The Dow Chemical Company

Other

John W McLaren

Jeffery D Zawisza

Walter E Rupprecht

Kenneth J Rettmann

John E Cuzic

Paul R Stoesser

Kenneth J Cleereman

Eckel R Lane

Arthur L Leasher

Vincent Cavaliere

Charles A Peil

Robin Gene Weaver

A warning system for vehicles equipped with air brakes is provided. The present invention provides one or more warning modules in connection with a low pressure switch and a door jamb switch to provide an alert if the driver fails to apply the parking brake and opens the vehicle door. A low pressure switch is connected to an air line controlled by a cabin parking brake switch. When the parking brake switch is toggled on, air is evacuated from the air line and the parking brakes are applied; the low pressure switch is then open. When the air line is pressurized, the parking brake switch is not toggled on and the parking brakes are not applied, causing the low pressure switch to close. If the door jamb sensor registers the driver door is open, the low pressure switch and door jamb sensor complete a circuit, activating the warning modules.

Parking brake warning system for air brakes

A method of treating reaction injection molded polyurethane, polyurethane/urea and polyurea polymers comprising exposing a reaction injection molded polyurethane, polyurethane/urea or polyurea polymer to an amount of infrared energy sufficient to increase the temperature of the polymer to at least 175&deg; C., and then maintaining the temperature of the polymer at or above that temperature, for a time sufficient to increase the Gardner impact property, as measured using ASTMD-3029, when compared to the same polymer which has been heated to the same temperature and maintained thereat for the same time in a convection oven. The invention produces marked improvements in impact, heat sag and heat distortion temperature properties, and thus is particularly suited to rapid preparation of parts using a mass production conveyor and is particularly well-suited to preparation of parts which are to be subjected to later high temperature processes, such as the &ldquo;E-coat&rdquo; process.

Postcure treatment for reaction injection molded polyurethanes

A method of treating reaction injection molded polyurethane, polyurethane/urea and polyurea polymers comprising exposing a reaction injection molded polyurethane, polyurethane/urea or polyurea polymer to an amount of infrared energy sufficient to increase the temperature of the polymer to at least 180&deg; C., and then maintaining the temperature of the polymer at or above that temperature, for a time sufficient to increase the Gardner impact property, as measured using ASTMD-3029, when compared to the same polymer which has been heated to the same temperature and maintained thereat for the same time in a convection oven. The invention produces marked improvements in impact, heat sag and heat distortion temperature properties, and thus is particularly suited to rapid preparation of parts using a mass production conveyor and is particularly well-suited to preparation of parts which are to be subjected to later high temperature processes, such as the &ldquo;E-coat&rdquo; process.

A method of assembling a door and a door assembly comprising an outer door shell and inner door supporting member therefor. The supporting member is hinged at one end to a door frame. The other end of the supporting member is slidably accommodated in and occupies the outer door shell through an aperture in a lateral edge of the door shell. The supporting member can carry a window glass holder, such as a channel strip screwed to the supporting member, and this combination is called a cartridge assembly. The cartridge assembly provides specific benefits for automobile and truck door applications where the cartridge assembly can have attached to it various window and latch components; such as the window glass regulator (including any electric motor and wiring therefor), the window glass guides, the window glass, door latch parts, latch operating and locking parts (including any electric actuators and wiring therefor) as well as a side impact resistant beam; before the outer door shell is slid over the cartridge assembly. The invention eliminates the need to manually install the various window and latch components inside a hollow door through apertures in the door.

Cartridge assmebly for a vehicle door, a vehicle door shell and a door

A vehicle door and reinforcement assembly therefor comprising a reinforcing beam hinged at one edge to the vehicle and slideably accommodated in a cavity provided within the door. The door and beam are assembled by first hinging the beam to the vehicle and thereafter sliding the door onto the beam. Suitable fasteners secure the door to the beam.

Vehicle door assembly

A hand-held apparatus for spraying foam comprises (a) a manually-operated dispensing pump capable of receiving a foamable liquid from a suitable container and ejecting it into the atmosphere through an atomizing nozzle, thereby forming a spray from such liquid and projecting it outwardly from the nozzle in a predetermined spray pattern, and (b) foam-forming device including an air inlet and a screen retained in the path of the spray. The screen can be retained in a foam-forming position by suitable means such as a housing operatively associated with the dispensing pump. Substantially all the spray passes through the foam-forming device without contact except by the screen, thereby generating foam with little modification of the predetermined spray pattern.

Foam-generating pump sprayer

The invention relates to a fork lift pallet characterized by a raised platform construction, and having suitability of purpose to support and permit unitized handling of at least 300 times its own weight. The features of the pallet that lend to its extended utility over the prior art include the use of densely packed column means, arranged in a strategic pattern, and supporting the raised platform critically between about 3/4' to 2'. Essentially, the entire platform surface is columnized as above-described, except for parallel non-column supported spans (two or four in number) for fork lift access and retrieval. The pallet further features a stepped sidewall with a rolled extreme edge for maximum stiffness and multiple elongated ribs in the platform, set out of phase to provide optimum utility traits. Unitized product loads may be moved on such pallets in a manner closely simulating the functionality of prior heavy rigid pallets of wood or plastic.

Fork lift pallet construction

A protective shield is disclosed for preventing materials which spray through the gap in an opened flange connection from striking the person who opens the connection. The shield is made up of an inner ring and outer ring, joined only at their ends. When the shield is placed over a flange connection, the ends of the rings are spaced apart slightly so that the flange gap is not completely covered. The shield is positioned so that the space between the rings is on the opposite side of the flanges from the person who is opening the connection. As the connection is opened, any material which might spray through the flange gap is confined by the inner ring, such that it will flow around the flange and discharge through the space between the rings.

Protective shield for a pipe flange connection

A readily adjustable tubing extrusion die has a laterally movable die ring which is clamped to the die body and slideable by means of positive positioning devices.

Tube extrusion die

An injection mold cavity is sealed at the mold parting line using a highly exact, narrow annular gap or clearance which restricts flash through of the molten plastic. The seal is designed for molds having a rotatable pin and comprises a fixed seating ring which seats with the mold cavity element, and a journable seal ring having a precisely machined seal face which is narrowly spaced from the lip of the mold cavity and defines the gap dimension with the assistance of the seating ring. The rings float at a unit against a resilient component which controls the seating pressure of the assembly independently of the clamping force of the mold. The foregoing components are unitized within a clamp ring under a preload compressive force with the critical gap dimension precisely built into the unit. Variable compressive loading of the seal assembly in the injection mold is counteracted by the resilient component and floating motion of the seal and seating rings whereby highly exact preciseness can be obtained in the critical gap dimension over prolonged operating periods.

Growing community of inventors

Beaverton, MI, United States of America

John W McLaren