Disclosed is a method for molding a foamed article, such as a midsole or outsole for footwear, in which first water, then a desired amount of thermoplastic polyurethane foam beads are placed in a compression mold in the shape of the article and the mold is brought to a peak temperature of from about 130° C. to about 180° C. over a period of from about 300 to about 1500 seconds, then cooled to from about 5° C. to about 80° C. over a period of from about 300 to about 1500 seconds within about 30 seconds after the peak temperature is reached. The foamed article made by the method has a density of from about 0.1 to about 0.45 g/cm.sup.3.

A process for forming a moldable, uncured nonwoven composite containing forming a structural nonwoven layer, at least partially impregnating the structural nonwoven layer with an uncured, water-based thermosetting resin having a cure temperature of at least about 160° C., and at least partially drying the uncured, wet nonwoven composite such that the temperature at the inner plane is less than about 130° C. forming an moldable, uncured composite. The structural nonwoven layer contains a plurality of bi-component binder fibers and a plurality of reinforcing fibers, the bi-component fibers containing a core and a sheath. The core contains a polymer having a melting temperature of at least about 180° C. and the sheath contains a polymer having a melting temperature less than about 180 ° C. A process for forming a molded, cured composite containing forming a structural nonwoven layer and a molded cured nonwoven composite are also disclosed.

Provided are a vulcanization device for a pneumatic tire and a method for vulcanizing a pneumatic tire. A pressurizing medium having a relatively low pressure is supplied through a pressurizing medium low-pressurization/supply line into a vulcanization bladder having a tube-like shape inserted into a green tire in a vulcanization mold to inflate the vulcanization bladder. Thereafter, a heating medium is supplied through a heating medium supply line into the vulcanization bladder (2). Then, a pressurizing medium having a relatively high pressure is supplied through a pressurizing medium supply line into the vulcanization bladder to increase internal pressure of the vulcanization bladder while the media in the vulcanization bladder are circulated through a circulation line extending outside the vulcanization bladder, thereby vulcanizing the green tire.

A method and system to dry crack-free and high strength skin including an inorganic binder of an average particle size (D.sub.50) in a range between 10 nm and 700 nm on a porous ceramic body. The method includes supporting the honeycomb body on an end face such that axial channels and outer periphery are substantially vertical. A gas is flowed past the honeycomb body substantially parallel to the axial channel direction, substantially equally around the outer periphery of the skin, to uniformly dry the skin to form a partially dried skin under mild conditions. Then the partially dried skin may be dried more severely resulting in rapidly dried crack-free and high strength skin.

A method and system to dry crack-free and high strength skin including an inorganic binder of an average particle size (D.sub.50) in a range between 10 nm and 700 nm on a porous ceramic body. The method includes supporting the honeycomb body on an end face such that axial channels and outer periphery are substantially vertical. A gas is flowed past the honeycomb body substantially parallel to the axial channel direction, substantially equally around the outer periphery of the skin, to uniformly dry the skin to form a partially dried skin under mild conditions. Then the partially dried skin may be dried more severely resulting in rapidly dried crack-free and high strength skin.

A vulcanizing device for a tire includes a mould, a central part, a curing bladder, and an injector. The central part is positioned inside the mould and supports the curing bladder, which is arranged to press firmly against an internal part of a tire. An internal part of the curing bladder defines a vulcanizing chamber, which holds a pressurized heat-transfer fluid. The heat-transfer fluid, which is a mixture of steam and pressurized gas, circulates in the vulcanizing chamber and between an inlet pipe leading into the vulcanizing chamber and an outlet pipe leading out of the vulcanizing chamber. The injector is arranged outside the vulcanizing chamber and is connected to the inlet pipe, the outlet pipe, and a supply pipe for supplying steam or pressurized gas. The injector is structured to mix steam or pressurized gas coming from the supply pipe with the heat-transfer fluid leaving the vulcanizing chamber.

A method and system for inserting a liner and lining pipes from inside a water main or other larger pipe. The method and system generally includes inserting a string inside the first pipe between a first end and a second end, inserting the string through a liner positioning tool, attaching a first end of the string to the liner, and then pulling the liner into the first pipe with the first string such that the liner extends from the first end to the second end of the pipe. One end of the string may be attached to the liner by a pulling insert, which may be a threaded insert that screws into an end of the liner, and which may further include a fluid passage to allow hot water or other fluid to flow through the insert while the string is connected to it.

Exemplary methods for manufacturing a wire and resultant wires are disclosed herein. The method includes extruding a receptor cross-linkable polymer that is substantially free of curing agent about a conductive core and extruding a donor polymer in association with a curing agent. The method includes disposing the donor polymer about the receptor polymer and conductive core to create a multi-layer wire pre-product. The method also includes heat curing a multi-layer wire pre-product to form a wire.

Provided herein is a resin product useful for the production of three-dimensional objects by additive manufacturing, and methods using the same. The resin may include a reactive blocked prepolymer comprising a prepolymer blocked with reactive blocking groups; a polyol; a photoinitiator; and at least one organometallic catalyst. A packaged product useful for the production of three-dimensional objects by additive manufacturing, the product comprising a single container having a single chamber and a resin in the chamber with all components mixed together, is also provided.

A tire holding device of a tire mounting machine grasps the bead section of a green tire by chucking paddles and places the green tire around an upright cylindrical vulcanization bladder. A bladder device of the tire mounting machine expands the vulcanization bladder to press same against the inner surface of the green tire, and sets the green tire in a vulcanization-mold. On a lower portion of each chucking paddle, guide extensions are formed to extend in the two circumferential directions. Between adjacent chucking paddles, the guide extensions extend toward each other and constantly overlap each other to prevent the expanding vulcanization bladder from contacting the radially inner surface of the bead section and from stripping the non-vulcanized rubber of the green tire.