Abstract: An apparatus for assembling a fuel rod bundle having a number or elongated fuel rods arranged in parallel with each other and fixed by means of a plurality of spacers and lower and upper tie plates comprises a fuel rod supplying apparatus for feeding successive fuel rods in a longitudinal direction of the rods, said fuel rod supplying apparatus including means for carrying the rods in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction to any one of a plurality of positions; a bundling apparatus including means for fixing or holding the spacers and the lower tie plate and means for rotating said fixing means by given angles; and a measuring apparatus including a circular pitch measuring mechanism and a layer space or pitch measuring mechanism for measuring circular and layer pitches of the assembled fuel rods in the bundling apparatus.

Abstract: A replaceable centering piece in an attachment device for securing structural parts to a chain by means of a bolt and two flanges being clamped across the two arms of a chain link by said bolt, said replaceable centering piece having end walls which are in contact with the curved ends of two adjacent chain links which engage with the chain link carrying the attachment device.

Abstract: Solid state dual leaf spring transducers are fabricated by batch photolithographic etching techniques from a monocystalline nonmetallic material, such as silicon. Each leaf spring structure includes a leaf spring portion surrounded by a support structure defined by an intervening region of the wafer disposed between adjacent leaf spring structures etched into the wafer. A pair of such leaf spring structures with their respective surrounding support structures are joined together in mutually opposed relation to form a composite dual leaf spring transducer structure of the type wherein a pair of leaf spring structures are mechanically coupled together in axially spaced relation along an axis of sensitivity for equal displacement along said axis of sensitivity in response to displacement of either one of the spring structures relative to the support structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for the feeding of buttons or similar objects to a processing station e.g., a fastening station. The apparatus comprises a rail arranged to receive a row of the buttons and debouch them at a processing station in which holding means are provided to hold the objects and alternatively release them. At the delivery end of the rail two holding elements are provided to allow the feeding of one of the buttons from the rail, catch the fed button and hold it in the processing station and release the button after the processing. According to the invention the holding elements each has the form of a section, rotatable into three positions around an axis. In the first position both the sections are placed opposite to the open delivery end of the rail allowing the feeding of one button from the rail. In the second position they are placed opposite to each other holding the button between the sections.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a novel method of manufacturing a line guide ring for fishing rods which comprises providing a suitable number of prongs on the inner periphery of a fixed ring, fitting a shock ring into said inner periphery and piercing said shock ring with said prongs by fitting a guide ring thereinto, whereby the three ring members are firmly held. This method renders it possible to facilitate the production of a line guide ring of good quality which does neither become loose upon mounting to a fishing rod nor rotate thereon.

Abstract: A double-sided printed circuit board is described with a method for providing selective connection between conductors on the two faces of the board without the use of wire links or bridges. The board carries a plurality of plated-through holes arranged to provide all of the inter-connections which may be required in various combinations in a range of applications. When the actual combination required in a particular application is determined, those inter-connections which are not required are broken by removing part of the plating.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a method and apparatus for fabricating a pulley which the pulley rim is fabricated from a cylindrically-shaped blank of constant diameter which is deformed by relatively movable die forming members so as to form a ring having a V-shaped cross section which may then be assembled to a hub member. Auxiliary forming dies are also disclosed which may assist in the proper formation of the V-shaped cross section. In another form, the pulley rim is fabricated with multiple annular V-grooves. Apparatus effective for carrying out the above method is also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A split carrier for receiving bottom stops from a feeding chute is biased toward a raised position beneath a ram which upon downward movement forces the bottom stop and carrier downward where the forces of wing portions of the bottom stop engaging camming seating edges on respective halves of the carrier force the carrier halves apart and install the bottom stop on the slide fastener.

Abstract: Fine diameter wires especially suited for high temperature filaments are physically and electrically held in simple cylindrical connectors by lining the inside of the connector with a closely wound wire coil, inserting the fine wire into the center of the coil, and lightly crimping the outer surface of the connector until the filament wire is electrically joined to the connector and firmly held therein without the filament being weakened or excessively stressed.

Abstract: A slide fastener slider is assembled from a stock of slider bodies, pull tabs and springs with apparatus which loads a body on an anvil at a loading station, moves the anvil to an assembly station and at the assembly station positions a pull tab to receive the lugs on the body therein, inserts a spring over the pull tab trunnion and between the lugs, the tip ends of the lugs thereafter being clenched to fixedly secure the spring to the body. The assembled slider is then ejected from the anvil to a collection point. In a further embodiment, the slider body instead of having lugs between which the spring is received and the tip ends of which are clenched to hold the spring, has lugs with recesses at the outer side surfaces thereof. The wing-like sides of the spring are inserted over the tip ends of such lugs with a spreading action until the spring sides snap into the recesses to secure the spring to the body.

Abstract: A mechanically deformable heat transfer fin for installation in a hollow cavity of a large complex elongated extrusion to improve heat transfer characteristics without brazing welding or glueing. Since the required design cannot be obtained with the transfer fins as an integral part of the extrusion using presently known techniques, a separate fin insert of slightly smaller dimensions than the hollow opening of the large extrusion is installed therein. The insert includes a plurality of legs and an internal pressure cavity which can be sealed off at both ends with pressure cap fittings secured by tie rods. After installation in the extrusion, pressure is applied to the inner chamber until the legs of the insert move outward and contact the inner surface of the extrusion walls. The pressure is raised until the relatively thin walls of the insert are permanently deformed so that, when the pressure is relieved, the insert is held fixedly in place.

Abstract: An elastomeric radial lip shaft seal and method of making same wherein the seal is provided with a rigid reinforcing member of generally cylindrical shape and formed from strip stock with the ends thereof joined by clinch-butt construction.

Abstract: A transducer diaphragm comprising a diaphragm plate with a predetermined pattern of recesses and mesas formed by a chemical etching method to change and/or isolate the expansion and contraction areas of the plate under pressure. In the illustrated embodiment, the pattern includes a central depression on the rearward face including peripheral cutouts extending outwardly from the central depression to receive a strain gauge, thereby positioning the location of the maximum compression amplitude of the diaphragm to be under the gauge.

Abstract: A mechanism for automatically engaging a slider upon a pair of slide fastener chains having teeth, includes a curved track which is supplied with sliders from a hopper. One slider at a time moves to a position in front of a carrier on which is mounted a pivotable lever. The first slider from the hopper is held in position by a horizontal retractable pin extending to the track. The lever has a foot which clamps the end slider from the hopper. Jaws carrying a pair of slide fastener chains move to the clamped slider which is moved by the carrier toward the jaws. The adjacent end of each chain is inserted into the body of the clamped slider as the carrier moves forwardly. The carrier continues to move forwardly with the lever and clamped slider causing the teeth of the chains to close. The jaws and lever then release the new assembly of slider and two engaged chains, and other jaws grasp the new slide fastener assembly and move it to another processing station.

Abstract: An existing worn out floor mat electric switch is reconditioned by cutting it on three sides, severing the electric cord in two places, removing the inner parts of the mat switch, drilling out the metallic portions of the line cord, cleaning the contactor plates, inserting and reconnecting a new line cord, supplying new contractor buttons and separator strips, and reassembling and resealing the mat.

Abstract: A flexible, self-biasing switching element is disclosed herein for closing a circuit by flexing the element from an initial non-contacting position to a second contacting position and for opening the circuit by releasing the element and permitting it to return to a non-contacting position from the contacting position. The element includes a flexible non-conductive substrate having on one side thereof a plurality of spaced conductive contacts or areas. A two-sided pressure sensitive adhesive film for mounting the element is die cut and applied to the substrate in a manner so as to surround the conductive contact areas. The adhesive film provides an insulating medium between the contact points so as to prevent transmission of current between the contact points.

Abstract: Handle sticks for frozen confections are removed from a hopper by a rotatable slotted wheel and driven by air under pressure through tubes, which can be curved, to an insertion station. Molds containing partially frozen material are conveyed to and aligned with the station. The sticks received at the station are aligned with the axes of the molds and driven into the molds by plungers.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the continuous mechanical fabrication of starting sheets for the electrolytic refining of metals, especially copper, from electrolytically deposited sheets which have already been cut to certain dimensions and straightened, the sheets being continuously moved forward along a predetermined path of movement at a substantially constant rate of advance and a movement component directed parallel to the path of movement of the sheets, of which the speed substantially corresponds to the rate of advance of the sheets, being imparted both to the components to be connected to the sheets and to the tools, at least when they are acting directly or indirectly on the sheets.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance, such as a plate, has means defining at least one opening therein, and an elongated wire-type member is provided having at least one end which is removably insertable in the opening of the first member. The elongated member has engaging means at an end thereof which resiliently deforms to lockingly and non-rotatably engage an inner surface portion of the opening which has means for releasably engaging the engaging means of the elongated member.

Abstract: Methods of pipeline construction in arctic and subarctic regions and apparatus for carrying out those methods are disclosed. Following the disclosed methods, summer-constructed fabrication yards are established at locations along the pipeline right-of-way spaced at intervals of 100 to 150 miles. Each summer-constructed fabrication yard is regarded as being at or close to the center of its associated pipeline division, which is approximately 100 to 150 miles in length. Each fabrication yard comprises a group of summer-constructed buildings adapted for carrying out the steps in fabricating a pipe section, including quality control, X-ray, hydrostatic testing, external coating, final inspection, and river coating and weighting, along with yard facilities for moving elongated (e.g., 2500 foot) pipe sections from place to place during their fabrication, inspection, coating, etc.