The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 05, 2016
Filed:
Oct. 29, 2013
James D. Logan, Pullman, WA (US);
James R. Allen, Pullman, WA (US);
Harry E. Moore, Moscow, ID (US);
Dean A. Nelson, Pullman, WA (US);
Timothy T. Meekhof, Pullman, WA (US);
Peter A. Siebold, Pullman, WA (US);
Ryan D. Baldwin, Pullman, WA (US);
Jean M. Logan, Pullman, WA (US);
James D. Logan, Pullman, WA (US);
James R. Allen, Pullman, WA (US);
Harry E. Moore, Moscow, ID (US);
Dean A. Nelson, Pullman, WA (US);
Timothy T. Meekhof, Pullman, WA (US);
Peter A. Siebold, Pullman, WA (US);
Ryan D. Baldwin, Pullman, WA (US);
Jean M. Logan, Pullman, WA (US);
METRIGUARD INC., Pullman, WA (US);
Abstract
The present invention is a wood grading apparatus including a robust 'push' solenoid as a hammer means for impacting a lumber specimen under test. A conventional solenoid coil with stationary magnetic iron pole pieces is combined with a bimetallic armature including a magnetic portion and a non-magnetic portion; said armature is of uniform cross section through the solenoid coil. A magnetic steel portion of said armature is fastened to a nonmagnetic steel portion thereof, whereby the magnetic field may act upon the magnetic portion of said armature and drive said nonmagnetic portion in an outward direction whereby impact or striking action is achieved. The present invention includes said solenoid in a wood grading apparatus whereby physical properties of wood are measured in a conveyor line setting and wood grading is affected by combining sonic velocity and density measurements to determine the modulus of elasticity of the wood object. Sonic velocity in the wood specimen is determined either by reverberation frequency or by rolling transducers that detect the leading edge of a stress wave initiated by said hammer means. A weight measurement means including a horizontal-axis roller lug conveyor chain and a leaf-spring suspension with a load cell means provides for improved accuracy in weight measurement for wood density calculation.