Abstract: A bypass conduit having a desired hollow internal geometry for defining a bounded blood flow path from an open first end positioned in a heart chamber and an open second end connected to a lumen of a coronary vessel is made by forming a master having an external surface with an external geometry complementary to the desired internal geometry of the conduit. The external surface of the master is coated with pyrolytic carbon to define a pyrolytic carbon conduit of pyrolytic carbon bonded to the external surface of the master and with the pyrolytic carbon having an internal surface with a conduit geometry complementary to the external geometry of the master. The master is removed from the pyrolytic carbon conduit.

Abstract: An apparatus for granulation of fine, light powder by mixing a powder and a mist of binder with a fluidizing air flow. The apparatus includes a container and a filter, provided along an inner peripheral surface of the container, for forming a high density powder layer thereon. A space, formed between the container and the filter, is divided into a plurality of ring-shaped zones. Also, a backwash mechanism and an exhaust mechanism are connected to the container so as to be selectively communicated with the ring-shaped zones.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a molding apparatus, including a cylinder having an interior sidewall and a fluid inlet, and defining an inner cavity. A porous plate is disposed within the inner cavity, and is disposable in a loading position wherein the inner cavity is divided into a fluid flow chamber and a material chamber. A ram having an outside diameter which is less than the diameter of the cylinder interior sidewall is slidable within the cylinder.

Abstract: Pyrolytic carbon products are manufactured so as to have improved structural properties. Pyrolytic carbon is deposited on a substrate in a fluidized bed of small particles at a temperature of about 1200.degree. to about 1400.degree. C., and after cooling to ambient temperature, the pyrolytic carbon is machined to desired physical dimensions for a heart valve component or the like. By heating such pyrolytic carbon structures in an inert gas atmosphere to a temperature in the range of about 1000.degree.-1500.degree. C. for at least about one hour following machining, it is found that stresses created in the pyrolytic carbon as a result of the machining are relieved without adverse effect to mechanical properties of the pyrocarbon, resulting in components having greater structural integrity.

Abstract: A mold for use in producing a hollow tube component for a dispensing applicator. The mold has a main body portion that defines a forward end from which extends a sloped shoulder portion, a neck portion, and a stem element. Between the stem element and the neck portion, there is a provided a re-entrant surface which forms a sharp edge and an angle with respect to the outer, main surface of the neck portion. The mold is used in a dip-molding process for producing a dispensing container that has a frangible portion that is broken away during first use, which frangible portion is formed by the re-entrant surface.

Abstract: In a fluidized-bed granulating apparatus for continuously producing granular particles from a powdered raw material, while a granulated product is continuously exhausted in a substantially constant amount from the bottom or bottom side wall of a fluidizing chamber and is introduced into a classifying section where the granulated product is classified by classifying means thereby selecting and delivering the granules granulated to particle size greater than the desired size and returning ungranulated material to the fluidizing chamber, the pressure drop of the fluidized bed is detected to adjust the charging rate of the powdered raw material into the fluidized bed and the moisture content of the material to be granulated in the bed is detected to adjust the feed rate of a binding liquid, thereby producing a granulated product of a desired particle size.

Abstract: A tangled fibrous material from cut glass fibre bundles, with the cut glass fiber bundler being fed into a compressed air flow and a glass fibre-laden air being deflected into a turbulent eddy flow of varying direction, so that a tangled fibrous material of wadding-like consistency is formed. Through the simultaneous addition of dry polymer-based binder powder, it is possible to obtain a tangled fibrous material as a starting product for a production of glass fibre-reinforced plastic moundings, which can be compressed to a felt. This can be packed as an intermediate or further processed in a heated belt press to glass fibre-reinforced plastic plates.

Abstract: In a rotation granulator, the injection nozzles for the powder are provided along the jacket surface of the granulator container over the rotary table, so that the powder will arrive directly in the range of the stronger flow. In order to prevent any interruptions of the operation due to the filter part, a two-chamber system is proposed in which the first and second chambers may be alternately cut off. This makes it possible to operate the installation without any interruption. In order to control the air supply, the rotary table is mounted so that it may be moved up and down, in order that the width of the air gap between the rotary table and the inner wall of the conical casing may be adjusted. Lastly, a device for taking of samples provides a system of sluices or channels by which the low-pressure space of the granulator is actively prevented from being in direct contact with the free atmosphere.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for expanding particles of a lightweight aggregate material are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a housing having an upper chamber separated from a lower chamber by a partition having a plurality of openings. Hot air is introduced into the lower chamber and flows through the partition to fluidize particles introduced into the upper chamber. Means are provided for independently regulating the velocity of air through separate sections of the partition. Particles are introduced at the inlet end of the upper chamber. The particles are fluidized and transported toward the outlet end of the upper chamber by the air flow. The temperature of the air flow causes the particles to expand and become lighter. The velocity of the air flow through separate sections of the partition is adjusted to maintain uniform fluidization of the particle bed in the upper chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for granulation in which particulate feed material is charged into a rotary cylindrical vessel (12) having its axis disposed horizontally, and respective cover plate (16,18) at each end for retaining the feed material, and a treatment gas and a process liquid is passed into the vessel during rotation of the latter.

Abstract: A method is described for forming a novel bowed shim for a cassette which includes impacting one surface of a sheet of polymeric material with particles until layer-like portions adjacent its surfaces are differentially expanded and the material is bowed, and then cutting the shim from the material.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for producing a molded skin product such as an interior decoration member like an instrument panel for an automobile or other vehicle. The process includes charging a desired amount of synthetic resin powder into a treating container disposed facing a predetermined shaped molding mold surface. The mold surface is heated to a temperature of at least the melting temperature of the synthetic resin. The powder is spattered onto the mold surface by violently agitating the same by an agitation means whereby a fused coating of the powder is formed on the mold surface. The spattering is discontinued when the coating reaches a predetermined thickness. The mold surface is cooled thereby solidifying the coating to form the molded skin material. The molded skin material is then removed from the mold surface. The powder can be fluidized during the spattering.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process comprising the cooling and comminuting of molten calcium carbide, wherein a molten stream of calcium carbide is tapped off from a furnace at 1900.degree. to 2100.degree. C., cooled and comminuted. More particularly, the molten calcium carbide is initially comminuted into droplets and the droplets are cooled to less than 200.degree. C. The process can be carried out with the aid of an apparatus comprised of a heatable or coolable feed duct, a nozzle for comminuting the molten stream, and a series of fluidized bed cooling zones.

Abstract: A process for producing high strength sintered bauxite spheres usable as fracture propping agents in oil or gas wells are produced by continuous spray-granulation of an aqueous binder-containing aluminous ore suspension to form granules which are subsequently sintered. Suitable starting materials include ores of high aluminum silicate content.

Abstract: A powder coating process for producing soft, flexible polyurethane films particularly in the form of a surgical glove, wherein low melting crystalline prepolymer particles are powder coated and cured to an essentially non-crystalline film.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing polyacrylic acid salt granules easily soluble in water characterized in that a water-soluble powder of polyacrylic acid salt is granulated according to fluidized bed granulation method while an aqueous solution of the polyacrylic acid salt of a viscosity of 50-700 c.p.s. is sprayed thereon.

Abstract: An improved method of manufacturing a composition for bonded magnets in which deterioration of the composition due to heat is prevented, while uniform dispersion of ferrite powder is achieved for stabilization of physical properties and various characteristics of the resultant bonded magnets.

Abstract: For the purpose of briquetting organic solid materials, such as brown coal or bituminous coal, the materials are heated by hot water and/or steam and under super-atmospheric pressure to temperatures exceeding 160.degree. C. After discharging the organic solid materials, which have become dried to a great extent, the generated steam is separated by sucking off the steam without substantially cooling effect, bitumen-forming substances present within the organic solid materials thereby rapidly becoming homogeneously distributed. These homogeneously distributed binding agents give the compressed briquettes obtained a high strength and good mechanical properties when using substantially reduced compacting pressures as compared with known briquetting processes.

Abstract: A process for granulating slag melts, glass melts, ceramic melts, metal melts and melts of metal alloys, particularly blast furnace slag melts, the melt being shaped into at least one thin, liquid melt stream moving freely in a predetermined direction and which, by meeting at a predetermined incidence angle with a stream of fine-grained, solid particles and/or gas, particularly inert gas, flowing substantially freely in a substantially uniform direction at a high rate of flow in relation to the melt stream or melt streams, being converted at least partly into a substantially fine-grained granulate having a fan-shaped distribution over at least part of the opposite angle to the incidence angle.

Abstract: A method for the production of a spherical molded product of a titanium oxide composition comprising adding a titanium oxide composition powder and a mist of an aqueous medium to a seed of an inorganic substance, granulating the mixture with a centrifugal fluidizing coating granulator and calcining the resultant spherical product, which is characteristic in that the granulation of the mixture is carried out by adding the titanium oxide composition powder and the aqueous medium in the ratio of addition rate of 1:0.20 to 1:0.35 by weight, whereby there is obtained a spherical molded product having a larger strength with less abrasion. The spherical molded product obtained by the present invention is useful, for instance, as a catalyst carrier or catalyst for the removal of nitrogen oxides from exhaust gases.

Abstract: A method of producing granular sodium dichloroisocyanurate, comprises the steps of forming thin columnar pellets of sodium dichloroisocyanurate from wet powdery solids thereof obtained in the manufacturing process, drying the pellets to remove free water therein, compacting, crushing and screening. According to this method, granular sodium dichloroisocyanurate in the form of anhydride, monohydrate or dihydrate may be obtained by controlling the temperature and the humidity of heating air used in the drying step.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for forming an outlet passageway in an osmotic dispensing device. The process comprises compressing a drug formulation into a solid mass, forming a recess in the solid mass, and then spray coating the mass with a wall forming material that surrounds the mass. The outlet passageway in the wall is formed at the recess simultaneously and automatically during the coating procedure. The passageway extends through the wall and communicates with the drug and the exterior of the device for dispensing the drug over a prolonged period of time.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing a substantially dry, low dusting, free-flowing granular pigment composition, comprising contacting a fluidized bed of pigment, a granulating assistant and water, and removing granules so obtained. Preferred methods include:(a) Spraying the granulating assistant and water on to the fluidized bed of pigment; and(ii) Incorporating all or part of the granulating assistant into the pigment prior to fluidization and spraying with water, or water and the remaining granulating assistant.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of glass raw material granular pellets is provided.The process comprises:(a) forming a mixture of powdered raw glass material with an aqueous solution of a binder, which can be converted into a solid upon exposure to an elevated temperature gas stream, said binder not adversely affecting the glass subsequently formed of said material,(b) directing a stream of gas at an elevated temperature upwardly through a substantially erect straight pipe having the upper end thereof connected to a solid-gas separator;(c) feeding said mixture into an opening in said pipe and into said upwardly flowing heated gas stream to disperse said mixture,(d) drying said dispersed mixture in said gas stream and bonding the particles in said dispersed mixture with said binder to form granular pellets thereof, and(e) separating said formed granular pellets from said gas stream in said separator.

Abstract: Urea prills are obtained by contacting molten urea droplets with a co-current gas stream in a prill tower and cooling and collecting the prills thus formed in a fluidized bed having a second gas stream flowing countercurrent to the prills.

Abstract: An improved process for making a gas diffusion electrode which comprises heating of the mixed electrode material prior to forming the electrode. Because of the stickiness or self adhesion characteristics of the electrode mixture, the invention includes special transport apparatus having a fluidized bed that uniformly disperses the sticky electrode material onto a conveyor belt for forming the electrode without subsequent heating.

Abstract: A system of making molds for investment casting in which the patterns are formed from, and the sprue form is coated with, polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight in the range of from approximately 1,300 to approximately 1,600, or its equivalent and having admixed therein as a filler powdered graphite, in which the graphite comprises in the range of from about 35 per cent to 60 per cent by weight of the pattern forming material. The patterns are molded to the desired shape, and to include a gate section, and they are adhered to the sprue form in spaced apart relation by fluidizing the gate section end to make a welded connection with the sprue form coating. The mold is then formed about the patterns that are adhered to the sprue form, leaving the pour cup end of the sprue form exposed, to which heat is subsequently applied to sufficiently fluidize the sprue form coating so that the sprue form can be drawn out of the mold thereby leaving the sprue opening.

Abstract: A method for making metal powder by atomizing molten metal is improved by causing the solidifying metal droplets to be subjected to a whirling flow of a powdery coolant such as a different powder, e.g. quartz sand or powder separated from the extracted flow of powder just made and cooled additionally. The whirling flow is sustained by blowing an inert gas in up direction into the powder collection chamber.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for agglomerating a finely divided material with a rubber latex to form dustless, free-flowing granules in which rubber latex is sprayed onto a dampened finely divided material while the dampened finely divided material is suspended in a gaseous medium.

Abstract: When prilling molten materials into a tower containing dust particles suspended or carried in a counter-current gas stream, the amount of dust picked up by the droplets of molten material as they pass down the tower can be reduced by the addition of up to 10% by weight of very fine particles having a primary particle size of less than 1 micrometer to the dust in the tower.

Abstract: A prilled ammonium nitrate containing 2 to 5 percent by weight water obtained by prilling an aqueous solution of 93 to 98 percent by weight ammonium nitrate is dried by: lowering the drying temperature of the ammonium nitrate to a temperature less than the III--IV crystalline transition temperature of ammonium nitrate at least once when the water content of the prilled ammonium nitrate is 0.3 to 1.5 percent by weight in the drying step; further drying at a temperature higher than the III--IV transition temperature; and adding an anti-caking agent to the dried prilled ammonium nitrate. The dried, prilled ammonium nitrate obtained is useful as an ammonium nitrate fuel oil explosive.

Abstract: A method of producing fibre-reinforced thermoplastic materials in which a plurality of rovings are impregnated with a powdered thermoplastic, the thermoplastic is melted and each impregnated roving is consolidated by passing it through a die which includes the step of contacting all the rovings with a common pool of molten polymer.