Abstract: A method for manufacturing a part selected from a plurality of part types is disclosed. The method involves the step of selecting, from a supply of workpieces, a workpiece of a type that is associated with the type of part selected, the workpiece having a void and a substantially annular outer surface. Using a lathe, the selected workpiece is machined into the selected part. The workpiece, during the machining step, is mounted to the lathe by a collet associated with the type of part selected. The collet is an expanding collet which, during machining, is received by the void and engages the workpiece in gripping relation. The part can be a bushing for an aircraft landing gear and the workpiece can be an oversized bushing. The method can be carried out at an aircraft repair facility and the oversized bushings can be procured from specialist fabricators.

Abstract: Disclosed is a closure means for a pressure vessel, said pressure vessel comprising a body portion and a lid portion, the closure means comprising: securing means attached to the lid portion for releasably securing the body and lid portions together to form a subtantially gastight enclosure, the securing means permitting a limited degree of movement between the body and lid portions from a sealing position to a venting position when the pressure within the vessel exceeds the external pressure by a predetermined amount thereby permitting venting of excess pressure, the closure means comprising biasing means acting to bias movement of the body and lid portions from the venting position to the sealing position after venting of excess pressure, and pressure vessels comprising said closure means.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved method of manufacturing injection molding manifolds for multicavity molding. The method includes gun drilling a longitudinal duct through a steel manifold body, drilling a transverse inlet duct to connect to an inlet on one surface of the manifold, and drilling diagonal outlet ducts to connect to spaced outlets on the opposite surface of the manifold. The outlet ducts are smaller in diameter than the longitudinal duct to match the rest of the system. Before the outlet ducts are drilled, end portions of the longitudinal duct are drilled out to a larger diameter and steel plugs having a tapered well are securely welded into them with the mouth of the well in alignment with the longitudinal duct. The plugs are larger in diameter than the central portion of the longitudinal duct to avoid the formation of thin knife edge portions where the outlet ducts join the longitudinal duct which often break down during use.

Abstract: In a piezo-electric manually-operated spark generating device the actuating mechanism comprises an actuating lever pivoted on the body of the device which accommodates the piezo-electric crystal assembly. It is arranged that in response to pivotal movement of the lever a cam rotates through a small angle between a fixed abutment and a relatively fixed head or pressure pad of the crystal assembly to exert high pressure on the crystal assembly for the generation of sparks. The cam is formed with precision by blanking or stamping from sheet metal so that it does not need to be subsequently machined as in the case of prior cam construction which would increase the cost of the cam. The stamping out or blanking of the cam from sheet metal also enables a roll pin to be formed integrally with the cam instead of being a separate member which is received by a hole in the cam.