Abstract: Catheters, sheaths, or other tubular devices are provided that include a proximal end, a distal end sized for introduction into a patient's body, and a steerable distal portion. The tubular device includes a primary lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends; an auxiliary lumen adjacent the primary lumen; and one or more reinforcement members including windings extending helically along at least the distal portion, at least some of the windings passing between the primary and steering element lumens and at least some of the windings surrounding both the primary and steering element lumens. In one embodiment, a steering element is slidably disposed within the auxiliary lumen. Apparatus and methods for making such tubular devices are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for removing and drawing a synthetic thread to form a fully drawn yarn. The thread is formed by joining a plurality of extruded filaments and is guided by contact on the circumference of heated guide jackets of several driven galette pairs. In order to obtain a gentle and highly homogenized treatment of the filaments, the thread is guided in an S-shaped or Z-shaped thread course by a first galette pair having two guide jackets driven in opposite directions during the removal from a spinning zone and before the drawing. Thus, both sides of the thread can be brought directly into circumferential contact with the guide jackets for in order to heat the thread.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming a high strength synthetic rope useful for towing warps, trawler warps, yachting ropes, mooring lines, anchor lines, oil derrick anchoring lines, seismic lines, seismic lines and any other uses for rope, cable or chain.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for making a polyolefin fiber. The process comprises the steps of providing at least one polyolefin tape; twisting or folding the at least one polyolefin tape longitudinally to obtain a precursor fiber and exposing the precursor fiber under tension to a temperature within the melting point range of the polyolefin for a time sufficient to at least partly two or more parts of the precursor fiber. The invention also relates to the fiber obtainable thereby.

Abstract: A method of reducing an initial stress on a cable includes stretching the cable to a first length to thereby define the initial stress. The cable has a central longitudinal axis, and includes a plurality of wires each twisted around the axis and formed from a shape memory alloy transitionable in response to a signal between a first state wherein each of the wires has a first temperature-dependent length, and a second state wherein each of the wires has a second temperature-dependent length that is less than the first. After stretching, the method includes activating the alloy by exposing the alloy to the signal such that the alloy transitions from the first to the second temperature-dependent state. Concurrent to activating, the method includes elongating the cable to a second length that is greater than the first to define a second stress on the cable that is less than the first.

Abstract: Composite yarns have a filamentary core provided with at least one elastic performance filament and at least one inelastic control filament. A fibrous sheath, preferably formed from spun staple fibers, surrounds the filamentary core, preferably substantially along the entire length thereof. The at least one elastic performance filament most preferably includes a spandex and/or a lastol filament. The at least one inelastic control filament is most preferably formed of a textured polymer or copolymer of a polyamide, a polyester, a polyolefin and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the fibrous sheath is formed of synthetic and/or natural staple fibers, most preferably staple cotton fibers. The elastic composite fibers find particular utility as a component part of a woven textile fabric, especially as a stretch denim fabric, which exhibits advantageous elastic recovery of at least about 95.0% (ASTM D3107).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for removing and drawing a synthetic thread to form a fully drawn yarn. The thread is formed by joining a plurality of extruded filaments and is guided by contact on the circumference of heated guide jackets of several driven galette pairs. In order to obtain a gentle and highly homogenized treatment of the filaments, the thread is guided in an S-shaped or Z-shaped thread course by a first galette pair having two guide jackets driven in opposite directions during the removal from a spinning zone and before the drawing. Thus, both sides of the thread can be brought directly into circumferential contact with the guide jackets for in order to heat the thread.

Abstract: Techniques are directed to godet unit for guiding a multifilament thread, including a driven godet of an auxiliary roller or a second godet, from which the thread can be guided with multiple loopings, and including a mingling device for air-mingling the thread. The godet and the mingling device are provided in the form of a combined assembly.

Abstract: A rope structure comprising a plurality of fibers combined to form a plurality of yarns which are in turn combined to form a plurality of strands. The plurality of strands are combined using a single braid process to form the rope structure defining a void space. At least one of the fibers, the yarns, and the strands are configured substantially to reduce a volume of the void space and thereby maintain a shape of the rope structure when the rope structure is under load.

Abstract: An electrically conductive elastic composite yarn comprises an elastic member that is surrounded by at least one conductive covering filament(s). The elastic member has a predetermined relaxed unit length L and a predetermined drafted length of (N×L), where N is a number preferably in the range from about 1.0 to about 8.0. The conductive covering filament has a length that is greater than the drafted length of the elastic member such that substantially all of an elongating stress imposed on the composite yarn is carried by the elastic member. The elastic composite yarn may further include an optional stress-bearing member surrounding the elastic member and the conductive covering filament. The length of the stress-bearing member is less than the length of the conductive covering filament and greater than, or equal to, the drafted length (N×L) of the elastic member, such that a portion of the elongating stress imposed on the composite yarn is carried by the stress-bearing member.

Abstract: An absorbable multifilament draw-textured yarn having a bulky structure, and a manufacturing method and medical use thereof The absorbable multifilament draw-textured yarn is obtained by draw-texturing a multifilament made of an absorbable polymer and has bulkiness and a superior soft touch, which are the characteristics of draw-textured yarns. As a result of partially imparting a bulkiness of 150-1000% to the multifilament draw-textured yarn, it is possible to culture cells in the bulky structure, and the multifilament draw-textured yarn is suitable for cell delivery or drug delivery.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing autohesion thread such that a smooth surface is offered, the cutting thereof is easy, filaments composing thread are not frayed in cutting, drainability is superior, and plural kinds of filaments can be combined. A method of manufacturing a line of fusion thread, wherein plural filaments comprising thermoplastic resin are paralleled, twisted and/or braided if desired, subsequently drawn under heat at a draw ratio of less than 1.0 to thereby substantially fuse the adjacent filaments, and thereafter drawn under heat at a draw ratio of more than 1.0.

Abstract: A yarn for forming filiform formations of a synthetic-grass covering reproducing the grassy sward of natural turf comprises filiform segments set alongside one another and connected together by thin breakable connection portions, in which the filiform segments have thickened end parts. Preferably, the yarn is obtained by longitudinal stretching, starting from a length constituted by a strip comprising multiple filiform segments set alongside one another and connected together by thin connection portions.

Abstract: A process of making a pigmented shaped article comprising: (a) providing polytrimethylene terephthalate chips and two or more colored pigmented chips each containing at least one different color pigment; (b) heating the polytrimethylene terephthalate chips and colored pigmented chips to a temperature of about 200-about 280° C. to melt the chips and form a polymer composition comprising the polytrimethylene terephthalate and at least one color pigment; and (c) forming a shaped article from the polymer composition.

Abstract: This invention provides a composite elastic yarn from which may be made a wide, stretchable textile fabric or stretchable knitted fabric.

Abstract: A reinforcing cord for a belt ply or a carcass ply of a pneumatic vehicle tire is provided and comprises a core filament and four to six ply filaments. The core filament is comprised of an elastically or plastically deformable polymeric material, or is encased with such a material, which fills the space surrounded by the ply filaments and/or penetrates into the gaps between the ply filaments.

Abstract: This invention provides a pitch fiber bundle for carbon fibers of small size, a carbon fiber bundle, and a method for the production thereof, i.e. a method for the production of carbon fibers of a small size, a pitch fiber bundle, and a carbon fiber bundle at a lower cost with higher productivity than usual. The method for the production of pitch type carbon fibers according to this invention comprises dividing a plurality of pitch fibers into not less than two bundles, intertwining the bundles by exposure to currents of air thereby forming a first fiber bundle, binding a plurality of such first fiber bundles, and again intertwining the bound pitch fiber bundles by exposure to currents of air thereby forming a second fiber bundle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of a low-fibrillation moulded body containing polytetrafluorethylene. The process is characterised in that a pre-moulded body of polytetrafluorethylene is twisted and then pressed flat. The pre-moulded body can be twisted around itself or around another material e.g. a mono- or multifilament or a spun yarn. The invention relates furthermore to a low fibrillation moulded body containing polytetrafluorethylene which can be obtained by means of the process in accordance with the invention and the use of the moulded body in accordance with the invention as dental floss.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the manufacture of screwlike bristles by extruding monofilaments. In order to provide a method with which screwlike bristles can be inexpensively manufactured in the same way as conventional bristles with an identical, predeterminable quality, a monofilament having a non-circular cross-section is extruded and is prestretched after drawing off, accompanied by a reduction in its cross-section, followed by further stretching, twisting to a screwlike bristle material over at least part of its length and then stabilization by shrinkage. It is possible to extrude a monofilament with an oval or polygonal cross-section or having a core and at least one axially parallel rib. According to a further method, at least two monofilaments are prestretched on drawing off, accompanied by a reduction of their cross-section, followed by further stretching, twisting together to give a screwlike bristle material and stabilization by heat shrinkage.

Abstract: A method for forming a braided rope. Twisted yarns are first braided together to form braided strands, and the braided strands are then braided together to form the rope. The diameter of the individual twisted yarns is kept to a minimum, thereby reducing the number of twisting stages required to form the yarns and also permitting heat stretching treatment using existing systems. Moreover, in-line connections can be made within the individual strands using conventional braided rope splices, which both eliminates the need to use long splices during manufacture of the rope and enables individual strands to be spliced in the field to so as to repair snags, cuts, and other service damage without having to replace an entire length of the rope.

Abstract: A direct melt spinning process for providing high filament count fine filament polyester yarns having excellent mechanical quality and along-end uniformity and unitary interlace by spinning all the filaments of such high filament count yarn from a single spinneret. Such yarns may be used as direct-use yarns and as draw-feed yarns for preparing drawn flat yarns and draw-textured yarns.

Abstract: The method for continuous production of a multifilament stretchable weft yarn for tire cord fabric includes swirling polyester-POY-filaments with an initial titre of from 170 to 260 dtex by means of a gas having a pressure of from 0.5 to 3 bar in a swirling nozzle, and immediately thereafter, shrinking with an overfeed of from 40 to 80% at from 220.degree. to 240.degree. C. for at least 0.2 sec to form a stretchable multifilament weft yarn. This weft yarn has a rough surface with non-slip properties, a tenacity of greater than 7 cN/tex, an elongation at break of from 170 to 270% and a thermal shrinkage at 160.degree. C. of from +2% to -2%, measured at 160.degree. C. during 15 minutes at a pretension of 0.1 cN/tex.

Abstract: Recyclable string and methods and apparatus for making the same are disclosed. The recyclable string is made by the disclosed apparatus from a strip of recyclable stretch film by twisting the stretch film about its longitudinal axis and stretching the twisted stretch film along its longitudinal axis, preventing the untwisting of the twisted stretch film. In a second version the srip is not twisted.

Abstract: Apparatus for twisting a travelling strand includes a rotary structure rotatable about a rotational axis X--X and a series of pulleys mounted on the structure in an array disposed about the rotational axis X--X with each pulley in the series mounted on the structure for rotation about an individual axis of pulley rotation which is generally parallel to the axis X--X and moves around that axis on rotation of the structure. An input strand guide pulley guides an input strand to be twisted onto a path in which it will successively engage the pulleys and a strand exit guide pulley guides the strand from that path into an exit path along the axis X--X. The rotary structure is driven through a drive shaft and the pulleys are rotated by gearing.

Abstract: Braided or twisted lines made from gel spun polyolefin yarns are stretched to increase line tenacity. If desired, stretching conditions can also be chosen to significantly reduce the denier of the line.

Abstract: A continuous process for spinning and drawing polyamide filaments with the steps of melting a polyamide and spinning the filaments from the molten polyamide through a spinnerette, quenching the filaments, applying a yarn finish to the filaments, applying steam and heat to the filaments by a steam and heating unit which consists of a steam box and at least one heated godet, drawing the filaments, and optionally texturing the filaments. The resulting filaments have low shrinkage, high crystallinity, and a high percentage of alpha crystals.

Abstract: A post-coalescence melt-spinning process for preparing fine undrawn hollow polyester filaments having excellent mechanical quality and uniformity at high speeds (2-5 km/min) involving selection of polymer viscosity and spinning conditions, whereby the void content of the resulting new undrawn filaments is essentially maintained or increased on cold-drawing or hot-drawing with or without post heat treatment, and the new fine hollow polyester filaments obtained thereby.

Abstract: A process for stretching natural staple fibers to reduce the diameter includes the steps of treating a substantially untwisted traveling assembly of natural fibers to plasticize the natural fibers, twisting the traveling assembly sufficiently to substantially prevent drafting of the assembly during subsequent stretching, subsequently stretching the twisted assembly and setting the stretch. Staple fibers having reduced diameters are provided as a result of the stretching process.

Abstract: A melt spinning process and the nylon hollow filaments and yarns made by such process which includes extruding molten nylon polymer having a relative viscosity (RV) of at least about 50 and a melting point (T.sub.M) of about 210.degree. C. to about 310.degree. C. from a spinneret capillary orifice with multiple orifice segments providing a total extrusion area (EA) and an extrusion void area (EVA) such that the fractional extrusion void content, defined by the ratio [EVA/EA] is about 0.6 to about 0.95, and the extent of melt attenuation, defined by the ratio [EVA/(dpf).sub.S ], is about 0.05 to about 1.5, in which (dpf).sub.S is the spun denier per filament, the (dpf).sub.S being selected such that the denier per filament at 25% elongation (dpf).sub.25 is about 0.

Abstract: Polyester mixed fine filament yarns having excellent mechanical quality and uniformity, and preferably with a balance of good dyeability and shrinkage, are prepared by a simplified direct spin-orientation process by selection of polymer and spinning conditions.

Abstract: Polyester fine filaments having excellent mechanical quality and uniformity, and preferably with a balance of good dyeability and shrinkage, are prepared by a simplified direct spin-orientation process by selection of polymer viscosity and spinning conditions, followed by drawing and/or bulking.

Abstract: Polyester filaments of high shrinkage and high shrinkage tension may be prepared by heat treatment of undrawn crystalline filaments of low shrinkage and shrinkage tension, and may be used for making polyester yarns of mixed shrinkage and bulky polyester yarns and fabrics therefrom.

Abstract: An apparatus for stretching natural staple fibers to reduce their diameter includes a plurality of rotatable arrays of driven pulleys which are mounted for rotation between two twist blocking nips. The rotatable arrays are rotatable on a longitudinal axis corresponding to the direction of travel of an assembly of fibers through the apparatus to impart false twist into the assembly. The assembly of fibers is stretched between two of the pulley arrays with the pulleys of the downstream array being driven at a higher speed than the pulleys of the upstream array. A steam chamber is provided for setting the stretch while the false twist is being maintained by further rotatable pulley arrays. Post treatment stages may be added to further stabilize the stretched fibers.

Abstract: Hollow polyester undrawn filaments having excellent mechanical quality and uniformity are prepared by a simplified post-coalescence melt spinning process at speeds of e.g. 2-5 km/min by selection of polymer and spinning conditions whereby the void content of the undrawn filaments can be essentially maintained or even increased when drawn cold or hot, with or without post heat-treatment.

Abstract: A highly filled yarn is formed by melt spinning a thermoplastic fibre-forming polymer containing at least 25% by weight of a particulate filler through a spinneret to form a continuous multi-filament yarn. The filaments are drawn away from the spinneret at a rate sufficient to orientate the yarn at least partially. The filaments pass around a guide between the spinneret and the draw means; the direction of travel of the filaments is diverted by means of the guide through an angle of at least 30.degree.. The yarns produced have increased strength and decreased extensibility.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for producing a yarn, a synthetic pre-oriented multifilament yarn is fed at a first velocity to a non-heated pin having a diameter less than 10 mm. After turning the yarn around the pin for an angle between 270.degree. and 360.degree., the yarn is heated to a temperature between 100.degree. C. and 250.degree. C. for between 0.01 sec and 10 sec. The yarn is then drawn off the pin at a second viscosity higher than the first velocity.

Abstract: Staple yarns of cotton and high modulus fiber are wet and then dried under tension to provide warp yarn for durable, abrasion resistant fabrics.

Abstract: Modifying a polyester with special chain-brancher residues in carefully controlled amounts to provide a draw-texturing feed yarn that can be draw-textured at a speed of 1,000 mpm without excessive filament breaks, and with other advantages in the resulting textured yarns, such as improved bulk and dyeability over prior polyester yarns that could not be satisfactorily textured under similar conditions.

Abstract: A stretch broken fiber reinforced resin tow is formed from resin reinforced with continuous filaments by tensioning the two while heating it to a temperature sufficient to soften the resin in the tensioning zone to break all of the filaments in a random manner.

Abstract: Modifying a polyester with tetraethyl silicate or like oxysilicon chain-brancher to provide a draw-texturing feed yarn that can be draw-textured at a speed of at least 500 mpm without excessive filament breaks, and with other advantages in the resulting textured yarns, such as improved bulk and dyeability over unmodified polyester yarns textured under similar conditions, and preferably without sacrificing dye uniformity.

Abstract: This invention provides methods by which any staple fiber or continuous filament fiber can be stretch processed similiar to continuous filament fiber stretch processing methods heretofore used, in that the fiber's internal molecular structure is oriented along the fiber strand axis, except substantially twisting as well as substantial stretching forces are employed. With only the simple continuous and simultaneous application of a single dynamic stretching stress, and a single dynamic twisting force, that is correct and precisely controlled relative to each other and to its input flow rate, every individual fiber is effectively and uniformly stretch processed. Such individual fiber's net strength properties gain and desirable quality characteristics improvement as well as their continuous cross-sectional uniformity are substantially enhanced for their greater utility, as are fabrics and other products produced from such treated fiber.

Abstract: Nylon cords having a yarn strength of not less than 12 g/d are subjected to a stretch heating treatment under specified conditions before the dipping and then dipped in a dipping solution having a particular composition, whereby the strength and adhesion force of the resulting dipped cords are considerably improved for use in large size tires.

Abstract: The present invention reveals a process for manufacturing a high strength woven fabric that is particularly suitable for use as a tire reinforcement which comprises:(a) drawing a polymeric yarn to a draw ratio that is 70% to 99% of the draw ratio that would fully draw the yarn to produce an optimally drawn yarn;(b) twisting at least two of said optimally drawn polymeric yarns into a cord;(c) weaving a plurality of said cords into a greige woven fabric; and(d) stretching and relaxing said greige woven fabric under conditions sufficient to reduce the denier of the cords in said fabric by 1% to 10%.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a yarn or sewing thread from core and effect yarns. The effect yarn is drawn at no higher than a normal drawing ratio for material from which the effect yarn is made and the effect yarn is softened by sufficient heating, in order to prevent rupturing of the effect yarn during drawing. The core or effect yarn is passed through a wetting device to aid aspiration and entanglement of the core and effect yarns in a fluid jet device. The effect yarn is overfed to the jet device to aid in the formation of a highly entangled looped yarn which is subsequently set by a heated roller while contraction of the yarn is prevented. The core yarn can also be drawn at or below its normal drawing ratio in order to aid in developing thread tenacity and ensure an acceptable elongation at break after dyeing or subsequent wet processing.

Abstract: Drafting system for textile yarns and including a driven feed roll, a driven output roll, a low friction freely rotatable heated roll located between the driven feed roll and the driven output roll and operating at essentially the same surface speed as the driven feed roll, the freely rotatable heated roll being driven by engagement with the yarn and whereby sufficient yarn tension automatically is transferred upstream of the freely rotatable heated roll to pretension the yarn before it contacts the freely rotatable heated roll with drafting taking place near the location where the yarn leaves the freely rotatable heated roll to pass toward the driven output roll.

Abstract: In the method for manufacturing strings, a plurality of narrow strip layers (22) of synthetic material are successively and coaxially helically wound on the cylindrical surface of a continuous core. The winding (3) thus produced is conveyed hot to a welding area (7) wherein the narrow strips (22) of synthetic material are mutually assembled by welding. The temperature of the welding area is adjusted high enough so that a welding between the narrow strips (22) takes place without substantially decreasing the breaking strength of the narrow strips (22) by such heat treatment. The appropriate materials for the narrow strips are olefines such as homopolymer polypropylene or terpolymer polypropylene-polyethylene-dienes. To reduce the tendency to flow, the material forming the narrow strips may contain a nucleation agent. The characteristics of the strings thus manufactured are similar to those of gut strings.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the manufacture of textile multifilament yarns and, in particular, to a device for twisting multifilament yarns in conventional drawtwister machines. The device includes a pair of twisting rollers mounted to rotate freely on shafts, the axis of which are arranged with a substantial angle between them and in spaced apart and parallel planes. One twisting roll is a straight cylinder mounted on a fixed shaft whose axis is perpendicular to a supporting plate. The other is a frustrum with concave walls and a determined radius of curvature and is mounted on a shaft whose axis is parallel to the surface of the supporting plate.The supporting plate of the twisting device is installed on a surface of the drawtwister machine so that the shaft of the concave roll forms an angle of about 40.degree.-50.degree. relative to an imaginary line connecting the yarn fastening roller and the surface of the godet.

Abstract: Low friction drafting system for yarn and having in sequence a driven feed roll, a low friction freely rotatable hot roll for preheating the yarn, a low friction freely rotatable hot roll for thermally stabilizing the yarn, a driven output roll, with tension automatically transferring upstream of the preheater roll to preheat the yarn and with the two heated rolls being driven by engagement with the yarn; the thermally stabilizing roll operates at a greater speed than the preheater roll and drafting of the yarn occurs between the two freely rotatable hot rolls.

Abstract: A device for stretching a rove of fibers during a spinning operation to permit forming the rove into spun yarn, the device comprising a condenser element placed after the actual stretching system.According to the invention, the condensing element is in the form of a movable guiding surface on which the fibers are delivered tangentially, the guiding surface pulling permits a force to be exerted on the end of the fibers coming out of the stretching system and limits the twist run back communicated by the spinning system.

Abstract: A method is disclosed in which a silver (2) of textile fibers is drawn in a drawing mechanism (3), strengthened in a wrapping unit (4) by wrapping with a fine filament yarn into a roving (5) and the latter is drawn in the drawing mechanism (11, 12) of a spinning machine down to the desired yarn thickness. Rupture of the filament yarns in the drawing mechanism of the spinning machine takes place not in the predrawing zone but only in the main drawing zone. For wrapping of the roving a filament yarn is employed, the tension in which at an elongation of 4% amounts to at least 10 N and the ultimate strength of which amounts at most to 100 cN, and in which the ratio of elastic elongation to total elongation at a loading of 15 CN does not fall below the value of 80%. The wrapping unit (4) is surrounded with a stationary casing one half (45a) of which may be swung out.