Abstract: A robust, non-aqueous, and oil-soluble organic peroxide oxidant is employed for oxidative desulfurization and denitrogenation of hydrocarbon feedstocks including petroleum fuels. Even at low concentrations, the non-aqueous organic peroxide oxidant is extremely active and fast in oxidizing the sulfur and nitrogen compounds in the hydrocarbon feedstocks without catalyst. Consequently, the oxidation reactions that employ the non-aqueous organic peroxide oxidant take place at substantially lower temperatures and shorter residence times than reactions in other oxidative desulfurization and denitrogenation processes. As a result, a higher percentage of the valuable non-sulfur and non-nitrogen containing components in the hydrocarbon feedstock are more likely preserved with the inventive process. Desulfurization and denitrogenation occur in a single phase non-aqueous environment so that no phase transfer of the oxidant is required.

Abstract: In a process for deacidifying a fluid hydrocarbon stream which comprises carbon dioxide (CO2) and/or other acid gases as impurities, the fluid stream is brought into intimate contact with an absorption liquid in an absorption or extraction zone (12), the substantially purified fluid stream and the absorption liquid which is loaded with CO2 and/or other acid gases are separated from one another, and the absorption liquid is subsequently regenerated and then again fed to the absorption extraction zone (12). To regenerate the absorption liquid, the loaded absorption liquid is first expanded in a first low-pressure expansion stage (22) to a pressure of from 1 to 2 bar (absolute). The partially regenerated absorption liquid is then heated in a heat exchanger (20) and then, in a second low-pressure expansion stage (29), again expanded to a pressure of from 1 to 2 bar (absolute).

Abstract: A settling grid separator apparatus and method of use which provides deep dehydration of high flow rate sludge in an environmentally friendly and energy efficient manner. The apparatus and method comprise and utilize an efficient mixing of the sludge with a flocculating agent or polymer solution, and sludge flow quieting techniques to reduce disturbances and promote flocculation of clustered solids. Free surface liquid rejection, a series of traps, and pressurized filtering utilize gravimetric, hydrometric, and densimetric techniques to separate liquid from suspended solids. Gravitational forces are utilized throughout the apparatus and method to promote separation of higher density solids from the lower density liquid carrier. Upon separation, solids with a minimal liquid content are controllably discharged for proper disposal or recycling.

Abstract: A wastewater treatment method and apparatus including a denitrification (anoxic) chamber for denitrifying wastewater, an aeration basin with Bio-Wheel for aerating the wastewater, and a membrane device in which sludge particles are separated out of the wastewater, leaving clean discharge water and reusable sludge. Sludge from the membrane chamber floor is sent back to the aeration basin or denitrification chamber or both. Excess sludge is wasted or held for further processing. Preferably, the method and apparatus facilitate both activated sludge and fixed film processes.

Abstract: A storm drain filter is provided for filtering trash and debris from a stream of water passing through a storm drain. The storm drain filter comprises a panel having a multiplicity of openings formed therein and is adapted to mount adjacent to a sidewall of a storm drain such that the filter lies adjacent an outlet through which water passing from the storm drain flows. When installed in a storm drain, the filter fits relatively close to the outlet and the adjacent sidewall and permits water to flow through the openings thereof, but filters trash and debris.

Abstract: A swimming pool strainer formed of a substantially U-shaped housing including an end panel with a pair of spaced side panels perpendicularly extending therefrom. Positioned between the side panels are a plurality of spacer dowels that enhance the structural integrity of the housing. An upper screen and a lower screen are secured to the upper and lower surfaces of the housing respectively. Free ends of the side panels are inserted into a swimming pool skimmer until a free edge of each screen abuts the swimming pool wall. Accordingly, the screens trap leaves and other large debris that would otherwise enter and damage a circulating filtering system.

Abstract: This invention relates to a pipette tip designed to perform filtration or sample separation on the basis of one or more perforations, holes or incisions performed on the tip. Such perforation, holes or incisions are large enough to permit the passage of fluids or smaller particles, but small enough to block the passage of solid materials or larger particles, such as those including chromatography media. Such a pipette tip can thus be used for the filtration or separation of samples without the use of a filter, secondary solid matrix or any other components needed to hold chromatography media and other solid matrices within the pipette tip during the separation process.

Abstract: A water flushing system for a pressurized subterranean water distribution system includes an inlet conduit for receiving pressurized water from the subterranean water distribution system; an outlet fluidly connected to the inlet conduit for discharging pressurized water in the inlet conduit downwardly towards a drain; and a control valve for controlling the flow of pressurized water in the inlet conduit. The water flushing system further includes one or more of the following features: a freeze protection assembly, a detachable coupling system, a dechlorination system, and a backflow prevention system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for selectively removing metal ions of interest from a solution (12), such as the wastewater from a chemical mechanical polishing process. The method comprises contacting a solution (12) containing solid particles, an oxidizing agent and a first concentration of the metal ions with an ion-exchange resin (20), such as a crosslinked poly-4-vinylpyridine resin, that is resistant to damage by the oxidizing agent and that is operative when in contact with the solution (12) to exchange selected ones of the metal ions in the solution for selected preferred ions in the ion-exchange resin thereby to produce a treated solution (22) having a second concentration of the metal ions that is lower than the first concentration. The present invention also relates to an apparatus (100) and system (500) for use with the method of the present invention.

Abstract: A water treatment apparatus includes a housing comprising multiple housing portions and a plurality of treatment sections disposed within the housing, each treatment section comprising at least one distinct particulate layer. The apparatus is designed so that no water pressure need be applied to force the water through the apparatus, as gravity pulls the water down through the filtering layers. Water may also be force fed through the treatment apparatus; when the water is force fed, the housing portions need not be vertically stacked, but may be configured in any suitable arrangement. The treatment sections are distributed through the various housing portions in logical groups to perform various kinds of filtering. The housing portions are detachable and sealably stackable in multiple configurations, thus passing water through more or fewer treatment layers, depending on the quality of the incoming water.

Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for removing contaminants from lipophilic fluids, adsorbent materials employed in such processes, and lipophilic fluids produced by such processes.

Abstract: A crossflow membrane device that receives a feedstock at a feed end face and separates the feedstock into permeate and retentate. The device has a membrane support containing at least one monolith of porous material defining a plurality of passageways extending longitudinally from the feed end face of the monolith to a retentate end face of the monolith through which the feedstock flows to pass retentate from the device. A permselective membrane coating of finer pore size than that of the porous material is applied to the passageway wall surfaces of the monolith. At least one permeate conduit is formed within the monolith, the conduit containing a plurality of longitudinal permeate chambers communicating with a means of permeate introduction at or near the feed end face and permeate withdrawal at or near the retentate end face.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a system and methodology for denitrification using constructed wetlands. The constructed wetlands of the present invention can be effectively applied as a wastewater point source treatment technology to any high total dissolved solids (e.g. sulfites and sulfates), carbon deficient wastewater stream for nitrate control. Pollutants are removed from the stream via a number of processes including plant uptake, volatilization, filtration and biological reduction. The present system and methodology offers an ability to reduce outflow stream nitrate concentrations in a cost-effective manner with minimal capital investment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the biological treatment of effluents contaminated with impurities of urban or industrial origin, characterised in employing a single aeration tank (1) with a high mass charge in which the raw effluent or mechanically pre-treated effluent is mixed without previous decantation with a free microbial culture of the activated sludge type, growing in a lightly aerated medium, of the order of 0.1 to 0.2 kg O2/kg BOD5 removed, the organic charge applied having a value equal to or greater than at least 2 kg COD/kgSM/day, preferably equal to or greater than 4 kg COD/kgSM/day, the hydraulic residence time for the raw effluent in the single aeration tank being between 30 and 90 minutes, preferably between 40 and 60 minutes.

Abstract: A fiber-fiber composite is disclosed herein comprising majority fibers and minority fibers, the minority fibers having a softening point lower than said majority fibers such that when the admixture of majority fibers and minority fibers are wet laid to form a paper-like structure and subjected to a pressure and a temperature above the softening point of said minority fibers, said majority fibers and minority fibers form said composite having a mean pore diameter equal to or less than about 1 ?m with a porosity of greater than about 35%, and a wet strength of greater than about 0.013 kg/mm.

Abstract: When a raw water to be filtered c is fed from a raw water tank 11 reservoiring a raw water (water to be treated) to a membrane module by a raw water pump P1, an activated carbon raw material supplied from an activated carbon tank is milled together with water to be mixed by a wet milling device, and added and mixed into the raw water tank as an aqueous suspension containing activated carbon fine particles having an average particle size of 0.1 ?m to 10 ?m, thus producing the raw water to be filtered (activated carbon-containing water to be treated). The raw water to be filtered (activated carbon-containing water to be treated) is filtered by the membrane module at a subsequent step, thereby obtaining a purified water.

Abstract: A method for the supply of a constant-concentration ozonated water, employs a unit for producing ozonated water and a system for using the ozonated water at a place separated therefrom, interposing an ozonated water circulating line between the ozonated water producing unit and the place for using the ozonated water, causing the interior of the circulating line to circulate the ozonated water so that the flow rate may be constantly fixed at the outlet of the ozonated water producing unit, monitoring the ozone concentration of the ozonated water in the neighborhood of the outlet, adjusting the amount of an ozone gas supplied to the ozonated water producing unit based on the results of the monitoring, further monitoring the amount of the ozonated water used at the place for using the ozonated water, and controlling the amount of the ozonated water to be produced based on the results of this monitoring.

Abstract: A method for filtering the water of an aquarium, a water cultivation tank or similar water bonds, by means of a filtering system comprising a closed vessel and defining a chamber, a filtering body housed in the chamber, a circulation pump having a suction duct, communicating with the aquarium by interposition of a siphon and a delivery duct communicating with the aquarium. Vent means are also provided to eject the air from the chamber. The method comprises the steps of: filling the filtering body with a predetermined amount of water; starting the pump; short-circuiting the pump by means of a fluid passage by putting the delivery duct in communication with the closed vessel; keeping the pump short-circuited at least up to determine the siphon trigger; subsequently stopping the pump; keeping the pump stopped to allow the air to escape from the chamber and the filtering body to be filled with water; re-starting the pump.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus employing the laminar nature of fluid flows in microfluidic flow devices in separating, sorting or filtering colloidal and/or cellular particles from a suspension in a microfluidic flow device is disclosed. The microfluidic flow device provides for separating a particle within a suspension flow in a microfluidic flow chamber. The chamber includes a microfluidic channel comprising at least one inlet port for receiving a suspension flow under laminar conditions, a first outlet port and a second outlet port. The chamber further includes an interface for translating a particle within the channel. The first outlet port receives a first portion of the suspension exiting the said channel and the second outlet port receives the particle in a second portion of the suspension exiting the channel.

Abstract: When an out-of-basin type separation membrane, which is connected to a biological treatment tank through a circulation passageway for filtering tank water, is cleaned, a part or all of the backwash drainage containing the sludge peeled from the membrane surface is returned to the biological treatment tank through a backwash drain passageway or circulation passageway to maintain MLSS of the biological treatment tank constant. In the case of chemical cleaning, the sludge is peeled from the membrane surface by backwash with water, and the sludge is discharged out of the membrane module through a sludge line and then followed by chemical cleaning. Thus the need for using a large amount of a chemical solution is eliminated and the peeled sludge containing the chemical solution can be discharged out of the system as well, thereby preventing the microorganism from being damaged by the chemical solution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing a nanowire crossbar structure, comprising: (a) providing a substrate; (b) depositing thereon a composite structure comprising a nucleic acid-block copolymer having equidistant nucleic acid-catalyst binding sites and at least one catalyst nanoparticle functionalized to bind specifically to nucleic acid segments of the copolymer; (c) applying a directed gas flow and/or an alternating electric field onto the composite structure; and (d) applying chemical vapor deposition techniques, a use of such a structure and a structure obtainable by such a method.

Abstract: The dielectric recording medium is provided with a dielectric material, a conductive thin film, and a substrate. The conductive thin film and the substrate are bonded by a resin adhesive. The dielectric material is constructed of a ferroelectric single crystal having a uniform thickness, and its one surface is used for a recording and/or reproducing surface, on the order of mm on a side and about 5000 ? thick. The conductive thin film, about 1000 to 2000 ? thick, is placed on a surrounding portion and a back surface of the recording and/or reproducing surface of the dielectric material. The substrate is intended to preserve the thin dielectric material and maintain the planarity, and concave portions are formed on the adhesive surface. The concave portions absorb excessive resin adhesive when the dielectric material is bonded onto the substrate, which makes the adhesive surface uniform and flat.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for chemical attack of the surface of a plastic material with a solution based on sulphuric acid and chromic anhydride, characterised in that (i) the sulphuric acid concentration ranges between 500 and 760 g/l and (ii) the chromic anhydride concentration ranges between 30 and 200 g/l and (iii) the resulting acidity is at least equal to 13 and at most equal to 16.

Abstract: A semiconductor device fabrication method comprises (1) forming a patterned mask layer on an oxide layer of a Mn-containing perovskite type oxide; (2) heat-treating the oxide layer; and (3) patterning the oxide layer with an etching solution containing at least one of hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, and nitric acid after the heat treatment of the oxide layer.

Abstract: Refrigerant composition is disclosed which comprises: (a) pentafluoroethane, trifluoromethoxydifluoromethane or hexafluorocyclopropane, or a mixture of two or more thereof, in an amount of at least 75% based on the weight of the composition, (b) 1,1,1,2- or 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane, trifluoromethoxypentafluoroethane, 1,1,1,2,3,3-heptafluoropropane or a mixture of two or more thereof, in an amount of from 10 to 20% by weight based on the weight of the composition and (c) and ethylenically unsaturated or saturated hydrocarbon, optionally containing one or more oxygen atoms, with a boiling point from ?50° C. to +35° C., or a mixture thereof in an amount from 1% to 4% by weight based on the weight of the composition, the weight ratio of component (a): component (b) being at least 4:1.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are hydrofluorocarbon refrigerant or heat transfer fluid compositions that are useful in refrigerain or air conditioning apparatus or as heat transfer fluids. The compositions of the present invention are also useful in centrifugal compressor apparatus that employ two-stage compressors or single slab.single pass heat exchangers.

Abstract: A method of forming a pan agglomerated deicer composition which avoids the need for a separate drying step. An agglomeration is accomplished by mixing at least partially anhydrous and halide salts of metals, grinding those into a fine powder, and pan agglomerating the fine powder with water or solutions of the halide salts which upon contact with the dry fine powder form fully hydrated and stable pan agglomerated salt mixtures which do not require drying.

Abstract: A composition for a non-chloride based and less corrosive liquid type deicer is provided. The composition includes: potassium acetate of approximately 10% to approximately 20% by weight; disodium succinate of approximately 3% to approximately 10% by weight; dipotassium succinate of approximately 1% to approximately 5% by weight; ethylene glycol of approximately 5% to approximately 10% by weight; ethanol of approximately 5% to approximately 15% by weight; and an aqueous polyvinyl alcohol solution of approximately 40% to approximately 70% by weight. Such composition of the liquid type deicer is environmentally friendly by not containing chloride ions (e.g., non-pollution in soils), and is cost-effective due to an elongated reaction time by remaining continuously on snow/ice surfaces. Also, the composition of the liquid type deicer can be conveniently storable and easily sprayed, is not being re-frozen while being capable of removing snow/ice, and can replace expensive imported deicers.

Abstract: A composition for chemical mechanical polishing includes a slurry. A sufficient amount of a selectively oxidizing and reducing compound is provided in the composition to produce a differential removal of a metal and a dielectric material. A pH adjusting compound adjusts the pH of the composition to provide a pH that makes the selectively oxidizing and reducing compound provide the differential removal of the metal and the dielectric material. A composition for chemical mechanical polishing is improved by including an effective amount for chemical mechanical polishing of a hydroxylamine compound, ammonium persulfate, a compound which is an indirect source of hydrogen peroxide, a peracetic acid or periodic acid. A method for chemical mechanical polishing comprises applying a slurry to a metal and dielectric material surface to produce mechanical removal of the metal and the dielectric material.

Abstract: A method for preparing a decorative glass using a glass etching composition, wherein a frosting of elaborate patterns and designs is applied on the surface of the glass having an arbitrary shape, such a plane, a curved plane or a tube, by utilizing the silk-screen process or the like, using a glass etching composition characterized as comprising 1 to 20 w/v % (preferably, 2 to 5 w/v %) of a fluoride, 20 to 80 v/v % (preferably, 20 to 50 v/v %) of water and 20 to 80 v/v % (preferably, 50 to 80 v/v %) of an organic solvent miscible with water or another glass etching composition comprising the former composition and an additive. The glass etching composition is free from the problems of the danger to a human body and environmental pollution.

Abstract: In a method for producing CsX:Eu stimulable phosphors and screens or panels provided with said phosphors as powder phosphors or vapor deposited needle-shaped phosphors suitable for use in image forming methods for recording and reproducing images of objects made by high energy radiation, said CsX:Eu stimulable phosphors are essentially free from oxygen in their crystal structure, wherein X represents a halide selected from the group consisting of Br, Cl and combinations thereof; and wherein the method further comprises the steps of mixing CsX with a compound or combinations of compounds having as a composition CsxEuyX?x+?y, wherein the ratio of x to y exceeds a value of 0.25, wherein ??2 and wherein X? is a halide selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br and I and combinations thereof; heating said mixture at a temperature above 450° C.; cooling said mixture, and, optionally, annealing and recovering said CsX:Eu phosphor.

Abstract: Provided, among other things, is a phosphor according to the formula: [(BvSiO3)x(Mv2SiO3)y(Tv2(SiO3)3)z]m•(SiO2)n: R?, X??(I) wherein x, y and z are any value such that x+y+z=1; Bv is one or more divalent alkaline earth metals; Mv is one or more monovalent alkaline metals; Tv is one or more trivalent metal ions; R? is one or more activators selected from Eu2+ and Mn2+; X is one or more halides; m is 1 or 0; and (i) n>3 if m=1 and provides an amount of silica effective to host useful luminescence or (ii) n=1 if m=0.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of nanoscale particulate material is described comprising: (i) combining one or more functional material to be precipitated as nanoscale particles and one or more surface active material in a compressed CO2 phase with a density of at least 0.1 g/cc, where the functional material is substantially insoluble in the compressed CO2 in the absence of the surfactant, the surfactant comprises a compressed CO2-philic portion and a functional material-philic portion, and the compressed CO2 phase, functional material and surfactant interact to form an aggregated system having a continuous compressed CO2 phase and a plurality of aggregates comprising surfactant and functional material molecules of average diameter less than 10 nanometers dispersed therein; and (ii) rapidly depressurizing the compressed CO2 phase thereby precipitating the dispersed functional and surfactant materials in the form of composite particles of average diameter from 0.5 to less than 10 nanometers.

Abstract: A conductor composition being able to easily secure the conductivity at the same level as an Ag bulk at low temperature process, a mounting substrate utilizing the conductor composition and a mounting structure utilizing the conductor composition are provided. In a mounting structure, wherein one or more electrodes (11) of a mounting substrate (10) and one or more surface mounting components (20) are connected through a conductor composition (30), and one or more surface wirings (14) of the mounting substrate (10), one or more inner-layer wirings (13) and one or more via conductors (12) are formed with the conductor composition, the conductor composition contains conductive particles with electrical conductivity, and the conductive particles are composed of low crystallized Ag fillers with the crystal size of 10 nm or less.

Abstract: A transparent conductive thin film which can be produced easily by sputtering or the like with a sintered target, needs no post-treatment such as etching or grinding, is low in resistance and excellent in surface smoothness, and has a high transmittance in the low-wavelength region of visible rays; and transparent, electroconductive substrate for a display panel and an organic electroluminescence device excellent in light-emitting characteristics, both including the transparent conductive thin film. More particularly, a transparent conductive thin film comprising indium oxide as the major component and silicon as a dopant, having a substantially amorphous structure, wherein silicon is incorporated at 0.5 to 13% by atom on indium and silicon totaled; and a transparent conductive thin film comprising indium oxide as the major component and tungsten and germanium, wherein tungsten is incorporated at a W/In atomic ratio of 0.003 to 0.047 and germanium is incorporated at a Ge/In atomic ratio of 0.001 to 0.190.

Abstract: A transparent conductive thin film which can be produced easily by sputtering or the like with a sintered target, needs no post-treatment such as etching or grinding, is low in resistance and excellent in surface smoothness, and has a high transmittance in the low-wavelength region of visible rays; and transparent, electroconductive substrate for a display panel and an organic electroluminescence device excellent in light-emitting characteristics, both including the transparent conductive thin film. More particularly, a transparent conductive thin film comprising indium oxide as the major component and silicon as a dopant, having a substantially amorphous structure, wherein silicon is incorporated at 0.5 to 13% by atom on indium and silicon totaled; and a transparent conductive thin film comprising indium oxide as the major component and tungsten and germanium, wherein tungsten is incorporated at a W/In atomic ratio of 0.003 to 0.047 and germanium is incorporated at a Ge/In atomic ratio of 0.001 to 0.190.

Abstract: Organic dye molecular materials prepared by coupling existing organic chromophore molecules to benzene or carbazole derivatives and nonlinear optical polymeric compounds having polyimide repeating units coupled with the organic dye molecular material are provided. The organic dye molecular material coupled to a polymer main chain in the preparation of the nonlinear optical polymeric compound has the following formula: where X1 is carbon, oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, ester (CO2), or amide (CONR1), where R1 is an alky or phenyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, D is an organic chromophore molecule, and n is an integer from 1 to 10.

Abstract: A polymerizable resin material for making a plastic lens includes bisphenol A ethoxylate (1 to 4) dimethacrylate and benzylmethacrylate, and, optionally, one or more stabilizing monomers, preferably selected from trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate, isobornyl methacrylate, ethoxylate nonyl phenol acrylate, ethyoxylate nonyl phenol, and/or 2-phenoxyethyl methacrylate esters. The polymerizable resin material is cured when exposed to heat or visible and/or UV light for a period of about two minutes or less.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus are proposed to perform the supercritical assisted atomization of nano and/or micro metric powders. It is possible to use liquid solvent at process conditions in which they show a low solubility in carbon dioxide. Atomization is obtained by solubilizing pressurized carbon dioxide (compressed, liquid, supercritical) in a solution formed by the solid to be micronized and the liquid solvent, solubilizing carbon dioxide up to near equilibrium conditions and then atomizing the solution down to near atmospheric conditions through a thin wall injector, to produce very small droplet of micronic and sub-micronic dimensions. The subsequent evaporation of the droplets produces particles with diameters ranging between 0.02 and 10 micron.

Abstract: A method and device for forming a cross-linked foam and a cross-linked foam are provided. The method includes the steps of preparing at least one foaming material for cross-linked foaming, the foaming material processed to have a plane or three-dimensional shape; forming at least one interfacing pattern on a surface of at least one of the foaming material using at least one interfacing material that prevents chemical and physical interaction between the foaming materials; and forming a cross-linked foam by foaming the foaming material having the interfacing pattern thereon, the cross-linked foam having a foam body and an internally-formed surface.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an apparatus and a method for making and compressing growth medium pots, where the growth medium pots are made as a growth medium pipe, where a tubular wall is formed by the fibre-containing material, where the growth medium pipe contains slightly compressed growth medium. It is the purpose of the invention to achieved an apparatus and a method for cheap and efficient production of firmly compressed growth medium pots, where the growth medium pots are rapidly and efficiently compressed contained in the fibre-containing material.

Abstract: A method for forming an ultrafine particle brittle material at low temperature which includes the steps of applying a mechanical impact force or a pressure to a ultrafine particle brittle material so as to have a percentage in the ultrafine particles having a primary particle diameter less than 50 nm in all the particles of 10 to 90%, subjecting the resulting brittle material to a heat treatment at a temperature not higher than the sintering temperature thereof so as to have the above percentage of 50% or less, and then applying a mechanical impact force not less than the crushing strength to the resultant material, to crush the material, thereby joining the ultrafine particles in the brittle material with one another, to form a formed article of the ultrafine particle brittle material; and an ultrafine particle brittle material for use in the method.

Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing a thin-walled honeycomb ceramic substrate by extruding a plasticized ceramic batch material through a filter screen having wedge shaped filter wires to remove foreign particulate and agglomerated batch material. The filter wires are supported by a set of support wires attached substantially perpendicular to the filter wires. The support wires are may also be advantageously wedge shaped. The filter screen of the present invention may have a wear resistant layer at the surface of the screen, typically a boride or a nitride. The wear resistant coating may also be a nickel-based coating.

Abstract: Shape memory polymers prepared by copolymerizing two monomers, which each separately produce polymers characterized by different glass transition temperatures in the presence of a multi-functional monomer whereby the copolymer formed is cross-linked during the polymerization to form a thermoset network. The transition temperature of the final polymers is adjusted by the ratio of the monomers selected, to from about 150° C. to about 270° C., while the degree of crosslinking controls the rubbery modulus plateau. The shape memory polymers can be processed as castable formulations in the form of bulk articles, coatings and films. The invention also relates to the articles of manufacture thereof and methods of the preparation and use thereof.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a track formed from a circumferentially continuous belt made of elastomeric material and including an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface is provided with a plurality of drive blocks uniformly arranged on the circumference. The process includes a step in which a cylindrical inner mold formed by first and second cylindrical die-halves is assembled, the two die-halves being movable relative to each other in an axial direction to come into contact with each other at a joint surface. The inner mold includes a radially external laying surface provided with a plurality of uniformly spaced cavities for molding the drive blocks, each cavity being delimited in the axial direction by respective side walls of the first and second die halves. The joint surface of the two die-halves is axially closer to one side wall than to the other side wall. A device for stripping the track from the inner and outer molds is provided.

Abstract: A method is described for the back-moulding of sheets (7) with thermoplastics, in particular of printed sheets to protect the decorated surface against scratching or detachment, in which a sheet (7) that is initially separated from the moulded-article wall is pressed against the moulded-article wall by the melt front (3).

Abstract: A tire having an outer surface and plurality of circumferential and lateral grooves formed into the outer surface. The circumferential and lateral grooves extend to at least one groove depth to define a groove bottom surface. The circumferential and lateral grooves also define a plurality of tread blocks disposed around the circumference of the tire. The tire further includes at least one tie bar extending between at least two of the tread blocks and across at least one of the circumferential and lateral grooves. The tie bar is spaced from the groove bottom surface. In one aspect of the invention, the tire is manufactured in a mold and the tie bar is formed by a supplemental molding member that is removed from the molded tire after the main molding member has been removed from the tire.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for molding a part with at least one passage at least partially therethrough. Generally, the method includes injecting a molding material into a mold cavity having at least one pin disposed therein to form the passage. In preferred implementations, the injection of molding material can cause displacement of a movable support for the pin and allow molding material to surround the pin to form the passage. Additionally, or alternatively, preferred implementations can include the movable support, when extended into the mold cavity, guiding and ensuring proper alignment of a free end of the pin for capture within a recess defined by at least one portion of the mold. Still yet other preferred implementations can additionally or alternatively include the extended movable support straightening out the pin and/or inhibiting deflection of the pin, which can be caused by the injected molded material.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing a part from a mold includes a frame and a retrieving assembly having a member mount attached to the frame and a plurality of part retaining members attached to the member mount, at least two of the retaining members being offset from one another along a first axis. One or more of the part retaining members can also be adjustable relative to the mount to accommodate varying surfaces of parts to be removed. The apparatus for removing a part may further include a lock arrangement configured to secure the retrieving assembly in a retrieving position.

Abstract: A process for making non-thermoplastic starch fibers comprises the steps of: (a) providing a non-thermoplastic starch composition comprising from about 50% to about 75% by weight of modified starch and from about 25% to about 50% of water and having a shear viscosity within the at least one nozzle from about 1 to about 80 Pascals·second at the processing temperature and at a shear rate of 3,000 sec?1; (b) extruding the non-thermoplastic starch composition through at least one extrusion nozzle terminating with a nozzle tip, thereby forming at least one embryonic starch fiber; (c) attenuating the at least one embryonic starch fiber with an attenuating air having an average velocity at the nozzle tip greater than about 30 meters per second, to cause the fiber to form an average equivalent diameter of less than about 20 microns; (d) dewatering the at least one embryonic starch fiber to a consistency of from about 70% to about 99% by weight, thereby producing at least one non-thermoplastic starch fiber, wherein th