Abstract: A valve especially suitable as a relatively cheaply manufactured means for controlling liquids in laboratory equipment, comprises a body having a valve seat with a flow passage passing through the seat, and a spindle located within the body; the spindle comprising a mandrel having an annular groove, a resilient annulus located in the annular groove, and an inert sheath fitted closely over the surface of an end portion of the mandrel and overlying the resilient annulus, the sheath having a closed end shaped to engage the seat for occlusion thereof and having overlying the resilient annulus an annular sealing portion standing proud of the surface of the rest of the sheath, the annular sealing portion being biased against the surrounding body to form a sliding gland seal. The sheath may be preformed or moulded in situ, and protects the mandrel and resilient annulus from attack by fluids flowing through the valve.

Abstract: A method for producing an acoustical ceiling tile or panel faced with a distortion free decorative thin plastic film is accomplished by first embossing the acoustical base to form a picture frame surrounding a recessed area, stretching the thin decorative plastic film over the picture frame portion and adhesively securing the film to the side and/or back of the acoustical base and subsequenytly heat shrinking the film to produce a distortion free decorative surface.

Abstract: Heat treatment of shaped articles, larger than films or fibers, formed from anisotropic-melt-forming polymers provides an increase of at least 25% in energy to break in flexure. In at least one direction of measurement the heat treated articles are characterized by a flexural break strength of at least 10,000 psi, maximum strain to break in flexure of at least 2% and a flexural modulus of at least 500,000 psi. In many instances the heat treated articles can be further characterized by a notched Izod impact strength of at least 2 foot-pounds per inch.Since the heat-treated shaped articles have high levels of strength, stiffness and toughness, they are useful as replacements for some metals, e.g., brass.

Abstract: A generally cylindrical core for winding a web of sheetlike material has portions with a lesser diameter than other portions such that otherwise baggy areas of the web overlie the lesser diameter area of the core. The core particularly solves the problem of elongated edges on a wound film of heat shrinkable thermoplastic material caused by differential shrinkage about a core.

Abstract: The formation of a hermetic seal in an assembly resulting from the connection or encapsulation of one or more substrates such as cables by one or more dimensionally-recoverable covering members such as heat-recoverable sleeves is checked by detecting the increase in air pressure which occurs during heating of the assembly once a hermetic seal has been made. To this end, a covering member is provided with an aperture which communicates with a detection device such as a balloon or a manometer and with a space within the assembly in which there is a build up of air pressure.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of coating articles of manufacture to prevent corrosion which comprises applying a thermoplastic coating material to the article, applying a layer of fibrous material over the coating material, wetting the layer of fibrous material, and heating the three components, whereby contraction of the fibrous material, during heating, will compress the coating material and counteract its deformation tendencies such that it is well bonded to the article. The thermoplastic coating material is preferably applied in the form of a coating tape comprising the thermoplastic coating material and a thermoplastic adhesive and is used to provide a protective coating for underground pipe.

Abstract: A process for improving leakage resistant in a galvanic cell is provided. This is done by making an improved grommet and metal cover. The process comprises swelling a grommet which has been placed tightly around the periphery of a metal cover until the grommet is loose upon the metal cover, forcing a sealant solution between the swollen grommet and metal cover and then shrinking the grommet to substantially its original size to trap the sealant compound between the grommet and metal cover.

Abstract: The invention herein is directed to a method of providing a ceiling board with a fabric facing. The fabric facing is molded to the irregular shape of the ceiling board so that there is no wrinkling or gathering of the fabric as it is shaped to the configuration of the ceiling board. The lack of wrinkling and gathering is secured without the use of a laborious hand-cutting operation.

Abstract: A device for forming a connection between a first and second group of glass fibers with each fiber of the first group being held in alignment with a given fiber of the second group characterized by an elongated carrier member having longitudinally extending grooves and a shrinkable tube telescopically received on the elongated member. In forming the connection, the glass fibers of one group are inserted individually in separate grooves from one end of the carrier member and the fibers of the second group are inserted from an opposite end until their end faces abut and engage the end faces of the respective fiber of the first group. After insertion, the tube is shrunk such as by a heat shrinking step so that the fibers are tightly and firmly held in their respective grooves by the shrinkable tube.

Abstract: A form tie and a method of making the same is provided. The form tie includes an elongated hollow protective sleeve contiguously surrounding a portion of the form tie to facilitate the removal of the form tie portion from a settable casting, such as concrete. The thickness of the sleeve is minimized so that the cross-sectional area of the form tie portion which includes the surrounding sleeve is also minimized.

Abstract: Two basic methods for texturizing or structurizing high-polymer materials are disclosed. One method resides in selectively irradiating a high-polymer material so as to form chemically active species in the material. The material is contacted with a treating medium which reacts with the chemically active species in such a manner as to cause shrinkage of the material. The texturizing or structurizing effects are due to the fact that the irradiated areas of the material will shrink to a different extent in dependence upon the concentration of the chemically active species and/or that the irradiated areas of the material will shrink to a different extent than the nonirradiated areas of the material. The other method resides in homogeneously irradiating a high-polymer material so as to form chemically active species in the material. The chemically active species in certain areas of the material are at least partially destroyed by contacting selected areas of the material with a suitable medium.

Abstract: An article of manufacture having heat-alterable memory characteristics consisting of a shaped, vulcanized composition comprising a hydrogenated polybutadiene which in its unhydrogenated state contains from about 15 to about 55 percent trans 1,4-addition and from about 15 to about 40 percent cis 1,4-addition, the article being in a dimensionally heat-unstable condition capable of altering its physical form upon application of heat alone. The article is produced by hydrogenating the above-described polybutadiene, shaping and vulcanizing the hydrogenated polybutadiene and subjecting the shaped, vulcanized article to a force sufficient to alter its dimensions.

Abstract: Filament cables of denier above 10,000 dtex are produced by operating several continuous melt spinning-stretching processes at production speeds above 3,000 m/min, to form several continuously spun and stretched filament bundles, which bundles are then continuously plied and deposited in the form of a cable.The process among others is useful for high speed production of filament cables of nylon-6 with improved breaking strength and/or breaking extension.

Abstract: A laminated sealing article comprising a layer of adhesive sandwiched between a pair of cross-linked, dimensionally heat unstable wafers of polymeric material. The article is provided with a plurality of apertures adapted to receive a corresponding plurality of substrates. The gaps between the plurality of substrates are sealed by heating the article to the recovery temperature of the wafers. This heating causes the layer of adhesive to bond to the substrates and the wafers to recover around the substrates thereby forming a seal between all of the substrates and the article. The heat recoverable article of the invention is particularly well adapted for use in a method of environmentally sealing the rear of an electrical connector of the type having a plurality of individually insulated electrical conductors extending from a tubular rear portion.

Abstract: A method for forming a filter of electrically charged electret fiber material, consisting of a high molecular weight, nonpolar polymeric substance, comprising drawing, charging, and fibrillating a foil of said high molecular weight substance. The fibrillated foil is wound and then crimping is effected.

Abstract: Biaxially-oriented, heatset polyester film is heat relaxed at a uniform temperature and supported buy impingement with gas such as air, while subjecting the film to low tension in its longitudinal dimension. Undesirable draw lines, as defined herein, are avoided by maintaining the longitudinal dimension of the film in an arcuate configuration composed of a single curve or serpentine succession of curves free of straight segments. Each such curve is characterized as having a radius of curvature in the range from about 1 inch to about 8 inches, subtending an arc of no less than 40.degree.. A serpentine configuration is preferred in which case the gas impinges upon alternate sides of the web. Temperatures of heat relaxation preferably are within the range from 30 to 100 centrigrade degrees higher than the polyester glass transition temperature.

Abstract: A film for shrink packaging is prepared by extruding a tubular film made of crystalline polypropylene or crystalline ethylene-propylene copolymer containing up to 10% of ethylene monomer units, and from one to 10% of ethylene-vinylacetate copolymer containing 10 to 50% of vinyl acetate monomer units, and then biaxially stretching the tubular film.

Abstract: A method of making a high temperature fluted core composite radome structure.

Abstract: A flexible, collapsible blood bag which defines an access port at one end thereof. The blood bag contains cellophane film of sufficient area to process blood or plasma placed in the bag, so that reinfusion of the blood to a normal donor, after an appropriate residence time in the bag, causes a transient increase in the neutrophil count of the donor's blood. The cellophane film in the bag is folded in an ordered manner, to define generally parallel flow channels having ends positioned adjacent the access port. A screen member may be positioned between the cellophane film and the access port to prevent blocking thereof by the cellophane film. Also, the cellophane film may define a large plurality of raised surface portions, relative to the normal plane of the film, to facilitate the spacing of adjacent, folded layers of the film from each other. This facilitates the definition of the flow channels for blood distribution throughout the cellophane film.

Abstract: Method of covering a thermometer which includes forming a total enclosure composed of a pair of coatings covering the stem portion and the bulb portion of the thermometer. A substantially transparent plastic material covering the stem portion of the improved thermometer has an index of refraction which is sufficiently high to allow a user to visually interpret the location of an internally contained heat expandable substance in relation to indicia formed on the stem portion. The bulb section of the improved thermometer is enclosed by a thermally conductive layer. Both layers are joined to form a total enclosure for the thermometer throughout the extended length of both the bulb and the stem portions. Additionally, an increased amount of substantially transparent plastic material is added to the terminal end of the stem portion of the improved thermometer in order to provide a cushioning effect under dynamic loads when the thermometer inadvertently falls to an external surface.

Abstract: A heat-tempered film element having a core-set curling tendency and a net core-set curl at least about 15% below that of a similar non-heat-tempered film element is provided by a process which comprises heating a sheet or roll of self-supporting, core-set-prone thermoplastic polymeric film, which is non-coated or is coated with one or more layers on at least one surface, under ambient relative humidity of less than 100%, at a temperature in the temperature range of from about 30.degree. C. up to about the glass transition temperature (Tg) of said polymer for 0.1 to 1500 hours, said heating being continued until the change in the number of ANSI curl units that the resulting film undergoes upon subsequent core-setting at 21.degree. C. and 50% R.H. for 2200 hours is reduced by at least 15%, compared to the change in the number of ANSI curl units untreated thermoplastic polymer film undergoes upon core-setting under like conditions.

Abstract: Producing from a single contact lens casting mold, lenses of a number of different sizes by including in the casting precursor for each lens, a controlled amount of an extractable diluent of low volatility which is extracted after casting to cause the resulting lens to shrink a calculable amount. Variations in amounts are used to produce corresponding variations in sizes of cast and extracted lenses.

Abstract: A process for improving leakage resistant in a galvanic cell is provided. This is done by making an improved grommet and metal cover. The process comprises swelling a grommet which has been placed tightly around the periphery of a metal cover until the grommet is loose upon the metal cover, forcing a sealant solution between the swollen grommet and metal cover and then shrinking the grommet to substantially its original size to trap the sealant compound between the grommet and metal cover.

Abstract: High strength fibers and films are prepared from melt extrudable (co)polyazomethines.

Abstract: Preprinted rectangular blanks of longitudinally stretch-oriented foam sheet material are formed into cylinders by a continuous folder and seamer and transferred onto mandrels on which they are shrunken by heat to assume the shape of the mandrel. In forming containers, means are provided to place bottom blanks on the mandrels prior to the loading of the cylinders thereon so as to shrink the cylinders to sidewall shapes overlying the bottom blanks. The top curl on containers such as drinking cups and food tubs is formed after shrink forming and the bottom seam of the container is also reinforced by ironing after shrink forming. A method of continuously forcing and filling containers on a continuous in-line basis is also provided.

Abstract: In a method of treating a textile material in a shrinking bath containing a swelling agent comprising the step of introducing into said bath a driving-off agent which substantially reduces the solubility of the swelling agent in the shrinking bath.

Abstract: A method for creating an embossed effect in a desired pattern on a film by printing an agent on said film in said desired pattern to lower the stability of said film in the print areas against heat distortion and laminating said film to a substrate by fusion immediately after the substrate is extruded to cause said print areas to distort and give an embossed appearance as a result of the heat incident to the fusion.

Abstract: Devices for concentrating radiant energy and having reflective anticlastic surfaces, produced by processes involving shrinking an elastic reflective film onto a rigid frame representing one or a series of twisted squares, or by twisting a semi-rigid elastic reflective panel.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the rapid, continuous and waterless dyeing of textile and plastic materials in which the dyestuff is dissolved, suspended or dispersed in a high boiling solvent, such as glycol or glycol ether, for carrying out the dyeing step per se, after which the dye textile or plastic material (after cooling if desired) is subjected to a washing with a low boiling organic liquid such as methanol or ethanol (preferably the former) or a chlorinated hydrocarbon solvent, and subsequently dried. The entire series of operations is carried out under nonaqueous or substantially nonaqueous conditions with the complete or substantially complete recovery and recycling of the used dyestuff, the used high boiling solvent, and the used low boiling organic wash liquid.

Abstract: In accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention, there is provided a new and improved method of forming a four-lumen gastrointestinal tube. This tube may be characterized as having two lumens which extend nearly the full length of the tube and two lumens which extend through only a portion of the tube.

Abstract: A compliant roller for use in a xerographic fusing apparatus is made by placing a rigid gudgeoned roller core in a mold assembly with a preshrunk outer sleeve positioned about the interior surface of the mold and by forcing an elastomeric siloxane, e.g., silicone rubber, between the core and the sleeve. The sleeve is comprised of a material which contains tetrafluoroethylene and/or hexafluoropropylene copolymers. The ends of the roller are sealed with an epoxy resin and a forming fixture to form an oil tight and airtight seal.

Abstract: In a method for forming castings made from a polymerizable hydrophobic monomeric material wherein a liquid hydrophobic polymerizable plastic monomer material is pumped into a cavity, which is defined by a pair of spaced apart smooth surfaced plates that are sealed about the outer perimeter, and polymerized therein to a solid, self-supporting casting, the improvement comprising the preliminary step of applying the relatively thin thermoplastic sheet across at least a portion of at least one of the spaced apart smooth surfaces, said thermoplastic sheet stretching when in contact with the liquid polymerizable monomer material during polymerization of said material and during cooling of said polymerized material, the sheet shrinking and distorting in random fashion so as to produce a randomly textured surface on at least the corresponding adjacent portion of the polymerized casting.

Abstract: A structural cover skin for components of a fluid-medium craft, especially the foil components of the craft, wherein a layer of heat shrinkable, polymeric film, preferably of polyvinyl fluoride is bonded to a layer of heat-shrinkable polymeric film and/or fabric, preferably of polyester, to form a special laminated heat shrink covering material particularly useful for man-flown airplanes. A method for covering the frame portions includes an encapsulating envelope of the noted material or an overlapped wrapping which is heat shrunk tautly to the contours of the frame.

Abstract: A method of heat shrinking a sleeve of pre-oriented polyolefin plastic over the outer surface of a bottle by heating the plastic in annular regions along the height thereof in successive stages while conveyed in vertical upright position along the length of an oven. Infrared radiant heat is directed onto a mid body annular region of the plastic sleeve overlying the large dimension of the bottle. The mid body portion is firmly shrunken around this region of the bottle. Also, the first zone of the oven applies some heat in an upper annular region of the sleeve to soften the plastic thereat and raise its temperature to near the shrinking condition while the bottle and sleeve are rotating at a speed that will hold the upper region opposite the neck of the bottle erect and avoid foldover or collapse. Next, the bottle is conveyed in front of infrared burners in a second control zone of the oven, wherein the radiant heat is directed individually against the upper and lower annular regions of the sleeve.

Abstract: A polyester yarn is treated, so that it may be dyed in yarn or fabric form to a variegated appearance, by running partially oriented polyester feeder yarn over a surface wetted with a liquid reagent which alters the affinity of the yarn to a disperse dye, followed by drawing or draw-texturing. The surface may be a groove formed across the tip of a capillary tube wherein the groove is wetted by a liquid reagent supplied through the bore of the tube. Intermittent contact between the feeder yarn and the reagent is thereby obtained.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making a multi-level assembly of flexible nets for supporting flowers to allow them to grow in straight, upstanding shape through the mesh openings of the nets which are raised progressively to different levels of height above a flower bed in accordance with the growth of the flowers. A plurality of nets are laid one upon another with their mesh openings substantially correctly aligned with one another and placed on a frame in a vertically zigzag folded pattern. Then, the nets are, together with the frame, immersed in a bath of a heating medium, such as hot water, to allow the nets to undergo thermal contraction, whereby the mesh openings of the nets are correctly with one another. The nets are, together with the frame, removed from the bath and allowed to cool. Then, the nets are removed from the frame with their folded shape substantially in order.

Abstract: A method of making a container, particularly a rectangular tray-like container, in which a blank is provided having side panels which are displaced to form the side walls of the container. The blank is clamped in its container - forming shape between mould tools with adjacent ends of the side panels juxtaposed end corner seams and a lip are injection moulded to seam the side panels and form a peripheral lip on the free edges of the side panels remote from the base panel. The mould tools shape the free edges of the side panels to an internally concave form between the juxtaposed side panel ends before moulding so that shrinkage of the moulding will accentuate the concavity to give a predetermined consistent shape to containers so produced and avoid unpredictable buckling and deformity.

Abstract: A section of conduit is insulated by a thermoplastic outer pipe and an insulating layer of foamed or beaded insulating material disposed in the annular space between the outer pipe and the conduit. The annular layer is preformed to substantially the size of the annular space, then the outer pipe is heated to cause expansion of its diameter and facilitate insertion of the annular layer within the outer pipe. The inner pipe, or the conduit, may also be thermoplastic and may be cooled to cause contraction to facilitate insertion of the annular layer over it. After the outer pipe and inner pipe have returned to ambient temperature, the annular layer is retained within by a shrink fit, without chemical bonding between the annular layer and the pipes. Sections of the pipe are joined by simultaneously heating the ends of the inner pipe, annular layer, and outer pipe, placing the ends of one section against the ends of the other section, and allowing them to fuse while cooling.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein improved packages, and methods of forming same, of the type wherein a container, such as for example a glass container, like a bottle or jar, is provided externally thereof with a heat-shrunk, cellular thermoplastic member, circumferentially and snugly engaging a sidewall portion of the container; the improvement resides in employing, as the thermoplastic member, a composite structure, or laminate, of a closed cellular polymeric layer preponderantly of polystyrene having incorporated therein from zero weight percent up to compatible amounts of a copolymer of ethylene and an alkyl ester of alpha-beta monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid or a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate or a copolymer of ethylene and an alpha-beta monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, or mixtures thereof, and, in adhered relationship to said cellular layer, a layer of a noncellular polymeric material preponderantly of ethylene moieties having incorporated therein moieties of vinyl acetate,

Abstract: A suspension of a particulate porous fluorinated resin in an aqueous medium containing a powder of an inorganic suspension stabilizer is heated approximately at a melting temperature of the resin whereby the resin is densified, the degree of densification of the resin depending on the heating temperature.

Abstract: A shield for a radiation piping rod is formed by shrinking a length of plastic resin tubing on a rod or on a mandrel having a portion conforming to a portion of the rod to be shielded. The shrunken tubing is provided with a lengthened slit to permit stripping from the rod or mandrel to form the shield. The shield is mounted on the rod after stripping, and an air interface is formed between the rod and the shield to minimize loss of radiation caused by the shield.

Abstract: A process for continuously heat setting a tubular film of biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate in a state expanded with a gaseous material and taking the heat set film up on a winder which comprises carrying out the heat setting in a heat setting chamber wherein the temperature is controlled so as to be initially in the range of about 220.degree. C.-240.degree. C. in the first zone of heat setting and thereafter declines to about 195.degree. C.-215.degree. C. in the final zone while the length of the film is increased about 2% - 7% and the diameter of the film is reduced about 5 - 15% from the corresponding dimensions of the film before heat setting, the film then being taken up by a rotary winder.

Abstract: Naphthalate polyester filaments, yarns or fibers consisting essentially of a naphthalate polyester which has an intrinsic viscosity of 0.3 to 3.5 and a softening point of at least 200.degree. C, and in which at least 85 mol% of the total recurring units consist of units of the formula ##STR1## wherein n is 4 or 6, and having at least one diffraction peak at a Bragg scattering angle 2.theta. = 16.3.degree. -- 16.7.degree. and/or 2.theta. = 25.3.degree. - 25.8.degree. in their X-ray diffraction. These filaments, yarns or fibers are useful especially as an electrically insulating material, an elastomeric reinforcing material, a fluid filter material, a paper-making canvas and a fastener component material.Of these, filaments, yarns or fibers of poly(tetramethylene 2,6-naphthalate) are prepared by melt-spinning the polymer thereby to form undrawn filaments having a birefringence of at lest 0.01 and a density of not more than 1.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for applying plastic labels on cylindrical can bodies which includes moving the cans end-to-end in a continuous series through a forming horn over which a strip of heat-shrinkable sheet plastic is drawn to form the plastic strip into an envelope around the cans with the opposite edges of the strip adjacently disposed longitudinally of the cans, welding the opposite edges of the plastic strip to form a tube around the series of cans, heating the plastic tube to shrink it against the cans, severing the plastic tube between cans to separate them into individually wrapped cans, and further shrinking at least the ends of the plastic tube into snug engagement against the ends of the side wall of each can.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of covering glass containers with a preformed, cylindrical sleeve of a polyethylene or like polyolefin material, or laminates of polyolefins, that are heat shrinkable circumferentially of the sleeve and made from sheet of a foam or a laminate of said plastic material such as a foam-film laminate. Upon application of heat, the sleeve initially softens or becomes limp, and grows or enlarges, such that in its telescopic assembly on the upright bottle it tends to slip from position. The method includes supporting the sleeve from underneath during heating it for shrinkage by conveying the container and sleeve over a water-cooled sleeve support bar extending into the heating device a substantial distance allowing the sleeve to shrink onto the bottle. The sleeve support bar includes a lubricious surface layer adjacent the sleeve. The lubricious layer combined with water cooling maintains support surface below 200.degree. F, preferably below 150.degree.

Abstract: Coupling elements of slide fastener stringers are deformed by transverse forces of mating elements. The longitudinal spacing of coupling elements is modified by stretching or shrinking tape portions supporting the elements.

Abstract: The invention relates to sheet-like plastic packaging particles formed with a normally curved configuration having two spaced apart, curved coextensive surfaces, one of said surfaces being a substantially unfoamed skin and the remainder of said particle including the other surface being foamed, and to methods for producing packaging particles which comprise warped or distorted, foamed sheet particles suitable for use as packaging particles from an extrudable, expandable synthetic plastic material, such as, a polymerized vinyl aromatic monomer, e.g.

Abstract: A textile material is molded by preheating to its transition temperature and then rapidly deformed by stretching without cooling. The deformation is maintained for a certain time at the preheating temperature or higher. The material is then quickly cooled. An apparatus for molding particularly fabric has a heat chamber having an opening over which the fabric is fastened, and a molding body having the desired shape and movable towards the heat chamber so as to stretch the fabric while entering partly through the opening. The molding body and heat chamber can be heated and the heat chamber may be evacuated or supplied with air under pressure for cooling the fabric.

Abstract: Wraps to hold line guides on a fisherman's rod are formed as sleeve-like units by the embedment of a length of wound thread in a clear, elastomeric plastic resin, or by forming a cylindrical sleeve of elastic plastic resins. The sleeve-like wraps are expanded in diameter by an expanding tool and then chilled, or "frozen" to remain in an expanded state after the expanding tool is removed, and while expanded, the wraps are fitted onto a fishing rod and over the feet of line guides on the rod. Thereafter, warming of the frozen wraps to ambient temperatures permits them to contract to their original size to fit tightly upon the rod. A turret type of apparatus including expanders is provided to receive, expand, freeze and permit removal of the expanded wraps from the expanders for production assembly operations.

Abstract: A process by which a complex shape of a sand core is reproduced in a metal plate which is made to the exact size of the sand core through a double casting process using different materials.