Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

3m Innovative Properties Company

Innovative Properties Company

David L Braun

James E Steffen

Raju Venkatapathy

Peter O Rekow

Ricardo Lira

John A Trine

Daniel E Meyer

Thomas W Holmquist-Brown

Vaughn B Grannis

Donald L Melvin

A diffusional gas transfer system and method having a membrane disposed between a first gas domain and a second gas domain. The first gas domain includes a first mechanism for directing a first environmental gas flow transversely over and in contact with a first surface of the membrane. The second gas domain includes a second mechanism for directing a second environmental gas flow transversely over and in contact with a second surface of the membrane. The membrane is a diffusional gas transfer medium having a multiplicity of tortuous pathways extending from the first surface of the membrane to the second surface of the membrane. The void volume fraction of the membrane is at least 0.2. The membrane is capable of substantially blocking the transfer of particles from the first gas domain to the second gas domain, while permitting the diffusion of gases between the first and second gas domains, and the first gas domain is maintained at a pressure higher than the second gas domain.

Diffusional gas transfer system and method of using same

A respirator,includes a compressible filter element,, a filter element retainer,, and a face piece,. The respirator is unique in that the filter element,compresses when installed in the retainer,, allowing a friction fit to be maintained between the filter element,and retainer,. The friction fit enables the filter element,to be readily replaced when its service life has expired.

Respirator having a compressible press fir filter element

A composite structure contains a lofty corrugated nonwoven web of polymeric microfiber that is maintained in a corrugated condition by securing a fabric to the corrugated web at the valleys of the corrugations. The composite structure is made without substantially effecting web loft by (i) introducing the nonwoven web to the ends of a plurality of spaced paddles, (ii) causing the spacing between the ends of the paddles to decrease to corrugate the nonwoven web, and (iii) securing the fabric to the corrugated nonwoven web at the valleys of the corrugations. A composite structure of this construction made by this method provides very good filtration performance, making it particularly suitable for use as a filter in a cup-shaped face mask. The composite structure also is very suitable for use as thermal insulation in apparel.

Corrugated nonwoven webs of polymeric microfiber

A diffusional gas transfer system and method having a membrane disposed between a first gas domain and a second gas domain. The first gas domain includes a first mechanism for directing a first environmental gas flow transversely over and in contact with a first surface of the membrane. The second gas domain includes a second mechanism for directing a second environmental gas flow transversely over and in contact with a second surface of the membrane. The membrane is a diffusional gas transfer medium having a multiplicity of tortuous pathways extending from the first surface of the membrane to the second surface of the membrane. The void volume fraction of the membrane is at least 0.2. The membrane is capable of substantially blocking the transfer of particles from the first gas domain to the second gas domain, while permitting the diffusion of gases between the first and second gas domains.

Diffusional gas transfer system and method using same

Corrugating apparatus that includes paddles and an ultrasonic welding device. The paddles are attached at one end to a transport that moves about a path. The paddles extend radially from the transport, and each paddle has a free end that is capable of supporting a web as the paddles move about the path. The free ends of the paddles are able to move towards each other to cause the web to corrugate. The ultrasonic welding device is located downstream to where the paddles' free ends move towards each other. The ultrasonic welding device has a horn and an anvil, and the anvil includes the free ends of the paddles.

Corrugating apparatus

Apparel having thermal insulation containing a corrugated nonwoven web and a means for retaining the shape of a corrugated web. The shape-retaining means is not coextensive with the corrugated nonwoven web and is secured to the valleys of the corrugations. The corrugated nonwoven web has a solidity of 0.1 or less and contains microfiber and crimped staple fibers that have a percent crimp of at least 15 percent.

Apparel containing corrugated microfiber-containing thermal insulation

Corrugating apparatus that includes paddles and an ultrasonic welding device. The paddles are attached at one end to a belt that moves about a path. The paddles extend radially from the belt, and each paddle has a free end that supports a web as the paddles move about the path. The free ends of the paddles are able to move towards each other to cause the web to corrugate. The ultrasonic welding device is located downstream to where the paddles' free ends move towards each other. The ultrasonic welding device has a horn and an anvil, and the anvil includes the free ends of the paddles.

Fibrous filtration face mask having corrugated polymeric microfiber

A filter that is capable of removing particulate and gaseous contaminants from a fluid, which filter comprises:

Filter having corrugated nonwoven webs of polymeric microfiber

Thermal insulation contains a corrugated nonwoven web and a means for retaining the shape of a corrugated web. The shape-retaining means is not coextensive with the corrugated nonwoven web and is secured to the valleys of the corrugations. The corrugated nonwoven web has a solidity of 0.1 or less and contains microfiber and crimped staple fibers that have a percent crimp of at least 15 percent.

Thermal insulation containing corrugated nonwoven web of polymeric

A method of making a corrugated nonwoven web of polymeric microfiber, which method comprises:

Method of making a corrugated nonwoven web of polymeric microfiber

Goal for football practice

Shaped porous filtering structures of substantially uniform thickness and density particularly suited for filtration of gases and vapors comprising spaced adsorbent granules unified into a solid, self-sustaining, unitary, impact-resistant body by adherent binder particles, respirators incorporating such structures as the gas and vapor filtration elements and methods for making the shaped porous filtering structures are disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Lake Elmo, MN, United States of America

David L Braun