Abstract:
A method for determining the thickness of a layer of insulation comprises the steps of: contacting a top surface of a portion of the layer of insulation, compressing the portion of the layer of insulation until a predetermined compressive load is achieved, measuring a distance through which the top surface is moved during the compressing step, and determining the thickness of the layer of insulation based on the measured distance. Apparatus is provided for performing the method.
Abstract:
An apparatus for testing stiffness characteristics such as modulus of elasticity E of an article such as a piece of lumber moving in a conveying direction transverse to the testing axis, comprises a bearing unit capable of contacting the piece of lumber at two spaced apart portions thereof. There is provided a first deflecting unit including a first working element being normally disposed in a first static position relative to the conveying path for applying a first thrust against a loaded area on the article at an intermediary portion thereof located between the spaced apart portions, to produce an article deflection of a first magnitude. Each working element defines a loading surface extending substantially parallel to the article-conveying path. There is further provided a second deflecting unit including a second working element being normally disposed in a second static position relative to the conveying path for applying a second thrust against a loaded area of the article intermediary portion, to produce an article deflection of a second magnitude, wherein the second position differs from the first position relative to the conveying path by a differential value. The apparatus further comprises load cells coupled to the bearing unit for generating signals indicative of respective magnitudes the first and second thrusts as applied by first and second deflecting units, and a computer for deriving from such signals and differential value an indication of the stiffness of the article, such as modulus of elasticity E.
Abstract:
The present invention provides instruments and methods for screening combinatorial libraries that addresses many of the problems encountered when using conventional instruments. For example, the disclosed instruments can measure mechanical properties of library members in rapid serial or parallel test format, and can perform tests on small amounts of material, which are easily prepared or dispensed using art-disclosed liquid or solid handling techniques. Compared to conventional instruments, the disclosed instruments afford faster sample loading and unloading, for example, through the use of disposable libraries of material samples.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for measuring substrate bending stiffness and thereby basis weight on a real time basis. Provided is a corrugator having a plurality of parallel ribs, with one or more sheets of the substrate provided below the corrugator wherein a predetermined gap exists between a topmost sheet of the sheets and the corrugator. A vacuum is applied between the corrugator and the topmost sheet, wherein the vacuum is sufficiently large to raise the topmost sheet, thereby deflecting and bending it into a profile corresponding to the arrangement and size of the corrugator ribs and bending stiffness of the substrate. One or more sensors are provided for measuring the deflection of the topmost sheet. The vacuum, an air knife output and/or a fluffer output are then adjusted according to predetermined rules and the measured deflection.
Abstract:
A fatigue testing system subjects a test specimen to a rotary stress applied about an axis at one or both ends which is perpendicular to the axis of the test specimen. The stress applied may be selected from sinusoidal, random, impulse or a signal generated by the stresses applied to an actual in service specimen. A servo applies the stress to the test specimen through a coupler and the changes in the electrical resistance of a portion of the test specimen is sensed to detect the initiation and propagation of a stress failure.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for testing an item, such as an artificial and/or prosthetic intervertebral disc or part thereof, is provided to allow one or more combinations of compressive load and/or flexion and/or extension and/or lateral bending and/or axial rotation and/or shear to be considered. The method includes: providing a first structure having an item contacting portion and a second structure having an item contacting portion; providing an item between the first and second structures and in contact with the item contacting portions; operating an actuator to move the first structure between a first state and a second state, the first structure being in a first rotational position relative to the second structure in the first state and being in a different second rotational position relative to the second structure in the second state.
Abstract:
A method for measuring substrate bending stiffness and thereby basis weight on a real time basis. Provided is a corrugator having a plurality of parallel ribs, with one or more sheets of the substrate provided below the corrugator wherein a predetermined gap exists between a topmost sheet of the sheets and the corrugator. A vacuum is applied between the corrugator and the topmost sheet, wherein the vacuum is sufficiently large to raise the topmost sheet, thereby deflecting and bending it into a profile corresponding to the arrangement and size of the corrugator ribs and bending stiffness of the substrate. One or more sensors are provided for measuring the deflection of the topmost sheet. The vacuum, an air knife output and/or a fluffer output are then adjusted according to predetermined rules and the measured deflection.
Abstract:
The present invention provides instruments and methods for screening combinatorial libraries that addresses many of the problems encountered when using conventional instruments. For example, the disclosed instruments can measure mechanical properties of library members in rapid serial or parallel test format, and can perform tests on small amounts of material, which are easily prepared or dispensed using art-disclosed liquid or solid handling techniques. Compared to conventional instruments, the disclosed instruments afford faster sample loading and unloading, for example, through the use of disposable libraries of material samples.
Abstract:
A method for measuring substrate bending stiffness and thereby basis weight on a real time basis. Provided is a corrugator having a plurality of parallel ribs, with one or more sheets of the substrate provided below the corrugator wherein a predetermined gap exists between a topmost sheet of the sheets and the corrugator. A vacuum is applied between the corrugator and the topmost sheet, wherein the vacuum is sufficiently large to raise the topmost sheet, thereby deflecting and bending it into a profile corresponding to the arrangement and size of the corrugator ribs and bending stiffness of the substrate. One or more sensors are provided for measuring the deflection of the topmost sheet. The vacuum, an air knife output and/or a fluffer output are then adjusted according to predetermined rules and the measured deflection.
Abstract:
A method, technique, and apparatus proof test an optical fiber interconnect by applying an ends off-set stress on the optical fiber until the optical fiber fails or breaks, either immediately (short-term strength), or as a result of the delayed-fracture/"static-fatigue" phenomenon for the given off-set, and, hence, for the given stress (long-term strength), imposed for the measured period of time. If, for instance, the short-term strength is addressed, the off-set is measured at the time of the failure, and the corresponding critical strain of the optical fiber is then predicted. In predicting the critical strain, the method and apparatus iteratively determine the total strain, including non-linear components thereof, for an optical fiber interconnect experiencing the measured ends off-set. The analytical model/method includes the steps of iteratively processing characteristic parameters associated with the optical fiber, and determining the non-linear strain associated with the optical fiber. The apparatus includes a processor for implementing the disclosed method.