Abstract: An extrusion punch, especially for use in a back extrusion process, wherein a hard wear resistant material is joined on one end to a steel punch body. The hard wear resistant material is joined on at the tip of a steel body so as to prevent wear due to abrasion on the punch caused by the material being extruded in a die means. The hard wear resistant end cap on the tip of the steel body is joined so that it may easily and quickly be replaced when the punch is in position on the machine thereby providing less down time for maintenance on the extrusion press. The method of joining the hard wear resistant end cap to the steel body minimizes the conditions which tend to fracture hard wear resistant material.

Abstract: A bracing surround which comprises a heat-recoverable especially a heat-shrinkable, sleeve provided with a reinforcing member which does not prevent recovery of the sleeve but which is capable, when in the configuration held when the sleeve is recovered, of resisting forces tending to return it to the configuration held when the sleeve is in its recoverable configuration. The surround is used to enclose substrates, e.g., pressurized conduit junctions, that are subject to expansion in use.

Abstract: A connector for joining a fiber optic cable. The connector is constructed th a thin wall tube enclosing strips of a shape memory alloy material. The strips are bent and inserted into the thin wall tube such that an axial cavity is formed between the opposing strips. The axial cavity provides a self-centering mechanism for positioning fiber optic cables along the central axis of the tube. Dimensions of the tube and shape memory alloy strips are chosen such that fiber optic cables inserted into each end of the connector when it is above the transition temperature range of the strips will be forced into coaxial alignment when the connector is cooled to a temperature below the transition range of the strips.

Abstract: An unbreakable sledge hammer handle includes a conventional, wood or other rigid lower handle portion and a wire rope connector for mounting the hammer head on the top end of the hammer. A pair of collars are fit on the opposite ends of the wire rope connector and secured thereto by applying extreme pressure to the collar which deforms and cold works the interior diameter to fill in the gaps between the wire segments. The sledge hammer head is provided with a cylindrical mounting aperture which is smaller in diameter than the outside diameter of the collar. The hammer head is subsequently heat shrunk onto the collar. The opposite end of the wire rope connector is secured to the wooden handle portion by a sleeve which extends a substantial length over the exterior of the handle portion. The sleeve is riveted to the wooden handle portion and spot welded to the collar.

Abstract: A separable blade agitator has a glass coated drive shaft and a glass coated impeller interference fitted to the end of the shaft in a gasketless, glass surface to glass surface joint. The interference fitting of the impeller to the shaft is accomplished by super cooling the end of the shaft with nitrogen or the like so that it can be inserted into a glass coated bore in the impeller.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a solid gas and vacuum tight join between components of different physical properties using a joining element comprising a memory alloy whose memory effect gives rise to the necessary contraction or dilatation stress, in particular for the connection of a hollow body of ceramic material to a metallic object. Joins comprising a memory alloy joining element result from such process having a groove and steps and at least one further metallic or non-metallic component, in particular a hollow body.

Abstract: Flexible hollow articles comprise an expanded elastomeric inner member and an outer restraining means. The restraining means is made of a notch-sensitive material so that when score lines are made in the restraining means, they can be propagated through the material by distorting the article. The stiffness and elongation of the restraining means, and the peel strength of the bond between the inner member and the restraining means, are so chosen that when suitable score line are made in the restraining means, at least part of the restraining means can be pulled away from the inner member, thus permitting the inner member to recover. The articles are useful for covering substrates, especially splices and terminations in electrical cables.

Abstract: A flywheel includes a cross-ply composite central portion including a plurality of fiber-containing layers and a relatively thick rim portion of circumferentially wound fibers impregnated with a binder. The relatively thick rim portion surrounds the central portion and is of sufficient radial thickness such that the ratio of the outer radius of the central portion to the outer radius of the rim portion is equal to or less than 0.90. The rim and central or core portions are secured together by a relatively large interference fit of at least 0.001 inch per inch of the outer radius of the rim. Such interference fit substantially precludes failure of the flywheel by rim-core separation as would occur in similar flywheels having such relatively thick rims in the absence of the aforesaid large interference fit. The tangential modulus of elasticity of the rim-portion fibers is substantially greater than the corresponding modulus of the core-portion fibers.

Abstract: A lightweight motorcycle wheel and method of making the same comprising a die cast alumnium alloy hub and spoke unit around which an extruded aluminum alloy drop center rim is shrinkfitted and bonded by high strength thermosetting resin adhesive between coaxial cylindrical walls of said rim and unit.

Abstract: A branch-off seal between a heat-shrinkable sleeve, made for example from a cross-linked polymeric material, and two or more substrates such as electric cables or other utility lines is effected by using a fork member. The end portion of the heat-shrinkable sleeve is threaded between the prongs of the fork member so that, on recovery, the heat-shrinkable material tightens and at least two prongs abut the outer surfaces of the sleeve which surround the substrates so as to retain the fork member in position. The fork is preferably made from a metal such as stainless steel or aluminium.

Abstract: A rope attaching device for splicing or forming a loop within a synthetic or natural fiber rope. The device includes a splicer body that is formed in two separate sections. Each section includes at least one rope receiving channel that is concave in cross section for receiving a length of rope therein. The two sections may be positioned facing one another, sandwiching a rope. A sheath formed of heat-shrink plastic material is provided that may be mounted over the juxtaposed sections. The sheath material will shrink upon application of heat to firmly grip and clasp the splicer body sections together securely clamping the rope.

Abstract: A heat-recoverable article for protecting a conduit, for example, an electric cable, where its conductors pass through an aperture in a bulkhead, in order, for example, to prevent chafing; the article has an inner expansible and an outer shrinkable sleeve, the outer jacket of the cable terminating in an annular space between the sleeves, the space shrinking on heating of the article; one end of the inner sleeve is expansible to grip the bulkhead.

Abstract: An eccentric shaft particularly for driving a large reciprocating pump, and a method of making the shaft. The shaft includes an elongated cylindrical body, a plurality of small eccentric discs uniformly spaced along the length of the body, and optionally one or more concentric gear flanges, all formed as a single integral forging. Relatively large eccentric discs are shrink-fitted and keyed to the small eccentric discs.

Abstract: A device for forming a connection between a first and second group of glass fibers with each fiber of the first group being held in alignment with a given fiber of the second group characterized by an elongated carrier member having longitudinally extending grooves and a shrinkable tube telescopically received on the elongated member. In forming the connection, the glass fibers of one group are inserted individually in separate grooves from one end of the carrier member and the fibers of the second group are inserted from an opposite end until their end faces abut and engage the end faces of the respective fiber of the first group. After insertion, the tube is shrunk such as by a heat shrinking step so that the fibers are tightly and firmly held in their respective grooves by the shrinkable tube.

Abstract: The camshaft is constructed in portions each of which has an integral flange at one end and a releaseably secured discoid member at the other end. The flange of one shaft portion is secured to the discoid member of an adjacent shaft portion by means of screws. Each shaft portion has a plurality of cams shrink fitted thereon.

Abstract: Flexible hollow articles comprise an expanded elastomeric inner member and an outer restraining means. The restraining means has score lines thereon, and is made of a notch-sensitive material so that the score lines can be propagated through the material by distorting the article. The stiffness and elongation of the restraining means, and the peel strength of the bond between the inner member and the restraining means, are so chosen that at least part of the restraining means can be pulled away from the inner member by manual force. The articles are useful for covering substrates, especially splices and terminations in electrical cables.

Abstract: The invention relates to a connector and method of connecting electrical conductors or other substrates. It is particularly suited to making connections between coaxial cables, even those having different diameters. The connector is a shell comprising a hollow heat-recoverable member having two open ends, an electrically conductive deformable member disposed within the heat-recoverable member and a quantity of solder also disposed within the heat-recoverable member. To make a connection, the conductors are inserted into different ends of the sleeve and the assembly heated to cause recovery of the heat-recoverable member. The recovery force of the recoverable member deforms the deformable member into close contact with the conductors to provide mechanical strength to the connection and electrical contact between the conductors. The heat used to bring about recovery also fuses the solder to improve both the mechanical and electrical integrity of the connection.

Abstract: This method of covering a joint of two rope ends includes use of a joint cover constructed of plastic tubing, included heat shrinkable plastic tubing, with methods to form a conical wedge shaped cover. The joint cover functions to help provide a smooth movement of the joint around obstacles. Also included is the use of "selected area shrinkage.

Abstract: A novel fletching assembly for darts having an exceptional design to allow darts to be placed in the target in close proximity with a minimum tendency to displace the flights of previously thrown darts, and to cause minimum deflection of other thrown darts is provided by securing the flight assembly by three or more pins with rounded heads and portions of their shanks securing the individual flights, and with the leading end of the pins secured in a hole in the dart fletching body and maintained in close tangential juxtaposition by means of a heat shrinkable tube encasing the cluster of pins from the front end of the dart flights forward onto the outside diameter of the aft end of the dart fletching body.

Abstract: A recoverable tubular article comprising an elastomeric sleeve held in a radially expanded or extended condition and capable of recovering to its pre-expanded condition of smaller diameter upon the removal of an outer restraint, an outer restraint, essentially tubular in configuration, bonded to said elastomeric sleeve, said bond between the sleeve and the restraint being sufficiently strong to retain the elastomeric sleeve in its expanded condition under ordinary conditions of storage and susceptible to attack by solvents weakening the bond sufficiently to allow the elastomeric sleeve to peel away from the restraint and recover to its original state.

Abstract: A hold down clip for mounting on an inverted T-shaped rib of a grid-type ceiling structure, for holding the ceiling tiles in place. The clip comprises spaced leg portions which are adapted to overlie the tile and at least one foot portion projecting outwardly from the respective leg portion, with such foot portion having tab means thereon for either digging into the underlying tile and anchoring it in place or engaging the adjacent edge surface of the underlying tile in the event the latter is cut short, and maintaining it in position. The clip may be expeditiously formed from flat sheet material, such as sheet metal; in some embodiments the clip comprises more than one pair of leg portions.

Abstract: The interior passageway formed at the central axis of a bundle of at least three cylindrical elements which are drawn together within a contractable outer member serves to maintain the ends of optical fibers or the like in accurate axial alignment to provide a splice joint or connection thereat.

Abstract: A method for making a glass-to-metal seal. A domed metal enclosure having a machined seal ring is fitted to a glass post machined to a slight taper and to a desired surface finish. The metal part is then heated by induction in a vacuum. As the metal part heats and expands relative to the glass post, the metal seal ring, possessing a higher coefficient of expansion than the glass post, slides down the tapered post. Upon cooling, the seal ring crushes against the glass post forming the seal. The method results in a glass-to-metal seal possessing extremely good leak resistance, while the parts are kept clean and free of contaminants.

Abstract: Herein is described an article for encapsulating in separate compartments a plurality of elongate substrates. Typically the substrates comprise the union or junction between pair of electrical conductors or similar structures. The article comprises a heat recoverable outer tubular member and an inner spacer member to divide the space within the outer member into separate compartments. In particularly preferred embodiments, the article also comprises a fusible insert which will melt when the outer member is heated to cause its recovery. The fusible member can flow about the substrate. If the fusible member comprises, for example, solder, the article can be employed to simultaneously incapsulate and form a secure electrical connection between electrical conductors at their union.

Abstract: A fatigue resistant anvil bit is described for use on a percussion rock drill. The anvil bit has a shank having a substantially uniform cross section terminated in a threaded end portion. A bit head is threadably mounted on the end portion having a diameter substantially greater than the bit shank. An anvil ring is shrunk fit on the shank engaging the bit head to provide lateral support and minimize the creation of fatigue fractures.

Abstract: Magnetostrictive fastener arrangement that relies upon the fractional change in length of a ferromagnetic element under the influence of a magnetic field (magnetostriction) to alter the physical cooperating relationship between the element and a second element. Each of the elements may exhibit the same or a different magnetostrictive effect in the presence of a magnetic field, and each of the elements is dimensioned so that a different physical relationship between the elements is achieved when either or both elements undergoes a fractional change in length.

Abstract: A one piece piston connected to a connecting rod, for high speed four-stroke cycle internal combustion engines, in which the piston top has a centrally arranged spherical combustion chamber with a constricted opening while the piston is made of cast iron, preferably of tough cast iron, or spheroidal cast iron, or malleable cast iron, and while the piston skirt below the piston ring grooves has two flattened surfaces located opposite to each other and perpendicular to the axis of the piston bolt and parallel to the piston axis. The flat surfaces are located approximately along the same plane as the outer wall of the spherical combustion chamber while bearings for the piston bolt extend at least approximately from flat surface to flat surface and while the connecting rod is firmly shrunk onto the piston bolt.

Abstract: Optical fibers which protrude through a base plate to simulate airfield lights in a closed-circuit television visual display are accurately and securely yet removably positioned with a desired angular orientation and a desired protrusion by means of attached keying or aligning pins which register with a key plate. The key pins are attached to the optical fibers using heat-shrinkable tubing. The other ends of the fibers also may be accurately positioned using heat-shrinkable tubing.