Abstract: A method for cleaving a conrod (1) of a reciprocating-piston engine into two bearing shells each comprising one half of the bearing eye (2) has the following steps: before the breaking process, the machine component is stuck with its bearing eye (2) onto a two-piece split mandrel (10); the bearing eye is subjected to initial stress in splitting direction, by forcing the two mandrel halves (11, 12) apart; the bearing eye (2) is positionally fixed, relative to the associated mandrel half (11), on one side of the intended splitting plane (4) by means of adjustable stops (29); by driving in a wedge (16) between the two mandrel halves (11, 12), the positionally fixed bearing shell together with the associated mandrel half (11) is split from the bearing shell fixed on the other mandrel half (12) by substantially simultaneous breaking of both sides.

Abstract: A reciprocating piston drive mechanism, especially for a reciprocating piston vacuum pump, includes a cylinder (3) embodied in a housing (12). A piston (4) is moved back and forth in the cylinder by an electromagnetic drive that has an electromagnet (11) on the stator side and at least one permanent magnet (18, 19) on the piston side. In order to increase service life of said drive mechanism, permanent magnets (15, 16) are also provided on the stator side. The piston permanent magnet(s) (18, 19) and the stator permanent magnets (15, 16) are configured and disposed in such a way that the piston (4) is magnetically biased to a substantially central axial position in the idle state.

Abstract: A reciprocating piston drive mechanism, especially for a reciprocating piston vacuum pump, includes a cylinder (3) embodied in a housing (12). A piston (4) is moved back and forth in the cylinder by an electromagnetic drive that has an electromagnet (11) on the stator side and at least one permanent magnet (18, 19) on the piston side. In order to increase service life of said drive mechanism, permanent magnets (15, 16) are also provided on the stator side. The piston permanent magnet(s) (18, 19) and the stator permanent magnets (15, 16) are configured and disposed in such a way that the piston (4) is magnetically biased to a substantially central axial position in the idle state.

Abstract: A method for cleaving a conrod (1) of a reciprocating-piston engine into two bearing shells each comprising one half of the bearing eye (2) has the following steps: before the breaking process, the machine component is stuck with its bearing eye (2) onto a two-piece split mandrel (10); the bearing eye is subjected to initial stress in splitting direction, by forcing the two mandrel halves (11, 12) apart; the bearing eye (2) is positionally fixed, relative to the associated mandrel half (11), on one side of the intended splitting plane (4) by means of adjustable stops (29); by driving in a wedge (16) between the two mandrel halves (11, 12), the positionally fixed bearing shell together with the associated mandrel half (11) is split from the bearing shell fixed on the other mandrel half (12) by substantially simultaneous breaking of both sides.

Abstract: A unitary adaptor plate for determining static unbalance in a body. The plate includes an outer body, a middle body, and an inner body, and each of the inner and outer bodies is connected to the middle body by means of opposed torsion elements to provide a structure that defines a gimbal system capable of rotation about two mutually perpendicular axes of rotation defining two degrees of freedom of the adaptor plate. Deflection sensors sense the inclination of the adaptor plate caused by unbalance in a body placed on the adaptor plate, and force transducers operate to restore the plate to a horizontal position and provide an output indicative of the unbalance of the body.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for determination of run-out of a rotating body, especially an automobile tire, without the need for mechanically contacting the rotating body. The apparatus includes a device for rotating the body, a scanning system with a transmitter for transmitting parallel rays directed toward the rotating body, a receiver to receive the residual rays not blocked by the rotating body, and an analyzer circuit for determination of variations in blockage on the basis of which run-out of the rotating body is determined.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding mats to a press, e.g. for the production of particleboard or the like, comprises a feed conveyor with a discharge nose which lies in a plane tangent to the plane of a receiving conveyor entraining the mat into the press. Between the pick-up side of the receiving conveyor and the discharge end of the feed conveyor, this plane is tangent to a drum whereby press underlays are positioned beneath each mat with a head bar disposed ahead of the leading edge of the mat. According to the invention, the surface of the conveyor is provided with recesses to receive each bar so that the latter lies at least in part inwardly of the circumference or periphery of the drum while an underlay sheet lies along a drum surface which progressively merges with the circumference from this recess, i.e. is progressively asymptotic. When the recess is fixed, it can have a flank ahead of the bar against which the bar is positioned.

Abstract: To improve operation and output voltage, particularly at 400.degree. C. and less, an oxygen sensor, especially adapted to determine oxygen content of automotive exhaust gases, is constructed by utilizing two electrodes applied on a body of stabilized zirconium dioxide, for example a closed tube, by making an electrode exposed to the exhaust gases in form of a mixture of finely dispersed ceramic material and a platinum-rhodium alloy, the ceramic material being present at about 40% (by volume) and 60% (by volume) platinum-rhodium alloy of 50-94% platinum and 50-6% rhodium (by weight). The second electrode, exposed to a reference gas comprises an alloy of palladium and another noble metal in a ratio of about 19-90% (by weight) Pd and 81-10% (by weight) noble metal. This electrode may also contain up to 40% (by volume) finely dispersed ceramic material. The electrode exposed to the exhaust gases is covered with a porous coating.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically inspecting and moving tires through an inspection system. The tire is placed in a pan of sand and is rotated by a device grasping the bead of the tire so that the tire becomes embedded in the sand in order to stabilize its position. A covering hood, with an attached mirror, is aligned upon lowering with the aid of conical centering guides. After the tire has been inspected and removed, a rotary shovel smooths the sand so that the pan is ready to accept another tire for inspection.