The present invention relates to moldable sand compositions, methods for making the moldable sand compositions, and methods for using the moldable sand compositions. In a particular embodiment, the moldable sand composition comprises between about 70% to about 95% sand, between about 5% to about 30% water, a polar polymeric resin, a crosslinking agent, and a humectant. In an exemplary embodiment, the composition contains no oils, waxes, glycols, or rubbers. The composition is capable of becoming hardened over time in order to maintain the achieved shape, and can be re-wetted and molded again after becoming hardened.

A manufacturing method and device for supporting conductors. Using a non-metallic insulating material extending beyond one or both parallel legs of a staple the thumb and forefinger may grip this extension while the staple is being driven into a supporting structure. This finger grip allows for a small, insulated staple to be held with increased safety to thumb and forefinger during penetration of staple into support.

A puncher cylinder includes a puncher knife, the cylinder being arranged for cooperation with a paper web such that the cylinder when in use can be rolled longitudinally along and in contact with the paper web, punching holes in the paper web by way of the puncher knife. The holes are punched a longitudinal distance from each other essentially corresponding to the circumference of the cylinder. A system is further disclosed including the punching cylinder, as is a method utilizing the punching cylinder, and a newspaper partly produced by way of the punching cylinder.

Textured surface for increasing Leidenfrost temperature. The texture comprises of surface features over multiple length scales—from micro to nanoscale—wherein the features at each length scale have a size, aspect ratio, and spacing selected to increase the Leidenfrost temperature. The structure includes an array of microscale structures disposed on the surface, the structure having size, aspect ratio and spacing selected to increase Leidenfrost temperature. The microscale structures may also include nanoscale structures on their surface to create a hierarchical structure. The structures result in an increased Leidenfrost temperature.

The invention relates to a nuclear fuel cladding totally or partially made of a composite material with a ceramic matrix containing silicon carbide (SiC) fibers as a matrix reinforcement and an interphase layer provided between the matrix and the fibers, the matrix including silicon carbide as well as at least one of the following additional carbides: titanium carbide (TiC), zirconium carbide (Zrc), and ternary titanium silicon carbide (Ti3SiC2). When irradiated and at temperatures of between 800° C. and 1200° C., said cladding can mechanically maintain the nuclear fuel within the cladding while enabling optimal thermal-energy transfer towards the coolant. The invention also relates to a method for making the nuclear fuel cladding.

An RFID tag or label or device includes an RFID chip and an antenna. The antenna is manufactured by weakening a portion of a foil material, which weakened portion may be in a tessellating pattern. The foil material is then placed in contact with adhesive on a substrate. The foil material and substrate are separated, so as to retain on the substrate the portion of the foil material in contact with the adhesive. The foil material remaining on the substrate defines an antenna, which may subsequently be electrically connected to an RFID chip to provide an RFID tag or label or device.

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to improved designs of railroad spikes and improved methods of manufacturing the same. According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for manufacturing a railroad spike may have the steps of: preparing a metal blank having a substantially circular cross-section; subjecting the metal blank to at least one cold heading process and at least one cold extrusion process to form a railroad spike having (a) a circular head with a fillet at its bottom side that is angled to engage a railroad tie plate or rail base and (b) a non-threaded shank with a substantially square cross-section and a chiseled tip; and coating the railroad spike with an anti-corrosion material.

The plastic bag may include flexible thermoplastic sidewalls that have a pattern imparted onto them. The wrinkle pattern may be a plurality of linear ribs formed into the sidewall that may be arranged adjacent and parallel to one another. To impart the pattern to the sidewall, a thermoplastic web used to make the sidewall may be directed between a first cylindrical roller and a second cylindrical roller, each of which may have a plurality of spaced ridges extending about their peripheries. When the web is directed between the first and second rollers, the meshing of the ridges may form ribs into the web.

The present invention is a washable and reusable storage bag comprising a plastic coated canvas made from cotton and polyethylene. The storage bag comprises a front panel having a zipper and a back panel, a bottom edge and a top edge, and two side edges. The bag further comprises a rectangular transparent polyurethane window in the front panel, preferably in the shape of a rectangle. Two opposing sides of the transparent polyurethane window are heat sealed to the plastic coated canvas to create a liquid tight seal between the transparent polyurethane window and the plastic coated canvas. The outside of the storage bag can be customized with, e.g., designs, branding, and/or advertising. The storage bags can be hand washed, put in the dishwasher or put in the washing machine and clothes dryer.

A papermaking machine for the production of a fibrous web including a plurality of rollers and a structured fabric moving along the rollers. The structured fabric includes a plurality of weft yarns and a plurality of warp yarns woven with the plurality of weft yarns to produce a weave pattern, the plurality of warp yarns being a plurality of paired warp yarn sets. Each paired warp yarn set including a first warp yarn and a second warp yarn. Within the weave pattern the first warp yarn forms a float over at least four weft yarns and weaves with a single weft yarn immediately adjacent with the float. The second warp yarn having an inverse pattern to the first warp yarn, with the second warp yarn weaving with another single weft yarn that is not adjacent to the single weft yarn with which the first warp yarn is woven.

High tenacity, high elongation multi-filament polymeric tapes as well as ballistic resistant fabrics, composites and articles made therefrom. The tapes are fabricated from multi-filament fibers/yarns that are twisted together, bonded together, compressed and flattened.

An implantable graft device having treated yarn is disclosed. The device comprises a graft body forming a lumen defining a longitudinal axis and comprising proximal and distal ends. The graft body comprises a woven fabric having warp yarns aligned in a first direction and a weft yarns aligned in a second direction. At least one of the weft yarns and the warp yarns has an agent applied thereto defining treated yarns of the graft body.

A three dimensional woven preform, a fiber reinforced composite incorporating the preform, and methods of making thereof are disclosed. The woven preform includes one or more layers of a warp steered fabric. A portion of the warp steered fabric is compressed into a mold to form an upstanding leg. The preform includes the upstanding leg and a joggle in a body portion. The body portion and upstanding leg are integrally woven so there is continuous fiber across the preform. A portion of the warp steered fabric includes stretch broken carbon fibers in the warp direction, and another portion includes conventional carbon fibers. The warp steered fabric can be woven on a loom equipped with a differential take-up mechanism. The warp steered fabric can be a single or multilayer fabric. The preform or the composite can be a portion of an aircraft window frame.

A device for making a woven article from a plurality of strings includes a base, a post, first and second engagement devices and a stabilization device. The base has a plurality of slots formed therein. The first engagement device engages first ends of the strings and is fixedly attached to the base and fixed relative to the slots, thereby fixing the first ends relative to the base. The second engagement device is fixedly attached to the base and includes a plurality of slits each configured to secure a corresponding one of the strings. The slots formed in the base are disposed between and spaced apart from the first and second engagement devices. The stabilization device is removably engageable with a selected one of the slots and is configured to engage a selected portion of the strings between the first and second engagement devices to restrict twisting of the strings.

A water delivery system is provided, comprising at least one faucet device with a cold water faucet part and a hot water faucet part, a cold water line to the at least one faucet device, a tankless heater device for heating water, a hot water line having a first portion running from an outlet of the tankless heater device to the at least one faucet device and having a second portion running from the at least one faucet device to an inlet of the tankless heater device, and a circulatory pump arranged in the second portion of the hot water line, wherein the circulatory pump has a prefixed first performance level and a prefixed second performance level, wherein the first performance level causes a finite water flow in the hot water line which is below an operation threshold value of the tankless heater device.

An improved method of making a baked pastry, particularly, a shell or wrap for a samosa from a pastry dough in a convection baking oven having a convection atmosphere, the method comprising baking the dough in the oven at a baking temperature for a baking period of time, the improvement having the convection atmosphere with a sufficiently moist atmosphere for the duration of the baking time to prevent the pastry from becoming dry.

Disclosed are electrochemical cells and methods for producing a halide of a non-alkali metal and for electrorefining the halide. The systems typically involve an electrochemical cell having a cathode structure configured for dissolving a hydrogen halide that forms the halide into a molten salt of the halogen and an alkali metal. Typically a direct current voltage is applied across the cathode and an anode that is fabricated with the non-alkali metal such that the halide of the non-alkali metal is formed adjacent the anode. Electrorefining cells and methods involve applying a direct current voltage across the anode where the halide of the non-alkali metal is formed and the cathode where the non-alkali metal is electro-deposited. In a representative embodiment the halogen is chlorine, the alkali metal is lithium and the non-alkali metal is uranium.

Interior panels having integrated airbag doors for motor vehicles and methods for making such interior panels are provided herein. In one example, an interior panel comprises a substrate having outer and inner surfaces and an opening extending therethrough. A multi-shot injection molded airbag chute-door assembly is mounted to the substrate and comprises a chute wall that at least partially surrounds an interior space. A door flap portion is pivotally connected to the chute wall and at least partially covers the opening. A perimeter flange extends from the chute wall and has a flange section that overlies the outer surface of the substrate. A molded-in lip feature extends from the flange section and contacts the outer surface to form a seal between the flange section and the substrate. A skin covering extends over the substrate and a foam is disposed between the skin covering and the substrate.

A pre-weakened cover of an airbag module is provided including a layer having an outer show surface and an opposing inner surface. A plurality of first cuts is arranged at a first angle on the inner surface. A plurality of second cuts is arranged at a second angle on the inner surface. Each of the second cuts intersects two adjacent first cuts to form a generally V-shaped pattern.

A pre-weakened cover of an airbag module is provided including a layer having an outer show surface and an opposing inner surface. A plurality of first cuts is arranged at a first angle on the inner surface. A plurality of second cuts is arranged at a second angle on the inner surface. Each of the second cuts intersects two adjacent first cuts to form a generally V-shaped pattern.

A catheter assembly including an elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end has at least one drainage opening. A hydrophilic coating is provided on at least a portion of the elongate end of the catheter. A fluid containing member is provided and is either arranged on the elongate member or within a separate area of the container. The fluid containing member contains sufficient hydrating fluid to hydrate the coating of the catheter. A container contains the elongate member and the fluid containing member and incorporates at least one foil layer to prevent evaporation of the hydrating fluid. A method of using the catheter includes inserting a catheter into a user's body and draining fluid from the user's body.

Sheets are bound to form a bound document by fastening together the sheets and a binding strip. A spacer is applied to a back sheet adjacent to the feet of the fasteners. A wraparound portion of the binding strip is folded around the spine edges of the sheets so that adhesive on the strip contacts the spacer or the back sheet farther from the spine than the feet of the fasteners. The adhesive is affixed to the back sheet. The binding strip includes a spacer adjacent to the heads of the fasteners, protruding above the face-attachment portion at least as far as the heads of the fasteners do.

A publication including a plurality of pairs of pages, with the pair of pages comprised of a removable page and non-removable page. The removable page has a perforated edge, an adhesive edge opposite the perforated edge and a printable surface. The non-removable page has a printable surface. The pairs of pages are arranged such that alternate pages are removable and can be removed without harming the publication or the non-removable pages. The removable pages can be arranged to form an image larger than the publication itself and removable attached to a surface through the adhesive edge.

Embodiments of the present invention generally provide chamber components with enhanced thermal properties and methods of enhancing thermal properties of chamber components including bonding materials. One embodiment of the present invention provides a method for fabricating a composite structure. The method includes applying a bonding material to a first component, and converting the bonding material applied to the first component to an enhanced bonding layer by heating the bonding material to outgas volatile species from the bonding material. The outgassed volatile species accumulates to at least 0.05% in mass of the bonding material. The method further includes contacting a second component and the enhanced bonding layer to join the first and second components.

Surgical needles are produced from martensitic precipitation-hardening stainless steel and then vacuum heat treated and vacuum cooled to increase its tensile strength while retaining the polished surface of the needle. A needle made by this process is also disclosed.

A curved surgical needle and a method for producing the same from a solid sheet of material rather than from coiled wire including the steps of drilling a bore in one edge of the material, grinding an edge opposite the drilled edge to form a sharpened point, curving the material and cutting the material at a point of equal distance between each drilled bored to provide a surgical needle. A suture is then attached to the surgical needle, optionally lubricated, sterilized, and packaged by suitable means known in the art.

The invention relates to a method for constructing a gas-filled double-acting hydraulic cylinder (1) with gas spring action, comprising: —a cylinder sleeve (3) with a cylinder bottom (3a) and cylinder head (3b) —a piston/piston rod assembly (5) a hydraulic fluid seal on the piston (9) —a connection for the head-side chamber (13) to a hydraulic line; —a connection for the bottom-side chamber (15) to a hydraulic line, —a gland (20) with a bore, the gland being attached between the cylinder bottom (3a) and the piston (9), the piston rod (7) extending over the entire stroke of the piston rod through the bore, wherein the gland comprises two seals —(25), one for providing a seal with the cylinder sleeve (3) and one for providing a seal with the piston rod.

A method of making a compressible elastomeric spring including at least one compressible elastomeric pad enclosed by a pair of metal plates includes the steps of forming plates with a center aperture and a plurality of prongs positioned about a peripheral edge thereof, forming each end of the pad with an axial projection and abutting groove, aligning the plurality of prongs with each respective projection and respective groove and applying axial force to one end of the spring to frictionally interlock the plurality of prongs with such projection and groove. The method also provides for making a multi-tiered stack of pads separated by plates in the above described manner and pre-shortening the spring prior to installation into the conventional yoke. The above described method additionally improves axial straightness and lateral stability of the multi-tiered spring assembly.

Method and device for preparing a paste by blending or mixing materials, in particular for making aluminum production electrodes. The method includes the following operations: a) introducing the materials to be blended or mixed into a vat (31) having an inner surface extending along a substantially horizontal axis of revolution (X), b) rotating the vat (31) about the axis of revolution (X) and urging the materials via centrifugation against the inner surface of the vat (31), and c) locally dislodging the centrifuged materials from the inner surface by rotating the vat (31) and causing same to fall onto a crumbling tool (40).

In an embodiment, a fuel decontamination unit comprises a decontamination region containing fuel; and an ultraviolet light located in the decontamination region; wherein the ultraviolet light is configured to irradiate the fuel. In an embodiment, a method of decontaminating fuel comprises flowing a contaminated fuel into a decontamination unit; irradiating the fuel with ultraviolet radiation that is emitted from the ultraviolet light such that the contaminated fuel becomes a purified fuel; flowing the purified fuel out of the decontamination unit; wherein a microorganism level in the purified fuel is less than that of the contaminated fuel.

A disclosed decorative device includes an elongate, flexible foam body, an elongate, pliable core element, a pair of adapters, and a pair of end pieces. A method for making the decorative device is described, as is a method for retaining hair using the decorative device. The decorative device includes the elongate, flexible foam body surrounding the elongate, pliable core element along its length. The pair of adapters are each configured to fixably receive an end of the elongate, pliable core element, with the pair of end pieces, each being configured to connect to one of the pair of adapters.

A lightweight artificial stone system comprises a plurality of artificial stones, each of the artificial stones formed of at least some portion of cement, expanded glass, the lightweight artificial stones having a density in the range of between about 30 and 70 pounds per cubic foot.

An ultra-fine nepheline syenite powder produced from a pre-processed nepheline syenite powder feedstock. The powder having a “controlled” maximum grain size D95 or D99 of less than about 20 microns and a “controlled” minimum grain size D5 in the range of 2-8 microns with a particle size spread D5-D95 of less than about 12 microns.

A surface treatment composition for inkjet media includes: at least one surface sizing agent selected from the group consisting of starch, starch derivatives, polymeric materials, and combinations thereof; and an ink fixative selected from the group consisting of at least one high valence metallic salt, at least one high valence complex poly-salt, and combinations thereof. The ink fixative is present in the surface treatment composition from about 10 weight% to about 50 weight% of the surface treatment composition. The at least one high valence metallic salt and the at least one high valence complex poly-salt have a valence greater than divalent. Additionally included are a method of making and a system for printing the surface treated media; and an inkjet printable paper.

A raw batch composition for concrete or concrete wherein the raw batch composition comprises Portland cement of about 15 wgt. % to about 45 wgt. % and dune sand preferably red dune sand is present in an amount of about 40 wgt. %. The dune sand has a particle size of less than or equal to 45 microns. The composition also includes limestone powder ranging from about 15 wgt. % to 45 wgt. % with particle sizes less than or equal to 45 microns to form a base material. To this base material suitable amounts of fine aggregate, coarse aggregate, water and superplasticizer are added. A method for producing a cast concrete product having a compressive strength of between 62 MPa and 90 MPa is disclosed. The method comprises a step of providing Portland cement, dune sand and limestone powder.

A tubular structure and method for making a tubular structure are provided, where the tubular structure includes at least one layer of braided strands. In general, at least one portion of the braided strands exhibits a braid pattern of crests and troughs (e.g., a wave pattern, which may include sinusoidal, square, and/or sawtooth waves) along a length of the tubular structure. The wave pattern can be created by rotating the mandrel onto which the tubular structure is braided during the braiding process, such as by angularly oscillating the mandrel about its longitudinal axis or about its transverse axis. As a result, the tubular structures may have increased radial strength, collapse resistance, torque transmission, column strength, and kink resistance. The tubular structures may be used in medical devices, such as stent-grafts, as well as in other medical and non-medical devices, such as in hoses, tubing, filters, and other devices.

A method is presented for making a composite material from strips comprising longitudinal fibers and a binder or resin, which material comprises a number of layer assemblies one on top of the other. Each layer assembly comprises m sets (with m at least 2) of parallel strips each extending in a different direction, Each layer assembly is manufactured by successive steps of depositing groups of parallel strips according to a well defined pattern (without longitudinally interweaving strips with previously deposited strips). Before completing a layer assembly, with the exception of the last layer assembly, by depositing its last group of parallel strips, the first group of parallel strips of the following layer assembly is already deposited. A composite material manufactured with such a method is presented too.

A method of braiding a stent includes braiding a number of elongate filaments around a mandrel using tensioned braiding carriers without spooling the filaments to the tensioned braiding carriers to form a braided stent having atraumatic ends.

A composite material comprising a plurality of fiber tape strips woven or braided together. Each of the plurality of fiber tape strips is made of a single layer of unidirectional fibers. The fibers are at least partially embedded in a thermoplastic matrix. A tubular composite part is made from this composite material and of an internal film. A method of manufacturing the composite material comprises weaving or braiding the fiber tape strips, especially in the form of a tube. A method of manufacturing a composite part comprises pressurizing the film inside the tube while heating both the tube and the film up to their forming temperature so as to bond the film to the woven fiber tape strips.

A system for making braided barbed sutures includes a filament winding assembly, and a guide assembly including at least one barbed insert dispenser opening defining a passageway for orienting a barbed insert. The guide assembly is adapted to dispense at least one barbed insert from the dispenser opening into the filament winding assembly for winding a plurality of filaments around the at least one barbed insert for making a braided barbed suture. The passageway of the dispenser opening is adapted to allow longitudinal movement of the barbed insert relative to the passageway while simultaneously preventing twisting movement of the barbed insert relative to the passageway. As the barbed insert is being dispensed, the barbed insert dispenser opening is selectively rotatable for imparting rotation to the barbed insert as the filaments are wound about the barbed insert. The passageway may be an elongated slit having a greater width than height.

The present invention generally provides mold modules for constructing boat hulls, methods of constructing boat hulls using the mold modules, and hulls constructed using the mold modules. The modules may be adjustable, and may be included in a kit for building the hull of many boats of different dimensions but generally the same shape. Each mold module generally comprises a mold in a shape complementary to that of a portion of a boat hull, and an edge mold to form the edge of the hull part formed by that mold module. A mold module according to the present invention may also comprise one or more mold adjustment areas, and calibrators for selecting the boat hull dimensions. Methods for using the aforementioned mold modules generally comprise steps of molding hull parts, removing them from the mold modules, aligning them and finally attaching them together.

An apparatus for making frozen comestibles including a base having a plurality of apertures formed within said first site thereof, and a plurality of molds attached to or formed integrally with the base. Each of the molds includes a receiving surface and an opening aligned with a corresponding one of the apertures of the base. Each of the molds is moveable between a first position, in which a substantial portion of at least one mold is positioned within the interior portion of the base and said receiving surface forms a molding cavity that is adapted to receive a comestible to be frozen, and a second position, in which a substantial portion of the mold extends outwardly from the first side of the base and the receiving surface of the mold is exposed externally.

A housing component system having fiberglass resin forms secured in place with a binder such as cement. The forms may have a variety of forms and once secured with the cement will be strong avoiding the need for any reinforcement components such as reinforcing bar (rebars) of metal mesh.

The present invention relates to a three dimensionally fiber-reinforced riser and to the unitary or single-step methods of making the same. In one embodiment (a cross bow riser for example), the riser has an interior support with opposed side members and a front brace. The front brace has a depression centrally located therein. Two side ribs are also provided for structural support. Two pockets each optionally having a divider wall defining a top and bottom section are provided for receiving respective top and bottom pieces of a split limb, when a split limb is used. The riser can be made of a composite material having fibers aligned there within in the directions of the highest stresses for enhancing the structural strength of the riser. Other bow parts or components can likewise be made via composite material as well.

A wood substitute turning blank and method of making the same is described. The turning blank includes a body having an outer shell of relatively low tensile strength material positioned about a rotational axis of the body. An inner core of relatively high tensile strength material is positioned along the rotational axis of the body. The high tensile strength of the inner core allows this turning blank to be turned at high speed on a lathe or the like. The high tensile strength of the core enhances the overall tensile strength of the finished product.

An automatic lathe is provided including a table stand having a top with a plurality of legs coupled thereto and extending downwardly therefrom. A pair of spindle spinning assemblies are positioned on the top of the table stand. Each spindle spinning assembly has a securement rod rotatably mounted thereon which is adapted to releasably secure to an end of a spindle for spinning the same. A carriage assembly is adapted to slide between each spindle spinning assembly. The carriage assembly has a blade mechanism mounted thereon for engaging a front surface of the spindle secured between the spindle assemblies. The carriage assembly further includes a carriage motor functioning to move the carriage in a forward direction upon the receipt of a forward signal and move the carriage in a reverse direction upon the receipt of a reverse signal only when the carriage motor is actuated. Finally, a reverse direction mechanism serves to transmit the forward signal to the carriage motor when the carriage is moving in a reverse direction and reaches a first end of the top of the table stand. Further, the reverse direction mechanism transmits the reverse signal to the carriage motor when the carriage is moving in a forward direction and reaches a second end of the top of the table stand.

A car wash dolly of the type used in connection with multi-tier car wash conveyors comprises, in mirror image arrangement, first and second pairs of stainless steel journals having external bearing surfaces and polymeric rollers mounted for rotation on said bearing surfaces wherein the journals are nitro carburized and mechanically polished prior to assembly.

This invention describes a collagen fiber reconstituted rawhide useful in the production of pet chews, and a method for making the same. Beginning materials include animal skins with hair, depilated limed splits and leftovers from the manufacture of rawhide pet chews. The materials are pretreated, ground, subjected to acid treatment to swell and separate the collagen fibers that comprise the animal hide, further ground into pulp, vacuum filtered, mixed with a dehydration agent that chemically shrinks the expanded fibers, drained, formed and dried into sheet and finally exposed to a cross-linking agent to increase the adhesive strength of the end product. Edible materials, including meats, may be added to the solution prior to draining, to enhance the nutritional value and palatability of the final product, and the reconstituted rawhide sheets may be bleached for appearance.

A multi-material pet toy includes a first member having an attractant for making the multi-material pet toy interesting to a pet and a second member for protecting the first member to lengthen a serviceable life of the first member. The toy may be configured so that the first member includes a sound-producing member for making a noise without air movement passing through the sound-producing member, and the second member includes a protective member for protecting the sound-producing member. The toy may also be configured so that the first member includes a mouth-feel member for providing attraction for the pet with the noise of air movement passing through the mouth-feel member, and the second member includes a protective member for protecting the mouth-feel member.

A chew toy for canine dental care formed of a plurality of elongated rawhide strands, each strand defining a width within the range of about 0.20 to 7.5 millimeters and a thickness within the range of about 0.20 to 3.0 millimeters. The strands are braided together so as to define at least one rawhide braid of a desired size. The rawhide braid is wound or twisted and tied to define a desired chew toy size and shape that, upon be chewed by a dog, provides a messaging of the dog's gums and a cleaning and flossing of the dog's teeth. The chew toy can be soaked in an aqueous solution containing one or more therapeutic agents and/or an animal attractant and baked dry to impregnate the agent(s) or attractant within the rawhide for release when chewed by a dog.