Abstract: An electric wire outer cover is provided which is to be fitted around an electric wire and which has a tubular housing portion where the electric wire is to be housed, the housing portion being formed of a sheet, the housing portion being formed in a folded state. Further, walls forming the housing portion include a first wall having a projection formed therefrom and a second wall having a hole formed therein, and the housing portion is formed by engagement between the first wall and the second wall through melting of the projection that has passed through the hole and welding of the melted projection to the second wall.

Abstract: A method for forming a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic hollow structure may comprise: abutting a first surface of a first flange of a shell and a second surface of a second flange of the shell with a mating component; disposing an end block laterally adjacent to the shell; applying a first load to a sidewall of the shell; applying a second load to the second flange of the shell; and vibrating one of the shell or the mating component while keeping a non-vibrating component stationary, the non-vibrating component including one of the shell or the mating component.

Abstract: An improved a device and method for dispersion and simultaneous orientation of nanoparticles within a matrix is provided. A mixer having a shaft and a stator is provided. The shaft may have a rupture region and erosion region. Further, an orienter having an angled stationary plate and a moving plate are provided. The nanoparticles and the matrix are fed into the mixer. A rotational force is applied to the shaft to produce shearing forces. The shearing forces disperse and exfoliate the nanoparticles within the matrix. The dispersed mixture is outputted onto the moving plate. The moving plate is forced across the angled stationary plate to produce fully developed laminar shear flow. The fully developed laminar shear flow or the two-dimensional extensional drag flow orients the dispersed nanoparticles-matrix mixture.

Abstract: A closed loop catheter useable for heat exchange is manufactured by forming a plurality of generally transverse bore holes though a flexible, multilumen catheter body, lacing a tube trough the bore holes so that loops of the tube protrude from the catheter body, connecting one end of the tube to an inflow lumen of the catheter and connecting the other end of the tube to an outflow lumen of the catheter. A heated or cooled heat exchange medium may then be circulated through the tube while the catheter is inserted in the vasculature of a subject, thereby resulting in heat exchange between the subject's flowing blood and the heat exchange medium being circulated through the tube.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a catheter for medical purposes, such as for insertion into a body opening for draining fluids, wherein the catheter comprises a flexible tube having a distal end region wherein the tube is provided with at least one draining opening, characterised in that the peripheral edge on the outside of the tube is provided with a curvature for creating a smooth transition between the exterior surface of the tube and the substantially radially oriented cut constituting the opening side and wherein said curvature is a rounded edge with a curvature radius between 0.2-0.6 mm. The invention further concerns a method of making such catheter and an apparatus for performing this method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing activated color regions in a web substrate where activated color regions are formed coinciding with deformed regions. The method includes providing a web substrate having an activatable colorant and producing a first activated color region therein. The web substrate is mechanically deformed to produce at least one deformed region in the first activated color region such that a second activated color region is produced coinciding with the at least one deformed region.

Abstract: A wire harness includes a plurality of cables arranged in parallel, and a connector including a housing to which end portions of the plurality of cables are connected. An air-tight block includes two closing parts, an insertion part, a press receiving part, and an air escape opening part that opens from a cable insertion hole between the closing parts toward an outside of the air-tight block. Air-tightness between the air-tight block and the cables is maintained by a first step that a melting member is vibrated and pressed to the press receiving part to have a melt resin, which is poured into a gap between the closing parts, and a periphery of the cables is covered with the melt resin, a second step that the air escape opening part is closed, and a third step that the cables are pressed by the melt resin poured into the gap.

Abstract: One side of a metal sheet is joined to a polymer layer by applying heat to a joining area on the opposite side of the metal. The heat flows through the thin metal to activate a thermoplastic material or heat setting polymer into a bond with the metal. The method can be used to bond the metal sheet to a plastic body or another metal member. It is preferred to use a friction or friction stir tool to heat the metal surface.

Abstract: A continuous process for the production of an elastomer-modified thermoplastic is disclosed. The process entails (i) obtaining graft elastomer (D) having residual moisture content of 1 to 50 wt. %, particularly 5 to 50 wt. %, particularly preferably 10 to 40 wt. %, (ii) introducing (D) and thermoplastic resin (B) through an inlet to a reactor operating under conditions calculated to melt (D) and (B) and to remove organic volatile components C) to produce a molten blend, the reactor being equipped with a plurality of kneading bars, that convey a portion of the molten blend towards the reactor inlet.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of forming and heating a compressed composite wood product. The method includes introducing a mat assembly of resinated discrete wood elements into an oscillating compression press. Once the material is within the oscillating compression press, the compression/release oscillation is controlled to form the material. Specifically, the compression/release oscillation is controlled to heat the mat assembly to a to at least a cure temperature of the resin.

Abstract: A method for processing an impact modifier material having a core and shell molecular structure comprises working the impact modifier material in a mild extruder to a state such that at least a portion of the shells of the impact modifier material fuse together to form an impact modifier material output, and pelletizing the impact modifier output. The output is preferably pellitized, and produces pellets having a narrow size distribution.

Abstract: The invention relates to an extruder for the preparation of rubber mixtures for elastomeric products and comprises a cylinder, an endless screw rotatably mounted in the cylinder for uptake transport and homogenization of the rubber mixture, and an extrusion tool; wherein the endless screw is configured with zones of multiple treads in dependence of varying helix angle and depth of thread so that the rubber mixture transported through the zones undergoes a temperature increase through heat dissipation to such an extent that the temperature of the extrudate approaches the vulcanization temperature thereof.

Abstract: A blow molded product which is generally tubular having a first and second open ends, a bellows section intermediate said first and second ends so that the product is flexible, and a skirt adjacent the second end, the skirt having an outer cylindrical outer surface and a lobed inner surface. The bellows section is formed in a blow molding operation and the skirt is formed by injection molding. The final product is formed by thermally fusing the two portions together. This process enables molding of a product with an external surface which may substantially cylindrical with an internal surface which has lobes, or other internal projections or non-cylindrical surface.

Abstract: Methods are provided in this invention to produce wood-like boards of polyvinylchloride, which are suitable for applications, such as graphic art, construction, furniture, etc. In one of the two embodiments disclosed in this invention, the wood-like polyvinyl chloride boards have smooth surface quality, a density below 0.95 g/cm3, good dimensional stability and strong abrasive resistance. These are produced by hot mixing, cold mixing, extrusion, calibration for quenching and subsequent cutting, to produce solid skin, foamed core products. In the other embodiment, the wood-like polyvinyl chloride boards have embossed surface quality, a density below 1.0 g/cm3, good dimensional stability and surface hardness. These are produced by hot mixing, cold mixing, extrusion and subsequent slow cooling with a roller system to produce embossed products.

Abstract: The present invention provides a plastic recycling system, including a first granulator for reducing plastic waste to a first particle size. The system also includes a second granulator for reducing plastic waste to a second particle size. A frictional melting structure is provided which melts the first particles and the second particles via use of a rotating plate.

Abstract: A blow molded product which is generally tubular having a first and second open ends, a bellows section intermediate said first and second ends so that the product is flexible, and a skirt adjacent the second end, the skirt having an outer cylindrical outer surface and a lobed inner surface. The bellows section is formed in a blow molding operation and the skirt is formed by injection molding. The final product is formed by thermally fusing the two portions together. This process enables molding of a product with an external surface which may substantially cylindrical with an internal surface which has lobes, or other internal projections or non-cylindrical surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for manufacturing an extruded plastic product, the apparatus comprising at least one rotor (1) and at least one stator (2, 3) 4 with a feed gap (4) provided between them, a groove (7) being situated on the other side of the feed gap (4), the groove pressing the material to be extruded out of the apparatus when the rotor (1) is rotated. The cross section of the groove (7) remains substantially unchanged. At the opposite side of the feed gap (4) there is positioned a countergroove (8) in such a way that a processing cavity consisting of the grooves (7), the countergrooves (8) and the clearance between 6 them decreases at least partially continuously along 5 the axis of the extruder. The deformation energy of the material can thus be kept as small as possible due to the unchanging cross section of the groove (7), and the material stays in the groove (7) due to the placement of the flights (7a, 8a).

Abstract: For implant molding of toothbrushes pre-cut and pre-rounded fiber of thermoplastic material are used. Loose fibers are presented to an endrounding tool in a tuft or bundle and the free ends of the fibers are exposed to a working surface of the tool. Relative movement between the fiber ends and working surface causes the material of the fibers to be heated by friction of a predetermined intensity. The fibers while they are exposed to the working surface of the tool are permitted to flex laterally and are held in an axial direction of the tuft or bundle with their free ends commonly defining a surface different from a plane which is perpendicular to the axial direction, thereby achieving a substantially consistent flexing resistance throughout the cross-section of the tuft or bundle with respect to lateral deflection upon engagement by the endrounding tool.

Abstract: A motorized bypass valve having a valve body with cylindrical valving chambers with a single inlet and a first and second outlet ported to the chamber, such with convexo-concave face seals disposed over the ports. A rotary valving member having a partial cylindrical valving surface is disposed in the valving chamber and valving surface contacting the face seals. A motor housing is then spin welded onto the valve body to seal the valving chamber with the half shaft of the valving member extending into the motor housing and sealed by an O-ring. The motor and gear train are then assembled into the housing for driving the half shaft. The motor housing is closed by a cover welded thereover.

Abstract: The invention relates to polymer/wood fiber composite structural members that can be manufactured in an extrusion process engineered to produce the highest quality materials. The composite can be in a linear extrudate or pellet and can have a cross-section of any arbitrary shape, or can be a regular-geometric or of arbitrary-amorphous shape. The extruded material comprises a consistent proportion of polymer, wood fiber and water. During the extrusion, water is removed intentionally to dry the material to a maximum water content of less than about 10 wt-% based on the pellet weight. To make a structural unit, the pellet is introduced into an extruder apparatus wherein, under conditions of controlled mass throughput, shear, mechanical energy input, controlled temperature and pressure, the composite material is produced.

Abstract: A method of converting stripped roofing material into a useful product comprising feeding roofing material removed during repair or reroofing of a building roof into a shredder introducing particles of material from said shredder together with particles of thermoplastic material and a particulate filler material into a high intensity mixer to form a batch of material to be mixed, intensely mixing said batch of material to produce a heated mass of hot particles of roofing material and filler material coated with molten thermoplastic, then molding said heated mass under pressure into a desired end product. The invention also includes products produced utilizing said stripped roofing material.

Abstract: Composite products comprising or incorporating compression moldings of waste or filler particles (16) encapsulated and bound together by a thermoplastic binder (15) into a compacted mass of a shape selected for its end use, the compression molding being prepared by intensely mixing together particles of thermoplastic and waste or filler material to raise their temperature to bring the thermoplastic particles to a molten state where they coat the waste or filler particles (16), then compression molding the hot coated waste or filler particles.

Abstract: A joint between a fluid connector body and a plastic tube is formed at least in part by spin welding, wherein the portion of the connector which is configured to receive the tube defines inner and outer surfaces which engage the inner and outer surfaces of the mating tube to create redundant circumferentially continuous seals between the fluid passageway and the outside environment. The use of multi-layer co-extruded plastic tubing having intermediate or bonding layers is particularly advantageous inasmuch as separate inner and outer seals are established between the connector housing and the inner and outer tubing layers, respectively, to ensure that neither system fluids nor foreign contaminants are exposed to the intermediate tube layers, thereby preventing capillary adsorption or delamination.

Abstract: A vehicle lamp comprises: a lamp body made of synthetic resin having an opening; a flange extending sidewards from a peripheral portion of the opening of the lamp body of synthetic resin, and having a joining surface; a front lens made of synthetic resin; and a leg formed on a peripheral portion of a rear surface of the front lens, wherein the front lens is welded with the lamp body such that an end of the leg of the front lens is wedged into the joining surface of the flange of the lamp body, thus forming a weld of wedge type between the joining surface of the flange and the leg of the front lens.

Abstract: A method is provided for securing a thermoplastic insert between first and second skin sheets of a sandwich panel using an installation tool to rotate the insert about a central axis. One of the installation tool and insert are provided with a male connection feature and the other is provided with a female connection feature such that the installation tool and insert are axially movable toward and away from each other to engage the male and female connection features without requiring relative rotation. The male and female connection features include mating surfaces offset from the central axis to transmit torque between the installation tool and insert. The insert is magnetically attracted to the installation tool by providing one of the installation tool and insert with a magnet and the other with a magnetic material to be attracted by the magnet.

Abstract: Thermoplastic foam is converted into useful products by simultaneously compressing and agitating particles of the foam. The particles are formed into a substantially unitary mass of hot softened material which can be immediately formed, cast or extruded into useful particles.

Abstract: At least two thermoplastic polymers in a divided state are stirred to produce a homogeneous thermoplastic material. The polymers are inserted into the enclosure and stirred by the blades of the rotor, whereafter the resulting homogeneous material is discharged through the outlet. A sharp increase in the power consumption of the engine indicates that the material has become homogeneous.

Abstract: A blow molded product which is generally tubular having a first and second open ends, a bellows section intermediate said first and second ends so that the product is flexible, and a skirt adjacent the second end, the skirt having an outer cylindrical outer surface and a lobed inner surface is provided. The bellows section is formed in a blow molding operation and the skirt is formed by injection molding. The final product is formed by thermally fusing the two portions together thereby forming a product with a substantially cylindrical external surface and a non-cylindrical internal surface which has lobes or other internal projections.

Abstract: A method which is capable of manufacturing regenerated synthetic resin products, particularly slide fastener parts of regenerated synthetic resin, with good quality by using as a raw material such waste synthetic resin materials as emanate from the production line of slide fasteners of synthetic resin or arise from waste plastic products.

Abstract: A method of spin welding a fastener to an article and such an article. In a preferred mode, a method of spin welding a fastener to a surface conditioning treating article is disclosed. The fastener comprises a generally planar base including a first side, a second side, and a drive member extending from the second side. The surface treating article comprises a working surface adapted to treat a workpiece surface, and a back surface, the back surface comprising an open woven scrim. The first side of the fastener base is melt-bonded by the spin weld method to the open woven scrim of the surface treating article.

Abstract: A molded motor vehicle instrument panel made of a thermoplastic material has an integral air bag deployment door for a passenger side air bag that is defined by a tear seam and is normally retained by an integral flexible mounting/hinge flange to a part of the vehicle structure when the seam is torn by the inflating air bag and wherein this flange then bends to allow the door to swing open to allow deployment of the air bag through an opening in the instrument panel while retaining same to the vehicle structure as the door is then free of the instrument panel. At very low temperatures, a portion of the air bag door can break away from the mounting/hinge flange because of plastic embrittlement at these low temperatures and the high bending stresses encountered at this juncture.

Abstract: At least two thermoplastic polymers in a divided state are stirred to produce a homogeneous thermoplastic material. The polymers are inserted into the enclosure (2) and stirred by the blades of the rotor (6), whereafter the resulting homogeneous material is discharged through the outlet (5). A sharp increase in the power consumption of the engine (7) indicates that the material has become homogeneous.

Abstract: An extrusion system for providing a foamed material in which a material such as a polymer material is supplied to an extruder for movement through a rotating screw member. The material is placed in a molten state and a foaming agent, such as a supercritical fluid, is introduced into the extruder at a selected pressure so that a two-phase mixture of the molten material and the foaming agent is formed. The foaming agent is then diffused into and dissolved in the molten material to form a single-phase solution which is forwarded from a solution formation to a nucleation device. A thermodynamic instability is induced through a rapid pressure drop, e.g., higher than 0.9 GPa/s in the nucleation device to nucleate microcells in the solution. A further shaping device, e.g., a die, can be used to produce a foamed material of a desired shape.

Abstract: There is disclosed a molded part made of thermoplastic resin to which a foaming agent is added and including a protector body (51) having lock portions (56) serving as a strength required area, a lid element (52), and a hinge (54) between the protector body (51) and the lid element (52) and having a wall thickness less than that of the protector body (51) and the lid element (52), wherein the thermoplastic resin forming the protector body (51) including the lock portions (56) contains no foams but the thermoplastic resin forming the lid element (52) contains foams on opposite side of the hinge (54) from the protector body (51), thereby accomplishing a reduced weight and an ensured strength of the strength required area.

Abstract: A hinged support or the like for the articulated connection of chassis parts in motor vehicles, in which bearing eyes (1, 2) provided at the ends are connected to one another in one piece by a shaft part (5). The shaft part (5), manufactured according to the injection molding process, has an inner, longitudinally extending hollow section and a smooth outer contour.

Abstract: A synthetic wood meal in which a thermoplastic resin material of 25 to 80 wt % is mixed with a cellulose crushed material of 20 to 75 wt % that lies in the moisture content of within 15 wt % and the mean particle diameter of 20 mesh or less, the mixed material is kneaded so as to be set to gel, and the kneaded material is cooled and pulverized and regulated to a size that lies in a particle diameter of 10 mm or less. Then, the synthetic wood meal as the cellulose crushed material is mixed in at the rate of 20 to 75 wt % to the resin material, the mixed material is kneaded by heating and squeezed by a screw or screws of an extruding die 78 in an extruder.

Abstract: A hinged support or the like for the articulated connection of chassis parts in motor vehicles, in which a section connecting bearing eyes at the ends to one another is designed as a hollow section and is assembled from parts which are manufactured as shell-shaped open parts and are connected to one another after manufacture to form a closed hollow section.

Abstract: A molded motor vehicle instrument panel made of a thermoplastic material has an integral air bag deployment door for a passenger side air bag that is defined by a tear seam and is normally retained by an integral flexible mounting/hinge flange to a part of the vehicle structure when the seam is torn by the inflating air bag and wherein this flange then bends to allow the door to swing open to allow deployment of the air bag through an opening in the instrument panel while retaining same to the vehicle structure as the door is then free of the instrument panel. At very low temperatures, a portion of the air bag door can break away from the mounting/hinge flange because of plastic embrittlement at these low temperatures and the high bending stresses encountered at this juncture.

Abstract: A method of installing a thermoplastic fastener insert unit into a thermoplastic composite resin panel includes the steps of cutting a hole in the plastic resin panel of a diameter less than the annular flange of the fastener insert unit. The fastener insert unit is then rotated to frictionally generate heat between the annular flange and the plastic resin panel until sufficient heat has been generated to enable the welding of a fastener insert unit directly to the plastic resin panel. Additionally, the lower surface of the fastener insert unit can also be frictionally welded to an interior surface of the plastic resin panel.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a bucket of a wet/dry vacuum cleaner includes the step of producing a one piece conical shell with an open top end and an open bottom end. The shell is tapered such that its bottom end has a larger diameter than its top end. A base plate is also produced. Subsequently, the base plate is secured to the shell to close the shell bottom end and form a bucket. An aperture may extend through the shell and a hose inlet can be snapped to the shell through the aperture therein. A latch handle can be snapped to a latch mounting wall of the shell and a handle can be secured to the shell as well. The shell can also include an integral skirt in which are formed caster housings as well as a tool storage cavity.

Abstract: A plasticizing method uses an apparatus (10) including a barrel (12) having a bore (14) therethrough. An auger (24) and a rotor (30) are positioned in the bore, each extending from opposed ends (16, 18) of the barrel (12) and having ends (26, 34) that are substantially flush. The auger (24) conveys particulate plastic material along the bore (14), the plastic being frictionally melted before passing the auger discharge end (26). The rotor (30) is provided to uniformly heat the melted plastic. Auger (24) and rotor (30) each are associated with independent means for rotating (28, 32) and means for controlling the speed of rotation (50, 52). The speed of rotation of the auger (24) controls the flow rate of plastic through the bore, and the speed of rotation of the rotor (30) controls the temperature of the melted plastic.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing an elongated beam from compressible material. A mixture of filling material and plastic material is delivered to a first space and there compressed. The compressed material is pressed through a nozzle into a second space defined by a matrix of wall parts, where the material is made more rigid. The wall parts of the matrix can be moved backwards and forwards in a particular sequence to enable beam parts to be fed continuously through the matrix.

Abstract: A plasticizing apparatus (10) including a barrel (12) having a bore (14) therethrough. An auger (24) and a rotor (30) are positioned in the bore, each extending from opposed ends (16, 18) of the barrel (12) and having ends (26, 34) that are substantially flush. The auger (24) conveys particulate plastic material along the bore (14), the plastic being frictionally melted before passing the auger discharge end (26). The rotor (30) is provided to uniformly heat the melted plastic. Auger (24) and rotor (30) each are associated with independent means for rotating (28, 32) and means for controlling the speed of rotation (50, 52). The speed of rotation of the auger (24) controls the flow rate of plastic through the bore, and the speed of rotation of the rotor (30) controls the temperature of the melted plastic.

Abstract: An injection molding mechanism and method of its use for the formation in a single sequence of operations of weld-line free cylindrical container body portions having a central opening at one end. The central opening is formed by the removal of the central top sprue portion of the container body. The container body produced by this mechanism can be used as a pressurizable dispensing container.

Abstract: A process for producing shaped or molded articles made of polymer particles containing aromatic imide linkages includes the steps of introducing the polymer particles into a chamber for heating the particles, the chamber having a blade which rotates in the chamber and heats the particles by impacting them; heating the polymer particles to a forming temperature; discharging the polymer particles into a shaping device, such as a mold; and, pressurizing the polymer in the shaping device until the polymer particles consolidate into the shape desired. The process has proven to be effective with polymers that are difficult to process, such as thermoplastic polyimide polymers, polyetherimide polymers, bismaleimide polymers, polyarylate polymers, amideimide polymers, and other polymers containing fully reacted aromatic imide linkages.

Abstract: Method of forming a pour spout portion of a blow molded plastic bottle with a dripless lip. In one form, the terminal end of the pour spout is internally reamed at an angle so as to terminate in an exterior sharp edge, after which the resultant tapered end portion of the pour spout is engaged by a rotating tool which frictionally heats the plastic engaged thereby and progressively turns over the sharp edge through an angle on the order of 180.degree. to provide the desired dripless lip. In another form, the pour spout portion of the container neck finish is provided with an integrally molded outwardly directed hollow rib which lies in a sloping plane. The rib extends only partially about the circumference of the pour spout. The pour spout is then trimmed at an angle to the axis of the pour spout and parallel to the plane of the rib so as to provide for a pour lip of limited circumferential extent and which pour lip, depending upon the plane of trimming may terminate in a sharp dripless lip.

Abstract: A friction or inertial welded cylinder is made of a tube and base member. The base member has an annular groove that is positioned within the cylinder tube and which receives the kerf formed on the interior of the cylinder during welding. The groove height is formed to provide a place to receive the kerf as it curls and to seal material within the groove so foreign materials do not later break loose from the kerf and cause damage to the cylinder assembly in use.

Abstract: A spinwelding procedure is provided for joining thermoplastic tubular members together at their respective axial ends. Axial end portions of very thin tubes are circumferentially supported both internally and externally, and one of the tubes is then rotated with respect to the other until adequate friction develops to melt the thermoplastic materials, after which they cool to heat bond together.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for producing biaxially oriented polymer sheet. This process includes the steps of introducing a polymer slab into a deformation zone defined between working surfaces of a set of working tools including a first working tool and an opposed second working tool. The polymer slab is worked in the deformation zone to reduce slab gauge, during which the polymer material being worked flows bi-directionally while the material is not restricted in the lateral direction to produce biaxially oriented polymer sheet. At least the portion of the slab being worked is at a temperature above the glass transition temperature and below the melting temperature of the polymer material. The working surface of at least one working tool in the deformation zone is ultrasonically excited during working of the polymer slab.

Abstract: A method of producing a pair of container bodies. A cylindrical, hollow preform of a thermoplastic polymer material having a cylindrical body having a sidewall and an opened neck finish on each longitudinal end of the preform is provided. The preform is heated to a temperature above the glass transition temperature of the polymer and below the melting temperature of the polymer, and is stretched. The preform is stretched longitudinally by applying force to at least one of the ends, and is stretched transversely by introducing fluid pressure into the preform sufficient to form a stretch blown component having a first neck at one end and a second neck at the other end, and a body portion between the necks. The stretch blown component is separated transversely through the body to provide two container bodies, each having a neck finish corresponding dimensionally with the respective neck finish on the preform from which the container bodies are stretch-blown.