Abstract: Tire comprising at least one carcass-type reinforcing structure anchored on each side of said tire in a bead whose base is intended to be mounted on a rim seat, each of said beads extending generally radially outwardly in the form of sidewalls, the sidewalls being connected radially towards the outside to a tread, the carcass-type reinforcing structure extending radially from the bead towards said sidewall, a crown reinforcing structure, each of the beads also comprising an anchoring region for holding the reinforcing structure in place, wherein said tread comprises an inner layer of substantially incompressible rubbery material and an outer layer of rubbery foam wherein: the foam expansion ratio is between 110 and 400%, preferably between 120 and 350% and even more preferably between 135 and 300%; and the thickness of the layer is greater than 2.0 mm and preferably greater than 4 mm.

Abstract: A tubeless tire is embedded with elliptical cylinder-shaped elastic members. The tubeless bicycle tire has a multiple number of elliptical cylinder-shaped elastic members arranged at regular intervals along the circular tubeless tire and extends through to sides of the tubeless tire. The major axis of each elastic member is fixed integrally with the tire member, being arranged in a radial direction toward a rotational axis of the tubeless tire. The tire is reinforced with elastic force of the elastic members. The tire does not excessively flatten by a load at the portion of the tire touching the road. After leaving the road, the tire restores its original form swiftly by combined elastic force of the tire and elastic rebound of the elastic members. The tire does not flatten again before it restores its original form. The tire produces a safe and longer life free from puncture.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling tire inflation pressure includes an outlet side end portion of a supplying passageway opened on an outer circumference of a column-shaped boss portion provided in an axle, and an inlet side end portion of an introducing passageway that is opened on an inner circumference of an annular hub portion provided in a wheel. A wheel is mounted onto the axle. The inner circumference of the annular hub portion is engaged with the outer circumference of the column-shaped boss portion, and thereby the outlet side end portion and the inlet side end portion are communicatively connected to each other air tightly. Thus, easiness in mounting a vehicle wheel assembly relative to the axle can be improved.

Abstract: A tyre is described that includes a casing defining a cavity and equipped to receive an object, such as an electronic circuit, for example, through use of a two-part attachment, such as a touch-close attachment, of which a first part is fixed to a wall of the casing and a second part can be joined to the first part when placed in contact with the first part to keep the object on the casing in a service position. The first part of the attachment includes connection elements that are an integral part of the wall of the casing of the tyre. The connection elements allow these two parts to have freedom to move relative to each other, thereby limiting the transmission of stresses, which affect the wall of the tyre, to the object. The connection elements may be loops of flexible thread formed by the extremities of turns of a coiled thread integrated into the wall of the tyre during the tyre's manufacture.

Abstract: A bicycle tire provides a first sidewall and a second sidewall each including an interior portion and an exterior portion. A rim attaching portion including a slipping reduction portion having an extended rim contact surface is connected to an inner circumference of each of the first sidewall and the second sidewall. A tire tread portion is connected to an outer circumference of the first sidewall and the second sidewall.

Abstract: A heavy-load tire comprises a tread portion, a pair of sidewall portions, a pair of bead portions each with a bead core therein, a carcass comprising a carcass ply of cords including a main portion extending between the bead cores, and a pair of turnup portions each turned up around the bead core from the axially inside to the outside of the tire, and an inner liner made from air-impermeable rubber and disposed on the tire internal cavity surface, wherein each bead portion includes a bead reinforcing layer with an L-shaped cross section, the bead reinforcing layer comprising an axially outer piece portion disposed along the axially outside the turnup portion and a bottom piece portion integral with the outer piece portion and terminating in a sub-core area between a first radial line extending inwards along the radial direction of the tire from an innermost axial point of the bead core, and a second radial line extending inwards along the radial direction of the tire from an outermost axial point of the bead

Abstract: Tire having a tread, sidewalls extending the edges of the tread and, on at least one of its sidewalls, a rib for modifying the path of the expelled water in the case of the tire running on wet ground, this rib furthermore including a power-reducing device positioned on the external wall of the rib so as to reduce the power of the water expelled in the transverse direction while the tire is running on ground covered with water, said power-reducing device comprising at least one protuberance placed in the circumferential direction and extending in the radial direction.

Abstract: A bicycle tire provides a first sidewall and a second sidewall each including an interior portion and an exterior portion. A rim attaching portion is connected to an inner circumference of each of the first sidewall and the second sidewall. A tire tread portion is connected to an outer circumference of the first sidewall and the second sidewall. A portion of the first sidewall and the second sidewall proximate to the inner circumference of the first sidewall and the second sidewall has a varying thickness.

Abstract: A bicycle tire provides a first sidewall and a second sidewall each including an interior portion and an exterior portion. A rim attaching portion including a slipping reduction portion having an extended rim contact surface is connected to an inner circumference of each of the first sidewall and the second sidewall. A tire tread portion is connected to an outer circumference of the first sidewall and the second sidewall. A portion of the first sidewall and the second sidewall proximate to the inner circumference of the first sidewall and the second sidewall on the opposite side of the rim attaching portion from the slipping reduction portion has additional material providing a varying thickness.

Abstract: A bonded-substrate fabricating apparatus capable of reducing defective bonded substrates fabricated. A transfer robot sucks the outer edge area of the bottom surface of a substrate and spouts gas toward the bottom surface of the substrate to carry the substrate into a vacuum process chamber of a press machine while keeping the substrate horizontally. A press plate holds the substrate, which is held by the transfer robot, by suction.

Abstract: A method of heat treating a substrate for a fuel cell includes stacking substrates to form a group. A dimension is determined for a plate corresponding to a resulting mass that is less than a predetermined mass. The plate is arranged above the group to apply a weight of the plate to the group. The resulting masses for spacer plates and intermediate lifting plates, for example, are minimized to reduce the pressure differential between the bottom and top substrates in the heat treat assembly. In another disclosed method, a dimension for a plate, such as a top plate, is determined that corresponds to a resulting mass that is greater than a predetermined mass. The plate is arranged above the group to apply a weight of the plate to the group. The top plate resulting mass is selected to minimize a variation in the average pressure of the substrates throughout the heat treat assembly.

Abstract: A machine for forming foam cushions comprises a web of film comprising a pair of film panels positioned face to face and having first and second lengthwise edges, and first and second foam dispensing assemblies positioned to dispense foam between the film panels, each foam dispensing assembly comprising first and second valves that dispense first and second foam components, respectively, the valves positioned so that respective foam component streams exiting the valves intersect.

Abstract: Provided are a method and a device for efficiently separating and automatically removing a tire-building rigid core from the inside of the tire. After a core holding mechanism and upper and lower support plates are removed from a rigid core body that is disposed in the tire and composed of two types of segment groups, the tire is transferred onto a predetermined position on a support table, and positioned and fixed. Then, a first core separation/removal mechanism having been on standby below the center of the tire on the support table is raised to support the center of the inner wall surface of one type of the segment groups and horizontally pull the one type of the segment groups to the center side of the tire until it is separated from the inner surface of the tire. The separated segment group is lowered to the standby position below the center of the support table and is left on standby.

Abstract: A process for producing a tire according to a strip build technique by the use of an injection molding machine, in which strip rubber injection can be performed in the state of being uniform in the blending degree and plasticity level of rubber material. There is provided a process for producing a tire by the use of injection molding machine (A) equipped with material feeding aperture (8) for charging of rubber material, screw (1) for driving forward in the axial direction of the charged rubber material while blending the same, material charging compartment (4) disposed on the distal end side of the screw (1) and material passage (C) for feeding of the rubber material from the distal end side of the screw (1) to the material charging compartment (4).

Abstract: A process for making a fiber reinforced cementitious product such as a panel which hardens to an ultra-high compressive strength composite for use in making panels with ballistic and blast resistant properties. The panel has a continuous phase resulting from curing an aqueous mixture, in the absence of silica flour, of inorganic cement binder, inorganic mineral filler having a particle size of about 150-450 microns, pozzolanic mineral filler, and polycarboxylate based superplasticizer self-leveling agent, and water. The mixture may also include alkanolamine and acid or acid salt. The continuous phase may be reinforced with fiber distributed in the continuous phase before curing to form a panel. The panel may be reinforced with a fiber reinforced skin attached to at least one surface of the core, e.g., by lamination with an adhesive, e.g., epoxy, to form a ballistic and blast resistant cementitious armor panel.

Abstract: The present invention provides a substrate-less pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet for protection of semiconductor wafer, which is to be stuck to a front surface of a semiconductor wafer in grinding a back surface of the semiconductor wafer, the pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet consisting of a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, in which the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is formed of a UV-curable pressure-sensitive adhesive containing a polymer composed mainly of an acrylic monomer polymerizable compound, the pressure-sensitive adhesive force of a surface of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer to be stuck to the front surface of the semiconductor wafer is larger than the pressure-sensitive adhesive force of the opposite surface thereof, and the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer has an initial elastic modulus of from 0.01 MPa to 500 MPa.

Abstract: The object of this invention is to provide a hybrid composite journal bearing which is constructed so that a composite liner is positioned on an inner surface of a metal housing having a circular cross-section, thus preventing a journal from being damaged or seized to the bearing, due to friction between the metal or composite journal and the journal bearing. The hybrid composite journal bearing (210) includes a metal housing (211) which is secured on an outer surface thereof to a bearing system and has a circular cross-section A composite liner (212) is laminated to an inner surface of the metal housing (211) with a uniform thickness so as to minimize friction between the journal bearing and a journal.

Abstract: Systems and associated methods of printing using ink-jet technology and offset printing capabilities are provided. The method can comprise jetting an ink onto a printing blanket, where the ink comprises a carrier and a pigment colorant, and where the carrier substantially free of polymers. Additional steps include developing the ink to create a print image on the printing blanket; applying a layer of wetting fluid to a surface of a print medium, where the surface includes a coating comprising a polymer; heating the surface to a print-receptive temperature that is lower than the softening temperature of the polymer, causing softening of the polymer; and transferring the print image from the printing blanket to the surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for patterning a substrate are provided. A template is formed by applying a precursor material to a patterned master substrate and curing or solidifying the precursor material. The template is detached from the master substrate using a carrier having a curved surface. The template is coated with a patterning material, and is then detached from the carrier and applied to the substrate to be patterned. The template is then dissolved without affecting the patterning material, and the patterning material may thereafter be finished to develop the pattern. In an alternate embodiment, the patterning material may be applied to the substrate and then imprinted using the template.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic resin pellet are provided which can smoothly carry out a continuous drawing-out operation for a reinforcing fiber bundle (continuous fiber-reinforced resin strand). With respect to a terminal end of a reinforcing fiber bundle A of a roving package being exhausted and a front end of a reinforcing fiber bundle B of a new roving package, fiber quantity-halved end portions A1 and B1 each about half of the original fiber quantity are formed respectively, then reinforcing filaments in those fiber quantity-halved end portions are entangled by an air splicer to form an entangled portion C1, and reinforcing filaments in a portion downstream of the fiber quantity-halved end portion in the reinforcing fiber bundle B of the new roving package are entangled by an air splicer to form an entangled portion C2.

Abstract: A bicycle frame is provided in which the head tube, top tube and down tube are constructed as a single structural unit with the ends of the top tube and down tube left open to allow for ease of molding.

Abstract: A bonded composite joint may include a base having a foot configured to couple to a member. The base may include a flange extending outward from the foot. The joint further may include a panel having a core positioned between opposing skins, where the skins have inner walls proximate the core and the skins extend outward beyond the core on at least one end of the panel to define a recess between the skins. The recess between the skins may receive the flange. A bonding agent may be used to couple the flange to the inner walls of the panel.

Abstract: An automatic composite tape placement head includes a roller for compacting tape on a substrate, and a cutter adjacent the roller for cutting the tape at the roller.

Abstract: A bubbleless packaging method is provided. The method is applicable to package a display element. In the method, firstly, a first substrate and a first protective layer are provided. The first protective layer is formed on the first substrate. Then, a second substrate and a second protective layer are provided. The second protective layer is formed on the second substrate. Then, a plasma treatment is performed on surfaces of the first protective layer and the second protective layer. Then, the first substrate and the second substrate are dipped into a solution after the plasma treatment. Then, the first substrate and the second substrate are laminated in the solution, wherein the first protective layer faces the second protective layer. Finally, the first substrate and the second substrate are taken out from the solution.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing interior material using transfer paper, the method comprising the steps of: processing release paper for coating a surface of the release paper with a release agent; coating an acryl resin layer for coating the surface of the release paper manufactured in the release paper processing with an acryl resin layer in order to improve a printing eligibility of the surface of the release paper for a convenient digital printing; printing images for printing various designs such as pictures, figures or patterns desired by a customer on the acryl resin layer of the release paper formed in the acryl resin coating process through a digital ink jet printer in order to manufacture transfer paper; bonding a master sheet for bonding the images of the transfer paper manufactured through the image printing process to a master sheet to be transferred; and post-treating master sheet for bonding a surface paper layer or surface reinforcement layer to the surface of the mast

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing a dye-sensitized cell are provided, in which a pre-transparent electrode and an opposite electrode are partially bonded, dye molecules are applied to the bonded electrodes followed by washing, an electrolyte is injected, and then the electrodes are hermetically sealed. With the apparatus and method, the manufacturing cost can be reduced and the manufacturing process can be simplified.

Abstract: A substantially planar micro-fluid ejection device, where the micro-fluid ejection head is hermetically sealed and bonded to a support material, and a method of bonding a silicon device, such as a micro-fluid ejection head, to a support material.

Abstract: A system for imprint lithography, which includes a substrate, a patterned mask, an imprint applying unit that imprints, via the patterned mask, a pattern into a resist layer on the substrate, and an overlay device that overlays a cladding layer over the substrate.

Abstract: Apparatus for chemically etching a workpiece includes a chamber for receiving a process gas and having a pumping port for extracting exhaust gases, and a workpiece support located in the chamber upstream of the pumping port. The chamber further includes a sub-chamber located upstream of the pumping port and downstream of the workpiece support, and the sub-chamber includes a window and an excitation source, adjacent the window, for creating a plasma in a sample of the exhaust gases to create an optical emission which can be monitored through the window.

Abstract: Provided is a plasma generating apparatus. The apparatus includes a vacuum, an ElectroStatic Chuck (ESC), and an antenna unit. The vacuum chamber has a hollow interior and is sealed at its top by a vacuum plate that has a plurality of gas jet holes. The ESC is disposed at an internal center of the vacuum chamber. The antenna unit covers and seals the gas jet holes with being spaced a predetermined distance apart from a surface of the vacuum plate, has a gas inlet communicating with the gas jet holes, and receives an external source RF.

Abstract: A shower head is provided, in a processing chamber in which a substrate is processed, to face a mounting table for mounting the substrate thereon. The shower head includes: a facing surface that faces the mounting table to supply a gas to the substrate in a form of shower through a plurality of gas injection holes formed on the facing surface; an opposing surface provided opposite to the facing surface; and a plurality of bar-shaped heat transfer columns standing on the opposing surface. Here, the heat transfer columns have varying lengths and/or thicknesses to adjust heat capacities thereof. The heat transfer columns are made of one of aluminum, stainless steel, and copper.

Abstract: A shower head is provided, in a processing chamber in which a substrate is processed, to face a mounting table for mounting the substrate thereon. The shower head includes: a facing surface that faces the mounting table to supply a gas to the substrate in a form of shower through a plurality of gas injection holes formed on the facing surface; an opposing surface provided opposite to the facing surface; a plurality of gas exhaust holes extending between the facing surface and the opposing surface to perform gas exhaust from the facing surface toward the opposing surface; and a plurality of electrodes provided on the opposing surface, an ion-confining voltage being applied to the electrodes.

Abstract: The invention provides a plasma processing apparatus for subjecting a sample to plasma processing by generating plasma within a vacuum processing chamber 1, wherein multiple sets (7, 7?) of high frequency induction antennas are disposed for forming an induction electric field that rotates in the right direction on an ECR plane of the magnetic field formed within the vacuum processing chamber 1, and plasma is generated via an electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) phenomenon. A Faraday shield 9 for blocking capacitive coupling and realizing inductive coupling between the high frequency induction antenna and plasma receives power supply via a matching box 46 from an output from a Faraday shield high frequency power supply 45 subjected to control of a phase controller 44 based on the monitoring of a phase detector 47-2.

Abstract: The object of the present disclosure is to provide a label application device which can easily perform label applying operation by protruding a portion of the label towards an article in a mountain-shape and automatically applying the label, improving the work efficiency by reducing the operation process as much as possible.

Abstract: The invention provides a driving apparatus for a tire building drum which can reduce load when the drum is rotating, which enables stable expanding and contracting operations and in which a center shaft portion (2) of the building drum (D) is made up of a cylindrical outer shaft (3) and an inner threaded shaft (4), the driving apparatus including a cylindrical outer shaft (13) which is coupled to the outer shaft (3), an inner shaft (14) coupled to the threaded shaft (4), a first motor (15) which is a rotational driving means coupled to the outer shaft (13) for rotating the drum, and a second motor (20) which is a rotational driving means coupled to the inner shaft (14) via a clutch (21) in such a manner as to be engaged with and disengaged from the inner shaft for expanding or contracting the drum, wherein by switching the clutch (21), when the drum is rotating, the second motor (20) is held out of engagement with the inner shaft (14), while when the drum is expanded or contracted, the second motor (20) is he

Abstract: A device for installing an elastic member including a conveying line for continuously conveying sheets to be mounted, a feeding device for continuously feeding elastic members, and a guide for guiding the elastic members fed from the feeding device, to installation positions on the raw materials to be mounted on the conveying line. The guide has an upper section and a lower section detachably attached to the upper section. A guide path whose surrounding is closed is formed between the upper section and the lower section. The elastic members are guided to the installation positions through the guide path.

Abstract: Water evaporation devices, systems and methods are used to evaporate large quantities of water from water impoundment ponds or other waste water sources. Water evaporation devices include a water evaporation barrel having an air acceleration chamber that creates venturi suction so as to draw water from a water source into a venturi chamber. Fast moving air and water create fine water droplets within a water atomization chamber, which droplets are then emitted from the water evaporation barrel through a discharge nozzle and into the air as a spray or cloud of fine water droplets. Water evaporation devices and associated systems and methods can be used to efficiently evaporate waster water produced by a wide variety of industrial processes.

Abstract: An electrical equipment rack, such as a computer server rack, with a protective shield to protect the electrical equipment rack and equipment thereon from water damage is described. In general, the shield is constructed of a curved polycarbonate shell fastened to an aluminum frame having arc-shaped end sections attached to spaced elongated side rails. The aluminum frame is attachable to threaded rod hangers of the type that are used in most server rack rooms. Multiple shields may be fastened together end-to-end to increase the length of the overall shield, to extend over the entire length of the server racks or cabinets needed to be protected. Gaskets such as neoprene seals are compressed between shield sections to prevent water from penetrating between the fastened sections. Deployable curtains are fastened to the elongated side rails to further protect the electrical equipment rack from water damage.

Abstract: An embossed multi-ply fibrous structure product having enhanced quilted appearance comprising: two or more plies of fibrous structure wherein at least one of the piles has a plurality of embossments thereon having a total embossment area of from about 6% to about 16%; the embossments forming a latticework defining a plurality of unembossed cells; wherein each cell has a surface area of from about 0.5 square inches to about 6 square inches, the cells being unadhered to the adjacent ply and the embossments having a height from about about 350 ?m to about 1,500 ?m. Further embodiment comprise a product having a Percent Compressibility from about 1.5% to about 4.5%.

Abstract: A papermaking machine for making uncreped through air dried paper having a forming section, a press section, and a drying section is disclosed. The paper web is pressed between two press members while enclosed between a press felt and a transfer belt having non-uniformly distributed microscopic depressions in its surface. The web follows the transfer belt from the press to a transfer point at which the web is transferred via a suction transfer device onto a structuring fabric. The web is then dried with a through air dryer.

Abstract: The instant invention relates to a process for the production of optically brightened paper by treating the pulp suspension with an optically brightened filler composition comprising optically brightened plastic fibres, preferably polyester fibres, which leads to a surprising high lightfastness of the resulting paper.

Abstract: The instant invention is a coating composition, a coated article, and method forming such coated articles. The coating composition comprises (a) a dispersion; and (b) a solution acrylic polymer, an emulsion polymer latex, or combinations thereof. The dispersion comprises at least one or more base polymers selected from the group consisting of an ethylene-based thermoplastic polymer, a propylene-based thermoplastic polymer, and mixtures thereof; at least one or more stabilizing agents; and a fluid medium. A coated article comprises a substrate comprising cellulosic materials; and at least one or more coating layers present on at least one or more surfaces of the substrate. The one or more coating layers may be derived from a coating composition comprising (a) a dispersion; and (b) a solution acrylic polymer, an emulsion polymer latex, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of papermaking. More in particular, the invention relates to a method of reducing the phenomenon of vessel picking in papermaking. In accordance with the invention it has surprisingly been found that the problem vessel picking may be significantly reduced by using a cationic amylopectin starch in the paper pulp, i.e. in the wet-end.

Abstract: An industrial fabric, belt or sleeve and a method of making the fabric, belt or sleeve are disclosed. The industrial fabric, belt or sleeve is produced by spirally winding strips of polymeric material, such as an industrial strapping or ribbon material, and joining the adjoining sides of the strips of material using ultrasonic welding or laser welding techniques. The fabric, belt or sleeve may then be perforated using a suitable technique to make it permeable to air and/or water.

Abstract: An integrated management system for molten aluminum includes a melting process management system, which melts aluminum raw material, taps molten aluminum, and extracts information related to the molten aluminum; a recording medium attached to a high-heat-retention ladle, which is for carrying the molten aluminum, wherein the extracted information is recorded into the recording medium; a portable terminal, which reads the information from the recording medium; and a casting process management system, which manages delivery confirmation and inspection by receiving the information from the transported high-heat-retention ladle via the portable terminal and performs a casting process based on the information. The integrated management system and method ensures improved and efficient process management based on correct molten aluminum information, thereby reducing management costs and time.

Abstract: A device and a method for the low-pressure casting of metal melts, comprising a casting furnace (1), a feed channel (2) for the metal melt, a channel (4) in the direction toward the casting mold (5), and a feed (6) for the gaseous pressure application, an intermediate container (7) being disposed between the casting mold (5) and the channel (4), and an access (8) for adding an inoculating agent (9) being provided in the intermediate container (7).

Abstract: The invention is directed to an arrangement for maintaining the warmth of slabs (3) which exit from a continuous casting installation and which can be transported on a roller table (1) for further processing. In order to optimize the thermal balance between the continuous casting installation and the hot rolling mill, it is proposed to provide a supporting part (2) for receiving a slab (3), which supporting part (2) can be placed on the roller table (1) and transported thereon, and an insulating box (4) which can be placed upon the supporting part (2) and which substantially encloses the latter.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a cylinder head system for a vehicle includes manufacturing a first main mold to integrally form an exhaust manifold for discharging exhaust gas from a cylinder and a first water jacket for cooling the exhaust manifold, manufacturing a second main mold to form a second water jacket for cooling a cylinder block, and connecting the first main mold to the second main mold. The mold includes a first main mold having a plurality of exhaust manifold molds and a first water jacket mold, each exhaust manifold mold being configured to form a respective exhaust manifold, and the first water jacket mold being configured to form a first water jacket for cooling the exhaust manifolds, a second main mold having a second water jacket mold, the second water jacket mold being configured to form a second water jacket for cooling a cylinder block, and the second main mold being configured to be assembled with the first main mold.

Abstract: A method of making a copper wire rod with low semi-softening temperature includes melting a raw material copper to have a copper melt, adjusting concentrations of oxygen and sulfur included in the copper melt to be not more than 20 ppm and not more than 6 ppm, respectively, continuously casting the adjusted copper melt at temperature not higher than 1120° C. to have a cast bar, and hot-rolling the cast bar in a temperature range of 850° C. to 550° C.

Abstract: A metal strip casting apparatus and method of casting continuous metal strip include assembling a pair of counter-rotatable casting rolls having casting surfaces positioned laterally forming a nip between for casting, and delivering molten metal through a delivery nozzle disposed above the nip to form a casting pool supported on the casting rolls. The delivery nozzle comprises at least one segment having a main portion and an end portion and an inner trough extending longitudinally through the main portion and into the end portion with end walls at opposite ends thereof, the inner trough communicating with outlets adjacent bottom portions formed in each segment adapted to deliver molten metal to a casting pool and the end portion having a reservoir portion having passages adapted to deliver molten metal to a casting pool.