Abstract: Structured surfaces are described. In one embodiment, the structured surface comprises a plurality of structures having a complement cumulative slope magnitude distribution (Fcc) such that at least 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 or 90% of structures have a slope greater than 10 degrees; and less than 80% of the structures have a slope greater than 35 degrees. In other embodiments, the structures comprise peaks and valleys defined by a Cartesian coordinate system such that the peaks and valleys have a width and length in the x-y plane and a height in the z-direction and at least a portion of the peaks and/or valleys vary in height in the y direction and/or the x-direction by at least 10% of the average height. Articles and methods are also described.

Abstract: A clutch dust filtration apparatus, for filtering solid particles out of a mixture of air and suspended solids, includes a conduit member, a collection vessel, and a filter member. The conduit member includes a hollow transfer tube and a transverse collar extending outwardly from the transfer tube. The collection vessel has an open end and a closed end, and is indirectly connected to the conduit member. The outlet of the conduit member is spaced away from the closed end of the collection vessel. The filter member is attached to the collection vessel. Incoming air from the conduit member is required to make a sharp turn, in order to exit the apparatus via the filter member. This sharp turn causes solid material to drop out of the mixture and to be collected in the collection vessel.

Abstract: A filter material includes a filter pad made from a thin, nonwoven fiber mat which has been accordion-pleated, compressed into a unit having a large number of substantially parallel interconnected filter strips, and treated to retain the filter strips in substantially parallel relation to each other. In a preferred embodiment, activated carbon particles are operatively associated with the filter pad. Selected fibers of the nonwoven fiber material are hollow fibers, each having an outer surface, a hollow internal cavity, and an extended slot formed therein, between the hollow internal cavity and the outer fiber surface. Carbon particles may be located between selected filter strips, and additional carbon particles may be disposed within the cavities of the hollow fibers. Methods of forming the filter material, and a filter element made with the filter material are also disclosed.

Abstract: Modification, neutralization and/or decontamination of airborne biological and/or chemical contaminants from a breathable atmosphere by subjecting the breathable atmosphere to a filter which is formed from a plurality of polymeric multilobal fibers. These fibers include a central core with T-shaped lobes projecting therefrom, wherein each T-shaped lobe has a leg and a cap. The lobes define a longitudinally extending internal cavity between two adjacent legs that extends the entire length of the fiber. The filter is impregnated with a biological and/or chemical decontamination reagent for chemically modifying, neutralizing and/or decontaminating airborne biological and/or chemical contaminants from a breathable atmosphere. A filter projection preferably extends into an external reservoir containing a supply of biological and/or chemical decontamination reagent. This configuration increases the capacity and efficiency of the filter, and causes a lower pressure differential across the filter.

Abstract: Modification, neutralization and/or decontamination of airborne biological and/or chemical contaminants from a breathable atmosphere by subjecting the breathable atmosphere to a filter which is formed from a plurality of polymeric multilobal fibers. These fibers include a central core with T-shaped lobes projecting therefrom, wherein each T-shaped lobe has a leg and a cap. The lobes define a longitudinally extending internal cavity between two adjacent legs that extends the entire length of the fiber. The filter is impregnated with a biological and/or chemical decontamination reagent for chemically modifying, neutralizing and/or decontaminating airborne biological and/or chemical contaminants from a breathable atmosphere. A filter projection preferably extends into an external reservoir containing a supply of biological and/or chemical decontamination reagent. This configuration increases the capacity and efficiency of the filter, and causes a lower pressure differential across the filter.

Abstract: A clutch dust filtration apparatus, for filtering solid particles out of a mixture of air and suspended solids, includes a conduit member, a collection vessel, and a filter member. The conduit member includes a hollow transfer tube and a transverse collar extending outwardly from the transfer tube. The collection vessel has an open end and a closed end, and is indirectly connected to the conduit member. The outlet of the conduit member is spaced away from the closed end of the collection vessel. The filter member is attached to the collection vessel. Incoming air from the conduit member is required to make a sharp turn, in order to exit the apparatus via the filter member. This sharp turn causes solid material to drop out of the mixture and to be collected in the collection vessel.

Abstract: A filter material includes a filter pad made from a thin, nonwoven fiber mat which has been accordion-pleated, compressed into a unit having a large number of substantially parallel interconnected filter strips, and treated to retain the filter strips in substantially parallel relation to each other. In a preferred embodiment, activated carbon particles are operatively associated with the filter pad. Selected fibers of the nonwoven fiber material are hollow fibers, each having an outer surface, a hollow internal cavity, and an extended slot formed therein, between the hollow internal cavity and the outer fiber surface. Carbon particles may be located between selected filter strips, and additional carbon particles may be disposed within the cavities of the hollow fibers. Methods of forming the filter material, and a filter element made with the filter material are also disclosed.

Abstract: A battery separator, for placement between conductive plates within a battery, includes a non-woven fiber mat made up of one or more nonwoven fibers, which have a specific cross-sectional shape and exhibit a microcapillary action. The fibers are preferred to be made of a thermoplastic selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, fluoropolymers, polyimides, polysulfones, polyesters, polyamides, and mixtures thereof Each of the fibers includes an outer surface, a hollow internal cavity, and an extended slot. The hollow internal cavity communicates with the outer surface by way of the extended slot. Capillary forces within the fibers are greater than those on the fiber surface, such that a liquid electrolyte readily moves through the interior of the fiber via a wicking action. As a result, the battery separator tends to direct fluid to adjacent battery plates even when an electrolyte level, within the battery, drops below the tops of the plates.

Abstract: A laminated page having a carrier sheet; two barrier plies, at least one of which is laminated to the carrier sheet; and sample material enclosed between the two barrier plies. The present invention also relates to a method of making the laminated page, including a mass manufacturing method in a single pass on a printing press.

Abstract: A nonwoven filter media or mat (10) formed from a plurality of elongated generally hollow fibers (20) each having an internal cavity (22) which has an opening (24), smaller than the cavity width, to the fiber (20) surface and each retaining within the internal cavity (22) an electrically conductive material. The electrically conductive material can be a large number of relatively small conductive solid particles (18). The small solid particles (18), which can be graphite are permanently entrapped within the longitudinal cavities (22) of the fibers (20) without the use of an adhesive. The electrically conductive material can also be a selected liquid. In the case of a liquid, the wicking fibers (20) are filled with the selected conductive liquid through capillary action by which the individual wicking fibers (20) rapidly draw the selected electrically conductive liquid, with which they come into contact, through the internal cavities (22).

Abstract: A nonwoven filter media or mat (1) formed from a plurality of elongated generally hollow fibers (20) each having an internal cavity (22) which has an opening (24), smaller than the cavity width, to the fiber (20) surface and each retaining within its internal cavity (22) an electrically chargeable powder particle material. The electrically chargeable material can be a pure electrically chargeable dielectric powder material or a mixture of oppositely chargeable dielectric powder particles (18). The small solid particles (18), which can be PTFE, CTFE, halogenated polymers or any other electrically chargeable dielectric powder particles, are permanently entrapped within the longitudinal cavities (22) of the fibers (20) without the use of an adhesive.

Abstract: An improved windshield wiper system having a cumulative ozone indicator (20) disposed in proximity to a wiper blade (10) which gives a visual cue when the wiper blade (10) should be replaced. The exposure to a predetermined amount of ozone causes the indicator (20) to change its color and thus communicate to the vehicle operator that it is time to change wiper blade (10). Rather than changing color the indicator (20) can be a pop up device which can be observed by the vehicle operator. To allow a reaction with ozone but to prevent damage from contact with a liquid the indicator (20) is covered with a gas permeable and liquid impermeable material.

Abstract: A filter device and technique are described which rely on absorption rather than adsorption for the removal of gas phase contaminants. A filter media is composed of wicking fibers which are impregnated with any of a variety of liquid phase absorbing systems made from the combination of a carrier liquid and soluble complexing/degrading agent or agents. The wicking fibers may be connected to an external reservoir which can be used to supply fresh absorbing fluid to the filter media giving them a potentially inexhaustible capacity. The filter media may be made from any of a variety of fibers which can rapidly transport a liquid phase by the nature of either their geometry or their chemical composition. Geometries may include multilobal cross-sectional configurations, porous hollow fibers, porous or striated fibers or tightly bundled microfibers, all of which exhibit the property of wicking fluid from an external source.

Abstract: A unique filtration device (10) which continuously removes gas phase contaminants from an air stream through the use of partially hollow wicking fibers (20) impregnated with a fine solid carbon powder (18) or zeolites and formed into a fiber filter (12) with a selected chemisorptive liquid applied to one side of the fiber filter (12) and large carbon particles (19) applied to the other side of the fiber filter (12). The air stream to be cleaned is directed through filter element (12) which can capture the gas phase contaminants. The wicking fibers (20) include internal longitudinal cavities (22) filled with the fine carbon powder (18) and each having a relatively small longitudinal extending opening (24).

Abstract: A laminated page having a carrier sheet; two barrier plies, at least one of which is laminated to the carrier sheet; and sample material enclosed between the two barrier plies. The present invention also relates to a method of making the laminated page, including a mass manufacturing method in a single pass on a printing press.

Abstract: An air filtration or fluid treatment system includes a nonwoven filter media or mat (10) formed from a plurality of elongated generally hollow fibers (20) each having an internal cavity (22) which has an opening (24) to the fiber surface and each retaining within the internal cavity a large number of relatively small solid particles (18) which interact with the air or other fluid stream to be treated. The solid adsorbent particles (18), such as activated carbon, are permanently entrapped within the longitudinal cavities (22) of the fibers (20) without the use of an adhesive or without being embedded onto or within the polymer fiber.

Abstract: A nonwoven filter media or mat (10) formed from a plurality of elongated generally hollow fibers (20) each having an internal cavity (22) which has an opening (24), smaller than the cavity width, to the fiber (20) surface and each retaining within the internal cavity (22) a large number of relatively small solid particles (18). The small solid particles (18), which can be an adsorbent such as activated carbon, are permanently entrapped within the longitudinal cavities (22) of the fibers (20) without the use of an adhesive.

Abstract: A filter device and technique are described which rely on absorption rather than adsorption for the removal of gas phase contaminants. A filter media is composed of a plurality of wicking fibers each of which comprising a strand with a hollow region impregnated with any of a variety of liquid phase absorbing systems made from the combination of a carrier liquid and soluble complexing/degrading agent or agents. Each strand has a slot which connects the interior hollow region with an external surface. Capillary forces act on the carrier liquid such that the external surface is substantially dry and no appreciable adsorption of contaminates occurs on the external surface which would restrict the flow of an air stream through the filter media even after an extended period of use. The wicking fibers may be connected to an external reservoir which can be used to supply fresh absorbing fluid to the filter media giving them a potentially inexhaustible capacity.

Abstract: A unique filtration method and device (10) which continuously removes several gas phase contaminants from an air stream through the use of partially hollow wicking fibers (20) impregnated with a selected liquid which can capture the gas phase contaminants. The wicking fibers (20) are generally disposed parallel and are formed into a filter element (12) which extends from the air stream to be cleaned into another air stream which can strip and carry away the unwanted gas phase contaminants. The gas phase contaminants are conveyed to the stripping air stream by a concentration factor induced molecular migration. The air stream to be cleaned is directed through a compartment (16) across which the filter element (12) extends so the complete air flow is through filter element (12). Filter element (12) also extends into another compartment (18) through which the stripping air stream flows.

Abstract: A device for treating and conditioning engine coolant for use with an internal combustion engine includes a housing having an inlet and outlet and a filtering media and container carrying coolant treatment material located within the housing. Coolant passes through the filter, and then is exposed to the tip of a rod which erodes away to permit treatment material to be discharged in the coolant. As the corrosiveness of the coolant decreases, erosion of the rod is discontinued, so that additional treatment material is no longer discharged into the coolant. Accordingly, the corrosiveness of the coolant is controlled to within relatively narrow limits.