Abstract: A process for mitigating shear induced particle migration of highly filled explosive suspensions during injection loading of the explosive suspension into a confined container that includes monitoring particle migration within the highly filled explosive suspension and correcting flow parameters effective to reduce the particle migration.

Abstract: A modular press assembly for performing multiple position pressing with a single press. The modular press assembly includes a floating mount attached to the upper platen of the press, a hydraulic cylinder, and a press ram coupled to the cylinder which automatically guides itself precisely into axial alignment with a die situated on a lower platen and containing material to be pressed. A plurality of such press assemblies are mounted on the upper platen and are connected through respective flow control valves to an independent hydraulic control system to allow adjustment of the travel of the multiple press rams. This configuration facilitates multiple position pressing and equally divides the total press force from the single hydraulic press, distributing it among each of the multiple positions independent of the final height of each pressed body.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for providing zero-defect pressed articles with minimal, remote operator intervention. The apparatus includes a programmable logic controller, controlling a powder feeder portion having a dump bucket which is weighed by an electronic scale. Desired weights of powder in the dump bucket are dumped to a first location and conveyed to the press. Non-desired weights of powder in the dump bucket are dumped to a second location and may be recycled. The invention provides for precise weighing of powder and avoids waste of powder in the event of improper powder dispensing and provides for complete automatic logging of production and testing data, and rejection of defective articles, avoiding the need to manually test each produced article. This method and apparatus are particularly useful in the pressing of energetic materials into pellets or casings, where manual operations are restricted for safety reasons.

Abstract: Apparatus for injection molding highly viscous materials in which incoming high-viscosity material flows through a supply conduit (24) and is divided into strands by splitter plates (58) as it flows into an evacuated chamber (52) and is degassed. When the chamber is full, the supply of high-viscosity material is interrupted and the chamber (52) is rotated to an injecting station while another chamber (54) swings to the degassing station for filling. At the injecting station, a piston (100) is lowered to engage the high-viscosity material in the first chamber (52), and a mold table is rotated to register a mold with a vacuum shroud (128') and the mold is lifted into the shroud. The piston (100) is further lowered in controlled increments to inject a quantity of high-viscosity material sufficient to fill a mold, then stop in place while the filled mold is removed and empty molds are sequentially inserted for filling.

Abstract: Fluid products, particularly highly filled materials, are manufactured and cast in a continuous system utilizing feedforward composition quality control and plug flow. Liquid and solid raw are supplied to, and combined in, a continuous fluid flow system in which plug flow is established. Quantities of materials supplied are measured and averaged over time to determine composition proportions, which are compared to specification. Running averages are maintained for successive serial portions of the continuous plug flow stream. In-specification product is diverted to casting and off-specification to waste, after a time delay so that appropriate diversion is accomplished for each particular, composition-determined serial portion of the product flowstream.

Abstract: This process for making antistatic filaments utilizes a specific mixture of compounds in order to suffuse electrically conductive particles into a filamentary polymeric substrate by forwarding the substrate through a grooved roll-type mix applicator. The mixture comprises a dispersion of the electrically conductive particles in liquid solvent which is a mixture of formic acid and a member selected from the group consisting of an amide, a carboxylic acid other than formic acid, an alcohol, an ester, a ketone, an ether, and a hydrocarbon. The process provides advantages over the prior art in permitting the use of high processing speeds, enabling easy stringup, and allowing the use of knotty and/or slubby filamentary substrates.

Abstract: Disclosed is a coating die which has a dilatable orifice, the orifice being dilatable due to the use of a flexible, resilient portion of the die. The die is individually cast and is "strung-up" in the casting process. The preferred use for the die is in the coating of textile filaments, especially small diameter filaments that are slubby.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making a supported antistatic yarn and products resulting therefrom. The method involves merging a support yarn into contact with a filamentary polymer substrate immediately after the filamentary substrate has had a mix applied thereto. The support yarn is solvent bonded to the polymer substrate due to the characteristics of the mix.

Abstract: Provided is a body member having two planar orthogonal yarn-treating faces. Secured to the body member is a cover member having a coacting surface which is either (a) planar or (b) concave, partial conical. The coacting surface of the cover member is spaced from the first of the yarn treating faces to form a yarn passageway. A pair of fluid conduits is provided in the body member, one conduit terminating perpendicularly to each of the yarn treating faces in an orifice therein which is positioned to direct fluid against the surface of the cover member. Fluid is supplied to the conduits from a suitable source, and a mechanism is provided for controlling the velocity and direction of travel of a multifilament yarn into and out of the yarn passageway, most desirably in a traversing movement.

Abstract: Static-dissipating fabric constructions especially suitable as upholstery material comprise a dielectric wear surface, which is a durable film or sheet of polymeric material such as polyvinyl chloride or polyurethane, and a conductive substratum securely bonded to the underside of the wear surface. The substratum has a surface resistance of 10.sup.9 ohms/square or less.

Abstract: A cylinder for supporting a fabric sample to be wear tested is mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis and simultaneous reciprocation along its longitudinal axis. The sample to be wear tested is secured to the cylinder so that the inner surface of the sample is in congruity with the exterior of the major surface of the cylinder. Provided in proximity to the cylinder are a plurality of plates which are spaced from each other along the length of the cylinder, each plate affixed on one major surface to a separate rod with the free major surface of each plate positioned so that it may contact the outer surface of the sample. Each rod is attached at its other end to a crankshaft, by means of which a reciprocating motion is imparted to each rod, whereby each plate is moved back and forth from a position away from the sample to a position in contact with the sample.