Abstract: Method and apparatus for deriving four independent elastic constants (longitudinal and transverse Young's moduli, in-plane shear modulus and major Poisson's ratio) of composite materials from the modal resonance data of a freely-supported rectangular thin plate made from the material.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for measuring mechanical properties of structural fibers. The process comprises the steps of suspending at least one fiber from a rigid fixture so that it may hang vertically therefrom; attaching a mass to the fiber, thereby placing the fiber in tension; guiding the mass in a frictionless manner to avoid extraneous damping so that only extensional motion is permitted; exciting the mass and the fiber with a longitudinally directed impulse to induce an amplitude of extensional vibration; generating output signals according to the impulse and the vibration response; and communicating computing means with the output signals. The computing means stores data for deriving certain material properties of the fiber based upon the output signals and computes the material properties.

Abstract: A putter uses an angled mirrored upper club surface with a deeply scribed and pigment filled line to act as a sighting device. In one embodiment, a clear plastic block has a bottom surface coated with a highly reflective coating. A pair of lines are scribed on upper and lower surfaces of the block and must be aligned while the target is sighted in the mirrored surface. Other embodiments utilize deep grooves formed in the top of a mirrored or unmirrored club surface.

Abstract: A centrifuge method and apparatus particularly useful for desulfurizing slurry coal, and for removing mineral impurities therefrom, so that such coal may be more economically transported in pipeline systems. A slurry of finely-divided coal and impurities is forced upwardly at a predetermined velocity into the chamber of a rotating centrifuge rotor having frusto-conical upper and lower inner surfaces disposed with their apexes meeting along an intermediate apex line. Rotational movement is imparted to the upwardly-directed stream, and coal particles (i.e., particles of lower specific gravity) follow a trajectory leading them into contact with the upper frusto-conical surface, whereas impurities (particles of greater specific gravity) follow a trajectory leading to the lower frusto-conical surface.