Abstract: Described herein is a formation press for manufacturing a three-dimensional fibrous preform. The press includes a compression zone with an amount of an aqueous slurry of fibrous material. At least two orthogonally disposed compression members are for compressing the material in the compression zone. The compression members are in communication with the compression zone for movement relative to it. The compression members are moveable with sufficient inwardly directed force to compress the material so as to form the three-dimensional perform in the compression zone.

Abstract: A method of making a formed, dried lignocellulose fiber material comprising (a) providing an aqueous lignocellulose fiber pulp slurry having an effective consistency; (b) de-watering the slurry to provide a de-watered material at an effective de-watering rate under an effective pressure to prevent or reduce the formation of fissures and voids within the material; (c) drying an effective amount of the de-watered material at an effective temperature and period of time to provide the formed, dried lignocellulose fiber material having a thickness of at least 5 mm. The formed, dried lignocellulose material may be used to make a lignocellulose fiber-resin composite material of use as a cost effective structural member, as a substitute for steel, in, for example, bridges, processing equipment, and the like.

Abstract: A method of making a formed, dried lignocellulose fiber material comprising (a) providing an aqueous lignocellulose fiber pulp slurry having an effective consistency; (b) de-watering the slurry to provide a de-watered material at an effective de-watering rate under an effective pressure to prevent or reduce the formation of fissures and voids within the material; (c) drying an effective amount of the de-watered material at an effective temperature and period of time to provide the formed, dried lignocellulose fiber material having a thickness of at least 5 mm. The formed, dried lignocellulose material may be used to make a lignocellulose fiber-resin composite material of use as a cost effective structural member, as a substitute for steel, in, for example, bridges, processing equipment, and the like.

Abstract: An elongate railway crosstie for supporting rail tracks on a bed of stones or the like, said tie having a first end, a second end, a length between said first and second ends and a top surface, a bottom surface and a pair of side surfaces between said first and second ends, characterized in that at least one of said side surfaces has a portion of a non-planar stone-embeddable form extending between said first and second ends, so-shaped as to effect reduced lateral and longitudinal slippage of said tie within said bed, while providing a reduction in the volume of material used.

Abstract: A method of making a formed, dried lignocellulose fiber material comprising (a) providing an aqueous lignocellulose fiber pulp slurry having an effective consistency; (b) de-watering the slurry to provide a de-watered material at an effective de-watering rate under an effective pressure to prevent or reduce the formation of fissures and voids within the material; (c) drying an effective amount of the de-watered material at an effective temperature and period of time to provide the formed, dried lignocellulose fiber material having a thickness of at least 5 mm. The formed, dried lignocellulose material may be used to make a lignocellulose fiber-resin composite material of use as a cost effective structural member, as a substitute for steel, in, for example, bridges, processing equipment, and the like.

Abstract: A method of making a formed, dried lignocellulose fiber material comprising (a) providing an aqueous lignocellulose fiber pulp slurry having an effective consistency; (b) de-watering the slurry to provide a de-watered material at an effective de-watering rate under an effective pressure to prevent or reduce the formation of fissures and voids within the material; (c) drying an effective amount of the de-watered material at an effective temperature and period of time to provide the formed, dried lignocellulose fiber material having a thickness of at least 5 mm. The formed, dried lignocellulose material may be used to make a lignocellulose fiber-resin composite material of use as a cost effective structural member, as a substitute for steel, in, for example, bridges, processing equipment, and the like.

Abstract: A lumber unscrambler and conveyor having first and second rigid units mounted at an incline on a support structure. Each unit has a plurality of spaced apart parallel plates in series along the incline and parallel thereto. The plates on the respective first and second units are interleaved in alternate relation. The plates have an upper article supporting surface and a leading edge generally transverse to the incline. The leading edge of plates proximate the in-feed end are of greater depth than those further along the path toward the out-feed end. The units are supported on the support structure to move relative thereto and one another. The units are driven in synchronized out of phase relation reciprocating along the inclined path. A hopper at the in-feed end receives and holds a supply of lumber pieces of selected dimension and as the plates reciprocate they move pieces of the lumber from the hopper to the out-feed end discharging normally only a single stick one after another.

Abstract: A device for impregnating a paper web with a molten polymer to produce a paper with improved resistance to oil and grease are provided. The device includes, as part of an on-machine process, an ordinary paper web composed of cellulose or synthetic fibers, a polymer applicator, a hot reel, and a winding reel. The web, which is created through a series of processes located upstream of the subject invention, first encounters the polymer applicator, which deposits a quantity of molten polymer onto the surface of the web. The web is next transferred to a hot reel, which maintains the temperature of the molten polymer above its melting point and thereby facilitates wicking of the molten polymer into the web. After the web passes the hot reel, it is wound onto a winding reel, where additional wicking occurs until the molten polymer cools to a temperature below its melting point.

Abstract: A moving slat conveyor in which the slats are reciprocally mounted on cross beams and wherein the slats are provided with depressed areas above the respective beams so that the slats fall and rise during their reciprocal movement. All of the slats are moved in unison to carry the goods thereon to an advanced position and in sequence groups of slats are retuned to their home position. During the return the slats lower whereby their upper surface is below the plane of the remaining slats that are supporting the goods.

Abstract: A sawmill that is a compact integrated unit of a multiplicity of components all mounted on a common frame for performing different functions to produce pieces of lumber from a log. Logs can be processed that have a minimum diameter of approximately 2" and a minimum length of approximately 42" with the overall length of the mill being approximately 17'. There are a number of power driven feed and guide rolls that propel a log endwise along a fixed path. The processing components include first and second pairs of chipper canter units with novel chipper heads, a pair of rabbet units in which each has a pair of cutter heads on concentric telescopic shafts and power driven rolls for off-feeding pieces of lumber of differing widths. The log feed speed and/or chipper head speed can be varied to provide chips of selected different lengths. Positioning of the processing units is controlled by a programmed processor unit.