Abstract: A protective element for a breakwater or wave-retarding construction comprises a body that has at least two opposing projections. The projections are on either side of a flat base and extend transversely thereto. The periphery of the base is non-circular, so that rolling of the protective element under the influence of the beating of the waves is resisted.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for producing substantially endless fine threads from polymer solutions, especially spinning material for lyocell, wherein the spinning material is spun from at least one spinning hole or a spinning slot. The spun thread or film is drawn by high-speed accelerated gas flows using a Laval nozzle whose narrowest cross-section is located beneath the point where the spinning material exists. The threads are arranged on a strip in the form of a non-woven or are taken up in the form of a yarn and are subsequently separated in spinning baths by means of solvents.

Abstract: Providing a drinking lid with an under-lap between a valve base and a lid body. The valve is created with an “L” shaped exterior step around the valve side wall adjacent the wall bottom. A coining die stamps the L-shaped step producing a smooth side wall and forcing excess plastic material under a die-cut at the wall bottom creating a flange which under-laps the lid body.

Abstract: A moisture resistant gypsum-based product, e.g., a gypsum board, is made by adding a small amount of a siloxane to the aqueous slurry used to make the gypsum-based product along with a small amount of a dead burned magnesium oxide catalyst to enhance the curing of the siloxane. In the preferred embodiment, the siloxane is formed into an aqueous emulsion in situ with no chemical emulsifier.

Abstract: Concrete bricks are produced that have a similar appearance to natural or clay brick. Each brick includes internal colors throughout the brick that mimic the flashings in natural or clay brick.

Abstract: A mold assembly (100) formed of a pair of molds (102, 104) and a pair of release plates (118, 120). The molds (102, 104) have holes (126) which extend from outer surfaces into the mold cavities (106). The release plates (118, 120) have pins (122, 124) which pass into the holes (126, 128). When molding is finished, the molds (102, 104) are moved toward the release plates (118, 120). The pins (122, 124) contact the molded article(s) (134) and hold them in position as the molds (102, 104) are withdrawn.

Abstract: A method of making an ePTFE tubular structure includes the steps of (a) forming a tube of polytetrafluoroethylene; (b) longitudinally stretching the polytetrafluoroethylene tube to form an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene tube, where the expanded polytetrafluoroethylene tube includes fibrils oriented in a longitudinal direction of the tube and nodes oriented in a circumferential direction of the tube; and (c) placing the expanded polytetrafluoroethylene tube circumferentially exterior to a longitudinal foreshortening and radially expanding mechanism, where radial pressure from the foreshortening mechanism radially expands the ePTFE tubular structure and reorients the fibrils non-longitudinally.

Abstract: The invention relates to inorganic hollow fibers, to a spinning mass and to a method for producing the same as well as to the use thereof for material transports, for the exchange of gases and in separation procedures. The hollow fibers according to the invention are obtainable by processing a spinning mass to a hollow fiber according to general methods, by curing said fiber thermally, via radiation induction or via chemical induction, and by removing the organic components via pyrolysis. The spinning mass is obtained by hydrolytic polycondensation of hydrolyzable compounds of silicon, aluminum, titanium and zirconium and optionally of co-condensable compounds of the elements Li, Na, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Zn, Sn or Pb. The hydrolytic polycondensation is performed by adding water or moisture.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a molded article with at one or more cores uses compression molding apparatus that includes upper and lower punches that have a double structure comprising a central punch and an outer punch that surrounds the periphery of the central punch. The central punch and the outer punch are capable of independent sliding motions and compressing operations. Molding materials are supplied for a core and an outer layer respectively. The molding materials are compressed by the punches to form molded articles that include the core. The method may be executed in a rotary compression molding machine.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing two-color components, for shoes in general, including the steps of positioning a sheet element, made of rubber, in a mold that forms a plurality of cavities delimited by edges the free end whereof lies on the parting plane of the mold. A sheet of plastic material which has a release function is then superimposed on the sheet element, and a layer is positioned on the sheet in order to give mechanical strength thereto. The mold is then closed with a cover, applying pressure together with heating in order to fill the cavities with the rubber and simultaneously move the rubber away from the edges. After removing the layer and the sheet together with any flash of rubber present on the edges, a second sheet element is superimposed, and pressure and heating are applied in order to produce bonding with the perforated sheet element; after this, the resulting article, which has a two-color appearance, is subjected to vulcanization.

Abstract: A polymeric fiber liner insulation includes of a resilient, insulation blanket core of randomly oriented entangled fibers with between 60% and 90% by weight of the fibers being standard polymeric fibers and/or flame retardant polymeric fibers and between 10% and 40% by weight of the fibers being polymeric lofting and bonding fibers. The first major surface the liner insulation has a low porosity or air and/or liquid impervious surface layer. The surface layer is formed by melting and consolidating fibers at and adjacent the first major surface of the blanket core or by coating the first major surface of the blanket core with a polymeric coating. The liner insulation exhibits a flame spread/smoke developed index of ? 25/50.

Abstract: Methods and devices incorporating a guidewire entry port subassembly for use in rapid exchange catheters. The use of a subassembly allows for stronger quality control and simpler fabrication of a rapid exchange device. In several embodiments, methods of making a molded guidewire entry port using a mold, often in conjunction with one or more mandrels, are disclosed. Several device embodiments include a separate molded guidewire port as well as molded guidewire ports which are attached, during a molding step, to segments of a catheter.

Abstract: This invention is an indicia transfer and method for its use to impart indicia to polyolefin objects during rotational molding. The transfer is a laminate of at least two, and preferably, three coats on a carrier sheet, which is preferably a flexible, transparent polymer sheet. The coats, as successive layers on the carrier sheet are: an optional backing coat of a backing-coat pressure sensitive adhesive, an indicia coat of a colorants in a graphic or alphanumerical array, and a top coat of a pressure sensitive adhesive. The pressure sensitive adhesive used for the backing coat has a transition melting temperature less than the surface temperature of the mold to which the transfer is to be applied while the top-coat pressure sensitive adhesive has a temperature sensitive adhesive which becomes tacky at the demolding temperature to enable transfer of the coats to the interior surface of a rotational mold.

Abstract: A method for preparing glass strand pellets by stirring chopped glass strands in the presence of 10 to 25% of water, the strands being sized with a size containing an organosilane. The method performs stirring for long enough for an increase in density to be at least 67%, the stirring being performed using a single stirring equipment that at each instant imparts to the strands or forming pellets it contains the same stirring frequency, the pellets finally formed containing, after drying, at least 95 wt % glass. A film-forming agent is in contact with the glass strands during the stirring at the latest.

Abstract: A decorative architectural glass panel comprises a two or more glass sheets separated by a resin in which one or more decorative objects are suspended. A method of making the glass panel comprises positioning one or more spacers and one or more decorative objects on a first glass sheet, placing a second glass sheet about the first glass sheet, sealing the edges of the first glass sheet and second glass sheet, and filling the space between the first and second glass sheets with a curable liquid resin. The resin can be poured using a substantially horizontal pour in order to keep the decorative objects from substantially shifting when pouring the liquid resin. The resin can also be poured in combination with a vacuum force. In some implementations, the glass panel may also be substituted with a resin panel using polymeric resin sheets.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a cemented product from agricultural waste. The apparatus is comprised of a wheeled, moveable frame that holds a capturer adapted to capture a portion of the agricultural waste product onto the frame, an aligner, mounted on the frame, that is adapted to align the longitudinal agricultural waste products into rows, a binder that is adapted to bind the aligned waste products together, and a finisher that adds a cementatious material to the bound waste product, creating a cemented product.

Abstract: A polymetaphenylene isophthalamide porous hollow fiber membrane is produced by extruding a film-forming solution comprising polymetaphenylene isophthalamide, polyvinylpyrrolidone and an inorganic salt through a concentric double annular spinning nozzle while keeping the film-forming solution at 70° C. or higher, thereby conducting dry-and-wet spinning, followed by moisture retention treatment, where it is preferable to subject the resulting porous hollow fiber membrane obtained by dry-and-wet spinning to heat treatment in water at 80° C. or higher before the moisture retention treatment. The polymetaphenylene isophthalamide porous hollow fiber membrane resulting from wet heat treatment under wet heat conditions at the temperature of 100° C.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of preparing a continuous filament composed of a nano fiber, wherein nano fibers are prepared by spinning a polymer spinning dope in a spinning dope main tank (20) onto the surface of water or organic solvent (4a) of a collector (4), which contains water or inorganic solvent (4a) and has a conductive material (5) with a high voltage applied sunken in the water or organic solvent (4a), through nozzles (2) with a high voltage applied, and the nano fibers are pressed, drawn, dried and wound while being pulled by a rotary roller (6) rotating at a constant linear velocity from the location spaced more than 1 cm from one end of a dropping spot. The present invention can prepare a continuous filament composed of a nano fiber by an electrospinning method and a continuous process.

Abstract: A process for drawing essentially diluent-free gel-spun polyethylene multi-filament yarns in a forced convection air oven and the drawn yarns produced thereby, The process conditions of draw ratio, stretch rate, residence time, oven length and feed speed are selected in specific relation to one another so as to achieve enhanced efficiency and productivity. The drawn yarns are useful in armor, composites, fishing line, ropes, sutures, fabrics and other applications.

Abstract: A block forming apparatus is provided. The block forming apparatus includes first and second jackets detachably secured to a base pallet. The first and second jackets may be removed from the base pallet during the curing period of a block for use with a second base pallet. A transport is provided for removing and transporting the first and second jackets. A method of manufacturing concrete blocks with the block forming apparatus is also provided.