Abstract: A method of bonding a nanofiber web of nanofibers having diameters of between about 50 nanometers and about 2,000 nanometers onto a surface of a woven or nonwoven polymeric media having media fiber diameters of between about 700 nanometers and about 50,000 nanometers utilizes exposing the topmost layer of nanofibers and media fibers to a jet of heated air for a time and at a distance such that substantially only the topmost layer of fibers are bonded. The jet of heated air exits through a nozzle slot having a length of less than about 2 inches in the nanofiber web travel direction. The temperature of the heated air ranges from about 2 to about 10 times the nanofiber melting temperature, and heat air has a nozzle slot velocity of greater than about 500 feet/minute. An adhesive may bond the nanofibers, to a media, which may be bi-component fiber fibers.

Abstract: A method of bonding a nanofiber web of nanofibers having diameters of between about 50 nanometers and about 2,000 nanometers onto a surface of a woven or nonwoven polymeric media having media fiber diameters of between about 700 nanometers and about 50,000 nanometers utilizes exposing the topmost layer of nanofibers and media fibers to a jet of heated air for a time and at a distance such that substantially only the topmost layer of fibers are bonded. The jet of heated air exits through a nozzle slot having a length of less than about 2 inches in the nanofiber web travel direction. The temperature of the heated air ranges from about 2 to about 10 times the nanofiber melting temperature, and heat air has a nozzle slot velocity of greater than about 500 feet/minute. An adhesive may bond the nanofibers, to a media, which may be bi-component fiber fibers.

Abstract: A system having an insurance database, a products database, and a benefit utilization processing system is implemented by a system server coupled to the insurance and products databases. The benefit utilization processing system may be configured to retrieve and display eyewear product and pricing information, receive and extract benefit details from a benefits table, and provide specification options compatible with a selected product. The system may then apply the extracted benefit details, associated with the user, to the eyewear product price to determine individual benefit amounts for the selected product and for each selected option or accessory to determine a final benefit amount based on the user's benefit amounts.

Abstract: A nut-cracking apparatus that is compact and efficient cracks nuts at high production rates. The nut-cracking apparatus includes an endless conveyor and delivers nuts from a hopper to a delivery point. The nuts are engaged at the delivery point by a nut-cracking unit which cracks the nuts. The endless conveyor includes nut pockets which are made up of separate nut pocket segments that are movable from open to closed positions. The nut pocket segments are in an open position where the nuts are cracked to provide ample room for cracking of the nut.

Abstract: A nut-cracking apparatus that is compact and efficient cracks nuts at high production rates. The nut-cracking apparatus includes an endless conveyor and delivers nuts from a hopper to a delivery point. The nuts are engaged at the delivery point by a nut-cracking unit which cracks the nuts. The endless conveyor includes nut pockets which are made up of separate nut pocket segments that are movable from open to closed positions. The nut pocket segments are in an open position where the nuts are cracked to provide ample room for cracking of the nut.

Abstract: A nut-cracking apparatus that is compact and efficient cracks nuts at high production rates. The nut-cracking apparatus includes an endless conveyor and delivers nuts from a hopper to a delivery point. The nuts are engaged at the delivery point by a nut-cracking unit which cracks the nuts. The endless conveyor includes nut pockets which are made up of separate nut pocket segments that are movable from open to closed positions. The nut pocket segments are in an open position where the nuts are cracked to provide ample room for cracking of the nut.

Abstract: A nut-cracking apparatus has an endless conveyor that delivers nuts from a hopper to a pickup point. A rotating turret is mounted to a frame and includes a plurality of nut-cracking units. The nut-cracking units engage nuts carried by the endless conveyor at the pickup point and remove nuts therefrom. The forward sprocket about which the endless conveyor rotates has an axis of rotation that is offset from the axis of rotation of the turret. The axis of rotation of the forward conveyor sprocket falls within a circular periphery defined by the nut-cracking units on the rotating turret.

Abstract: Dual-crosslinkable urethanes including urethanes having air curable ethylenic unsaturation and at least one moisture curable functionalized group exhibit good strength, chemical stability, and hardness and can be made by incorporating moisture curable functionalized groups into ethylenically unsaturated urethanes.

Abstract: Two components are bonded together in a bonding apparatus using a bonding medium of malleable metallic spheres and a curable adhesive. The two components are bonded by positioning the components in a facing-but-spaced-apart relation in the bonding apparatus with the spheres and the adhesive between the first component and the second component. The bonding apparatus forces the first component toward the second component with sufficient force to bond the spheres to the first component and to the second component, while monitoring at least one measured bonding reaction of the first component and the second component, and controlling the bonding apparatus responsive to the step of monitoring. The adhesive is thereafter cured, optionally with the bonding pressure released and the assembly removed from the bonding apparatus.

Abstract: A method for protection of a object subject to damage under thermally hazardous conditions having a triggerable safety appliance in which an elongated shaped memory alloy material having a first end and a second end is extended over an entire area to be protected of the object and the first end of the elongated shaped memory alloy material is operably linked to a trigger for activation of the triggerable safety appliance.

Abstract: A pressure relief device which operates between a closed condition wherein a fluid is contained within a vessel and an open condition wherein the fluid is discharged from the vessel by flowing through the pressure relief device. A plug is mounted within a cavity of a plug housing which is secured with respect to the vessel. The plug housing and/or the plug form at least one passageway. In the open condition of the pressure relief device, the passage allows communication between an inlet and an outlet of the plug housing. In the closed condition of the pressure relief device, there is no communication through the passageway and thus the fluid does not flow from the inlet to the outlet of the plug housing. A void, preferably an annular space, is formed between the plug and the plug housing. A fusible alloy, or other suitable eutectic material, is at least partially filled within the void.

Abstract: A pressure relief device that is normally closed and that moves into an open condition under certain design parameters which require fluid to flow from a relatively high-pressure chamber within a vessel to a relatively low-pressure atmosphere surrounding the pressure relief device. A plug housing has a throughbore which forms communication between the chamber within the vessel and the outside atmosphere. A plug is positioned within the throughbore. A fusible alloy at least partially fills a void or a passageway which is preferably formed between the plug and the plug housing. In an upset condition, such as an external fire, the temperature of the fusible alloy rises and thereby softens or melts the fusible alloy. As the fusible alloy softens, the bonding and shear strengths of the fusible alloy are reduced. The relatively high-pressure fluid acting upon the plug preferably forces or blows at least a portion of the plug out of the throughbore.

Abstract: A pressure relief device that is thermally triggered by a shaped memory alloy element. The pressure relief device has a valve body with a passageway that is exposed on one end to a high pressure fluid and on another end to a low pressure fluid. A closure element is moveably mounted with respect to the valve body and operates between an open position and a closed position. In the closed position, the closure element preferably prevents communication between the high pressure fluid and the low pressure fluid. In the open position, the high pressure fluid is in communication with the low pressure fluid. The shaped memory alloy element either directly or indirectly interferes with movement of the closure element. The shaped memory alloy element preferably interferes with the closure element to retain the closure element in the closed position. Upon thermal activation, the shaped memory alloy element deforms and allows the closure element to move from the closed position toward the open position.

Abstract: A method for bonding the ends of the conductors 52 to circuit pads 54 is disclosed whereby the cable 20 is placed over the circuit pads 54; a bonding tool 44 is pressed against an upper surface 58 of the cable 20; the substrate 46 of the cable 20 is compressed beyond its elastic limit; and ultrasonic energy is applied to the bonding tool 44 and transmitted through the substrate 46 to effect a metallic bond between the conductors 52 and circuit pads 54.

Abstract: A device for detecting substances in a liquid film by measuring chemiluminescence, fluorescence or absorption using techniques such as flow-injection analysis schemes, liquid chromatographies, and gas chromatographies. The device can be used as a micro-volume mixing or reaction substrate for a variety of measurements. The device comprises at least two film supports that are separated by a small gap. One or more applicators are positioned along the gap to supply fluids to the gap. The applicators are positioned near the gap at a spacing that is near the necking length of the fluid supplied by the applicator. A thin, continuous film of the mixture of fluids to be examined is supported in the gap between the film supports. The film extends through the examining chamber and through drop and overflow detection probes. Also disclosed is a mixing or reaction chamber which comprises an enclosable mainframe into which a plurality of applicators are butted near a gap defined between two film supports.

Abstract: A flange aligning device including an elongated body having a transverse internally threaded passage at each end and a carriage which can be moved along the body. A jacking screw is threaded into each of the internally threaded passages so that the distance between each end of the body and a pipe section which that end confronts can be determined by rotating one of the jacking screws. A tie plate is bolted to the carriage and is provided with elongated holes for receiving studs which pass through preexisting holes in the flange of one of the pipe sections. Different tie plates are provided to accommodate different pipe diameters, flanges, etc., each of which tie plates can be mounted on the carriage by means of bolts and associated tapped holes.

Abstract: A first piece (22) is bonded to a second piece (24) at a selected location (45) by positioning the first piece (22) and second piece (24) between a pair of bonding tools (36 and 38), with the bonding tools at the selected location (45) of the first piece (22) and the second piece (24) where bonding is to be achieved. The selected location (45) of the first piece (22) and the second piece (24) is pressed between the pair of bonding tools (36 and 38) with an applied force (46), the applied force (46) increasing from zero to a prebonding force (64), being maintained at the prebonding force (64) for a prebonding period (66), changing to a bonding force (60), and thereafter decreasing from the bonding force (60) to zero.

Abstract: A thin film electrical cable 20 is disclosed having a polyimide substrate 46, a layer of titanium 48 on a lower side 50 of the substrate 46, and a plurality of gold conductors 52 on the titanium 48. The thin layers of titanium and gold are preferably sequentially deposited on a clean polyimide film by sputtering. Additional gold is electroplated and separate conductors are delineated. The use of organic adhesive materials to attach the conductors 52 to the substrate 46 is avoided.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for timed port injection and enriched stratified charge of fuel, preferably gaseous fuel, into an internal combustion engine. The process begins with forming a lean fuel/air mixture with a first fuel portion in an intake manifold upstream of a port injector. The lean fuel/air mixture is uniformly distributed into a combustion chamber during an intake phase of an engine cycle. A subsequent fuel portion is injected in a controlled manner during the intake phase so as to form a stratified charge near the ignitor within the cylinder. The stratified charge within the cylinder is ignited and combusted. Combustion products are then exhausted from the combustion chamber. This invention also provides an apparatus and process for injecting a gaseous fuel within a combustion chamber to form an enriched portion of a stratified charge near the ignitor.