Abstract: A process for making fine and ultra-fine metallic fibers is disclosed comprising arranging a multiplicity of metallic wires to form an assembly of the metallic wires. The assembly of the metallic wires is wrapped with a wrapping material to form a wrapped assembly. A plurality of the wrapped assemblies are inserted into a tube for providing a cladding. The cladding is drawn for reducing the outer diameter thereof and for reducing the cross-section of each of the multiplicity of metallic wires within the cladding to transform the multiplicity of metallic wires into a multiplicity of fine or ultra-fine metallic fibers. The cladding is removed for providing the multiplicity of fine or ultra-fine metallic fibers. In one example, the metallic wires are coated with a coating material formed from the same material as the wrapping material and the cladding material.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for making a capacitor comprising a first capacitor plate element covered with a spacing material selected for forming a capacitor dielectric. The first capacitor plate element and the spacing material is encased with a second capacitor element. The second capacitor plate element is drawn for reducing the outer diameter thereof. A multiplicity of the capacitor elements are inserted within a second capacitor plate connector. The second capacitor plate connector is drawn for reducing the outer diameter of the metallic tube and for electrically interconnecting the multiplicity of the second capacitor plate elements with the second capacitor plate connector to form a second capacitor plate. The multiplicity of the first capacitor elements are interconnected with a first capacitor plate connector to form a first capacitor plate. The spacing material is replaced with a dielectric material to form the capacitor thereby.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for making fine metallic alloy fibers from a metallic alloy wire having plural alloy components and encompassed by a cladding material. Preferably, the cladding material is tightened about the metallic alloy wire in the presence of an inert atmosphere. The cladding is drawn for reducing the outer diameter thereof to provide a drawn cladding encompassing a fine metallic alloy fiber. The cladding material is removed for providing the fine metallic alloy fiber. A portion of the cladding material diffuses into the fine metallic alloy fiber. The cladding material may be selected for providing a fine metallic alloy fiber formed from a new alloy material and/or providing a fine metallic alloy fiber having surface properties in accordance with the properties of the selected cladding material.

Abstract: An improved fluid separating device for filtering a second fluid from a first fluid. The improved fluid separating device comprises a first layer of filter media comprising a sintered matrix of first fibers. A second layer of filter membrane comprises a matrix of second fibers. A third layer of filter media comprises a sintered matrix of third fibers. The first, second and third layers are formed into a lamination with the second layer being interposed between the first and third layers. The second layer has a pore size substantially less than the pore size of the first and third layers for enabling the second fluid to pass through the second layer and for inhibiting the first fluid from passing through the second layer for separating the second fluid from the first fluid. The improved fluid separating device is suitable for separating a gas from a liquid as well as separating a gas from a dissimilar gas.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for making a thermoelectric device for generating an electrical voltage when elevated in temperature. The apparatus comprises an array of a multiplicity of thermoelectric elements with each of the thermoelectric elements comprising a first metal component surrounded by a second metal component with a dielectric material interposed therebetween. A first connector interconnects the first metal components to form a first thermoelectric terminal. A second connector interconnects the second metal components to form a second thermoelectric terminal. A junction connector forms a multiplicity of thermoelectric junctions between the first metal components and the second metal components.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for making a capacitor having a first capacitor plate element covered with a spacing material selected for forming a capacitor dielectric. The first capacitor plate element and the spacing material is encased with a second capacitor element. The second capacitor plate element is drawn for reducing the outer diameter thereof. A multiplicity of the capacitor elements are inserted within a second capacitor plate connector. The second capacitor plate connector is drawn for reducing the outer diameter of the metallic tube and for electrically interconnecting the multiplicity of the second capacitor plate elements with the second capacitor plate connector to form a second capacitor plate. The multiplicity of the first capacitor elements are interconnected with a first capacitor plate connector to form a first capacitor plate. The spacing material is replaced with a dielectric material to form the capacitor thereby.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for making an alloy comprising the steps of cladding with a tube a plurality of metal members including a first and a second metal to form a metal composite. The metal composite is drawn for reducing the diameter thereof. The tube is removed to provide a remainder. The remainder is heated to convert the remainder to alloy. A multiplicity of composites may be processed simultaneously for producing fine alloy fibers.

Abstract: An apparatus and process is disclosed for making a capacitor having the steps of covering a first capacitor plate element with a dielectric material. The process includes encasing the first capacitor plate element and the dielectric material with a second capacitor element. The second capacitor plate element is drawn for reducing the outer diameter thereof and for forming a capacitor element. A multiplicity of the capacitor elements are encased within a second capacitor plate connector. The second capacitor plate connector is drawn for reducing the outer diameter of the metallic tube and for electrically interconnecting the multiplicity of the second capacitor plate elements with the second capacitor plate connector to form a second capacitor plate. The multiplicity of the first capacitor elements are interconnected with a first capacitor plate connector to form a first capacitor plate.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method is disclosed for sintering a matrix of elements such as fibers or particles by infrared heating. A multiplicity of the elements are arranged into a matrix of substantially randomly oriented elements to form a web. The web is irradiated with infrared energy for a period of time sufficient to sinter bond each of the elements to adjacent elements of the matrix randomly oriented elements.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for making fine metallic fibers comprising forming a continuous tube about a plurality of coated metallic wires for providing a first cladding. The first cladding is drawn for reducing the outer diameter and for diffusion welding the coating within the cladding. The tube is mechanically removed to provide a first remainder. The first remainder is drawn for reducing the diameter thereof to transform the plurality of metallic wires into a plurality of fine metallic fibers. In one example, the diffusion welded coating is removed for providing the plurality of fine metallic fibers. In another example, a plurality of the first remainders are assembled and a continuous tube is formed about a the first remainders for providing a second cladding. The second cladding is drawn for reducing the outer diameter. The tube is mechanically removed to provide a second remainder.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for making a capacitor comprising the steps of covering a first capacitor plate element with a dielectric material. The process includes encasing the first capacitor plate element and the dielectric material with a second capacitor element. The second capacitor plate element is drawn for reducing the outer diameter thereof and for forming a capacitor element. A multiplicity of the capacitor elements are encased within a second capacitor plate connector. The second capacitor plate connector is drawn for reducing the outer diameter of the metallic tube and for electrically interconnecting the multiplicity of the second capacitor plate elements with the second capacitor plate connector to form a second capacitor plate. The multiplicity of the first capacitor elements are interconnected with a first capacitor plate connector to form a first capacitor plate.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for making a capacitor comprising a first capacitor plate element covered with a spacing material selected for forming a capacitor dielectric. The first capacitor plate element and the spacing material is encased with a second capacitor element. The second capacitor plate element is drawn for reducing the outer diameter thereof. A multiplicity of the capacitor elements are inserted within a second capacitor plate connector. The second capacitor plate connector is drawn for reducing the outer diameter of the metallic tube and for electrically interconnecting the multiplicity of the second capacitor plate elements with the second capacitor plate connector to form a second capacitor plate. The multiplicity of the first capacitor elements are interconnected with a first capacitor plate connector to form a first capacitor plate. The spacing material is replaced with a dielectric material to form the capacitor thereby.

Abstract: A process for making fine metallic fibers comprising coating a plurality of metallic wires with a coating material. The plurality of metallic wires are jacketed with a tube for providing a cladding. The cladding is drawn for reducing the outer diameter thereof. The cladding is removed to provide a remainder comprising the coating material with the plurality of metallic wires contained therein. The remainder is drawn for reducing the diameter thereof and for reducing the corresponding diameter of the plurality of metallic wires contained therein. The coating material is removed for providing the plurality of fine metallic fibers.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for an improved fiber tow having plural diameter metallic wires, comprising the drawing of a first cladded metallic wire to provide a first drawn cladding of reduced diameter. The first cladding is separated into a primary portion and a secondary portion with the secondary portion being drawn to reduce further the diameter. A selected mixture of the primary and the secondary portions are cladded to provide a secondary cladding. A plurality of the second drawn claddings is cladded and drawn to provide a third cladding of reduced diameter. The third cladding is drawn and the claddings are removed to provide a fiber tow comprising metallic wires having a major diameter and a minor diameter. The fiber tow may be severed into uniform length to provide slivers of metallic wires having plural diameters.