Abstract: Catalyst compositions for use in forming polyurethane products include a gelling catalyst, a trimerization catalyst, and a cure accelerator. The gelling catalyst is a tertiary amine, mono(tertiary amino) urea, bis(tertiary amino) urea, or a combination of any of these. Any known trimerization catalyst may be used. The cure accelerator may be a diol having at least one primary hydroxyl group, and having from five to 17 chain backbone atoms chosen from carbon, oxygen, or both between the hydroxyl groups, provided that at least five of the backbone atoms are carbon. Alternatively or in addition, the cure accelerator may be a polyol having three or more hydroxyl groups, at least two of which are primary, and having molecular weights between 90 g/mole and 400 g/mole. Delayed initiation of the polyurethane-forming reaction and/or reduced demold time for producing the polyurethane part can be obtained by using these catalyst compositions.

Abstract: Catalyst compositions for use in forming polyurethane products include a gelling catalyst, a trimerization catalyst, and a cure accelerator. The gelling catalyst is a tertiary amine, mono(tertiary amino) urea, bis(tertiary amino) urea, or a combination of any of these. Any known trimerization catalyst may be used. The cure accelerator may be a diol having at least one primary hydroxyl group, and having from five to 17 chain backbone atoms chosen from carbon, oxygen, or both between the hydroxyl groups, provided that at least five of the backbone atoms are carbon. Alternatively or in addition, the cure accelerator may be a polyol having three or more hydroxyl groups, at least two of which are primary, and having molecular weights between 90 g/mole and 400 g/mole. Delayed initiation of the polyurethane-forming reaction and/or reduced demold time for producing the polyurethane part can be obtained by using these catalyst compositions.

Abstract: A method for making a rigid polyurethane foam by reacting a polyisocyanate and a polyol in the presence of a urethane catalyst, a blowing agent and a silicone surfactant characterized by employing a blowing agent comprising a C4 or C5 hydrocarbon, or mixtures thereof, with an average molecular weight of ?72 g/mole and a boiling point in the range of 27.8 to 50 ° C., and a silicone surfactant comprising a polyether-polysiloxane copolymer represented by the following formula: (CH3)3—Si—O—(Si(CH3)2—O)x—(Si(CH3)(R)O)y—Si(CH3)3 where R?(CH2)3—O—(—CH2—CH2—O)a—(CH2—CH(CH3)—O)b—R?, and where R? is H, (CH2)ZCH3, or C(O)CH3; x+y+2 is 60-130; x/y is 5-14; z is 0-4; the total surfactant molecular weight, based on the formula, is 7000-30,000 g/mole, the wt % siloxane in the surfactant is 32-70 wt %, the blend average molecular weight (BAMW) of the polyether portion is 450-1000 g/mole, and the mole % of ethylene oxide in the polyether portion is 70-100 mole %.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of folding an airbag, wherein the airbag is folded compactly to fit into a receptacle such as an airbag housing. The method includes the step of inwardly tucking an end portion of the airbag, thereby forming upper and lower portions of the airbag bounding the tucked end region. The method further includes the steps of longitudinally folding first and second halves of the airbag, and folding the airbag a plurality of times transversely to form two compact fold bodies.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for purifying water by forming in an electrolytic cell molecular halogen, hypohalic acid, hypohalite ions or combinations thereof, from halide ions dissolved in the water; and dissolving one or more soluble metal salts in the water to provide corresponding metal ions. The invention also relates to a system for purifying water, having an electrolytic cell comprising a plurality of electrodes sufficient to electrolytically convert halide ion in the water into molecular halogen, hypohalic acid, or hypohalite ions, or combinations thereof; and a metal generator, which provides concentrations of one or more metals to the water.

Abstract: A system of instruments and a method for using these instruments for effective spinal stabilization using cannulated bone screws is described. In particular, the system and method provides accurate and efficient measurement of the appropriate screw length to be inserted in a patient with a lower spine injury. The system and method further enables accurate orientation or placement of the cannulated bone screws from outside the patient's body. The present method describes a surgical technique for the placement of cannulated bone screw for translaminar facet, transfacet, and general orthopedic applications.

Abstract: A system of instruments and a method for using these instruments for effective spinal stabilization using cannulated bone screws is described. In particular, the system and method provides accurate and efficient measurement of the appropriate screw length to be inserted in a patient with a lower spine injury. The system and method further enables accurate orientation or placement of the cannulated bone screws from outside the patient's body. The present method describes a surgical technique for the placement of cannulated bone screw for translaminar facet, transfacet, and general orthopedic applications.

Abstract: An apparatus that can determine whether a Tva parameter and a Tvb parameter of a device under test (DUT) complies with a design specification where the device under test is coupled to a secondary device. The Tvb parameter corresponds to a setup time of the secondary device. The Tva parameter corresponds to the hold time of the secondary device. The apparatus allows the DUT to be coupled to a secondary device that normally operates with the DUT. The apparatus writes data to the DUT and secondary device. The data is then written back to the apparatus which then determines whether the DUT complies with the Tvb and Tva design specifications. The apparatus may also implement tunable delay circuits to compensate for different setup and hold times of the secondary device.

Abstract: A battery protection system for a battery having a switching mechanism positioned intermediate to the positive terminal and an electrical load of the battery. A controller manipulates the switching mechanism between an open position and a closed position, the closed position connects the electrical load to the battery and the open position disconnects the electrical load from the battery. The battery protection system utilizes a battery state-of-charge detection system, which instructs the controller to open the switching mechanism when the detection system detects a battery state-of-charge that is lower than a threshold value. The battery protection system is also equipped with a vehicle status detection system, which instructs the controller to close the switching mechanism when a vehicle startup condition is detected by the vehicle status detection system.

Abstract: A combination brush retainer/spring assembly for use in a DC motor includes a retaining ring and a conical spring connected together as a single unit. The retaining ring portion is designed to fit in a center hole of a brush holder to retain a plurality of spring-loaded brushes against their spring bias so that an armature shaft and commutator can pass through the center hole without obstruction. When the commutator passes through the center hole, it pushes the retaining ring free, allowing the brushes to spring back toward the center hole to contact the commutator. The spring portion of the assembly has an end that engages with a ball bearing on the armature shaft with enough force to ensure that the armature shaft and ball bearing rotate at the same angular velocity and without slippage.

Abstract: A food composition having a softening point of at least about 115.degree. F., and composed of an emulsion and a chemically set gel. The emulsion is prepared from water and a fat; the chemically set gel is prepared from a carbohydrate and water.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for medical treatment comprising introducing into a human or animal a medical device selected from the group consisting of stents, catheters, cannulas, plugs and constrictors where the medical device comprises ionically crosslinked polymer. The invention further provides a method for medical treatment of humans and animals comprising introducing into them an ionically crosslinkable polymer and a crosslinking ion followed by crosslinking of the polymer to form a medical device selected from the group consisting of stents, catheters, cannulas, plugs and constrictors.

Abstract: The present invention provides medical devices comprised of ionically crosslinked polymer, especially, stents, catheter or cannula components, plugs, and constrictors. The medical devices of the present invention are prepared by treatment of ionically crosslinkable polymer compositions with crosslinking ion compositions to provide ionically crosslinked materials.An important aspect of the present invention is that these medical devices can be disintegrated in-vivo at a desired time through the exposure of the medical device to a chemical trigger which generally is described as an agent that acts to displace the crosslinking ion in the ionically crosslinked material through binding or simple replacement with a non-crosslinking ion.