Abstract:
A slurry distributor (100) for use in a continuous manufacturing process includes an inlet opening (102) and a shaped duct (112) adapted to receive a flow of slurry provided at the inlet opening (102). The shaped duct (112) has a parabolic guide surface adapted to redirect the flow of slurry. An outlet opening (104) in fluid communication with the shaped duct (112) is adapted to discharge the flow of slurry from the slurry distributor (100).
Abstract:
A gypsum slurry is described that includes water, a hydraulic component comprising at least 50% calcined gypsum by weight based on the dry weight of the hydraulic component, foam, a defoamer and a polycarboxylate dispersant In some embodiments of the invention, the defoamer is combined with the dispersant prior to being added to the gypsum slurry The defoamer and dispersant can be added as a physical mixture, wherein the defoamer is attached onto the dispersant polymer, or a combination thereof In some embodiments, a gypsum building panel is made from the gypsum slurry.
Abstract:
A multi-layer process for producing structural cementitious panels, includes, (a.) providing a moving web; (b) one of depositing a first layer of loose fibers upon the web and (c.) depositing a layer of settable slurry upon the web; (d.) depositing a second layer of loose fibers upon the slurry; (e.) embedding said second layer of fibers into the slurry; and (f.) repeating steps (c.) through (e.) until the desired number of layers of settable fiber-enhanced slurry in the panel is obtained. Also provided are a structural panel produced by the present process, an apparatus suitable for producing structural cementitious panels according to the present process, and a structural cementitious panel having multiple layers, each layer created by depositing a layer of settable slurry upon a moving web, depositing fibers upon the slurry and embedding the fibers into the slurry such that each layer is integrally formed with the adjacent layers.
Abstract:
Novel articles of manufacture based comprising lattices based on trabecular bone, having a plurality of plates and interconnecting rods. The trabecular bone-inspired lattice may be designed based on the general alignment of plates and rods found in trabecular bone, including anisotropic lattices having one or more predominant axes of mechanical strength. Lumbar fusion implants and other implants are provided having a trabecular bone inspired lattice in which bone graft material may be packed and providing a scaffold for bone fusion and growth. The implants may be based on bone structures having a predominant axis of mechanical strength and may be deployed in sites with the predominant axis of mechanical strength aligned with the primary axis of mechanical stress, such as in the the spine.
Abstract:
A method of determining face paper properties of all types of wallboard including providing a core strength value of the wallboard, determining a required nail pull value based the wallboard specifications and calculating a face paper stiffness value based on the provided core strength value and the determined nail pull value. The method includes displaying the calculated face paper stiffness value on a display device.
Abstract:
A panel is provided that includes stucco, water and a dispersant component having dispersing properties and comprising a comb-branched polymer with polyether side chains, naphthalene sulfonate-formaldehyde condensate or melamine sulfonate-formaldehyde condensate. A polycondensation component is also included in the slurry that includes three repeating units. A method of making the gypsum panel includes combining stucco, water and a first dosage of a first dispersant to form a slurry, the first. A second dosage of a second dispersant is added to the slurry. Properties of the gypsum slurry are tested and it is formed into a product. The product sets and properties of the product are identified. The first dosage or the second dosage is changed based on the properties of the slurry or product.
Abstract:
Messaging protocols for use between components of an interactive program guide (IPG) delivery system. The protocol provides a way to more efficiently utilize the finite bandwidth available for distribution of IPG video sequences. One embodiment comprises messaging protocols for communication between a session manager (702), a transport stream generator (704), and a set top terminal (706). The protocol for communication from the Transport stream generator (704) to the set top terminal (706) specifies content for a demand-cast index table that may be transmitted within a private section of a MPEG transport stream. This includes a list of available demand-cast streams. The protocol for communication from the set top terminal (706) to the session manager (702) includes acquisition, release, and request messages. The protocol for communication from the session manager (702) to the transport stream generator (704) includes stream release, stream request, and reset messages, and the protocol for communication from the transport stream generator (704) to the session manager (702) includes acknowledgements for those messages.
Abstract:
A flow system apparatus has a dual chamber for directing countercurrent flows of coating within the chambers from inlet to exit ends in each chamber. Each chamber has a plurality of longitudinally extending flow openings for permitting the coating flowing within a chamber to exit from the chamber in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal flow within the chamber. The flow openings in both of the chambers are connected to a mixing chamber where their flows are combined to be directed into a coater head for application to a traveling paper web substantially uniformly along an opening extending across the web substantially perpendicular to the direction of web travel. In a preferred embodiment, control of the flow of the aqueous slurry near the edges of the traveling paper web is effected by a plurality of control openings extending between the dual chambers near their inlet and exit ends. The overflow from the exit ends of each of the dual chambers can either be recycled into the system producing the aqueous flow, or it can be redirected into the inlet ends of either of the dual chambers.
Abstract:
A slurry distribution system can include a feed conduit and a distribution conduit in fluid communication therewith. The feed conduit can include a first feed inlet and a second feed inlet disposed in spaced relationship thereto. The distribution conduit can extend generally along a longitudinal axis and include an entry portion and a distribution outlet in fluid communication therewith. The entry portion is in fluid communication with the first and second feed inlets of the feed conduit. The distribution outlet extends a predetermined distance along a transverse axis, which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The slurry distribution system can be placed in fluid communication with a gypsum slurry mixer adapted to agitate water and calcined gypsum to form an aqueous calcined gypsum slurry.
Abstract:
A gypsum slurry is described that includes water a hydraulic component comprising at least 50% calcined gypsum by weight based on the dry weight of the hydraulic component, foam, a defoamer a polycarboxylate dispersant having olefimc unsaturated mono-carboxylic acid moieties and (poly)oxyalkylene moieties, a first portion of a retarder and a second portion of a retarder In some embodiments of the invention, the defoamer is combined with the dispersant prior to being added to the gypsum slurry The defoamer and dispersant can be added as a physical mixture, wherein the defoamer is attached onto the dispersant polymer or a combination thereof In some embodiments, a gypsum building panel is made from the gypsum slurry