1. A composite railroad crosstie, comprising:
a thermoset composite material comprising a blend of vulcanized recycled rubber particles, a polyurea binding agent, and a urea melamine filler in powder form; and,
wherein the blend comprises about 30% to about 50% by weight of the vulcanized recycled rubber particles, and the blend is subjected to a compressive molding force and heat for a resident time period forming the composite railroad crosstie of molded thermoset composite material; and,
one or more elongated rigid inserts encapsulated within the molded thermoset composite material.
2. The railroad crosstie of claim 1 further comprising at least one glass mat encapsulated within the molded thermoset composite material disposed within a plane that is substantially parallel to an outer surface of the crosstie.
3. The railroad crosstie of claim 1 wherein the one or more inserts include at least two rectangular elongated surfaces that are spaced apart from one another and parallel to one another and parallel to opposing outer surfaces of the railroad crosstie.
4. The railroad crosstie of claim 3 wherein an insert is a wooden insert.
5. The railroad crosstie of claim 4 wherein the wooden insert is a recycled railroad crosstie.
6. The railroad crosstie of claim 4 wherein the wooden insert is a virgin wooden member.
7. The railroad crosstie of claim 1 further comprising at least two rail reinforcement members, wherein the rail reinforcement members are encapsulated in the molded thermoset composite material over the insert and spaced apart at positions corresponding to positions of railroad track rails over the crosstie.
8. The railroad crosstie of claim 7 wherein each reinforcement member is composed of a fiberglass reinforced thermoplastic composite material having about 15% to about 40% by weight of a fibrous glass material.
9. The railroad crosstie of claim 1 wherein an elongated insert comprises a fiberglass reinforced thermoplastic material formed to include a first elongated rectangular member interconnected to a parallel second elongated rectangular member by a transversely disposed third elongated rectangular member.
10. The railroad crosstie of claim 9 wherein the elongated insert comprises about 15% to about 30% by weight of a fibrous glass material.
11. The railroad crosstie of claim 9 wherein the elongated insert has an I-shaped cross-sectional configuration.
12. The railroad crosstie of claim 1 wherein an elongated insert has a cross-sectional geometric configuration corresponding to that of the railroad crosstie and including four elongated surfaces each being parallel to a corresponding outer surface of the railroad crosstie.
13. The railroad crosstie of claim 1 further comprising at least one glass mat encapsulated within the thermoset composite material.
14. The railroad crosstie of claim 13 further comprising an elongated insert encapsulated within the thermoset composite material and the at least one glass mat is spaced apart from the insert and disposed in a plane parallel to an outer surface of the railroad crosstie.
15. A composite railroad crosstie, comprising:
about 30% to about 50% by weight of vulcanized recycled rubber particles;
about 12% to about 20% by weight of a polyurea binding agent added to the vulcanized rubber particles;
about 5% to about 15% by weight of a granulated silica material;
about 15% to about 20% by weight of urea melamine powder filler and,
wherein the vulcanized recycled rubber, the polyurea binding agent, the granulated silica and urea melamine, are subjected to a compression molding force of about 300 psi to about 1,000 psi and heat at one or temperatures of about 230\xb0 F. to about 270\xb0 F. for a resident time period forming the thermoset composite railroad crosstie of a molded thermoset composite material; and,
an elongated rigid insert encapsulated within the thermoset composite material.
16. The railroad crosstie of claim 15 further comprising at least one glass mat encapsulated within the thermoset composite material.
17. A method of assembling a railroad crosstie, comprising:
developing a thermoset composite material by mixing a blend of vulcanized recycled rubber particles, a polyurea binding agent, a granulated silica material and urea melamine powder filler,
introducing a first amount of the blend into a compression mold;
positioning an elongated insert into the mold over the first amount of the blend;
introducing a second amount of the blend to cover the insert with the blend.
subjecting the blend to a compressive molding force and heat for a resident time;
allowing the blend to cool and harden after the resident time has elapsed; and
removing the hardened blend from the mold.
18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:
positioning one or more glass mat inserts into the mold over the second amount of the blend and elongated rigid insert; and,
introducing a third amount of the blend to cover the one or more glass mat inserts with the blend.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. In combination, an intonated string nut and string locking mechanism for a musical string instrument with a fretted fingerboard wherein said combination intonated string nut and string locking mechanism includes:
a string nut fulcrum for each individual string,
wherein each said string nut fulcrum has a varying linear position in relation to each said individual string in order to optimize the compensation amount for the musical notes produced for each said individual string, when each said individual string is caused to vibrate between a bridge fulcrum and said string nut fulcrum, and
whereby as a result of said optimum compensation, the musical notes produced will be in tune relative to each other when each said individual string is caused to vibrate between said bridge fulcrum and any one of a plurality of fret fulcrums; and
a string locking means,
wherein said string locking means provides a rigid linear position securability of each of said individual strings at each of said string nut fulcrums by means of compressing each of said strings between a first rigid surface with a fixed position and a second rigid surface that is height adjustable and position lockable.
2. The combination intonated string nut and string locking mechanism of claim 1, further including a string positioning mechanism for each of said strings.
3. The combination intonated string nut string locking mechanism of claim 2, wherein each said string nut fulcrum is positioned at a varying depth relative to a front face of said combination intonated string nut and string locking mechanism in order to provide the ideal amount of linear compensation for each of said strings.
4. The combination intonated string nut and string locking mechanism of claim 2, wherein each said string positioning mechanism includes:
a first v-shaped string guidance channel located at a front face of said combination intonated string nut and string locking mechanism; and
a second v-shaped string guidance channel located at a rear face of said combination intonated string nut and string locking mechanism.
5. The combination intonated string nut and string locking mechanism claim 4, wherein said first v-shaped string guidance channel and said second v-shaped string guidance channel are separated by a distance.
6. The combination intonated string nut and string locking mechanism of claim 4, wherein said first rigid surface with a fixed position is located between said first v-shaped string guidance channel and said second v-shaped string guidance channel.
7. The combination intonated string nut and string locking mechanism of claim 4, wherein said second rigid surface is a bottom surface of a height-adjustable and position-securable rigid plate-like means.
8. The combination intonated string nut and string locking mechanism of claim 7, wherein the height-adjustable and position-securable rigid plate-like means includes a through hole.
9. The combination intonated string nut and string locking mechanism of claim 8, wherein said height-adjustable and position-securable rigid plate-like means slip-fits between said first v-shaped string guidance channel and said second v-shaped guidance channel, and above said first rigid surface.
10. The combination intonated string nut and string locking mechanism of claim 7, wherein the height-adjustable and position-securable rigid plate-like means provides position securability for one or more of said strings.
11. The combination intonated string nut and string locking mechanism of claim 1, wherein a base of said combination intonated string nut and string locking mechanism includes one or more thread holes.
12. The combination intonated string nut and string locking mechanism of claim 8, wherein:
a base of said combination intonated string nut and string locking mechanism includes one or more thread holes, and
said position height adjustability and said position securability is achieved by means of a threaded bolt used in combination with said through hole, one of said one or more thread holes, and a torquing tool.
13. A method of making a combination intonated string nut and string locking mechanism for a musical string instrument with a fretted fingerboard, comprising the steps of:
providing a string nut fulcrum for each individual string,
wherein each said string nut fulcrum has a varying linear position in relation to each said individual string in order to optimize the compensation amount for the musical notes produced for each said individual string, when each said individual string is caused to vibrate between a bridge fulcrum and said string nut fulcrum, and
whereby as a result of said optimum compensation, the musical notes produced will be in tune relative to each other when each said individual string is caused to vibrate between said bridge fulcrum and any one of a plurality of fret fulcrums; and
providing a string locking means,
wherein said string locking means provides a rigid linear position securability of each of said individual strings at each of said string nut fulcrums by means of compressing each of said strings between a first rigid surface with a fixed position and a second rigid surface that is height adjustable and position lockable.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein further comprising the step of providing a string positioning mechanism for each of said strings.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein each said string nut fulcrum is positioned at a varying depth relative to a front face of said combination intonated string nut and string locking mechanism in order to provide the ideal amount of linear compensation for each of said strings.
16. The method of claim 14, wherein each said string positioning mechanism includes:
a first v-shaped string guidance channel located at a front face of said combination intonated string nut and string locking mechanism; and
a second v-shaped string guidance channel located at a rear face of said combination intonated string nut and string locking mechanism.
17. A method of using a stringed musical instrument having a combination intonated string nut and string-locking mechanism, said combination intonated string nut and string-locking mechanism comprising:
a string-nut fulcrum for each individual string,
wherein each said string nut fulcrum has a varying linear position in relation to each said individual string in order to optimize the compensation amount for the musical notes produced for each said individual string, when each said individual string is caused to vibrate between a bridge fulcrum and said string nut fulcrum, and
whereby as a result of said optimum compensation, the musical notes produced will be in tune relative to each other when each said individual string is caused to vibrate between said bridge fulcrum and either said string-nut fulcrum or any one of a plurality of fret fulcrums (for fretted stringed musical instruments); and
a string-locking means,
wherein said string-locking means provides a rigid linear position securability of each of said individual strings at each of said string-nut fulcrums by means of compressing each of said strings between a first rigid surface with a fixed position and a second rigid surface that is height adjustable and position lockable;
the method comprising the steps of:
ensuring that said combination intonated string nut and string-locking mechanism is installed on the neck of a target stringed and fretted musical instrument;
ensuring that each string of said musical instrument is suspended at one end at the upper neck of said musical instrument by its associated string-nut fulcrum, which has been positioned at a predetermined depth in order to provide the ideal amount of linear compensation for the associated string;
as necessary, adjusting each string tension by its associated tuner on the headstock of said musical instrument;
ensuring that each string is locked into a rigid linear position by said string-locking means; and
playing said musical instrument by causing at least one string on said musical instrument to vibrate.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein said target stringed musical instrument has a vibrato mechanism, the method further comprising the step of:
employing said vibrato mechanism to cause periodic variances in the pitch of one or more vibrating strings.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein said combination intonated string nut and string-locking mechanism includes a string-positioning mechanism for each of said strings.
20. The method of claim 17, wherein said target stringed musical instrument is selected from the group consisting of violin, viola, cello, double bass, hammer dulcimer, and clavichord.