Abstract: The present invention relates to a die comprising a die core (10) of a hard material and at least two pre-stressed rings (60, 70) of increasing diameter placed around the die core and methods of making and using the same. The die core (10) is held in place by a force generated through deformation of mating geometric features on the die and the rings (60, 70) of increasing diameter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fabricating a workpiece is provided. The method includes applying a predetermined axial force to a tool, translating the axial force into a radial force in the workpiece using the tool, and generating a hoop stress in the work piece sufficient to relieve residual stress in the workpiece.

Abstract: A process for designing and manufacturing precision-folded, high strength, fatigue-resistant structures and a sheet therefore. The techniques include methods for precision bending of a sheet of material (41, 241, 341, 441, 541) along a bend line (45, 245, 345, 445, 543) and a sheet of material formed with bending strap-defining structures, such as slits or grooves (43, 243, 343, 443, 542), are disclosed. Methods include steps of designing and then separately forming longitudinally extending slits or grooves (43, 243, 343, 443, 542) through the sheet of material in axially spaced relation to produce precise bending of the sheet (41, 241, 341, 441, 541) when bent along the bend line (45, 245, 345, 445, 543). The bending straps have a configuration and orientation which increases their strength and fatigue resistance, and most preferably slits or arcs are used which causes edges (257, 457) to be engaged and supported on faces (255, 455) of the sheet material on opposite sides of the slits or arcs.

Abstract: A swager for swaging articles, such as marker bands to a medical catheter, comprising an article input mechanism; a radial compression swaging head with a central swaging aperture, the swaging head being aligned and communicatively coupled with the input mechanism to receive an input article from the article input mechanism and to swage the article. The swaging head includes a plurality of swage elements; a rotatable slider plate; a plurality of track rollers; and a closer plate. An input mechanism is aligned and communicatively coupled with the swaging head to assist in delivering an article to the swaging head.

Abstract: A hand tool for use by one hand provides double compound leverage of the force exerted on the handles to the jaws. This is achieved by adding additional pivots and lever arms between the handles and the jaws. The jaws may take the form of a sheet metal snip, seamer, or crimper.

Abstract: Process for manufacture of self reinforced sheets or shape parts (9) by rolling at least one metal strip (1, 2), which during roller processing is guided through a gap formed between work rollers, wherein at least in one area of the metal sheet (2) through holes (7) are introduced and the area of the metal sheet with through holes (4, 6) is brought together with an area of the same metal sheet without through holes (5) or at least one further metal sheet without through holes (1) and rolled, so that a new metal strip (1, 2), sheet or shaped part (9) is formed, as well as a sheet or shaped part obtainable by this process, wherein the sheet or shape part is comprised of two metal parts (4, 6) joined by welding or adhering, wherein at least one metal part is provided with perforations (7), which correspond to the recesses of the self reinforced structure.

Abstract: A channel letter bending machine for bending a return of a channel letter from a stock includes a feeding unit disposed along a path of travel of the stock to be bent for feeding the stock, a flanging unit for forming a flange along one edge of the stock, a notching unit for notching the flange of the stock fed by the feeding mechanism along the path of travel, and a bending unit for bending the stock under the control of the computer control system into the desired configuration for the channel letter shape, wherein the notching unit and the flanging unit are disposed upstream of the bending unit and the flanging unit is disposed upstream of the notching unit.

Abstract: In a method of making a metallic thin wire 1, one single metallic thin wire 2 is prepared to have a predetermined length with a middle portion of the one single metallic thin wire 2 as a fixed portion. Front and rear half portions of the one single metallic thin wire 2 are twisted with a tensile weight W applied to the front and rear half portions in the lengthwise direction. The one single metallic thin wire 2 is processed with a heat treatment to remove a residual stress. This provides the metallic thin wire 1 with a high rotation-following capability and high torque transmissibility, thus enabling artisans to usefully apply the metallic thin wire 1 to a main wire component 25 of a medical tool and equipment.

Abstract: A heavy-duty hose clamp installation tool is described. A pair of lever arms operates a pair of jaw members to engage a pinch clamp ear. The installation tool includes a pair of jaw members with clamp edges forming a lip for receiving the clamp ears. A pair of extension arms connects the jaw members to a pair of lever arms. The extension arms are pivotally interconnected intermediate the jaw member section so that closing the handle ends of the lever arms translates the jaw members towards a closed position thereof, thus squeezing the clamp ear. Once the ear of the clamp is crimped, an auxiliary form punch is used to flatten the ear, resulting in a tighter clamp configuration.

Abstract: A folding brake includes a frame having a pair of vertically disposed and spaced side members and a lower clamp member rigidly attached to each side member and disposed in a horizontal plane. An upper clamp member is pivotally positioned in relationship to the lower clamp member for selectively clamping a workpiece positioned thereon. A first drive member generates a clamping force and selectively moves the upper clamp member. A pivotally mounted bend rail is engageable with a portion of such workpiece protruding beyond a front edge of the lower clamp member. A second drive member generates a bending force and selectively pivots the bend rail in a first direction to apply the bending force to such workpiece and in a second direction to disengage the workpiece. A controller is provided for operating the first and second drive members.

Abstract: The inventive device makes it possible to form protruding parts (18) teeth, spigots, corrugations and the similar on a carrier plate (8) of a brake-lining by introducing a tool into said carrier plate (8) of a brake-lining with the aid of a pressure plate (1) and by removing the tool from the plate. The tool consists of a number of elements (68 to 71) which are displaceable in an opposite direction towards each other and provided with cutting teeth, for example with a saw blade. During formation of protruding parts, the elements (68 to 71) of the tool are displaceable on a plane along two axes, i.e., along the first axis (20) and along the second axis (21) which is perpendicular to the first axis which coincides or is aligned essentially in a perpendicular direction with respect to the surface of the carrier plate (8) of a brake-lining.

Abstract: A setup method for preventing a “two-leaf cutting” by only operating a machine without using fingers in cutting an end of a strip blade material having an enclosed rectangular geometry. The steps include: the strip blade material being once advanced to a position, where “two-leaf cutting” will not occur; then a cutting tool being lowered; a cutting tool tip of a cutting tool component being lowered to a level of the same as or under that of a top edge of the strip blade material; then the strip blade material being retracted; and finally, the strip blade material being retracted by the same amount as that of the advance from the desired position.

Abstract: A device for crimping a sleeve of a contact on to a sheath of an electrical cable comprises a diaphragm. The diaphragm applies walls of the sleeve against the sheath. Jaws forming the diaphragm have a generally triangular shape. The crimping device may include means for checking the quality of the crimping of the sleeve on the sheath. For example, the checking means include sensors of the crimping forces as a function of a function of a shift of the jaws. The diaphragm of the crimping device may comprise at least eight jaws. Also disclosed is a sleeve crimped on to a sheath by means of the disclosed crimping device.

Abstract: Implementations of the present invention relate to a method and a corresponding device for shaping a workpiece, in which the lifting of the workpiece from the tool after a shaping process is automated. One implementation of the method relates to (a) placing the workpiece in a shaping position on a first tool of the shaping machine, (b) moving the tools of the shaping machine toward one another, (c) shaping the workpiece between the tools, (d) subsequently moving the tools away from one another, (e) identifying a triggering time when the relative motion of the tools has reached a reference position.,(f) determining a lifting time, which may be a function of the triggering time, and (g) initiating a lifting motion of the workpiece from the first tool by at least one handling device at lifting time.

Abstract: A heart valve prostheses crimping apparatus and method for deducing the diameter of stents containing heart valve prosthesis. A medical prosthesis catheter loading apparatus, including a crimping assembly for reducing the diameter of a prosthesis; and a catheter clamp for holding a catheter adjacent to the prosthesis. Also disclosed is an apparatus for reducing the diameter of a medical prosthesis, including a base, a crimp head connectable to the base, and an actuation mechanism connected to the base and connectable to the crimp head to actuate the crimp head. Also disclosed is a method of loading a medical prosthesis into a catheter, including the steps of reducing the diameter of a prosthesis from its normal deployed state to a diameter less than that of the lumen of the catheter; holding a catheter adjacent to the reduced diameter prosthesis; and moving the prosthesis into the catheter lumen.

Abstract: Surgical needles are produced by immersing a needle possessing a distal end surrounded at least in part by flash material and a body portion in an acid bath according to a predetermined sequence, wherein the distal end of the needle is exposed to the acid bath under conditions sufficient to remove flash material from the distal end of the needle and the body portion of the needle is exposed to the acid bath under conditions sufficient to provide a matte finish on at least a portion of the body portion of the needle.

Abstract: A method of forming blind holes in a sheet material is provided. The method includes forming a recessed segment in the sheet material, stamping the recessed segment between a tapered punch and a pad to form a blind hole having a sealed end and a sidewall, wherein the pad includes a profiling pin that is enclosed by the sealed end and the sidewall. The method further includes forming a material channel interposed between the tapered punch and a tapered die, and compressing the material channel to generate a material flow into the sidewall. The material channel may be narrowed to allow more material flow into the sidewall for additional sidewall thickness.

Abstract: A method of preparing a sheet of material for bending along a bend line includes the step of forming at least one displacement in the thickness direction of the sheet of material, the displacement including a flat zone substantially parallel to the sheet of material with a portion of the periphery of the flat zone extending along and adjacent to the bend line, and including an angled transition zone interconnecting the flat zone with a remainder of the sheet of material. The forming step is preferably accomplished using one of a stamping process, a punching process, a roll-forming process and an embossing process. A sheet of material suitable for bending using the process also is disclosed, as are the use of coatings, shin guards and displacing the area of the sheet between bending inducing slits.

Abstract: A bending brake for sheet material includes frames; an upper jaw and a lower jaw that cooperate to hold the sheet material a bending surface pivotally connected to the lower jaw to bend the sheet material against an anvil of the upper jaw; an interlocking unit connected to the frame and having a cam surface which has having a locking position; and an elongated pipe assembly for rotation by a user. The elongated body bears against the cam surface and rests in the locking position to clamp the sheet material with reduced freedom of play.

Abstract: An insulating covering is provided for a pressing jaw of a pair of pressing jaws for hydraulic or electric pressing tools for pressing fittings onto pipes or for the press connection of electric cables. The insulating covering includes a pair of legs having a substantially c-shaped cross-sectional configuration, and an articulation portion provided between the legs.