Abstract: A method for manufacturing tiles for use in a raised floor system is disclosed. The tiles comprise an outer shell and an inner core material. The method includes constructing the shells at a manufacturing facility, transporting the shells to a remote location associated with a job site, and filling the shells with a fill material at the remote location. A method is also disclosed for providing a rack to hold the tiles during the manufacturing process, stacking shells in a vertical orientation on the rack, and filling the shells with a core material while on the rack.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a protecting and immobilizing element of the mattress-like type consists in providing containing means (2, 20) and a layer of flexible material (3, 21) inside them, with the peripheral edges (4, 22) of the flexible layer (3, 21) protruding from the containing means (2, 20). Anchoring means (5) and a first netting structure (6, 23) are also arranged inside the containing means (2, 20) so that the netting structure (6, 23) is in direct contact with the flexible layer (3, 21) and the anchoring means (5) pass through the netting structure at predetermined positions (12, 25). The containing means (2, 20) are then filled with a filling material (7) comprising solid and/or fluid elements, and a second netting structure (8) is superposed on the filling material. Finally, by superposing, at least partially, the peripheral edges (4, 22) of the flexible layer (3, 21), a closed cover is produced from which the ends (11, 27) of the anchoring means (5) protrude.

Abstract: An improved method for embossing expanded graphite sheet material including removing at least a portion of the gas from within the material by exposing the material to a pressure less than atmospheric pressure, and then embossing the material.

Abstract: A process for constructing infrastructures, in which aggregates, vitrified blast-furnace slag, a pulverulent activator and water are mixed together, the mix is spread out over the ground, compacted and left to harden, and in which a particulate slag and a ready-prepared additive containing, on the one hand, the activator and, on the other hand, dry ground vitrified slag having a particle size of less than 500 &mgr;m are added to the aggregate is provided. Further provided is the additive for the construction of infrastructures according to the said process, which additive includes, on the one hand, a pulverulent activator and, on the other hand, dry ground vitrified slag having a particle size of less than 500 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A method for producing a thermoplastic filler for eliminating surface damage to concrete or asphalt surface is disclosed which includes mixing stone chips, sand, a powdered material and a bituminous binding agent to a homogenous mixture which is in constant motion at a temperature of between about 180° C.-2400° C., with a coolant being added subsequently to the mixture in a rapid manner thereby converting the mixture into a non-cohesive granulate of small pellets due to the high surface tension of the various constituents, and wherein the granulate can be heated to convert it to a free-flowing or spreadable filler having strong adhesive properties.

Abstract: An apparatus for repairing or refurbishing thermoplastic drums. A damaged drum, or at least a damaged portion thereof, is heated until it reaches a softened state and is then drawn over a template, or mold, having the substantially the same shape and size of an undamaged drum. The drum is allowed to cool sufficiently to return to its hardened state, whereby it substantially assumes the shape of the template. The refurbished drum is then removed from the template and is essentially ready to be used again.

Abstract: Modular die or mold assemblies comprise a platform, and at least one die or mold unit which is releaseably connected to the platform. The invention permits rapid changing of molds or dies, especially in the manufacture of detergent bars, such as soap bars. Surface ornamentation such as logos can be imparted to the detergent bars either directly from the stamping surface of the dies, from the stamping surface of the dies through an elastomeric lining, or from the surface of the elastomeric lining; in the latter case the indicia is imparted by a mold used to prepare the lining. The modular molds may be used where it is desired to coat the dies with elastomer, particularly where logos are imparted to the elastomeric layer, and where it may be desirable to change the logos, e.g., by changing the modular mold units.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for creating an acoustically absorbent porous panel comprises the steps of dispensing cement and fibers with a dry mixer to create a dry mix and aqueous mixing water, surfactant and air with an aqueous mixer to create a foam. The process and apparatus provides for combining and mixing the foam and dry mix in a combining mixer to form a foamed cementitious material comprising on a wet basis about 53% to about 68% by weight cement, about 17% to about 48% by weight water, about 0.05% to about 5% by weight fibers, and about 0.01% to about 10% by weight surfactant. The foamed cementitious material is then dried or cured in a drying chamber. The dried foamed cementitious material may then textured with an embossing roller. The cementitious material provides good acoustical performance with enhanced durability and moisture resistance.

Abstract: A method for preparing a concrete article comprised of concrete having therein a reinforcing fiber, where at least about 50 percent of the reinforcing fibers are frayed only at an end or ends of the reinforcing fibers, may be made by mixing concrete, water and a reinforcing fiber for a sufficient time to fray the ends of at least 50 percent of the fibers and curing the mixture to form the concrete article.

Abstract: A method of finishing concrete using a vibrating tool to consolidate a “dry shake” aggregate into the upper layer of the concrete. The use of the vibrating tool causes moisture within the concrete mass to migrate into the surface layer where the moisture may hydrate the aggregates in the dry shake mixture. The ability to cause upward migration of water in the concrete mass provides a larger window of finishability for the concrete. The vibrations also provide thorough consolidation of aggregates in the upper layer of the concrete mass helping to prevent delamination.

Abstract: A method of forming a concrete retaining wall block having a front face and an opposed back face in a front fact up position. The method includes inserting a plurality of tines of a horizontal core puller into a plurality of holes in the bottom of a mold such that the a plurality of tines are positioned to form a dovetail slot and chamfers in the back face of a concrete retaining wall block; and pressing and vibrating a semi-dry concrete mix feed into the mold with a head to form a concrete retaining wall block having a relief stamped in its front face and to form the dovetail slot and chamfers its back face. The method allows the dimensions of the concrete retaining wall block to be exact and consistent from cycle to cycle of the method.

Abstract: A series of three-dimensional burls are formed in a filled-acrylic solid surface material by curing partially mixed steams of acrylic resin casting compositions with defined parameters of viscosity, density and surface tension.

Abstract: A method and system of forming a fire door core. Hydraulic binder and resin are supplied from raw material bins and mixed to provide a submixture. Exfoliated vermiculite is then mixed with the submixture to provide a mixture that is deposited into a plurality of compression molds. Each of the filled molds are pressed in a press at a predetermined temperature at a predetermined pressure for a predetermined period of time sufficient to harden the mixture into a hardened slab. The hardened slabs are then removed from the molds, impregnated with water or steam in a water impregnation assembly and dried in a drying assembly.

Abstract: A method for successive concrete of high vertical walls by using a climbing shuttering system having a support structure on which various concrete shuttering elements are loaded hanging downwards. The top supporting carrier and the climbing shuttering system can be supported on completed wall sections. There is at least one lifting device that brings about a relative movement between the too supporting carrier and a lower support carrier of the climbing shuttering system. The shuttering elements can be positioned in a substantially even surface to form a shuttering and at the same time the top supporting carrier can be positioned on the shuttering elements placing them respectively against the walls.

Abstract: A method for re-shaping portions of a coating applied to the surface of a component using a tool including a collet having a plurality of flexible arms with a wheel rotatably supported on each of the flexable arms, a nut and a sleeve. The tool is initially installed by disposing the collet caxially about the component. Then, the sleeve is disposed co-axially about the collet. Next, the nut is threaded onto a threaded first end of the collet. As the nut is threaded onto the collet, it engages and moves the sleeve axially toward the arms of the collet thereby causing the arms to be compressed radially inwardly such that outer circumferential surfaces of the wheels engage and re-shape the coating on the outer surface of the component. The tool, as a whole, can then be moved axially back and forth along the surface of the component to re-shape the entire length of the coating thereon.

Abstract: A method for producing an embossed PVA film, which includes embossing the film such that the crystallinity index of the emboss top is 0.50-0.90. The invention provides an embossed PVA film superior in resistance to blocking even when in a rolled state, in appearance to show the high quality of products, and in resistance to pinholes.

Abstract: A method of forming sculptured designs onto a substrate using a hand tool includes a container that can contain compound that is suitable for placing sculptured designs onto a substrate such as a ceiling or a wall, and an applicator that can move into and out of the container. A pattern on the applicator unit includes pattern elements that are arranged in a selected pattern and have cavities defined therebetween. The cavities are sized to temporarily accommodate compound that is used to define the sculptured design on the substrate and are arranged in a pattern such that the compound will define the desired pattern when the applicator is pressed against the substrate.

Abstract: A method and method to ensure the uniform collapse and diminished loading forces of a prosthesis, the prosthesis having at least one layer of biocompatible material. The device includes a way to stabilize the prosthesis, wherein the prosthesis can be incrementally axially rotated, and a way to manipulate the layer of biocompatible material simultaneously at several distinct points along an axis of the prosthesis so that a set of alterations is formed in the biocompatible layer.

Abstract: A portable single station method and apparatus for compressing a quantity of freshly dug soil into building blocks by an enclosed system which provides a linear process for receiving and compressing the quantity of soil and for ejecting the formed, compressed building blocks. The system includes a stationary chamber equipped with an internal adjustable cavity in which the desired block is formed and a pair of opposing pressure heads capable of moving toward and away from each other in unison or independently to receive, compress, and eject the building blocks.

Abstract: Magnetizable fibers dispersed in a viscous body, particularly reinforcing metal fibers dispersed in a wet cementitious material, is carried out by providing a fiber aligning member (15) having a nonmagnetic wall (17) including a first wall portion (17A) and a second wall portion (17B), moving the aligning member (15) relative to the viscous body with the first wall portion (17A) leading and the second portion (17B) trailing it and with the first and second wall portions (17A, 17B) contacting the viscous body, and directing a magnetic field into the viscous body through the first wall portion (17A) to subject the fibers (F) to a moving magnetic field.