Abstract: A building sheet includes a substantially flat board having a front surface, a back surface and a thickness defined therebetween. At least one of the front and back surfaces defines a surface direction. The thickness defines a thickness direction that is substantially perpendicular to the surface direction. Recesses are formed in at least one of the front and back surfaces. The recesses have a maximum dimension in the surface direction of less than 3/8 inch, such that each recess is too small to receive a head of the fastener.

Abstract: The deflection of decking planks under load is tested using a portable deflection measurement instrument, after installation of the planks over spaced joists. The instrument has a bridge on support legs spaced to rest on the deck at points apart from a span between joists of one or more planks to be tested. The legs can rest on planks laterally adjacent to the plank(s) under test, so the bridge straddles over the plank, or the bridge can be cantilevered or can rest on the tested plank but at points beyond the span to be tested. A contact foot or tup is movably mounted on the bridge and coupled to a platform or similar receptacle by which weight is applied to the plank. The resulting displacement between rest and loaded states is measured using a distance scale, and applied as a function of the span length and loading criteria to assess the deck structure.

Abstract: The present invention includes a screw tip for an extruder screw for effecting mixing in an extruder. The screw tip has a shaft portion and at least one mixing element ring connected to the shaft portion, or a mixing element having an aperture therethrough, or both. The mixing element may have two legs connected by a top portion with the aperture between the two legs to allow flow of extrudate therethrough.

Abstract: The present invention includes a screw tip for an extruder screw for effecting mixing in an extruder. The screw tip has a substantially conical outside surface and at least one discontinuous fin. The at least one fin protrudes from the outside surface of the screw tip.

Abstract: Dissolved components of a liquid sample are recovered for analysis by delivering the sample to a concentrator comprising a cylindrical receptacle into which an uncontaminated gas, such as air, is introduced in a direction tangentially of the cylindrical wall. The gas is under sufficient pressure to effect swirling of the gas and liquid sample and atomization of the sample to rapidly evaporate the same and cause a residue containing the dissolved components to be deposited on the interior surface of the wall. A reconstituting solvent is then admitted to the receptacle to dissolve the residue and provide a reconstituted, concentrated sample for analysis. If desired, the sample may be concentrated to a given volume rather than to complete dryness. In nonlaboratory applications, a dilute liquid substance may be processed by rapid evaporation to provide a final product of desired concentration.