Abstract: A foam seating article includes a layer of molded foam surrounding a hollow shell made of hard plastic. A fabric covering encloses the shell and molded foam. The foam seating article can take the form of a chair, stool, sofa, chaise lounge, bench or Ottoman. The hollow shell can be formed using blow molding, injection molding or by capping both ends of a tube with disks. Air pressure inside the airtight hollow shell prevents the shell from collapsing inwards under the weight of an occupant. Alternatively, the hollow shell of the seating article can be accessed through a removable lid. The seating article includes no wood or metal. The layer of molded foam includes sections of different foam types, such as high density (HD) foam, memory foam and latex foam. Molding foam around a hard plastic shell is simpler and less costly than making conventional metal or wood framed furniture.

Abstract: A modified fence post and a method for modifying the fence post include modifying the fence post to accommodate an object, including placing a guide around a fence post to locate the center of first surface of a fence post. Based on locating the center, the method include drilling a hole in a portion of the designated center of the fence post using a hole saw. The method includes inserting a spacer with an opening in the center of the spacer into the resultant hole and inserting an object into the spacer.

Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing an outer joint member of a constant velocity universal joint, which is constructed by forming a cup section having track grooves, and a shaft section, and by welding a cup member and a shaft member, the method including: forming the cup member and the shaft member of medium carbon steel; preparing a cup member having a cylindrical portion and a bottom portion integrally formed by forging, and a joining end surface in a machining step; preparing a shaft member having a joining end surface formed in a machining step; bringing the joining end surface of the cup member and the joining end surface of the shaft member into abutment against each other; welding the cup member and the shaft member by radiating a beam; and performing, after the welding, an ultrasonic flaw detection-inspection step.

Abstract: A fastener which comprises a tubular member, a sleeve, a spring, a shank, and an elongate head. A lower end portion of the shank extends through the tubular member to threadedly engage a lower part. The elongate head rotates within a slot in the upper end of the shank between a first position extending longitudinally of the shank so that it can receive an upper part to be attached to the lower part and a second position extending radially of the shank to prevent removal of the upper part. The shank is received within the sleeve and has a pair of slots in its upper end which are alignable with the shank slot. The sleeve is biased to an upper position by the spring, which is in the tubular member. When the sleeve is in a position wherein it is biased upwardly, the sleeve partially covers the shank slot to prevent rotation of the elongate head between the first and second positions.

Abstract: A die button for the punching in and fastening of a fastener element having a piercing section to a planar workpiece, in particular a sheet metal part. The die button includes a jacket. Also included is a die plunger movably arranged in the jacket. Further included is a biasing device for pressing the plunger against the workpiece when the workpiece is supported on the jacket with a pressing force made available by the biasing device and selected such that the die plunger first moves when a slug has been detached from the workpiece by the piercing section of the fastener element.

Abstract: A method for joining at least two parts to be joined which are arranged so as to overlap at least in a joining zone is disclosed using a joining element which is fed to the joining zone in a joining direction and which is designed so as to be free of undercuts at least in a shaft when seen opposite the joining direction. At least one first part to be joined that interacts first with the joining element in the joining direction, is punched by means of the joining element, and the joining element is pressed into a second part to be joined without punching through the second part. The shaft of the joining element is designed so as to be free of undercuts after being pressed into the second part to be joined and is arranged so as to contact the first and the second part to be joined with a radially applied force in a form-fit-free manner at least when seen opposite the joining direction.

Abstract: A virtual stop station is provided having a carriage straddling an assembly line operation. This provides an independently moving platform upon which one or more manufacturing robots are affixed. The carriage is coordinated with and tracked to the linear motion of the assembly line. A vision guidance system centers the workpiece, and lifting arms mounted on the moving carriage will locate the workpiece and lift the workpiece up off of the conveyor, while being coordinated with it. The workpiece and robots thus are now fixtured to the same frame, thus eliminating movement relative to one another creating a virtual stop station. Once subassembly is complete, the coordinated robotic gantry will disengage from the conveyor and return home. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a reinforcement assembly for a truck bed is provided. The method includes roll-forming an aluminum sheet to form a cross-member having a base, a pair of opposing sidewalls extending from the base, and a pair of flanges each extending from one of the sidewalls and substantially parallel with the base. The method includes extruding an aluminum reinforcement member, and attaching the reinforcement member to the cross-member to space the cross-member from a frame rail of the truck.

Abstract: A tire vulcanization bladder assembly is manufactured by placing a first ring part on a base stage installed on leg parts in a periphery of a first end opening of a bladder; sandwiching a first clamp part of the bladder, the bladder being in an upright position with the first clamp part on a lower side and a second clamp part located in a periphery of a second end opening of the bladder on an upper side, by the first ring part, thereby attaching the first ring part to the bladder; inserting an inside ring member of a second ring part into the bladder from above on an inside ring member of the first ring part; moving the inside ring member of the second ring part upward relative to the bladder to a position of the second clamp part; and attaching the second ring part to the second clamp part.

Abstract: A method of making a root end of a wind turbine blade is described.

Abstract: Installation of a bushing into the shift cable end of an automatic transmission, without replacing the entire shift cable end, is accomplished via a method that does not require the use of compression tools and maintains the axial alignment of the bushing with the shift cable end during installation, thus preventing deformation of the shift cable end and bushing during installation, and ensuring the proper coupling of the shift cable end and shift lever. In one particular embodiment of the invention, the bushing may be installed by radially compressing the leading shoulder of the bushing and passing the bushing through the shift cable end, then releasing the leading shoulder of the bushing so that it engages the shift cable end and secures the bushing in place.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method which comprises the steps of providing a plate (2) made of a micromachinable material, forming the timepiece component (1) with at least one attachment (3) for keeping the component attached to the rest of the plate (2), by etching the plate (2); and creating, along a desired breakage line of the attachment, a pre-detachment area (4) comprising at least one gap (5) obtained by etching into the body of the plate (2).

Abstract: An object is to reduce the compressor flow rate in comparison with the reference model while maintaining a compression ratio equivalent to that in the reference model. Annulus areas required of a compressor 38 of a derivative gas turbine 200 are determined based on a compressor flow rate and a compression ratio required of the compressor 38 of the derivative gas turbine 200.

Abstract: A method for penetrating a material with a fastener dispensing needle includes the steps of partially penetrating the material using a first penetration stroke, partially withdrawing the needle from the material using a first withdrawal stroke and, in turn, fully penetrating the material using a second penetration stroke. Once fully penetrated, a plastic fastener is dispensed from the fastener dispensing needle. Thereafter, the fastener dispensing needle is fully withdrawn from the material. Additional partial penetration and withdrawal strokes could be incorporated into the needle penetration cycle in a repeating pattern, as needed, with each penetration stroke preferably having a stroke length which is twice the length of each withdrawal stroke. The use of an oscillating, back-and-forth, linear needle penetration cycle serves to minimize the risk of lateral needle deflection which can result in bending or breakage of the needle as well as damage to the penetrated material.

Abstract: A panel assembly is formed by a plurality of bonds between two sheet materials in a face to face relationship to form a preform. The plurality of bonds define a closed perimeter region between the two sheet materials and an open perimeter region between the two sheet materials. The preform may be formed into a predefined shape. Pressurized fluid is applied through an inlet into the open perimeter region to expand the preform. The pressurized fluid expands the open perimeter region such that the two sheet materials expand in an opposing direction, thereby defining an expanded open perimeter region. The closed perimeter region between the two sheet materials remains vacant of the pressurized fluid such that the closed perimeter region is not expanded. The expanded open perimeter region is filled with a filler material for improving a performance characteristic of the panel assembly, e.g., strength, sound absorption, or stiffness.

Abstract: A spacer formation cell usable in configuration of a window assembly, wherein the cell includes a plurality of stages through which a spacer work piece is routed, and the stages include a holding stage, a cutting stage, a bending stage, and a connecting stage. The stages can be arranged in interlinked configuration, enabling spacers to be fabricated in a direct and time-efficient manner. The stages can be interlinked to form a framework, forming an exterior enclosure for the stages of the cell, and enabling at least of the majority of the cell's operations to be readily overseen by an operator from single vantage points around the cell. The configuration of the formation cell enables a wide variety of spacer types and/or sizes to be readily processed, with such processing to be readily alternated.

Abstract: A self-lubricated bearing contains a first member, a second member configured to slide against the first member, and a lubricating liner disposed in a sliding contact area between the first member and the second member. The lubricating liner contains at least one structural polymer and at least one lubricant with viscosity less than 5100 centistokes. A method is also provided for making the bearings, which includes adding the at least one lubricant with viscosity less than about 5100 centistokes to one or more components of the lubricating liner during the process of making the liner or bearing. The self-lubricated bearing compositions of the invention have surprisingly long service lives versus prior art self-lubricated bearings.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an assembly for providing a drain in a floor. The drain assembly includes a drain conduit, a strainer and an adaptor. The drain conduit has an inner, surface that defines a fluid flow path, and an outer surface. The strainer is disposed above the drain conduit and has openings in fluid communication with the fluid flow path of the drain conduit. The adaptor may be securable in the drain conduit and may be connected to the strainer. Prior to securing the adaptor in the drain conduit, a position of the adaptor in the drain conduit may be moveable to allow a top surface of the strainer to be substantially aligned with the floor. A method of assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A transmission pump is be removed from service and remanufactured into a remanufactured transmission pump. A first gear assembly is removed from the pump. A bore of the pump is machined from a first depth to a greater second depth. A second gear assembly is installed in the machined bore. The second gear assembly has a same horizontal geometry and a greater axial depth than the first gear assembly.

Abstract: An insulated concrete panel comprising an insulation layer having one or more openings extending therethrough, a first concrete layer adjacent to a first surface of the insulation layer, a second concrete layer adjacent to a second surface of the insulation layer, and a wall tie received within one or more of the openings. The wall tie includes a central section received within the one or more openings of the insulation layer, a first concrete engaging at least partially embedded within the first concrete layer, and a second concrete engaging section embedded within the second concrete layer. The second concrete engaging section has a maximum width that is larger than a maximum width of the central section. The central section of the wall tie is configured to transfer shear forces and resist delamination forces between the first and second concrete layers.