Abstract: A renewable bearing is for a tong including a housing and an engagement assembly. The bearing has a monolithic upper bearing element having a substantially planar upper surface and a monolithic lower bearing element having a substantially planar lower surface. The upper and lower bearing elements are configured to mount inside the housing with a substantially same outer horizontal profile as the upper bearing element. The upper bearing element and the lower bearing element define a central open area. The upper bearing element and the lower bearing element have an inner section define a radial recess opening to the central opening and for receiving the engagement assembly. The upper bearing element and the lower bearing element have outer sections that form a bearing portion radially intermediate the engagement assembly.

Abstract: A system, in certain embodiments, includes a wedge-lock coupling configured to connect a jaw to an actuator arm of a chuck. The wedge-lock coupling includes a wedge portion having a path of travel between a release position and a lock position, and a locking direction along the path of travel gradually wedges the wedge portion between the actuator arm and the jaw.

Abstract: A system, in certain embodiments, includes a wedge-lock coupling configured to connect a jaw to an actuator arm of a chuck. The wedge-lock coupling includes a wedge portion having a path of travel between a release position and a lock position, and a locking direction along the path of travel gradually wedges the wedge portion between the actuator arm and the jaw.

Abstract: A system, in certain embodiments, includes a cutting tool, a drive and a chuck rotatable by the drive. The chuck includes multiple actuator arms, multiple jaws and multiple spring-loaded lock pins coupling the respective jaws to the respective actuator arms.

Abstract: A workholding chuck can use actuating members that pivot within a non-split unitary front bearing. The non-split unitary front bearing can include pockets in its central bore that can allow a spherical section of an actuator arm to be inserted into the bearing. The spherical section can include radially recessed areas to facilitate the insertion into the bearing. The jaws can be retained to the actuator arms through the use of a quick-release assembly. The quick-release assembly allows the jaws to easily and quickly be changed to allow the chuck to grasp different workpieces.

Abstract: A workholding chuck can use actuating members that pivot within a non-split unitary front bearing. The non-split unitary front bearing can include pockets in its central bore that can allow a spherical section of an actuator arm to be inserted into the bearing. The spherical section can include radially recessed areas to facilitate the insertion into the bearing. The jaws can be retained to the actuator arms through the use of a quick-release assembly. The quick-release assembly allows the jaws to easily and quickly be changed to allow the chuck to grasp different workpieces.

Abstract: An equalizing chuck assembly for heavy duty application includes a chucking assembly having a plurality of rocker arms operably connected to an actuator by a plurality of toggle links. Jaw members are disposed on one end of the rocker arms and a counterweight is disposed on an opposite end of the rocker arms. The equalizing chuck assembly utilizes a plurality of equalizing plates interconnected between the actuator and the rocker arm to provide a degree of adjustment to accommodate eccentricities within the workpiece to be held by the chucking assembly.

Abstract: A work head for a machine for shaping objects. The work head has pincher elements actuated by an operating member which is, mounted to slide coaxially inside the body of the work head, and which is hollow to allow the passage of a tube or object that is to be shaped. The pincher elements may be made of a single piece consisting of a pincher arm and an operating arm.

Abstract: A lathe chuck assembly is configured for high-speed turning operations. The assembly includes a riser adapter and a yolk plate movably connected with respect to the riser adapter. First, second and third cam arms are connected to the yolk plate for grasping a workpiece for turning operations. Each cam arm includes a cam slot formed therein. A face plate is mounted to the riser adapter. The face plate includes first, second and third cam arm openings formed therein for receiving cam pins for cooperation within the respective cam slots. The face plate includes a locally thickened cross-sectional area surrounding each cam arm opening for added structural integrity and a plurality of locally thinned cross-sectional areas spaced across the face plate for weight reduction. A web structure of substantially uninterrupted cross-sectional thickness is provided for structural integrity at high rotational speeds.

Abstract: The apparatus for holding a log or long roll (L) of web material during the cutting thereof along a plane perpendicular to the log axis, includes: a plurality of clamping elements distributed in a circle around the log (L). The clamping elements can be moved so as to clamp the log during the cut and also to be released so as to allow the log to axially move between cuts. At least one actuator causes the movement of the clamping elements, and connectors which connect the clamping elements to one another to provide a simultaneous movement thereof by said actuator. Each clamping element pivots around an axis so as to cause clamping of the log. The connectors control the pivoting of said clamping elements.

Abstract: In an adjustable chuck for gripping workpieces of different sizes, three jaws are mounted for relative movement. A hydraulically driven mechanism is operable selectively for closing the jaws to grip a workpiece and for opening the jaws to free the workpiece. Two strain gauges on one of the jaws sense the gripping force applied by the jaws to the workpiece. A computer, which responds to the strain gauges, coacts with a control relay and with hydraulic valves to control flow of hydraulic fluid into and from the closing and opening mechanism. A system comprising a plurality of such chucks is contemplated, in which one computer coacts therewith to control the closing and opening mechanism of any selected chuck of the system, and which adjusts itself for minor variations among the system chucks.

Abstract: The power chuck of the invention features a series of rocker arms which are linked by toggles to the chuck's actuator. The rocker arms are mounted on pivot pins which pivot with respect to carriers within the body of the chuck. The center of gravity of the toggle, rocker arm and jaw mounted on the end of the rocker arm is located inwardly of the pivot pin so to provide increasing clamping force as the rotational speed of the chuck increases. A spring within the carrier provides a pull-back action on the workpiece during clamping.

Abstract: A power tong having a frame with an open throat at one end and a pipe gripping mechanism situated for rotation within the frame, carrying three pipe gripping dies about equally spaced around the longitudinal axis of the pipe. Only one of the pipe gripping dies is driven toward the pipe by cam action of the rotating mechanism. The other two pipe gripping dies pivot and achieve their pipe loading capability from the action of the cam driven pipe gripping die. Once the rotation of the pipe has been achieved, the rotating mechanism returns to such a position that the open throat of the rotating mechanism coincides with the open throat of the frame, whereby the pipe, having been spun, can then be released.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning each threaded marginal end portion of large pipe. The apparatus has a cleaning head assembly which includes a rotatable member having circumferentially spaced cleaning brushes adjustably mounted thereon so that the cleaning brushes can engage and clean the opposed pipe surface at the opposed marginal terminal ends of a joint of pipe. Spaced plate-like members are axially arranged along a common shaft, and the opposed faces of the plate members have the cleaning brushes adjustably mounted thereto and arranged so that the common shaft can be rotated in a horizontal plane, thereby bringing the brushes of one of the plate members into cleaning engagement respective to the pipe threads, and thereafter the assembly is rotated 180.degree.0 in a horizontal plane, thereby bringing the other set of brushes into cleaning relationship respective to the opposed pipe end.

Abstract: A chuck is disclosed for gripping an annular workpiece by jaws clamping against the inside wall of the workpiece. The jaws extend axially of the chuck and are rocked between clamping and release positions by levers which contact the radially outer face of the rearward end of the jaws as a result of pivoting about a point adjacent the radial outer periphery of the chuck body. The levers are moved by an axially movable actuator at the axial center of the chuck. The arrangement provides a mechanical advantage such that the chuck in closed position is substantially self locking.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing protective members from the threaded ends of pipe joints. A rotating head assembly is attached for longitudinal movement respective to a main frame having a motor mounted therewithin. The head includes a plurality of protector gripping jaws which are radially spaced from one another and aligned such that movement of the head assembly towards and away from the main frame causes the jaws to releasably grip the pipe protector. The rotating head assembly includes spaced parallel arms connected to cause the jaws to maintain the same relative position as the jaws are moved apart from one another to accommodate different diameter pipe. The apparatus can also be used to engage and remove pipe couplings as well as other threaded members. A second embodiment of the invention includes a cleaning head assembly mounted to the main frame which cleans the threads of both the box end and pin end of the pipe.

Abstract: There is disclosed a tool changer apparatus for rapid changing of a tool holder in a mill incorporating a draw bar having a gripper mounted on one end thereof for gripping a holding flange formed in a tool holder so retraction of such draw bar will close the collet on such flange to draw a centering taper formed in such tool holder into mating relationship with a complementary taper formed on one end of the mill spindle to center such holder. Incorporated on the opposite end of such draw bar is a tightener incorporating toggle links for holding the draw bar in its retracted position and operative upon retraction of the mill quill to release such toggle link to thereby extend such draw bar and release the tool holder from such gripper.

Abstract: Bag placing apparatus for use in conjunction with automatic bag filling equipment of the type that fills valve type bags through a horizontal spout that is received within the bag valve when the bag is properly positioned for filling on the spout; such bag filling equipment cyclicalling alternately between fill and filled bag discharge intervals respectively initiated automatically by placement of an empty bag on the spout and upon completion of the filling of such bag.The bag placing apparatus includes a placer provided with vacuum bag holders and a relatively movable snapper.