Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a sidewall surface with serrated portions, each of the serrated portions being formed by aligning numerous serrated concavo-convex stripes thereon, the serrated portions being spirally arranged along a circumferential direction of the tire. The concavo-convex stripes are formed by formation of concave grooves on the sidewall surface. The depth of the concave grooves is 0.3 to 2.0 mm. An interval between adjacent serrated portions is set 5 mm or more when measured along a radial direction of the tire.

Abstract: A two-piece tire assembly has a removable tread belt 12 for installing about the circumference of a tire carcass 14. The tread belt has a pair of lateral ends each axially extending beyond the inflated unloaded carcass 14 at the circumferential surface by a distance of at least 4% of the width as measured at the tread belt 12 and carcass 14 interface. The carcass 14 has an abrasion resistant rubber layer 82A at the tread belt interface. The tread belt 12 also has the abrasion resistance tread compound 82B at the carcass 14 interface.

Abstract: An improved balloon catheter seal which may be used for attaching an inflatable balloon to a catheter body, especially when the balloon and catheter body are formed from dissimilar materials. The seal is formed by applying a layer of adhesive material between the inflatable balloon and the catheter body, and crimping a retaining ring over each seal junction. The invention is especially useful when joining a compliant balloon made from silicone to a catheter body made from polyurethane.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a fluoropolymer compound plate comprises the steps of: combining a fluoropolymer sheet and a medium plate as a fluoropolymer compound plate; transferring the fluoropolymer compound plate to a preheat section for being heated uniformly in a lower tension, transferring the fluoropolymer compound plate to a melting section for heating the fluoropolymer sheet of the fluoropolymer compound plate; transferring the fluoropolymer compound plate to a pressing section by rollers; and compressing and annealing the fluoropolymer compound plate. A device for performing the method comprises a plurality of tension adjusting axial seats; a plurality of roller; a pair of first guide wheels; an upper and a lower layer radiating heater; a third guide wheel set; an upper and a lower layer high temperature radiating heater; a guiding roller; a shaping heater; a plurality of temperature controller roller sets and a product winding wheel.

Abstract: A method is provided for making an edge-sealed fuel cell membrane electrode assembly comprising the steps of: i) providing a suitable membrane electrode assembly lay-up; ii) positioning a suitable annular layer of a thermoplastic; and iii) applying pressure and heat sufficient to melt impregnate the thermoplastic into the fluid transport layer or layers of the membrane electrode assembly lay-up and simultaneously bond the fluid transport layer or layers to the polymer electrolyte membrane of the membrane electrode assembly lay-up. The polymer electrolyte membrane of the membrane electrode assembly lay-up may be perforated in its outer sealing area. Membrane electrode assemblies made according to the method of the present invention are also provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making garments that can cool or heat the wearer of the garment. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of providing a pattern board having a channel configuration formed thereon that defines at least one channel circuit, disposing a first fusible fabric over the channel configuration of the pattern board, disposing a length of tubing over the channel configuration and depressing the tubing into the channels, disposing a second fabric over the tubing and first fusible fabric to form a first laminate assembly, and applying heat and pressure to the laminate assembly to form a laminate garment structure.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a tube construct from a planar sheet matrix includes a stand supporting two opposing mounts and spanning between the opposing mounts are a mandrel, a porous rod, and a spring-loaded roller held in parallel arrangement; a guide for aligning and engaging the mandrel on the opposing mounts; and a means for imparting a tangential force on the planar sheet matrix to prevent wrinkling. The porous rod has a lumen running its length and has pores that communicate between the lumen of the porous rod through to the surface of the rod for water to uniformly pass through. The spring-loaded roller runs along the length of the porous rod creating a line of contact between the roller and the mandrel. The mandrel is contacted with a planar sheet of matrix and is rotated such that successive portions of the matrix contact the porous rod and become lightly moistened by the water passing through the pores of the porous rod and become wrapped around the mandrel to form a tube construct.

Abstract: A charge roller that includes a metal core, an elastic member configured wrapped around the metal core, and film members is disclosed. Each of the film members is wrapped around each end of the elastic member in a circumferential direction of the metal core such that at least a part of each of the film members exists at every position around the ends of the elastic member in an axial direction of the metal core. Portions of the film members do not overlap each other in an radial direction of the metal core.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the production of an air-permeable laminate film with a textile surface and elastic and non-elastic regions. At least one film strip that is elastic in the crosswise direction is introduced, as an elastic insert, between two material webs of fiber non-woven fabric having a web width greater than the width of the film strip. The segments of the material webs made of fiber non-woven fabric that are in direct contact next to the insert are connected, forming a non-elastic region of the laminate film. Subsequently, the laminate passes through an ultrasound bonding station, in which the elastic insert is melted by means of point-shaped bonds, while maintaining the substance of the fiber non-woven fabric, thereby connecting the elastic insert with the fiber non-woven fabric cover layers at discrete points and forming air-permeable structures.

Abstract: A window sash frame is provided with a glazing pane installation opening accessible from a first side thereof and a glazing pane support surface on a second side thereof. A first glazing pane is inserted into the installation opening and an outside surface perimeter of the pane is placed adjacent to the support surface. A second glazing pane is then inserted into the opening. An inside surface perimeter of the second pane is mounted (e.g., via an adhesive bead, strip, tape or foam) to an inside surface perimeter of the first glazing pane. The adhesive thickness is such that the panes are separated by a space, which can contain air or an inert insulating gas. A glazing bead is installed along at least a portion of the glazing pane installation opening after the glazing panes have been inserted. A spacer can alternatively or additionally be provided between the glazing panes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assembling permanent magnet segments and a back ring wherein a fixture holds segments in circumaxially spaced relationship, adhesive is applied to the segments, externally from pressure sensitive adhesive tape and the fixture then expands to urge the segments into firm bonding engagement with the back ring.

Abstract: A pneumatic radial ply tire (500) comprises a tread (510), a belt structure (512), and a carcass (514). The carcass (514) has a radial ply (518) and two bead sections (530A, 530B). Each bead section (530A, 530B) has a bead (532) and a component apex (534) with a inner apex (534A), a middle apex (534B) and an outer apex (534C).

Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a body having a plurality of main body cords. The tire includes an upper section above the maximum section width and a lower section below the maximum section width. The modulus of the body cords is configured to be larger in the lower section than in the upper section. This modulus ratio decreases the rolling resistance of the tire. The increased modulus in the lower section is achieved by providing intermediate body cords disposed between the main body cords. In another embodiment, the increased modulus is achieved by changing the material and/or size of the cords in the lower section.

Abstract: The invention relates to a laminate, which has at least a portion where a fluorine resin and a crosslinking elastic adhesive body such as of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer or the like are directly bonded together and which is used as a window material of buildings or mainly used as an outdoor electric member and also to a method for making the laminate. More particularly, the invention provides a surface-treating method of a fluorine resin suited to impart bonding properties to a fluorine resin for the laminate, to a laminate having a good property of bonding between the fluorine resin and the crosslinking elastic adhesive body, and also to a method for making such a laminate as mentioned above.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a carcass structure for vehicle tires includes the steps of making at least one carcass ply by deposition of elongated sections circumferentially distributed on a toroidal support and applying annular reinforcing structures to a region close to inner circumferential edges of the at least one carcass ply. Each of the elongated sections extends in a U-shaped configuration around a cross-sectional outline of the toroidal support to define two side portions mutually spaced apart in an axial direction and one crown portion extending at a radially outer position between the side portions. Each of the elongated sections is laid down substantially in a plane parallelly offset relative to a meridian plane of the toroidal support. A related carcass structure and tire are also disclosed.

Abstract: Composite laminar structures which exhibit nonlinear surfaces and which exhibit a variable ply angle relative to a defined axis and methods of forming the same are disclosed. A change in ply angle may be induced by the formation of a ramp structure, such as by the introduction of one or more adjacent or periodically placed plies of varied width. Varied width plies may be introduced by cutting or trimming the width of a nominal width ply during lay-up of the composite material. In another embodiment, the ramp structures may be formed by introducing multiple sections of composite material, each of which exhibits a substantially serpentine profile along an edge thereof so as to define a plurality of fingers extending transversely relative to the respective length of each section. The plurality of sections may then be layered adjacent to one another, or periodically dispersed, with each respective set of fingers being offset relative to the set of fingers of a next closest layer.

Abstract: In the invention, a method is provided for producing a composite nonwoven fabric. A polymer is extruded into heated continuous filaments, possibly elastic, from the die head to a first chilled roller, wherein the extruder is configured to provide the continuous filaments to the chilled roller in a canted direction that is at a tangent or angle to the surface of the first chilled roller. The filaments are conveyed in a downward direction by way of chilled rollers to a nip. In a next step, the nonwoven web is sprayed with an adhesive and is laminated on the continuous filaments in the nip to form a composite nonwoven fabric. The continuous filaments move vertically downward approximately in line with the lamination process, facilitating automatic re-threading of filaments when they are broken or interrupted in their travel downward onto the chilled rolls.

Abstract: Multi-application head for fiber strips, consisting of a spool carrier (1), on which a plurality of spools are attached (2) as suppliers of the application strips (3), which are fed separately into the proximity of the application area (4), where they pass through a feed port, passing through guide combs (5 and 6) which position them according to a collateral distribution and through rollers (7 and 8) which drive each one of the strips (3) towards the application area (4).

Abstract: A method of vulcanizing an object formed of unvulcanized rubber, in which the unvulcanized-rubber formed object is vulcanized by pressing and heating by mold means, comprises disposing a fiber sheet member on a surface of the unvulcanized-rubber formed object and vulcanizing the unvulcanized-rubber formed object by the mold means.

Abstract: A material for use in fabricating three-dimensional objects includes a mixture of thermoplastic particles and a water-soluble polymer matrix formed as a film that is fusible into a non-water soluble state when exposed to heating. The film further includes a surfactant system bound to the thermoplastic particles, the surfactant system providing an inversion property such that the thermoplastic particles are hydrophilic but, upon a fusing of the film, become hydrophobic as the surfactant become incorporated into the bulk.