1. An aqueous ready to use semen extender composition comprising:
(a) about 0.1 wt. % to about 6 wt. % phospholipid obtained from a non-animal source comprising lecithin;
(b) about 0.0001 wt. % to about 1 wt. % of anionic surfactant to reduce ice crystal formation during freezing of the composition, wherein the anionic surfactant comprises a sulfate;
(c) about 0.5 wt. % to about 3 wt. % carbohydrate;
(d) about 3 wt. % to about 14 wt. % freeze agent comprising glycerol; and
(e) biological buffer to provide the composition with a pH of about 6.9 to about 7.5,
and wherein the composition comprises a sufficient amount of water so that the composition exhibits an osmolality of about 250 mOsM to about 350 mOsM, wherein the composition is substantially free of animal products.
2. An aqueous ready to use semen extender composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition comprises at least about 90 wt. % water.
3. An aqueous ready to use semen extender composition according to claim 1, further comprising
antioxidant.
4. An aqueous ready to use semen extender composition according to claim 3, wherein the antioxidant comprises at least one of vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin A, BHA, EHT, or derivatives thereof.
5. An aqueous ready to use semen extender composition according to claim 1, wherein the anionic surfactant comprises at least one of sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, or mixtures thereof.
6. An aqueous ready to use semen extender composition according to claim 1, further comprising semen.
7. A method for manufacturing an aqueous ready to use semen extender composition, the method comprising a step of:
(a) mixing semen extender composition components to provide a semen extender composition having an osmolality of about 250 mOsM to about 350 mOsM and a pH of about 6.9 to about 7.5, the semen extender composition components comprising:
(i) about 0.1 wt. % to about 6 wt. % phospholipid obtained from a non-animal source comprising lecithin;
(ii) about 0.0001 wt. % to about 1 wt,% of anionic surfactant to reduce ice crystal formation during freezing of the composition, wherein the anionic surfactant comprises a sulfate;
(iii) about 0.5 wt. % to about 3 wt.;
(iv) about 3 wt. % to about 14 wt. % freeze agent comprising glycerol;
(v) water; and
(vi) biological buffer) wherein the composition is substantially free of animal products.
8. An aqueous ready to use semen extender composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises at least about 1 IUml antioxidant.
9. An aqueous ready to use semen extender composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises at least about 5 IUml antioxidant.
10. An aqueous ready to use semen extender composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises about 1 wt. % to about 3 wt. % antioxidant.
11. A method according to claim 7, wherein the composition components further comprise at least about 1 IUml antioxidant.
12. A method according to claim 7, wherein the composition components further comprise at least about 5 IUml antioxidant.
13. A method according to claim 7, wherein the composition components further comprise about 1 wt. % to about 3 wt. % antioxidant.
14. A method according to claim 11, wherein the antioxidant comprises at least one of vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin A, BHA, BHT, or derivatives thereof.
15. A method according to claim 7, wherein the anionic surfactant comprises at least one of sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, or mixtures thereof.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claims which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. A device for producing a mixture from chemically reactive plastic components and permeated with reinforcement fibers, comprising:
a mixing head having a mixing chamber receiving chemically reactive plastic components for producing a plastic mixture;
an outlet tube disposed downstream of the mixing chamber for receiving the plastic mixture;
a cleaning piston reversibly displaceable in the outlet tube and having a central channel;
a conveying unit for feeding a strand of natural fibers; and
a cutting arrangement including an outer tube defining an axis and terminating in an outlet port, an inner guide tube receiving the strand of natural fibers from the conveying unit and surrounded by the outer tube at formation of a gas supply channel of ring-shaped cross section for conduction of compressed gas, the inner tube and the outer tube so configured as to form a ring nozzle, with the outer tube extending beyond a lower end of the inner tube for guiding the strand of natural fiber downstream of the ring nozzle, and a cutting mechanism having at least one knife element extending transversely to the axis of the outer tube and in shearing contact with an end surface of the outer tube pass when passing by the outlet port, and an exit tube arranged downstream of the knife element in communication with the central channel of the cleaning piston.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the mixing head includes a housing and a dip tube which is securely fixed to the housing, said dip tube traversing the central channel of the cleaning piston and communicating with the exit tube.
3. The device of claim 2, wherein the dip tube is securely fixed to the exit tube.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein the knife element includes a knife disk which is driven about an axis in parallel relationship to the axis of the outer tube and has at least one kidney-shaped through-opening having at least one rounded area forming a cutting edge.
5. The device of claim 4, wherein the cutting arrangement includes a cutting drum and a retainer ring for replaceably securing the knife element to the cutting drum, said cutting drum having a central opening expanding conically upwards to the through-opening of the knife disk and tapering downwards to an opening terminating in the exit tube.
6. The device of claim 5, wherein the cutting arrangement has a housing and a drive mechanism supported by the housing and including a toothed belt in driving relationship with the cutting drum, said cutting drum supported in the housing which has a cutout for passage of the tooth belt.
7. In combination:
a cutting arrangement for guiding a fiber strand and cutting pieces from the fiber strand;
a mixing head receiving the fiber pieces from the cutting arrangement and combining the fiber pieces with a mixture from chemically reactive plastic components,
wherein the cutting arrangement includes an outer tube defining an axis and terminating in an outlet port, an inner guide tube receiving the fiber strand and surrounded by the outer tube at formation of a gas supply channel of ring-shaped cross section for conduction of compressed gas, the inner tube and the outer tube so configured as to form a ring nozzle, with the outer tube extending beyond a lower end of the inner tube for guiding the fiber strand downstream of the ring nozzle, and a cutting mechanism having at least one knife element extending transversely to the axis of the outer tube and in shearing contact with an end surface of the outer tube pass when passing by the outlet port.
8. The combination of claim 7, wherein the mixing head includes a housing and a dip tube which is securely fixed to the housing, said dip tube received in a cleaning piston and communicating with an exit tube.
9. The combination of claim 8, wherein the dip tube of the mixing head is securely fixed to the exit tube.
10. The combination of claim 7, wherein the knife element includes a knife disk which is driven about an axis in parallel relationship to the axis of the outer tube and has at least one kidney-shaped through-opening having at least one rounded area forming a cutting edge.
11. The combination of claim 10, wherein the cutting arrangement includes a cutting drum and a retainer ring for replaceably securing the knife element to the cutting drum, said cutting drum having a central opening expanding conically upwards to the through-opening of the knife disk and tapering downwards to an opening which terminates in the exit tube.
12. The combination of claim 11, wherein the cutting arrangement has a housing and a drive mechanism supported by the housing and including a toothed belt in driving relationship with the cutting drum, said cutting drum supported in the housing which has a cutout for passage of the tooth belt.
13. A cutting device for attachment to a mixing head of a polyurethane apparatus, said cutting device comprising:
an inner tube and an outer tube defining an axis;
means for conducting a stream of compressed gas through a channel between the inner and outer tubes and into an interior of the outer tube thereby applying a vacuum in the inner tube for drawing a fiber strand and aligning the fiber strand in a straight configuration; and
a cutting mechanism having at least one knife element extending adjacent a lower end of the outer tube transversely to the axis so as to be in shearing contact with an end surface of the outer tube as the knife element passes by.
14. The cutting device of claim 13, wherein the knife element includes a knife disk which rotates about an axis in parallel relationship to the outer tube and has at least one kidney-shaped through-opening having at least one rounded area forming a cutting edge for cutting the fiber strand as it passes the knife disk.
15. The cutting device of claim 14, wherein the cutting arrangement includes a cutting drum and a retainer ring for replaceably securing the knife element to the cutting drum, said cutting drum having a central opening expanding conically upwards to the through-opening of the knife disk and tapering downwards to an opening terminating in the exit tube.
16. The cutting device of claim 15, wherein the cutting arrangement has a housing and a drive mechanism supported by the housing and including a toothed belt in driving relationship with the cutting drum, said cutting drum supported in the housing which has a cutout for passage of the tooth belt.