains of the reactive ceramic. The ceramic-metal composite may be prepared by forming a mixture comprised of an inert ceramic powder (e.g., alumina) and a reactive ceramic powder (e.g., boron carbide), the inert ceramic powder having an average particle size equal to or greater than the average particle size of the reactive ceramic powder, forming the mixture into a porous body and consolidating the porous body in the presence of a metal (e.g., aluminum) to form the ceramic-metal composite.