Abstract: An apparatus for hanging an instrument includes a wall plate, an axial arm, and a yoke. The wall plate is configured to secure the apparatus to a wall or other suitable surface. The axial arm extends axially between the wall plate and the yoke. The yoke is configured to receive at least a portion of an instrument. The apparatus also includes a humidistat disposed on a surface of the wall plate opposite the wall or other suitable surface. The humidistat is configured to display a relative humidity value corresponding to an amount of water vapor in the atmosphere proximate the instrument.

Abstract: An apparatus for hanging an instrument includes a wall plate, an axial arm, and a yoke. The wall plate is configured to secure the apparatus to a wall or other suitable surface. The axial arm extends axially between the wall plate and the yoke. The yoke is configured to receive at least a portion of an instrument. The apparatus also includes a humidistat disposed on a surface of the wall plate opposite the wall or other suitable surface. The humidistat is configured to display a relative humidity value corresponding to an amount of water vapor in the atmosphere proximate the instrument.

Abstract: A ceramic or composite coating is prepared from a mixture of a fire-resistant binder and an inorganic filler such that the mixture is suitable to be applied as a coating to a substrate, can be cured in situ, and protects the underlying substrate to which it is applied. In one example, the inorganic filler includes fly ash, where a mix ratio of the inorganic filler to the fire-resistant binder is from 1:1 to 9:1 by weight. The mixture can be cured in air at room temperature to form a composite coating on wood, metal, composites, and other substrates. High temperature processing can convert the composite to a ceramic.

Abstract: An apparatus for hanging an instrument includes a wall plate, an axial arm, and a yoke. The wall plate is configured to secure the apparatus to a wall or other suitable surface. The axial arm extends axially between the wall plate and the yoke. The yoke is configured to receive at least a portion of an instrument. The apparatus also includes a humidistat disposed on a surface of the wall plate opposite the wall or other suitable surface. The humidistat is configured to display a relative humidity value corresponding to an amount of water vapor in the atmosphere proximate the instrument.

Abstract: An apparatus for hanging an instrument includes a wall plate, an axial arm, and a yoke. The wall plate is configured to secure the apparatus to a wall or other suitable surface. The axial arm extends axially between the wall plate and the yoke. The yoke is configured to receive at least a portion of an instrument. The apparatus also includes a humidistat disposed on a surface of the wall plate opposite the wall or other suitable surface. The humidistat is configured to display a relative humidity value corresponding to an amount of water vapor in the atmosphere proximate the instrument.

Abstract: A wheelchair accessible cycle that can be driven on a surface and operated from a wheelchair. The wheelchair accessible cycle comprising a frame and a platform. The frame has a front portion with a first wheel and a rear portion with second and third wheels. The platform is disposed laterally between the second and the third wheels and longitudinally between the front and rear portions of the frame. The platform is configurable to transport the wheelchair and pivotally moveable between a tilted position, where a free edge of the platform is in contact with the surface for rollably receiving the wheelchair, and a horizontal position, where the platform is generally horizontal and the wheelchair is adjacent to the front portion of the frame when the wheelchair is loaded onto the platform.

Abstract: A wheelchair accessible cycle that can be driven on a surface and operated from a wheelchair. The wheelchair accessible cycle comprising a frame and a platform. The frame has a front portion with a first wheel and a rear portion with second and third wheels. The platform is disposed laterally between the second and the third wheels and longitudinally between the front and rear portions of the frame. The platform is configurable to transport the wheelchair and pivotally moveable between a tilted position, where a free edge of the platform is in contact with the surface for rollably receiving the wheelchair, and a horizontal position, where the platform is generally horizontal and the wheelchair is adjacent to the front portion of the frame when the wheelchair is loaded onto the platform.

Abstract: A method for reconstructing rubber from crumb rubber includes mixing the crumb rubber with a binder of either urethane or sodium silicate, applying pressure to the mixture until the crumb rubber is flowable and molding the flowable rubber.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an insulated flame retardant panel includes the provision of a mixture of rice hulls and adhesive adhered to one or more skins of the panel with pressure in which the adhesive is either a urethane adhesive or a sodium silicate adhesive that is set by applying pressure, with the rice hulls providing an R value comparable to that associated with expanded polystyrene foam or urethane foam but with significantly improved structural properties and without involving environmentally unfriendly processes.

Abstract: A method for positioning a sample in a diagnostic analyzer includes: providing two or more sample carriers on a conveyor; providing a fixed registration element for each sample carrier at predetermined locations along the conveyor; providing a flexure device positioned between the sample carrier and the conveyor; advancing the sample carrier beyond the fixed registration elements; reversing the conveyor direction to back at least one of the sample carriers into contact with its corresponding registration elements; continuing to reverse the conveyor until all sample carriers are in contact with their respective registration elements; whereby the flexure elements of the sample carriers in contact with the respective registration elements will deform as the conveyor reverses to allow all sample carriers to contact their respective registration elements, thereby providing a known position of the sample carrier.

Abstract: A method for positioning a sample in a diagnostic analyzer includes: providing two or more sample carriers on a conveyor; providing a fixed registration element for each sample carrier at predetermined locations along the conveyor; providing a flexure device positioned between the sample carrier and the conveyor; advancing the sample carrier beyond the fixed registration elements; reversing the conveyor direction to back at least one of the sample carriers into contact with its corresponding registration elements; continuing to reverse the conveyor until all sample carriers are in contact with their respective registration elements; whereby the flexure elements of the sample carriers in contact with the respective registration elements will deform as the conveyor reverses to allow all sample carriers to contact their respective registration elements, thereby providing a known position of the sample carrier.

Abstract: A method for positioning a sample in a diagnostic analyzer includes: providing two or more sample carriers on a conveyor; providing a fixed registration element for each sample carrier at predetermined locations along the conveyor; providing a flexure device positioned between the sample carrier and the conveyor; advancing the sample carrier beyond the fixed registration elements; reversing the conveyor direction to back at least one of the sample carriers into contact with its corresponding registration elements; continuing to reverse the conveyor until all sample carriers are in contact with their respective registration elements; whereby the flexure elements of the sample carriers in contact with the respective registration elements will deform as the conveyor reverses to allow all sample carriers to contact their respective registration elements, thereby providing a known position of the sample carrier.

Abstract: A method for positioning a sample in a diagnostic analyzer includes: providing two or more sample carriers on a conveyor; providing a fixed registration element for each sample carrier at predetermined locations along the conveyor; providing a flexure device positioned between the sample carrier and the conveyor; advancing the sample carrier beyond the fixed registration elements; reversing the conveyor direction to back at least one of the sample carriers into contact with its corresponding registration elements; continuing to reverse the conveyor until all sample carriers are in contact with their respective registration elements; whereby the flexure elements of the sample carriers in contact with the respective registration elements will deform as the conveyor reverses to allow all sample carriers to contact their respective registration elements, thereby providing a known position of the sample carrier.

Abstract: A detailed embodiment of the invention described herein includes a method and apparatus for pultrusion of a plastic member having a non-wood (e.g., bamboo) reinforced core. The apparatus includes an input and series of die assemblies for taking bamboo tape and embedding it in an appropriately shaped composite member. The die assembly may include a finger die, an encapsulation die, a forming die, and a chilling die. A pultrusion unit maintains production at an efficient and desired rate by use of pressure sensitive clamps to pull the product forward through the prior die units. A colorizer unit and embossing unit allow particular appearances to be produced in the end product. Alternative embodiments are also shown including the processing of bamboo into tape and ribbon forms usable by a pultrusion machine.

Abstract: A crimping tool has a movable die attached to a reciprocable slide member for movement toward and away from a fixed die. A pair of rollers are journaled for rotation in pivotable links carried by the slide member. An actuating mechanism includes a wedge which is movable between the pair of rollers to drive the rollers apart and into engagement with a pair of ramps, thereby moving the slide member and the movable die toward the fixed die. A biasing mechanism is selectively operable to bias the slide member and the movable die either toward or away from the fixed die with a relatively small force during times when the wedge is withdrawn from between the rollers.