Abstract: A dowel coated with a heat-activated, B-staged formaldehyde-based resin and a related method of using the resin-coated dowel for joining separate components together.

Abstract: A dowel coated with a heat-activated, B-staged formaldehyde-based resin and a related method of using the resin-coated dowel for joining separate components together.

Abstract: An improved pallet that is capable of easy assembly, functionally adequate for some situations and capable of easy disassembly. In one form of the invention, a pallet is provided that is made of all wood. In one embodiment, the pallet may be comprised of a plurality of stringers with bores, a plurality of deck boards with openings, and a plurality of wooden dowels disposed in the bores and openings to connect the stringers and deck boards.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a wooden pallet secured by glue and dowels is disclosed. The method comprises preparing and arranging the pallet components; drilling dowel holes in the pallet components; applying glue to the dowels and the pallet components; assembling the pallet components to form assembled components; securing the assembled components together with dowels and glue; and clamping the assembled components for a period of time sufficient to allow the glue to cure and form an assembled wooden pallet.

Abstract: A beveled block pallet is disclosed, the pallet being stringers supporting blocks, the blocks supporting stringers. The blocks are tapered to form a trapezoid shape to permit more strength with less weight.

Abstract: An improved pallet that is capable of easy assembly, functionally adequate for some situations and capable of easy disassembly. In one form of the invention, a pallet is provided that is made of all wood. In one embodiment, the pallet may be comprised of a plurality of stringers with bores, a plurality of deck boards with openings, and a plurality of wooden dowels disposed in the bores and openings to connect the stringers and deck boards.

Abstract: A method and device using stress waves for dental examination. According to the method, the dental structure (such as a tooth) under examination is subjected to a stress (acoustic) wave. The stress wave propagates through the dental structure and is received on the other side. From the analysis of the transmission time and/or the resulting waveform, diagnostic information results as to the presence of dental disease such as dental caries that may be present on the tooth surface under dental restorations such as fillings or metal crowns. According to the invention, the stress wave is generated by a suitable transducer, coupled to the dental structure through a transmission medium, propagates through the dental structure, coupled through another transmission medium, received by a acousto-electric transducer, and analyzed by suitable electronic means.

Abstract: A high strength, high modulus fiber is applied to uncured adhesive in the glueline of a laminar wood beam as an anti-sag agent and for improved shear strength, creep resistance, and gapability. In one embodiment, discontinuous fibers are evenly applied over the adhesive at approximately 0.25 to 1.35 wt % fiber. The applied fibers are chopped fibers of aramid, carbon, glass, or other high strength, high modulus fiber and are applied in lengths of approximately 0.025 to 2.54 centimeters. In another embodiment, discontinuous fibers are used as an additive to a resin matrix for reconstituted fiber products to control dimensional change. In a third embodiment, continuous fibers are used in the glueline in a pretensioned or an untensioned way to improve shear resistance, creep resistance, and strength.

Abstract: A method and device using stress waves for dental examination. According to the method, the dental structure (such as a tooth) under examination is subjected to a stress (acoustic) wave. The stress wave propagates through the dental structure and is received on the other side. From the analysis of the transmission time and/or the resulting waveform, diagnostic information results as to the presence of dental disease such as dental caries that may be present on the tooth surface under dental restorations such as fillings or metal crowns. According to the invention, the stress wave is generated by a suitable transducer, coupled to the dental structure through a transmission medium, propagates through the dental structure, coupled through another transmission medium, received by a acousto-electric transducer, and analyzed by suitable electronic means.

Abstract: The present invention includes wood I-beams with fiber reinforcement. In a preferred embodiment, a wood I-beam includes an opposed pair of elongated wood flanges and a substantially continuous web positioned between them. In one embodiment, the web includes multiple metal tubes that extend between the wood flanges and form a zig zag pattern. The ends of the metal tubes are flattened parallel to the plane of the metal web so the ends can fit within either slots in the top surface of the bottom wood flange or slots in the bottom surface of the top wood flange. Metal pins pass through the sides of the wood flanges and the flattened ends of the metal tubes to secure the tubular metal web to the flanges. In other embodiments the web includes oriented strand board (OSB) or plywood. Reinforcements are adhered to the wood flanges so that the metal pins also pass through the reinforcements. The reinforcements preferably include multiple fiber strands held within a resin matrix.

Abstract: A reinforcement panel with a cellulose surface material improves adhesion of the panel to one or more wood segments in wood structural members such as laminated beams, wood I-beams, and trusses to provide a cellulose material-to-wood segment interface that withstands high shear stresses. The reinforcement panel is comprised of a plurality of reinforcement fibers that are preferably arranged parallel to one another and aligned with the longitudinal direction of the panel, and accordingly the wood structure. The fibers are maintained in position by a resin encasement that completely encloses the fibers. A cellulose surface material is impregnated with a polyester resin and adhesively connected to a first side of the panel. The first side of the panel is adhesively affixed to the wood structure at an area of high stress such that the surface material is sandwiched between the resin encasement of the panel and the wood structure. Thus, the panel provides improved adhesion.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a glue laminated structural wood member for bearing a structural load includes bonding together multiple elongate wood segments and a synthetic fiber reinforcement with their lengths generally aligned with the length of the member. The synthetic fiber reinforcement includes multiple synthetic fiber strands held within a resin matrix and low cost fiber edges.

Abstract: The present invention includes wood I-beams with synthetic fiber reinforcement. In a preferred embodiment, a wood I-beam includes an opposed pair of elongated wood flanges and a substantially continuous web positioned between them. In one embodiment, the web includes multiple metal tubes that extend between the wood flanges and form a zig zag pattern. The ends of the metal tubes are flattened parallel to the plane of the metal web so the ends can fit within either slots in the top surface of the bottom wood flange or slots in the bottom surface of the top wood flange. Metal pins pass through the sides of the wood flanges and the flattened ends of the metal tubes to secure the tubular metal web to the flanges. In other embodiments the web includes oriented strand board (OSB) or plywood. Synthetic reinforcements are adhered to the wood flanges so that the metal pins also pass through the reinforcements. The synthetic reinforcements preferably include multiple synthetic fiber strands held within a resin matrix.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a glue laminated structural wood member for bearing a structural load includes bonding together multiple elongate wood segments and a synthetic fiber reinforcement with their lengths generally aligned with the length of the member. The synthetic fiber reinforcement includes multiple synthetic fiber strands held within a resin matrix and low cost fiber edges.

Abstract: A wood structural member of the present invention, such as a laminated wood beam, a wood I-beam, or a truss, includes multiple wood segments and plural multiple-fiber synthetic reinforcements. Each of plural reinforcements includes multiple strands of different types of synthetic fibers that are maintained in position by a resin encasement. The surface of a reinforcement to which a wood segment is bonded is adapted so that the reinforcement may be bonded to the structural member with nonepoxy adhesives, such as resorcinol, commonly used in the laminated beam industry.

Abstract: A wood structural member for bearing a structural load includes at least one wood segment having a generally radial cross-section is selected and arranged so that the annual rings intersect the horizontal shear stress plane at an angle between thirty and ninety degrees.

Abstract: A wood structural member of the present invention, such as a laminated wood beam, a wood I-beam, or a truss, includes multiple synthetic fiber reinforcements. In a preferred embodiment, the reinforcements include synthetic fibers that are arranged parallel to one another and aligned with the longitudinal direction of the reinforcement and, therefore, accordingly the wood structure. The fibers are maintained in position by a resin encasement. The surface of a reinforcement to which a wood segment is bonded is adapted so that the reinforcement may be bonded to the structural member with nonepoxy adhesives, such as resorcinol, commonly used in the laminated beam industry.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a glue laminated structural wood member (10) for bearing a structural load (16) includes bonding together multiple elongate wood segments (12) and a synthetic fiber reinforcement (24, 30) with their lengths generally aligned with the length of the member. The synthetic fiber reinforcement includes multiple synthetic fiber strands (52, 54) held within a resin matrix (56) and low cost fiber edges.

Abstract: A high strength, high modulus fiber is applied to uncured adhesive in the glueline of a laminar wood beam as an anti-sag agent and for improved shear strength, creep resistance, and gapability. In one embodiment, discontinuous fibers are evenly applied over the adhesive at approximately 0.25 to 1.35 wt % fiber. The applied fibers are chopped fibers of aramid, carbon, glass, or other high strength, high modulus fiber and are applied in lengths of approximately 0.025 to 2.54 centimeters. In another embodiment, discontinuous fibers are used as an additive to a resin matrix for reconstituted fiber products to control dimensional change. In a third embodiment, continuous fibers are used in the glueline in a pretensioned or an untensioned way to improve shear resistance, creep resistance, and strength.

Abstract: A synthetic reinforcement having surface features that facilitate adhesion of the reinforcement to another surface and a process for making the same is disclosed. The synthetic reinforcement is comprised of a plurality of continuous fibers that are maintained in position by a resin encasement. An external surface of the synthetic reinforcement can be characterized by micro-recesses that are located in a generally random pattern, which increases the surface area of the resin encasement.