Abstract: Biosuccinic acid, obtained via sugar fermentation, is cyclodimerized and oxidized to yield building blocks for aromatic polyesters with high glass transition temperatures.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate to biorenewable and water-degradable co-polymers and methods of producing co-polymers that include a plurality of first monomeric units and a plurality of second monomeric units joined by a plurality of hydrolytically-sensitive ester linkages. Each of the plurality of first monomeric units may be derived from a first monomer. The first monomer may be the product of a reaction between itaconic acid and a first amino acid. Each of the plurality of second monomeric units may be derived from a second monomer. The second monomer may be the product of a reaction between itaconic acid and a second amino acid. The co-polymers may be a product of the reaction of the first monomer and the second monomer in the presence of a diol. The co-polymers may have a glass transition temperature of about 50° C. or greater.

Abstract: Biosuccinic acid, obtained via sugar fermentation, is cyclodimerized and oxidized to yield building blocks for aromatic polyesters with high glass transition temperatures.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate to biorenewable and water-degradable co-polymers and methods of producing co-polymers that include a plurality of first monomeric units and a plurality of second monomeric units joined by a plurality of hydrolytically-sensitive ester linkages. Each of the plurality of first monomeric units may be derived from a first monomer. The first monomer may be the product of a reaction between itaconic acid and a first amino acid. Each of the plurality of second monomeric units may be derived from a second monomer. The second monomer may be the product of a reaction between itaconic acid and a second amino acid. The co-polymers may be a product of the reaction of the first monomer and the second monomer in the presence of a diol. The co-polymers may have a glass transition temperature of about 50° C. or greater.

Abstract: A skin care formulation includes a dispersion or emulsion including at least one particle-polymer hybrid and a cosmetically acceptable additive. The polymer-particle hybrid includes at least one particle grafted with at least one polymer. The skin care formulation provides improved water-resistance with limited impact on the sensory feel of the formulation (such as tackiness).

Abstract: A snail bait holder and pest trap in which a removably attached cover is seated on a vessel to form a bait chamber. An impervious replaceable tray is positioned in the bait chamber. The tray has a receptacle and contained within the receptacle of the tray is a layer of liquid adhesive. Disposed on the layer of liquid adhesive within the receptacle is a layer of bait material which adheres to the layer of liquid adhesive. Vessel walls are cut away to form ramps and openings for pests to travel over the ramps through the openings and into the bait chamber. The tray containing the bait and liquid adhesive is packaged for placement in the bait chamber with a thin film disposed over the tray. Before the tray with the bait and liquid adhesive is placed in the bait chamber, the thin film is removed from the tray.

Abstract: Mixing apparatus develops a clamping pressure on a container to be mixed by bringing a pair of pressure plates together through the application of driving force developed by cranking a crank arm. A pawl and rachet arrangement prevents rotation of the crank arm in a direction which would loosen clamping pressure, unless a pawl unlocking knob is activated. Clamping pressure is limited by a clutch plate arrangement. Mixing apparatus is enclosed within a cabinet having a door interlock system which also automatically activates a brake for positively stopping further movement of the mixing apparatus.

Abstract: A snail bait holder and snail trap comprising a vessel and a cover which form a snail bait holding chamber. Disposed within the vessel is a laminated disc for supporting the snail bait. An upper layer of the laminated disc is made of a liquid absorbent material on which is deposited a slurry of snail bait. A lower layer of the laminated disc is made of a non-absorbent, flexible material so that mounds of snail bait are disposed on the upper layer. The vessel has an upwardly directed wall which is cut out to form openings. The cut out sections of the wall are bent outwardly and downwardly to form ramp over which a snail travels to enter the snail bait holding chamber.

Abstract: A two stroke cycle engine has tiered cooling jackets in the cylinder block with upper and lower jackets separated by a diaphragm wall. Transfer openings in the diaphragm and downward portions of the lower jacket direct coolant flow around exhaust ports and preferentially along the exhaust port side of the engine cylinder openings. A cylinder head gasket controls outflow from the upper jacket to the cylinder head through transfer holes placed preferably on the exhaust side of the upper jacket to provide overall control of flow in the cooling jacket system.

Abstract: A two-stroke cycle spark ignition cylinder fuel injection engine is provided with an exhaust emission control system that separately treats hot blowdown gases and uses the hot treated gases to warm the scavenging gases for further treatment. Various exhaust gas separation concepts are described for use in separating the blowdown and scavenging portions of the exhaust gas discharged from the cylinder exhaust ports.

Abstract: A master controller can be set by the driver in any of a range of forward drive positions D1 to D6 to pre-set upper and lower limits to the engine speed in any of a range of forward ratios such that any increase or reduction in vehicle speed which would cause the engine speed to exceed the upper limit or to fall below the lower limit of the setting chosen will result in an automatic shift to the next higher or to the next lower ratio respectively. Thus gear shifts occur at lower engine speeds in setting D1 than in setting D6. An additional setting B automatically brings about a shift to whatever ratio raises the engine speed nearest to the maximum safe limit to provide the maximum engine braking effect.

Abstract: A change-speed transmission in which gear-ratios are established by engagement of appropriate fluid-pressure operated friction brakes and clutches includes a manually-operable control for partially-engaging, to provide retardation of a vehicle, those friction brakes and/or clutches not in use at any time in establishing a particular gear-ratio. The control operates valves which ensure that the rates of power absorption per unit friction area in all partially-engaged brakes and/or clutches is approximately equal and that the degree of retardation so provided decreases with each down-shift of the transmission.

Abstract: Multi-ratio epicyclic change-speed gearing comprises at least three epicyclic gear trains or gear sets, with the planet carrier of the first gear set rotationally secured to the ring gear of the second gear set and an input is connected to the sun gear of the first gear set. Means are provided for holding the ring gear of the first gear set and/or the sun gear of the second gear set against driving reactions. The ring gear of the third gear set is rotationally secured to the planet carrier of the second gear set, the planet carrier of the third gear set is rotationally secured to the sun gear of the second gear set and further holding means are provided for holding the sun gear of the third gear set. As a result, the lower ratios are more widely spaced than the ratios nearer unity.

Abstract: Planetary gearing for vehicles such as earth-moving loaders gives a plurality of forward ratios and a plurality of reverse ratios each approximately equal to one of the forward ratios. The gearing has four planetary gear sets with input clutches selectively driving sun gears of the first and second sets. The output is connected to the planet carrier of the first set and to sun or ring gears of the third and fourth sets. One other element of the third set is connected to one other element of the fourth set and to releasable holding means. The remaining element of the fourth set is connected to the annulus of the first set of the planet carrier of the second set.

Abstract: This invention relates to a composition comprising a copolymer of ethylene and a halogenated comonomer selected from the group consisting of tetrafluoroethylene, chlorotrifluoroethylene and mixtures thereof and 0 to 10 mol percent of an additional monomer selected from the group consisting of 3,3,3-trifluoro-2-trifluoromethyl propene, a vinyl monomer which is free of telogenic activity and which provides a side chain having at least two carbon atoms, said side chain being aromatic or having its elements bonded together by a single bond only, or mixtures thereof, and containing from about 5 to 60 percent by weight of the total composition of an epoxy resin and from about 1 to 25 percent by weight of the total composition of an oxide of cobalt, nickel, manganese, tungsten or mixtures thereof. Such compositions are particularly useful as a primer coating for substrates such as metals in conjunction with an overlying layer of such copolymers.

Abstract: A method for producing clear, cured transparent polycarbonate laminates comprises directly bonding a sheet of transparent thermosetting polyurethane sheet to a polycarbonate sheet to produce a laminate, heating the laminate above the softening point of the polycarbonate sheet, and forming the laminate to a desired curvature.

Abstract: A closure means for a syringe of the type wherein the nozzle or stem is intended to be transported separately from the syringe body. Double, continuous threads are provided on the nozzle or stem to be engaged by two pairs of oppositely positioned wedges in a connecting member which are positioned in a helical pattern to accommodate the threads of the nozzle or stem, with one of the pairs of wedges positioned at a different flight on the helix than the other pair and all of the wedges positioned 90.degree. from each other.