Abstract: A composite sheet material having a soft, suede-like surface appearance and feel, high liquid absorption and retention, and improved resilience and abrasion resistence suitable for use as a wiping cloth comprising a reinforcing textile fabric substrate having opposed raised fiber surfaces, a water-absorbent, porous, polymeric foam layer composition comprising a acrylonitrile-butadiene polymer and a polyacrylate polymer secured to each of the raised fiber surfaces of the fabric with the fibers substantially embedded therein, and a plurality of flocked fibers embedded in and extending from the outer surface of each foam layer, the fibers having a length of from about 0.75 to 1.25 ml. and providing improved liquid absorption of the fabric and reduced surface tack. Preferably the textile fabric substrate is a woven fabric containing hydrophilic cellulosic yarns and fibers, and the flocked fibers embedded in the outer surface of the foam layers are hydrophilic cellulosic fibers, such as cotton.

Abstract: An improved composite sheet material product having the appearance, drape, hand and water absorption and retention characteristics of natural chamois leather, comprising, in combination, a reinforcing textile fabric having opposed raised fiber faces, a soft water-absorbent porous polymeric foam layer secured to the opposed raised fibrous faces of the textile fabric, the foam layers having a normal high surface tack characteristic causing sticking and delamination of the layers from the sheet material under pressure contact, and wherein the exposed porous surfaces of the normally tacky foam layers are coated with a non-tacky water insoluble, film-forming polymer, such as a urethane polymer, to minimize tackification and delamination of the foam layers without noticeable loss in water absorption, retention, and appearance of the composite sheet material to that of natural chamois leather.Also disclosed is a method of manufacture of such composite sheet material products.

Abstract: An improved coating composition, coated reinforcement fabrics, reinforced rubber-based substrate products, and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. The coating composition comprises a carboxylated neoprene latex containing an aqueous dispersion of a copolymer of chloroprene and methacrylic acid, polyvinyl chloride as a colloidal stabilizer, and a high boiling oil derived largely from aromatic petroleum feedstocks through a distillation range of between about 195.degree. C. through 325.degree. C. The composition is highly stable, has a long shelf life, and is particularly suited for precoating textile reinforcement fabrics to provide a highly tacky uncured coating surface thereon having exceptionally long high tack in uncured, or green, state. The fabric is employed as a reinforcement layer or cover in rubber-based industrial products, such as power transmission belts, and may be applied in intimate physical adhesion therewith for subsequent vulcanization bonding thereto, as in a vulcanizing mold.

Abstract: A self-propelled combine has a forward, vertically adjustable feeder house carrying a transversely elongated harvesting platform at its forward end. A flexible cutter bar is mounted on the leading lower edge of the platform by a plurality of transversely spaced independently vertically adjustable arms that permit different areas of the cutter bar to adjust independently of the other areas so that the cutter bar is free to follow the contour of the ground. A transverse rockshaft is journaled on the platform rearwardly of the cutter bar and has a plurality of radial feeler arms that engage the respective cutter bar mounting arms, so that as the mounting arms swing upwardly, the rockshaft rotates to a position that corresponds to the uppermost arm. One end of the rockshaft is connected by a suitable linkage to the movable element of an indicator at the side of the platform to give the operator a visual indication of the position of the uppermost area of the cutter bar.