Abstract: A control system for an electromechanical brake with self-reinforcement has a unit adapted to recognize brake failure, a unit adapted to detect the actual state of motion of the device to be braked, and a unit adapted to open and close the brake upon recognition of a failure dependent upon the detected actual state of motion of the device to be braked. The unit adapted to detect the state of motion detects in particular the rotational velocity of a brake disk assigned to the brake.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing extrudable/melt spinnable concentrate pellets which contain phase change materials (PCMs), whether the PCMs are micro-encapsulated absorbed into carrier polymers, or non-micro-encapsulated within the concentrate pellets. The polymer matrix within the concentrate pellets can be any thermoplastic polymer or combination of thermoplastic polymers, and the concentrate pellets can then be blended into similar thermoplastic polymers to form mono-filament melt spun fibers, extruded films, injection molded products, etc., or the concentrate pellets can be blended with other thermoplastic polymers to form bi-component or multi-component melt spun fibers, extruded films, injection molded products, etc.

Abstract: A method for determining a performance parameter of a brake with a first (311) and a second (313) brake element can be made to interact to generate a friction force (FR) and a friction torque (NR), a first set (204a, 204b) of friction coefficients (?) being determined between the first (311) and the second (313) brake element in the field, the first set (204a, 204b) of friction coefficients (?) being compared with a predetermined second set (204) of friction coefficients (?), and the performance parameter being determined based on a deviation of the first (204a, 204b) and second set (204), the deviation being obtained from the comparison.

Abstract: Cellulosic fibers having enhanced reversible thermal properties and methods of forming such cellulosic fibers are described. In one embodiment, a cellulosic fiber includes a fiber body formed of an elongated member. The elongated member includes a cellulosic material and a temperature regulating material dispersed within the cellulosic material. The temperature regulating material includes a phase change material having a transition temperature in the range of ?5° C. to 125° C. The cellulosic fiber can be formed via a solution spinning process and can be used in various products where thermal regulating properties are desired. For example, the cellulosic fiber can be used in textiles, apparel, footwear, medical products, containers and packagings, buildings, appliances, and other products.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a motor vehicle brake system, having at least one first and at least one second electromechanical wheel brake (10), which each comprise an electric actuator for generating an actuating force and a self-boosting device for automatically boosting the actuating force generated by the actuator in order to press a friction element against a rotatable component (14) of the wheel brake (10) that is to be braked, wherein each self-boosting device comprises a wedge (18), which is supported against an associated abutment (22) and has at least one wedge face (20, 20?) disposed at an angle of slope (?). In order to realize a parking brake function, the self-boosting device of the first wheel brake comprises at least one wedge face (20), which is used to boost the force in brake operations during forward travel, and the self-boosting device of the second wheel brake comprises at least one wedge face (20?), which is used to boost the force in braking operations during reverse travel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a coated article having enhanced reversible thermal properties. The coated article comprises a substrate having a surface and a coating covering a portion of the surface and comprising a polymeric material and a temperature regulating material dispersed in the polymeric material. The coating is formed with a plurality of regions of discontinuity that are separated from one another and expose a remaining portion of the surface to provide improved flexibility, softness, air permeability, or water vapor transport properties. The coated article may be used in apparel, footwear, medical products, containers and packagings, building materials, appliances, and other products.

Abstract: An electromechanical brake has an electrical actuator which generates an actuation force and acts on at least one friction member in order to press said member to elicit a friction force against a rotational component, which is to be braked, of the brake. A self-boosting device is arranged between the friction member and the electrical actuator, said device serving to self-boost the actuation force generated by the electrical actuator, and having at least one wedge (12), which has a wedge surface (14) arranged at a wedge angle a and supported on a corresponding counter bearing (16). When the brake is actuated, the electrical actuator displaces the wedge (12) relative to the counter bearing (16) in an actuation direction (x) to press the friction component against the component, which is to be braked, of the brake.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a motor vehicle brake system, having at least one first and at least one second electromechanical wheel brake (10), which each comprise an electric actuator for generating an actuating force and a self-boosting device for automatically boosting the actuating force generated by the actuator in order to press a friction element against a rotatable component (14) of the wheel brake (10) that is to be braked, wherein each self-boosting device comprises a wedge (18), which is supported against an associated abutment (22) and has at least one wedge face (20, 20) disposed at an angle of slope (?). In order to realize a parking brake function, the self-boosting device of the first wheel brake comprises at least one wedge face (20), which is used to boost the force in brake operations during forward travel, and the self-boosting device of the second wheel brake comprises at least one wedge face (20?), which is used to boost the force in braking operations during reverse travel.

Abstract: A control system for an electromechanical brake with self-reinforcement has: means for recognizing a brake failure means for detecting the actual state of motion of the device to be braked and means for opening and closing the brake upon recognition of a failure dependent upon the detected state of motion of the device to be braked. The means for recognizing the state of motion detection in particular the rotational velocity of a brake disk assigned to the brake.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing extrudable/melt spinnable concentrate pellets which contain phase change materials (PCMs), whether the PCMs are micro-encapsulated absorbed into carrier polymers, or non-micro-encapsulated within the concentrate pellets. The polymer matrix within the concentrate pellets can be any thermoplastic polymer or combination of thermoplastic polymers, and the concentrate pellets can then be blended into similar thermoplastic polymers to form mono-filament melt spun fibers, extruded films, injection molded products, etc., or the concentrate pellets can be blended with other thermoplastic polymers to form bi-component or multi-component melt spun fibers, extruded films, injection molded products, etc.

Abstract: Cellulosic fibers having enhanced reversible thermal properties and methods of forming such cellulosic fibers are described. In one embodiment, a cellulosic fiber includes a fiber body formed of an elongated member. The elongated member includes a cellulosic material and a temperature regulating material dispersed within the cellulosic material. The temperature regulating material includes a phase change material having a transition temperature in the range of −5° C. to 125° C. The cellulosic fiber can be formed via a solution spinning process and can be used in various products where thermal regulating properties are desired. For example, the cellulosic fiber can be used in textiles, apparel, footwear, medical products, containers and packagings, buildings, appliances, and other products.

Abstract: An electromechanical brake has an electrical actuator which generates an actuation force and acts on at least one friction member in order to press said member to elicit a friction force against a rotational component, which is to be braked, of the brake. A self-boosting device is arranged between the friction member and the electrical actuator, said device serving to self-boost the actuation force generated by the electrical actuator, and having at least one wedge (12), which has a wedge surface (14) arranged at a wedge angle a and supported on a corresponding counter bearing (16). When the brake is actuated, the electrical actuator displaces the wedge (12) relative to the counter bearing (16) in an actuation direction (x) to press the friction component against the component, which is to be braked, of the brake.

Abstract: The invention relates to a coated article having enhanced reversible thermal properties. The coated article comprises a substrate having a surface and a coating covering a portion of the surface and comprising a polymeric material and a temperature regulating material dispersed in the polymeric material. The coating is formed with a plurality of regions of discontinuity that are separated from one another and expose a remaining portion of the surface to provide improved flexibility, softness, air permeability, or water vapor transport properties. The coated article may be used in apparel, footwear, medical products, containers and packagings, building materials, appliances, and other products.

Abstract: The invention relates to a coated article having enhanced reversible thermal properties. The coated article comprises a substrate having a surface and a coating covering a portion of the surface and comprising a polymeric material and a temperature regulating material dispersed in the polymeric material. The coating is formed with a plurality of regions of discontinuity that are separated from one another and expose a remaining portion of the surface to provide improved flexibility, softness, air permeability, or water vapor transport properties. The coated article may be used in apparel, footwear, medical products, containers and packagings, building materials, appliances, and other products.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing extrudable/melt spinnable concentrate pellets which contain phase change materials (PCMs), whether the PCMs are micro-encapsulated absorbed into carrier polymers, or non-micro-encapsulated within the concentrate pellets. The polymer matrix within the concentrate pellets can be any thermoplastic polymer or combination of thermoplastic polymers, and the concentrate pellets can then be blended into similar thermoplastic polymers to form mono-filament melt spun fibers, extruded films, injection molded products, etc., or the concentrate pellets can be blended with other thermoplastic polymers to form bi-component or multi-component melt spun fibers, extruded films, injection molded products, etc.

Abstract: A composition comprising a polylactide polymer with improved extensional viscosity and methods of making the same are disclosed. The polylactide polymer composition is prepared by providing in the composition polylactide polymer molecules which have been modified, relative to linear non-substituted polylactide, to provide increased molecular interaction among polylactide backbone chains in the composition. The preferred polylactide polymer composition has a number average molecular weight of at least about 10,000 (preferably at least 50,000) and a polydispersity of at least about 2.5. In addition, the polylactide polymer composition should have a neck-in ratio of less than about 0.8.

Abstract: A composition comprising a polylactide polymer with improved extensional viscosity and methods of making the same are disclosed. The polylactide polymer composition is prepared by providing in the composition polylactide polymer molecules which have been modified, relative to linear non-substituted polylactide, to provide increased molecular interaction among polylactide backbone chains in the composition. The preferred polylactide polymer composition has a number average molecular weight of at least about 10,000 (preferably at least 50,000) and a polydispersity of at least about 2.5. In addition, the polylactide polymer composition should have a neck-in ratio of less than about 0.8.

Abstract: A composition comprising a polylactide polymer with improved extensional viscosity and methods of making the same are disclosed. The polylactide polymer composition is prepared by providing in the composition polylactide polymer molecules which have been modified, relative to linear non-substituted polylactide, to provide increased molecular interaction among polylactide backbone chains in the composition. The preferred polylactide polymer composition has a number average molecular weight of at least about 10,000 (preferably at least 50,000) and a polydispersity of at least about 2.5. In addition, the polylactide polymer composition should have a neck-in ratio of less than about 0.8.

Abstract: The invention is directed toward melt-processable lactide polymer compositions, processes for manufacturing these compositions, and articles made from these compositions. The compositions include a first phase, which contains a polylactide-based polymer, and a second phase which includes elastomer. The elastomer is present in an amount sufficient to provide a polymer composition having an impact resistance of at least about 0.7 ft-lb/in. after the melt-processable polymer composition has been injection molded into bars and tested according to ASTM D256 (1993) method C. Preferably, the compositions also include a reactive compatibilizing agent. Methods of making these compositions and articles made from these compositions are also disclosed.

Abstract: A plurality of flat or curved, wedge-shaped elements form the surface of a ens of an ultrasonic inspection transducer. The multiple wedge-shaped elements permit the ultrasonic energy from the transducer to be focused (1) in a substantially straight line (line focus) parallel to the axis of the lens and (2) deflected from a plane parallel to the wedge-shaped elements and at an oblique angle to the line focus. This achieves a concentration of ultrasonic energy along a line that can be projected into material as shear waves while maintaining equidistance from the transducer's sensing wafer. This results in a concentration of ultrasonic energy that can detect small cracks in a workpiece. Further, with this lens, wider ultrasonic scan may be made with minimal errors in detection. This lens also provides accurate location information on depth of flaws.