Abstract: A fiber optic cable is manufactured by wrapping a cable core with a corrugated steel reinforcing tape coated on each surface by a polymer material and extruding a jacket over the tape such that the polymer material on the outer surface is bonded to the jacket and the edges of the tape are overlapped and bonded. The tape is formed and spooled so as to be continuous through the spool to a required length to match the intended length of the cable which can be as much as 18 to 30 kms. The required length of the tape is obtained by slitting master rolls of steel web into individual tapes and forming welded butt splices in the steel so that each spooled tape is of the required length. A series of the spooled tapes are then unwound side by side, simultaneously laminated with two sheets of the polymer, separated each from the next and re-wound to form a spool of single tape of the required length. If the tapes are spaced side to side, the polymer material encapsulates the tape edges also.

Abstract: A catheter for insertion into an artery having deposits of plaque and/or thrombus includes, at its distal end an ultrasonic transducer and a dilatation balloon surrounding the transducer such that when the balloon is positioned in the artery adjacent the deposits and inflated, energizing of the ultrasonic transducer will focus the ultrasonic energy against the deposits to cause dissolution of the thrombus into microscopic particles and cause cracking and softening of the plaque. Other embodiments include the provision of a second ultrasonic transducer as a means for viewing the treatment site, and a second balloon to cooperate with the first balloon to define a chamber between the balloons and with a lumen and a port connected to the chamber to remove any debris of larger than microscopic size which might otherwise tend to move downstream and cause further obstructions. Also described is the use of an expandable filtering device distal of the dilatation balloon for trapping such particles.

Abstract: Pressure sensitive adhesive tapes are manufactured by continuously extruding polypropylene to form a web which is cooled and set and slit at transversely spaced positions into a plurality of side by side continuous tapes. After slitting each tape is drawn longitudinally and heat set to effect monoaxial orientation of the tape. A release coating to the first tape surface and a coating of a pressure sensitive adhesive to the second tape surface. Each continuous tape with the release coating and the adhesive coating thereon is wound into a series of cylindrical tape spools each containing a length of the tape.

Abstract: A package of strip material includes a plurality of stacks of the strip side by side where each strip forms a stacked fan folded supply of the strip which is spliced to or arranged so that it can be subsequently spliced to a next adjacent strip for supply of a continuous strip from the package. The side by side stacks are simultaneously built up from the bottom by moving a carriage back and forth below a stationary bottom surface of the stacks with the strips supplied side by side through a slot in the carriage. The stacks are supported side by side as they are built up by rigid side walls of a chute or of a box into which the package is to be packaged for transportation. The tails are supported or arranged so that they are ready for splicing when the package is completed an before transportation. The packaging material can be an evacuated bag or a rigid box.

Abstract: A shielding tape for wrapping an electrical conductor is formed from an laminate of a conducting fold layer and an insulating dielectric layer. One longitudinal edge of the laminate is folded back with the foil layer inner most so as to define a pocket which contains a multi-strand ground wire. The shielding tape can be wrapped around the conductor or conductors longitudinally with the foil layer inner most and an opposed edge folded in the opposite direction to provide electric continuity first of all alternatively the tape can be wrapped longitudinally with the foil layer outer most.

Abstract: A traversed package is formed from a tape which is slit from a laminate composed of a metallic foil layer and a dielectric insulating layer of plastic film, with a longitudinal edge or edges thereof folded back against the surface of the tape. The packaged tape can be applied to twisting conductors in a cabling process either helically or longitudinally with the folded edge or edges preventing the foil layer from electrical contact with adjacent conductors or shields.

Abstract: A package of tape is formed with flanged portions built up at the ends and a central helical traverse portion. The flanged portions are effectively formed by a plurality of separate spiral windings each of which is interlocked with each other and the central traverse portion. The central portion is formed from a plurality of helical traverses with reversal positions slightly inside the inner edge of the flanged portions. Either the central traverse portion or the flanged portions is built up first to form a step following which the other is built up to meet the step. The step cannot be so high that the tape cannot traverse the step. The extreme ends of the package is thus formed by the stable spiral windings while edge drop-off from the ends of the traverse portion is limited to height of the last helical traverse.

Abstract: Tape is wound into a package by traversing the winding position along a cylindrical core such that the winding position is intermittently and repeatedly halted at a plurality of positions arranged axially of the core so that at each position the tape is wound spirally following which the winding position is traversed to the next adjacent position. The spirals comprise at least one turn and more of the winding time is spent in forming spirals than in traversing between spirals. The spacing between the positions is such that the spirals do not overlap and such that the gap between the spirals is less than the width of the tape. The number of spirals wound at each position is insufficient to cause a step which interferes with traverse back to the position. Control of the traverse movement can be achieved either electronically by a pulse counter connected to the package support shaft or electro-magnetically by a control drum driven from the package support shaft.

Abstract: A power driven cylindrical core is positioned on a traversing carriage and arranged to accept on its exterior surface a series of layers of helically wound tape, with the traversing of the carriage controlled by an automatically reversing mechanism with servo control to propel the carriage at an adjustable rate in accordance with the tape width, to provide a succession of evenly wound layers of tape which may be easily unwound in subsequent manufacturing processes.

Abstract: A multiple layer of plastic films is laminated in tape form in combination with a layer of aluminum foil so as to enclose the aluminum in a protective layer of plastic, the remaining layers being chosen to provide dielectric and moisture protection for the cable, and incorporating a greater width of plastic combinations than aluminum, such extra width being optionally folded over upon the section containing the aluminum, to provide contiguous faces having thermoplastic properties which will be sealed by the heat of extrusion of the cable jacket during the manufacturing process.

Abstract: Alkadienols are prepared by reacting a conjugated diolefin, such as butadiene, with water in the presence of palladium or platinum catalyst and in the presence of solvents. The addition of carbon dioxide to the reaction mixture greatly increases the yield of alkadienols. The products can be hydrogenated to saturated alcohols, useful for making plasticizers.

Abstract: Tape is wound into a package by traversing the winding position along a cylindrical core such that the winding position is intermittently and repeatedly halted at a plurality of positions arranged axially of the core so that at each position the tape is wound spirally following which the winding position is traversed to the next adjacent position. The spirals comprise at least one turn and more of the winding time is spent in forming spirals than in traversing between spirals. The spacing between the positions is such that the spirals do not overlap and such that the gap between the spirals is less than the width of the tape. The number of spirals wound at each position is insufficient to cause a step which interferes with traverse back to the position. Control of the traverse movement can be achieved either electronically by a pulse counter connected to the package support shaft or electro-magnetically by a control drum driven from the package support shaft.