Abstract: A molded plastic housing for a small electric motor having a radial end wall and an axially projecting portion for mounting the stator and journalling the motor shaft. An annular stator is mounted on and about the projecting portion and shaft bearings are mounted in axially spaced relationship in interference fit respectively at end sections of the housing portion and in direct engagement with the molded plastic. Reduced diameter and reduced thickness zones at the end sections provide for resilient and firm bearing retention and alignment. Four (4) circumaxially spaced slots at each end section with flats radially inwardly thereof provide for the reduced thickness and reduced diameter. The bearings engage the flats in an interference fit.

Abstract: A cyclically operable spring coiling machine includes a pair of feed rolls for intermittently advancing wire longitudinally to a coiling station at an upper portion of a vertical front frame of the machine. A coiling arbor and a coiling tool at the station cooperatively form leading end portions of the wire to a coil spring configuration and an improved cut-off means severs the coiled leading end portions of wire to provide individual coil springs. The improved cut-off means includes a pair of tool holders on opposite sides of the coiling arbor movable toward and away from the arbor and wire coiled thereabout and generally in opposition to each other. The holders are employed selectively depending on the hand of the spring being coiled and are respectively mounted on pivot shafts extending rearwardly through the front frame of the machine and geared together at rear end portions.

Abstract: Apparatus for successive cut-off operations at axially spaced locations along an elongated tubular workpiece wherein the workpiece is rotated during cut-off operations and successively advanced axially between such operations. The cut-off operations occur at a work station where a front portion of the workpiece is successively advanced, rotated and severed with an elongated portion of the workpiece extending rearwardly from the work station. A pair of elongated guide and support rails extend adjacent the rearwardly projecting portion of the workpiece and mount a workpiece supporting mechanism which is freely moveable therealong toward and away from the work station. The mechanism comprises a freely rotatable collet assembly adapted to grip and release the workpiece. Operating means for the collet assembly comprise a handwheel, a gear train, and a shell cam which is rotatable through a limited angle and axially moveable at the urging of the handwheel and gear train.

Abstract: A cyclically operable spring coiling machine includes a pair of feed rolls for intermittently advancing wire longitudinally to a coiling station. A coiling arbor and a coiling tool at the station cooperatively form leading end portions of the wire to a coil spring configuration and a cutoff tool severs the coiled leading end portions of the wire to provide individual coil springs. A diameter slide carries the coiling tool and is movable approximately along the line of wire feed movement but on a side of the coiling arbor opposite the feed rolls. A second coil starter slide mounted on the diameter slide is movable along a line of movement in a lateral direction approximately at right angles to the diameter slide movement. A coil starter motor is mounted on the machine frame and a power transmitting means including a universal joint means connects the motor with the coil starter slide to move the latter between operative wire coiling and coil starting positions.

Abstract: A small inexpensive electric motor construction includes a housing with an axially extending wall having twelve (12) equally circumaxially spaced tabs projecting axially at its free edge. A cylindrical stator assembly is disposed within the axially extending wall and has its peripheral surface lying adjacent and radially within the tabs. A rotor shaft is supported by the housing and projects axially within the axially extending wall. The stator assembly is concentric with the shaft and may vary within a range from a concentric condition to a predetermined maximum condition of eccentricity relative to the axially extending wall. The tabs are deformed so as to expand radially into binding engagement with the peripheral surface of the stator assembly and secure the stator assembly within the housing wall irrespective of the concentricity and/or eccentricity within the predetermined maximum condition of eccentricity.

Abstract: Wheel rim blank manufacturing apparatus comprises an elongated mandrel passing through Coiling, Welding and Machining Stations. Flat stock is fed transversely for coiling to cylindrical rim blanks about the mandrel. A transfer slide advances and maintains orientation of coiled rim blanks from the Coiling Station to the Welding Station. At the Welding Station clamps secure the blanks for resistance or high frequency current penetration welding. Internal clamps at the Welding Station have small shoulders for transferring the blanks past a Machining Station where a scarfing tool engages their welded areas. The method includes feeding stock transversely, coiling about a mandrel, advancing blanks along the mandrel, welding, again advancing the blanks, and machining weld areas.

Abstract: An axial flow impeller for low pressure ratio applications in the range 1.03 and below and comprising a hub carrying a plurality of similar circumaxially arranged air moving blades. Each blade has a root portion attached to the hub and a radially outwardly disposed tip portion. The camber of each blade decreases from root to tip with 0.1203 root camber and .023 tip camber for a ratio of 5.23 to 1. Pitch also decreases from root to tip with a root pitch of 46.degree. and a tip pitch of 27.4.degree. for a ratio of 1.68 to 1. Chord increases from root to tip with a 1.528 inch root chord and a 2.59 inch tip chord for a 1.7 to 1 ratio. The blade camber and chord both change gradually at the blade inner and mid portions with a 35% camber decrease in the outermost 20% of blade span, and with substantially all of the chord increase occurring beyond the blade midpoint.

Abstract: A spring coiling machine with an improved drive means has a pair of feed rolls for advancing wire from a source of supply to a coiling station. Coiling tools at the station obstruct feed movement and form coil springs and a cut-off tool successively severs the springs. The coiling tools and cut-off tool are operated from a camshaft driven by a first electric motor and a second electric motor drives the feed rolls. Continuous rotation for both camshaft and feed rolls is provided by the electric motors and a mechanism operated by the camshaft lifts an upper feed roll to terminate feed roll gripping action on the wire and to thus terminate wire feed at the completion of each spring. The first or camshaft motor serves as a lead motor and the feed roll motor as a follower. A digital feedback from the first motor is introduced to the control system therefor and also as an input to a second control system for the feed roll motor.

Abstract: A propeller fan comprising a pair of similar sheet metal spider-blade members each having a flat central hub section and two right angularly arranged pairs of narrow radially outwardly projecting spider arms. Each spider arm is twisted at an intermediate portion so that radially outer end portions of the arms of each pair are inclined in opposite directions relative to the hub section. A pair of air moving blades are formed integrally at inner end portions respectively with the outer end portions of the spider arms of one of the pairs of arms. A pair of laterally projecting blade support members are integrally formed respectively with the outer end portions of the other pair of spider arms. Each blade support member is approximately twice as wide as each spider arm and each blade is approximately four times as wide as each spider arm. The width and length of each blade are approximately equal.

Abstract: A spring coiling machine with an auxiliary drive and control has a feed roll driving clutch with inputs from both a main machine drive and from the auxiliary drive. The main drive is set to rotate feed rolls to advance a length of wire an increment less than that required for a coil spring of a predetermined configuration and dimension. The final increment of wire feed is then accomplished by the auxiliary drive, the clutch acting to render the latter effective as main drive rotational velocity drops off. An optical sensor responsive to the position of a leading end portion of the wire in the spring being coiled thereafter signals the auxiliary drive control to terminate wire feed. A fast response servo motor is employed as an auxiliary drive and a precise termination of wire feed is thus achieved to provide for precise end positioning. The clutch employed is unidirectional and termination of auxiliary feed may be accomplished by terminating forward drive or by reversing the servo motor.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical drive for use between mechanically independent master and slave rotary elements, as for example the cam shaft and spring winding spindle of a spring winding machine of the type commonly known as a torsion spring winder. A harmonically cut cam on the cam shaft operates a follower which in turn drives adjustably interconnected first and second slides respectively driving a rack and an associated pinion and an oscillable lever. The lever in turn imparts axial movements to the winding spindle as may be required for pitching torsion springs wound thereon. The pinion operated by the rack in turn drives a direct current tachometer generator which provides a variable voltage signal having a cyclically repetitive wave form with sloped leading and trailing edges and, more particularly, a voltage at least approximately in the form of a sine wave.

Abstract: A spring winding machine comprising a rotary cam shaft, a cam mounted on the shaft and rotatable therewith, and a follower on a lever intermediate its ends and engaged and driven in one and an opposite direction by the cam during each cam rotation. The lever is pivotally supported at one end and an opposite end drives a first slide in one and an opposite direction. A rack on the slide rotates a pinion on one and an opposite direction which in turn drives an electrical spindle drive means. The drive means includes a direct current tachometer generator and a fast response servo controller and motor which rotates the spindle in one and an opposite direction to wind springs thereon. A manually adjustable potentiometer predetermines the number of spindle turns for each cam rotation and thus establishes the number of spring coils. A second slide movable in one and an opposite direction is driven from the first slide by means of an angularly adjustable guideway on the first slide and a follower on the second slide.

Abstract: A method for making a scroll type housing for a centrifugal blower wherein a flat discharge plate is provided with a rectangular discharge opening and a pair of lugs are spaced from each of a first pair of opposing parallel edges of the opening. Narrow upstanding flanges along the edges are spaced slightly from the lugs and the second pair of opposing edges of the opening are each provided with a narrow elongated portion which is offset to a shallow depth in the direction of the flanges. A scroll member is provided in an elongated generally flat flexible sheet of material with a narrow end flange formed integrally along each end edge. The flanges project generally in the same direction and the member also has a reverse bend adjacent one end approximately in the form of a desired final configuration of a "cut-off" section of the housing. Three lanced openings are spaced apart along each side edge of the member.

Abstract: An air impeller of molded plastic construction includes a plurality of similar circumaxially arranged air moving blades and a central hub section. At the hub section, a plurality of similar axially projecting flexible fingers are formed integrally and arranged in a circumaxially spaced series to form a collet which defines a cylindrical hub cavity. A metal hub of cylindrical form and apertured centrally is disposed in the cavity and has a set screw for positive connection with a drive shaft entered in its central aperture. An arcuate clamping ring disposed about the fingers urges the fingers radially inwardly into engagement with the hub and thus retains the hub in the cavity. Radially aligned gaps in the fingers and the clamping ring receive an outer end portion of the set screw to lock the hub and clamping ring against rotation relative to the fingers. Lips may be provided at outer end portions of the fingers and a radial wall at an opposite end of the hub cavity cooperates to secure the hub axially.

Abstract: A dual purpose spring coiling machine adapted for two point and single point coiling and particularly adapted for convenient and rapid convertibility from one form of coiling to the other. The machine comprises a coiling tool slide assembly mounted on a frame generally opposite a wire feed and guide means and adjacent a coiling station. The tool slide assembly comprises a coiling tool slide and a guide mountable selectively on the frame in three discrete positions. Right and left-hand two point coiling positions respectively employ mounting of the guide in first and second positions inclined upwardly and downwardly 221/2.degree. from the horizontal. Single point coiling is achieved with the guide mounted horizontally. Coiling tool holders mounted on the slide may be selectively moved from one position to another for right and left-hand coiling with a first holder mounted on and movable with the slide.

Abstract: Apparatus comprising a rotary supporting table for moving circumaxial series of work holders in a predetermined circular path. Each work holder comprises an upright pin adapted to receive on and about itself a coil spring and a base member. The base member takes the form of an electrically conductive electrode part. At a loading station, springs are deposited successively on the pins and the table is indexed to move the pins and springs to a stress relieving station. Prior to the stress relieving station, a rotary brush engages the springs and indexes them about their pins to bring an end surface of an end coil into engagement with a small vertical abutment on the base member. The base members have inclined seating surfaces for the side surfaces of the end coils of the springs.