Abstract: This disclosure illustrates and describes a test mold for the quantitative measure of the effects of formulation and/or process variable changes on some kinds of surface problems of a molded part caused by different degrees of imperfection or voiding underneath the part surface. The molded part can be single component or composite, solid or foamed. One example of the surface problem is the so-called "measles or cellulite" problem observed on the vinyl surface of a vinyl/foam composite due to the voids or rattiness within the foam. To accomplish this result, the mold has various sized, spaced apart, aligned openings formed in each of the front and rear walls of the mold, but with the centers thereof at different elevations in the respective front and rear walls. Removable rods inserted through the aligned mold wall openings produce longitudinal openings through the part which is molded around the rods, permitting the effect thereof on the surface of the molded part to be evaluated.

Abstract: In a device for clamping a circular saw blade, the saw blade is firmly clamped between two flanged rings and thereby connected to these so as to form an exchangeable tool unit which is pushed onto the free end of a saw shaft for rotation with the saw shaft and slidable displacement. Compression springs or the like are arranged between the tool unit and a stop face at the free end of the saw shaft to act upon one of the flanged rings and move the tool unit a short distance away from the stop face. A rotatingly mounted thrust plate which can be pressed centrically against the other flanged ring causes the tool unit to firmly engage on the stop face of the saw shaft.

Abstract: A fastener system for connecting first and second parts together includes a female fastener having a retention slot therein with an entrance portion, a stop portion and a fastener gripping segment located intermediate said entrance portion and said stop portion; a male fastener has an integral extension thereon insertable into said entrance portion and movable laterally of the slot to an interlocked position at the stop portion. The male fastener includes first surface means thereon engageable with the gripping segment for holding the male fastener in a stop position, and said male fastener further includes second surface means thereon to interlockingly connect the female fastener to the male fastener. The component parts of the fastener system are configured to be formed by use of die members separable in a straight draw.

Abstract: Apparatus for manufacturing thin-walled hollow shells for parts such as automobile door panels, control and instrument panels and the like includes a charge box or powder box for supplying dry thermoplastic material to separate casting surfaces on a heated mold selectively connected to the charge box during a casting process. A selectively pressurizable inflatable seal gasket is connected to the charge box for sealing a division surface on the heated mold which surface separates the casting surfaces of the mold. The inflatable seal gasket includes a base portion fixed to the charge box; an inflatable core with expandable walls to bridge the distance between the charge box and the division surface and a seal bead that sealingly engages the division surface when the seal gasket is inflated to keep the division surface clean for a subsequent application of material to form a connector bond between previously cast two tone colored segments.

Abstract: A process for molding plastic parts includes the steps of providing two or more colors of pigmented powder particles of thermoplastic material; casting the particles against a heated surface to form non-patterned layers of particles with voids therebetween; heating the layers to form color blended fused fringe zones between the particles which fill the voids to form a solid, multi-colored, three-dimensional article while each particle retains its discrete particle core which maintains each particle's central or original color concentration and which cores have discernible light transmissive properties.

Abstract: A locking assembly (10) having a female member (12) and a male member (22) particularly suited for use in an automotive arm rest. The female member (12) has a receiving cavity (14) with opposing and spaced walls (16a, 16b) extending along a receiving axis (18). The female member defines a plurality of locking recesses (20) spaced along the axis (18) on one wall (16a) of the cavity (14). The male member (22) has a plurality of tines (24) spaced apart longitudinally therealong for snapping into the recesses (20) to retain the male member (22) in the cavity (14). The assembly (10) is characterized by the female member (12) presenting a plurality of biasing beams (26) independent from one another and spaced along the opposite wall (16b) of the cavity (14) for respectively engaging the tines (24) to retain one tine (24) in each of the recesses (20 ).

Abstract: An apparatus for depositing a layer of thermoplastic material onto a surface bearing a recessed logo or other decorative design of a logo plaque mold, wherein the apparatus includes a cylindrical housing enclosing a rotatable shaft and spray gun extension. The rotatable shaft may be operatively connected to the housing for rotation along the centerline thereof, and the spray gun extension in secured to a side of the shaft such that the axis of the extension is parallel to the axis of the shaft so as to be rotated concentrically with the shaft when the latter is rotated. Thus, a suitable thermoplastic material is deposited on the recessed logo or design of an associated mold surface, providing for the retention of segments in the recesses for being bonded onto a subsequent base layer of thermoplastic material.

Abstract: A finishing apparatus includes an upright frame mounted finishing head driven by a hydraulic cylinder controlled by a proportional valve or a servo drive which ball screw under the control of a central processor unit in accordance with the type of an engine block being finished. The different types of engine blocks are oriented to have the cylinder bores thereof finished by common finishing tool(s) mounted on the head. The apparatus includes a linear positioning element, either in the form of an expandable collet or in the form of a fixed diameter mandrel, which is selectively engageable with the block at the crankshaft bores thereof to locate the block with respect to the finishing tools, and a rotating mechanism is included to tilt the block in accordance with the type of block being processed so as to vertically align the cylinder bores of either in-line or V types of enging blocks with the finishing tool(s).

Abstract: A rotational molding process for slush casting mold with plastisol includes providing a conveyor having a plurality of spaced reversing arm assemblies, each arm assembly having opposite ends carrying molds thereon; providing first and second conveyor paths for the molds on the opposite ends of each arm assembly and locating one of the first and second conveyor paths inside the outer perimeter of the other of the first and second conveyor paths; preheating a mold on one of the arm assemblies on the first conveyor path and filling the preheated mold with an excessive charge of plastisol to form a gel layer thereon while on the first conveyor path and thereafter dumping plastisol from the preheated mold for return to a supply source of plastisol; and simultaneously curing a gel layer on another of the arm assemblies by directing the mold through the second conveyor path as the preheated mold on the other end of the arm assembly is being filled and dumped whereby the movement of an arm assembly produces simultane

Abstract: An active suspension system for use with a mass suspended relative to a movable structure and subject to external forces such as the chassis of off-road vehicles, and in particular the hull of heavy combat vehicles, has a passive hydropneumatic suspension system (PHSS) connected to a servopump and an accumulator, and wherein the servopump transfers fluid energy between the accumulator and the suspension system, in accordance with sensed operating conditions which are inputted to a processor whose output commands the velocity of the servopump to control the pressure and volume relationships of the PHSS and accumulator to improve the ride of said vehicle and to substantially reduce energy requirements when operating off-road.

Abstract: A wide angle flash tube reflector has dual involute surfaces thereon intersecting at a cusp and bent in the horizontal to intercept light from a light source adjacent the cusp and to reflect such light in a dispersion pattern that spreads the flash coverage to match extended light coverages of lenses from a normal focal length to extreme wide angle. One light source is in the form of a bent tube having adjustably positioned cathode and anode electrodes for varying the length of a plasma arc to control the extent of the dispersion pattern reflected from the dual involute surfaces.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for trepanning a workpiece by controlling laser energy on variable diameters thereof includes the method steps of directing a collimated beam of energy against the workpiece and shifting and rotating the collimated beam so as to orbit a focal point on the workpiece to change the trepanning diameter. Apparatus for practicing such method includes a lens housing with a lens holder which is easily removable and is also positionable with respect to a reference axis by a pneumatic pressure acting against a spring loaded stop and further including means for rotating the lens housing on the reference axis to orbit the focal point of a collimated beam of laser energy about the reference axis to vary the trepanning diameter.

Abstract: A wire guide for a servo driven wire electrode in an electrical discharge machine (EDM) has inserts defining a precision guide slot for the electrode. The inserts are coated with a low friction coating to smooth the servo drive of the wire electrode through the wire guide so as to improve spark gap erosion produced between a tip portion of the electrode and a workpiece.

Abstract: Apparatus and a process for manufacturing plastic shells having decorative features thereon includes a method for casting thermoplastic material against a heated mold by use of a combination mask and container unit (hereinafter referred to as the combination unit) that is joined to a known heated mold to deposit a first semi-cured deposit on the mold from supplies of material in the combination mask and container; the mask is configured to have a plurality of wire reinforced foot portions with sealing edges configured to be aligned with the sharp edges of recesses in the mold surface defining the decorative feature; when the combination unit is inverted it casts material only on the recesses to form a semi-fused deposit of a first color. The combination unit is separated from the mold which is then processed to a higher fusion temperature and a base layer of contrasting thermoplastic material is cast thereon to be bonded to the recess material prior to cooling and stripping the mold.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a multi-colored integral vinyl skin shell including a heated mold and dual powder box arrangement wherein the mold is formed to include alternately positioned tear surfaces and recessed surfaces. The powder box has a plurality of spaced dams or dividers formed therein such that the dams cooperate with the respective recessed surfaces of the mold to provide clearance therewith that permit different colored powders in the compartments between the dams to cover the previously cleared tear surfaces and to flow past the selectively formed free ends of the dams to become integrally secured to the adjacent edge portions of the shell segments remaining in the areas of the recessed surfaces of the mold, forming the multi-colored, integral plastic shell.

Abstract: A vehicle interior part such as a glove box door or console door and its method of manufacture includes an outer shell backed by foam material which is bonded to a mold insert that reinforces the part and defines an exposed back. The insert includes a peripheral edge spaced with respect to a continuously formed raw peripheral edge of the shell and further includes a flange portion that is post formed so as to be bonded to and located in a net out relationship with the raw edge to define a finished surface appearance.

Abstract: A shaft lock assembly has a stator and a plurality of radially disposed, reciprocating lock vanes that are moved on the stator to lock and release a shaft. The vanes are held in their locked position by a rotatable cam ring. A rotatable cam scroll lifts the vanes from their locked position and positions the vanes in their released position. The vanes and shaft have coacting surfaces to produce a regenerative separating force on the vanes from a locked shaft which is under torque as the shaft is unlocked.

Abstract: Apparatus for manufacturing a multitude of thin walled hollow plastic shells for parts such as automobile door panels, controls and instrument panels from dry thermoplastic powders includes a mold heating chamber with a tube sheet heating assembly operative to provide a hot air flow pattern with a profile which matches the outer profile of one of a plurality of molds that are selectively placed in the mold heating chamber thereby to uniformly heat a casting surface of the mold by an energy efficient process.

Abstract: A down lighting system for elevator cabs and the like includes halogen lights in standard and emergency light fixtures. Both types of fixtures are connected to the ceiling by a clamp arrangement which is universally adaptable to a wide variety of ceiling types without changing the light housing dimensions. The clamp arrangement fastens light housings against rotation with respect to the ceiling and it is adjustable to different height ceiling configurations merely by connection to different vertical positions of the outer surface of the fixture. The standard fixture includes a halogen bulb with its own reflector. The emergency lighting fixture includes a halogen bulb/reflector unit with the emergency self focusing bulbs concentrically spaced around it. Both light sources pass focused light directly into the space below the ceiling for meeting test point candle power requirements.

Abstract: Apparatus for manufacturing plastic shells having decorative features thereon includes a combination mask and container unit that is joined to a known heated mold to deposit a first semi-cured deposit on the mold from supplies of material in the combination mask and container; the mask is configured to have a plurality of wire reinforced foot portions with seal edges configured to be aligned with the sharp edges of recesses in the mold surface defining the decorative feature; when the combination unit is inverted it casts material only on the recesses to form a semi-fused deposit.