Abstract: A take-out system for a shuttle-type blow moulding machine having two moulding assemblies has a single gripper head for taking out moulded articles from both moulding assemblies. The gripper head is carried by a vertical gripper arm which can be raised and lowered by a rack and pinion drive with respect to a carriage that moves in line with the two moulding assemblies. Electric servomotors are used to raise and lower the gripper head and move the carriage under software control so that the motion of the gripper head can be programmed to match a particular moulding machine. The articles may be moulded with tabs that can be gripped by the gripper head, and the take-out system may include a trimmer for removing those tabs, and a waste conveyor for the trimmed material.

Abstract: Cores for manufacture of molded products are fabricated from ceramic microspheres in combination with 5-20% polymer binder in water solution, the binder comprising poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) and polyvinylpyrrolidone.

Abstract: A method of preparing stackable block structures from raw concrete mixes and block structures prepared in accordance with the method, wherein the process utilizes a mold box configured to form the block on its side surface. The mold box is arranged to travel along the surface of a moving conveyor belt, with the box having an open top, an open bottom, and lateral side panels supported on the conveyor belt surface, and with the panels having core bar receiving openings formed therein. The core bars are introduced and removed from the mold box along an axis which is parallel to the surface of the core bars and to the motion axis of the conveyor belt, and with the core bars configuring one of the two opposed side surfaces of the stackable block. A reciprocating top shoe arranged for reciprocatory up and down motion engages and configures the top surface of the raw concrete mix held within the walls of the mold box.

Abstract: A method for continuously producing expanded thermoformable materials comprising the steps of: conveying a thermoformable assembly by means of a conveyor through a plurality of heating zones, whereby the thermoformable assembly is heated to a temperature at which the thermoformable material adhesively bonds to the first and second mold plates; disposing the thermoformable assembly between an upper press plate and a lower press plate, and heating the thermoformable material to a temperature in the range between about 50° to 300°C. while moving the upper and lower press plates so as to effect an expansion of the cross-section of the thermoformable material; and conveying the expanded thermoformable material through a cooling zone, wherein the expanded thermoformable material is cooled to a temperature sufficient for maintaining its structural integrity.

Abstract: A method for making a propellant composition that results in a desirable gas output when combusted. The propellant can be part of an inflator used in a vehicle for inflating an air bag. The propellant has a relatively low burn rate exponent of no greater than about 0.7. The propellant is substantially dense, with the propellant having a density that is at least 85% of theoretical density. In making the propellant, its density can be reduced using a roller mill that flattens the propellant to a controlled thickness. The propellant preferably includes phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate and fibrous cellulose.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making insignias with a raised design is capable of providing more aesthetic appearance to the insignias thus made. A base material consisting of a base sheet and a surface sheet overlaying the base sheet is prepared for making into an insignia. The base material is coating with a surface coating of decorative material. A bottom mold and an upper mold are used to press the base material to form raised design of patterns. The bottom and upper molds are coupled to a composite heating device including high-frequency induction and electric heating means for applying both high-frequency induction heat and electric heat to the base material while the upper molding is being pressed against the bottom mold. The upper mold is formed with a plurality of edge-defining blades for cutting an edge for the insignia, a plurality of pattern-defining blades for forming a pre-designed pattern on the insignia.

Abstract: A method for filling cracks in concrete surfaces using a one-component, hydrophilic polyurethane prepolymer without the addition of any granular impregnating agents The prepolymer is provided in a hand-held aerosol container and is injected into the cracks through hollow injection ports that are adhered in place on the surfaces over the cracks and subsequently closed off when filled. The crack is filled from the bottom up to prevent the formation of air pockets in the crack.

Abstract: A system for making extruded cement-based articles. The process can include forming a cement-based feed mixture including water, aggregate and binder and directing the feed mixture to a vacuum zone, wherein sufficient vacuum is maintained in the vacuum zone to remove entrained air and, preferably, excess water, from the feed mixture. The feed mixture is held in the vacuum zone at a negative pressure for a time sufficient to form a vacuum-treated or densified mixture. The vacuum-treated or densified mixture is passed through an extruder at an elevated pressure to provide an extruded cement-based article.

Abstract: A method of biaxially stretching a polymeric film according to an overbias or overstretch stretch profile to a final first direction stretch parameter and a final second direction stretch parameter to provide a film having uniform properties. First, a sufficiently high temperature is imparted to the film to allow a significant amount of biaxial stretch. The film is then biaxially tenter stretched to a peak first direction stretch parameter that is at least 1.3 times the final first direction stretch parameter wherein the final first direction stretch parameter is no larger than the final second direction stretch parameter. Finally, the film is retracted in the first direction from the peak first direction stretch parameter to the final first direction stretch parameter to produce a film having uniformity of properties in the first direction.

Abstract: A modular building unit (1-6, 1A) including a building block (10, 10A) having lower and upper faces (9, 9A, 11, 11A), side faces (12, 12A, 13, 13A) and end faces (14, 14A). At least the lower and upper faces are provided with mounting strips (21-24, 53A, 54A) interfit with mating mounting strips (21-24, 53A, 54A) on similar adjacent modular building units (1-6, 1A) to join the adjoining building block units (1-6, 1A) in predetermined dimensionally accurate relationships. A method of securing the mounting strips (21-24, 53A, 54A) to the building block or brick (10, 10A) and the method of interlocking and securing adjacent modular building units (1-6, 1A) to each other are disclosed. A preferred embodiment of mounting strips (53A, 54A) is shown in FIGS. 8-10. A mold (203) is shown in FIG. 12 for the preferred method of forming a building block or brick (200).

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a fiber rein-forced composite dental restoration comprising the steps of (i) preparing a mould; (ii) filling the cavity of the mould with a fiber-reinforced polymerizable material comprising an organic matrix and a fiber component embedded within the matrix; (iii) applying pressure to the fiber-reinforced polymerizable material; and (iv) curing the fiber-reinforced polymerizable material. The method is characterized in that the mould is designed in a way which allows excess organic matrix material to escape form the cavity during pressing.

Abstract: A method for making insulated pre-formed wall panels for attachment to like insulated pre-formed wall panels for building a wall. The method includes providing a mold for casting a concrete body having a generally planar portion with a plurality of rib portions extending therefrom, nesting at least one insulation strip within a respective spring member, covering the end portions of the respective spring member with a thermally insulating material to limit thermal conductivity from each respective rib portion of the concrete body to each respective spring member, inserting each respective spring member with the at least one nested insulation strip in the mold, and casting the concrete body in the mold with each respective spring member with the at least one insulation strip being unitarily attached to an edge portion of each respective rib portion with the end portion of each respective spring member being anchored in each respective rib portion of the concrete body to make the insulated pre-formed wall panel.

Abstract: A method of forming a prefabricated insulated wall panel for installation with like wall panels for easily and inexpensively building a wall.

Abstract: Method for potting or casting hollow fiber bundles and form a tube sheet as part of fabricating a gas separation membrane module. A hollow fiber bundle is placed in a mold, into which a resin filled with solids injected, and the resin is exposed in a liquid bath in which the mold is immersed, to an ultrasonic field while it is so injected. The solids may be chosen among metals, metal oxides, silica, quartz, ceramics and inorganic salts.

Abstract: A hydrostatic compression method for producing a fancy log with a decorative and complicated external appearance from a primary wood. In the method, a primary wood having a water content adjusted in the range of 10-80 wt % is brought into a softened state, then the softened wood is compressed with hydrostatic pressure by means of liquid as pressurizing medium. Next, the compressed wood is treated with a fixation means to fix the compressed state. The fixation means can be a shaping jig, a mold, heating in a particular temperature range conducted while constraining the volume relation of compressed wood, cooling down below the softening point of the wood while under pressure, compact-packing together with hard particles into a vessel followed by heating, or a primary wood is chemically treated to form a localized wood-plastics composite before applying hydrostatic compression.

Abstract: Embossed textured films are made by feeding a thin thermoplastic polymer barrier film through the nip of a bonding roll assembly having a patterned roll and an anvil roll rotating at different circumferential speeds which differ by 5% to 200%. The bond pattern is imparted to the film as well as additional texture due to the differential speeds of the rollers thereby creating an embossed, textured barrier film having improved hand and a hydrohead in excess of about 30 mbar.

Abstract: In order to control and optimize, without stopping production, bowing in the outer wall of a calender roll in which bowing is produced by the action of pressure on an incompressible liquid enclosed in the roll, the invention proposes that, based on error signals generated from continuous thickness measurements and from at least one other quality characteristic, the temperature of the liquid is controlled and the nip modified to correct for deviations from the correct thickness.

Abstract: A process for sealing a ceramic filter by infiltrating a metal into an end of the filter. The process includes the steps of contacting the end of a porous ceramic filter with a molten metal, whereby the metal enters into the ceramic matrix to substantially fill the void space. The ceramic filter is cooled to form a filter having a ceramic-metal composite portion. The present invention also provides a filter having an infiltrated metal seal. Methods for joining infiltrated ends are also provided.

Abstract: A disclosed method of repairing a shed portion of a composite insulator having a core portion, a sheath portion arranged on an outer surface of the core portion, and a plurality of shed portions projected from the sheath portion, includes the steps of, (1) cutting out the shed portion having defects from the sheath portion while leaving the sheath portion, and connecting a new shed portion having the same shape as that of the cut out shed portion to the sheath portion at the cut out portion, or (2) cutting out partly the shed portion having defects, and connecting a repairing member to the cut out portion. Therefore, it is possible to perform the shed portion repairing operation without wasting the normal shed portions.

Abstract: Methods for forming a lined brake shoe having a curved brake lining attached to a table of the lined brake shoe. The curved brake lining is manufactured by molding a flat sheet of brake lining material in a partially polymerized state. This flat sheet is allowed to cool prior to be positioned within a press having warmed dies. The warm dies of the press form the curved brake lining while holding the curved brake lining in its desired shape. The warm dies restart the polymerization process. When further polymerization has been completed the curved lining is removed from the press. One embodiment places the table of the lined brake shoe in the press. Then, by adding a bonding material, the completed lined brake shoe can be manufactured while the polymerization process continues in the press.