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 robust, relatively simple air quality control system that can control the air quality in buildings during both the heating and cooling seasons. In one illustrative embodiment, a first air stream is directed through an air treatment module and back into the inside space. A desiccant in the air treatment module adsorbs water, volatile organic compounds and/or particulate material from the first air stream. A second air stream is then directed through the air treatment module to a location outside of the inside space. The second air stream is preferably heated relative to the first air stream so that at least a portion of the adsorbed water, volatile organic compounds and/or particulate material are desorbed from the desiccant into the second air stream. The second air stream carries the desorbed water, volatile organic compounds and/or particulate material to a location outside the inside space.

Abstract: A fluid filter increases the useful life of the filtered fluid by removing contaminants therefrom, and may optionally provide for in-line delivery of additives to the filtered fluid. The filter may be an oil filter, a fuel filter, or other fluid filter. The fluid filter includes a casing which defines a hollow space therein, a mechanically active filter element within that space, and a chemically active filter element also retained within the hollow space proximate the mechanically active filter element. The chemically active filter element includes a nonwoven web made up of a plurality of fibers. Each fiber has a longitudinally extending internal cavity formed therein, and a corresponding longitudinally extending slot opening from that internal cavity to the outer surface of the fiber.

Abstract: An improved oil conditioning filter, for use with an internal combustion engine, includes a mechanically active filter element and a chemically active filter element containing a beneficial additive therein. The beneficial additive is provided to extend the useful life of lubricating oil in an internal combustion engine. The beneficial additive may include an antioxidant, an anti-wear agent, and/or a basic salt. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the chemically active conditioning agent is provided in a plurality of particles disposed within the oil filter housing. The particles may be bonded together to form an integral porous filter element having spaces defined between the particles thereof. The particles are made either by a hot extrusion process or by a solvent process.

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: 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 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: 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: 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 composition comprising a crosslinked, highly porous body derived from a water-soluble hydrogel polymer, said porous body being characterized in that it has an open-celled three-dimensional lattice structure, a density of less than about 1.0 g/cm.sup.3, a surface area of equal to or greater than about 300 m.sup.2 /g, a compression strength of equal to or less than about 10 percent yield at 300 psi, and an average pore diameter of less than about 500 Angstroms, wherein said hydrogel polymer is selected from the group consisting of alginates, gums, starch, dextrins, agar, gelatins, casein, collagen, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylenimine, acrylate polymers, starch/acrylate copolymers, and mixtures and copolymers thereof; and a metal extractant.The composition may be used in removing and/or recovering metal ions from aqueous streams.

Abstract: A process for making a crosslinked, highly porous body derived from a water-soluble, hydrogel polymer, wherein the porous body is characterized in that it has an open-celled 3-dimensional lattice structure, a density of less than about 1.0 g/cm.sup.3, a surface area of equal to or greater than about 30 m.sup.2 /g, and a compression strength of equal to or less than about 75% yield at 300 psi.

Abstract: There is provided a crosslinked, highly porous chitosan body, wherein the porous body is characterized in that it has an open-celled 3-dimensional lattice structure, a density of less than about 0.75 g/cm.sup.3, a surface area of equal to or greater than about 170 m.sup.2 /g, and a compression strength of equal to or less than about 75% yield at 300 psi.

Abstract: A crosslinked, highly porous body derived from a water-soluble, hydrogel polymer, wherein the porous body is characterized in that it has an open-celled 3-dimensional lattice structure, a density of less than about 1.0 g/cm.sup.3 a surface area of equal to or greater than about 30 m.sup.2 /g, a compression strength of equal to or less than about 10% yield at 10 psi, and an average pore diameter of less than about 1000 Angstroms.When the hydrogel polymer used is guar gum, the resulting product is particularly useful for thermal insulation applications.

Abstract: A crosslinked, highly porous body derived from a water-soluble, hydrogel polymer, wherein the porous body is characterized in that it has an open-celled 3-dimensional lattice structure, a density of less than about 1.0 g/cm.sup.3, a surface area of equal to or greater than about 30 m.sup.2 /g, and a compression strength of equal to or less than about 75% yield at 300 psi.