An irrigation tube having outlets extending along the length of the tube in a spaced relationship and finely-divided silica or iron oxide particles dispersed in the tube thereby increasing a surface hardness of the tube to deter rodent, worm or insect damage, the silica particles further can include an odor repellant located within the particles.

A discrete flat dripper of the non-pressure regulated type of drippers or of the pressure compensatedflow rate regulated type of drippers, suited for being integrally installed within a hose, that comprises a body component whose configuration is essentially rectangular, wherein on its one side that is suited to being affixed to an internal wall of the hose, formed with an exit pool that it is elongated in its dimensions and substantially extends along the entire length of the body component, and with a flow passage circumferentially surrounding a substantial part of the elongated exit pool, and an integral dripper line wherein there are integrated at least one of such discrete flat dripper.

An extruding process and assembly for creating a structural form, which includes the steps of bundling and conveying at least one length of a material into an extruder, reshaping a cross section of the bundle in a first stage of the extruder, extruding a material using any combination of heat and pressure around and between the lengths of material, and outputting a finished article having a cross sectional profile in which the materials are structurally supported by the extruded and hardened material. Other steps include an intermediate chilling stage between reshaping and extruding, and for preventing the extruded material from back flowing. The extruded material further includes any of a polymeric or structural foam material and can exhibit any of a rounded, square, rectangular or I beam cross sectional profile.

Pharmacologically active implants, in particular subcutaneous implants, intrauterine devices, and intravaginal rings, are provided herein. Methods for forming an active ingredient-containing core are described. Methods for laminating an active ingredient-containing core to form a rate-controlling sheath are also described.

A compressible biomass carrier for use in fluid treatment systems is disclosed. The biomass carrier includes an extruded circumferential mesh-like structure and elongated elements positioned in a space confined by the circumferential mesh-like structure and at least some of the elongated elements are joined to an inner portion of the mesh-like structure.

Silicone-containing light fixture optics. A method for manufacturing an optical component may include mixing two precursors of silicone, opening a first gate of an optic forming device, moving the silicone mixture from the extrusion machine into the optic forming device, cooling the silicone mixture as it enters the optic forming device, filling a mold within the optic forming device with the silicone mixture, closing the first gate, and heating the silicone mixture in the mold to at least partially cure the silicone. Alternatively, a method for manufacturing an optical component may include depositing a layer of heat cured silicone optical material to an optical structure, arranging one or more at least partially cured silicone optics on the layer of heat cured silicone optical material, and heating the heat cured silicone optical material to permanently adhere the one or more at least partially cured silicone optics to the optical structure.

A method of applying protective sheeting of polymer material to a pipeline extending along a longitudinal axis and having a cutback bounded at opposite axial ends by two end portions of respective protective coatings of polymer material, the method including directly heating the free faces of the end portions; extruding and simultaneously winding about the pipeline a protective sheeting wide enough to cover the cutback and the end portions; and compressing the protective sheeting against the pipeline, the end portions included.

Silicone-containing light fixture optics. A method for manufacturing an optical component may include mixing two precursors of silicone, opening a first gate of an optic forming device, moving the silicone mixture from the extrusion machine into the optic forming device, cooling the silicone mixture as it enters the optic forming device, filling a mold within the optic forming device with the silicone mixture, closing the first gate, and heating the silicone mixture in the mold to at least partially cure the silicone. Alternatively, a method for manufacturing an optical component may include depositing a layer of heat cured silicone optical material to an optical structure, arranging one or more at least partially cured silicone optics on the layer of heat cured silicone optical material, and heating the heat cured silicone optical material to permanently adhere the one or more at least partially cured silicone optics to the optical structure.

A connector and a method of retaining a contact in a housing. The method includes: inserting the contact into a contact receiving cavity of the housing; applying extruded material in layers into the contact receiving cavity with a precision controlled nozzle; filling voids in the contact receiving cavity layer by layer until the contact receiving cavity is filled; and cooling or curing the extruded material, allowing the extruded material to bond with a wall of the contact receiving cavity. The contact is securely maintained in the contact receiving cavity of the housing by the extruded material. The connector having a contact positioned in a contact receiving cavity of a housing. Extruded material is positioned in the contact receiving cavity. The extruded material is bond to walls of the contact receiving cavity, wherein the extruded material securely maintains the contact in the contact receiving cavity of the housing.

A piece insertion method for a pipe, for example an irrigation pipe, including: ejecting at least one piece, for example a dripper, from an ejection unit, advancing the at least one dripper inside the irrigation pipe by a dripper advancing unit, lifting the dripper towards the inner surface of the irrigation pipe by using a lifting device such that the dripper is parallel or substantially parallel to this inner surface of the irrigation pipe on impact with this inner surface. The method according to the invention allows also coordination between the lifting device, the ejection unit and the dripper advancing unit such that the dripper spacing can be maintained in tight tolerances.