Abstract: A self-locking nut is provided having, at its periphery, a number of longitudinal channels (3) with semi-circular section intended to cooperate with drive balls carried by an appropriate tightening tool, said balls causing, at the end of tightening, the formation of a circular groove (10) by forcing back the metal situated between the channels (3), which results in radial deformation of the inner threads of the nut (1) at the level of said groove (10).

Abstract: A large size barrel-shaped dent ball for removing dents in curved and tapered tubing having a diameter between 21/2 and 41/2 inches such as a tuba. The ball is constructed with a hardwood core and a steel band about the center portion of its length. An axial steel tube is also inserted in the hardwood core to facilitate use and removal of the ball from the tube. This composite structure reduces the overall weight so that the ball can be manipulated during use. A cable tool on which the dent ball can be strung between two metal impact balls is also presented. Reciprocation of the cable provides repeated impact of a metal impact ball against the barrel-shaped dent ball to drive the dent ball under and past the dent in a dent removal and tool retrieval direction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mechanically lockable fastener assembly for maintaining workpieces assembled, when an elongated bolt with threads formed along a length thereof, and substantially axially aligned rotation resisting surfaces formed along another length thereof, is mechanically assembled with a cooperating nut having a threaded portion and a compressible portion deformable into engagement with said rotation resisting surfaces of said bolt to cause the bolt and the nut of the assembly to be inseparable by untorqued unthreading.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rotatably drivable tool for mechanically joining together threaded nut and bolt components of a fastener assembly to maintain together the assembly and workpieces joined thereby, the tool having a socket portion for receiving the nut of the fastener assembly, and swaging inserts spaced inwardly of the interior wall of the tool socket portion to compress a portion of the nut of the fastener assembly into mechanical engagement with the bolt of the fastener assembly upon driving of the tool.

Abstract: Percussion apparatus having a compressed air inlet (3) and serving to impart percussive movement to a tool (10), the said tool (10) sliding inside an envelope (1) fixed to the apparatus and being terminated by a spherical portion (22), includes the improvement wherein the said tool (10) includes a hollow tube (13) with one end (21) holding a ball (22) captive, which ball is urged against the end (21) by a spring (24) lodged in the tube (13). When the ball (22) is worn, it is easily changed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the manufacture of spirally fluted tubes and which comprises a rotatable die for receiving the tube longitudinally therethrough during the forming operation for controlling the outer diameter thereof, a clamping apparatus for engaging the outer periphery of the tube and mounted on a movable base member for pulling the tube through the die, forming tools carried by the die for selectively exerting pressure against the outer periphery of the tube during the longitudinal movement thereof, and a reciprocal forming tool chuck apparatus engagable with the forming tools for controlling the inwardly directed pressure thereof against the tube to produce variable depth spiral grooves therealong.

Abstract: A tube deforming tool (10) for forming a plurality of dimples (32) in the end of a tube (34) of a predetermined size. The tool has a tapered mandrel (12) extending through a housing (14) containing a plurality of radially movable balls (16). A plurality of longitudinal grooves (20) in the mandrel is the surface that the balls coact with. At the end of each groove is an enlarged recess (40) into which the balls are released at the end of the dimpling or deforming procedure, to permit easy removal of the tool from the deformed tube.

Abstract: A method of hardening by plastic deformation surfaces of articles shaped as continuous helical coils and having essentially round cross-section by means of deforming elements wherein said deforming elements are arranged at the opposite sides of said article for forced rotation in engagement with the surface of the material of said article, while said article is rotated about its longitudinal centerline and subjected to ultrasonic oscillations. The deforming elements are rotated in opposite directions so as to form on the surface of said article a regular microrelief in the form of an intersecting mesh-like pattern. By changing the ratio between the angular rotational velocities of the deforming elements, a microrelief of desired geometry is attained.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a support for supporting a blank in which at least one groove having a curved axis and a circular section is to be formed, a ball for forming the groove and carried at one end of a ball holder, a device for displacing the ball holder, and an articulated quadrilateral structure which has a first side rigid with the support and a second side in which the ball holder is fixed by an end of the ball holder. The second side is opposed to the first side of the quadrilateral structure. Thus the ball holder is movable relative to the support by the ball holder displacing device. An application of the apparatus is in the forming of runways in transmission joints of the tripod type.

Abstract: Powder metal first pressed into a green briquette having an inner cavity is then sintered to form a rigid part. The inner cavity of the part is next sized in a lap-like operation by a spherical-shaped tool. The tool is rotated in an orbital pattern comprising a series of elliptically-shaped cycles. As the tool rotates, small successive portions of a surface of the cavity are contacted by the tool. This lap-like interaction between the tool and cavity surface not only sizes the cavity to an exact dimension but improves the wear quality of the cavity surface by increasing the density of a wall of the cavity as well as providing an improved surface finish.

Abstract: The apparatus of the invention is characterized by comprising a die through which the end of the tube is passed in order to form the point, and which is provided with a first substantially cylindrical bore of diameter less than the diameter of said tube, a substantially conical second bore coaxial with the preceding and of which the minimum diameter is equal to the diameter of said first bore and the maximum diameter is greater than the diameter of the tube, and at least three revolving bodies disposed in corresponding seats of said die, each of which projects radially to a predetermined extent from the surface of said second bore towards the axis of the bore itself, and drive means arranged to axially move said die relative to said tube in order to bring the end of the tube inside said first and second bore and into cooperation with said revolving bodies.

Abstract: An improved machine for forming a plurality of thin, spiral grooves in the inner surface of a metal pipe. A grooving plug is inserted and held in the metal pipe in such a manner that its axial position is constant and the metal pipe, while being moved longitudinally, is pressed by a plurality of balls which rotate planetarily around the outer surface of the metal pipe at a position corresponding to the position of the grooving plug to continuously form a plurality of spiral grooves in the inner surface of the metal pipe. Thereafter, the metal pipe is finished through a die. The machine manufactures at a high rate metal pipe which has a smooth outer surface and a grooved inner surface.

Abstract: A metal cap or closure having a smooth, rounded edge. The smooth, rounded edge is formed by contacting the rough edge of the cap or closure with a plurality of moving metal spheres. The apparatus for forming the smooth, rounded edge includes a plate in which the spheres are rotatably mounted and a holder for holding the closure over the spheres so that the edge of the closure contacts the rotating spheres.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for forming spirally-shaped indentations in tubular products. An internal shaft is formed with a spirally-shaped female die and an outside die consists of a single metal ball magnetically suspended from the outside die holder in registry with the spiral formation on the internal female die. The tube to be formed extends between the two dies and is clamped to prevent rotation but permitted to move in either axial direction. A threaded insert in the external die is advanced axially and then locked to predetermine the maximum indentation to be impressed into the tubular product. Thereafter, a reversible motor drives a holder for the external die and the internal shaft in unison to form a spiral indentation in the tubular product.

Abstract: Method and manufacture for the manufacture of a cooking vessel with a flat, thick-walled bottom and a substantially thinner casing surface, a cup-shaped blank is shaped in the casing area by a rolling process on a substantially cylindrical, rotary mould part. The rolling tool comprises a rigid outer ring and numerous freely rotatable balls revolving in a groove. The area close to the bottom of the mould part is tapered, so that a cavity is formed into which the material can be shaped in the area close to the bottom.

Abstract: Metal pipe is planished by passing it longitudinally between two concentric circular arrays of independently rotatable planishing elements which are urged against the inner and outer surfaces of the pipe. The two circular arrays of planishing elements are radially aligned with each other on opposite sides of the pipe wall, and the pipe is rotated relative to the two arrays of planishing elements while the pipe is being passed therebetween.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a cup-shaped coil assembly is described which employs a coil bobbin of a special design. The bobbin comprises a cylindrical member, a disc connected with one end of the cylindrical member to close it, a cap member detachably fitted into an opening in the other end of the cylindrical member, and a shaft disposed in alignment with the axis of the cylindrical member and having its one end attached to the disc and its other end slidably extending through the cap member. The method comprises the steps of assembling a coil bobbin in the manner mentioned above, and forming a coil around the bobbin by a skewed winding of wire, pressing the cap member into the cylindrical member, diametrically enlarging an opening formed at one end of the coil, and removing the cap member from the coil formed.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for forming projections on tubular members or the like in which the tube forming apparatus rotates with respect to the tubular article being formed. A mandrel is provided with camming wedge members which actuate spherical forming members when the mandrel is reciprocated. Each spherical forming member projects through an aperture in a housing member which closely surrounds the mandrel. In this manner the spherical forming members engage a tubular article on the mandrel and force the contacted portion of the tubular article into a die member. The mandrel, housing member and spherical forming members are then rotated with respect to the tubular article to be formed whereby a predetermined projection is formed on the tubular article.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for forming a circumferential annular groove into a round workpiece. The workpiece may comprise two or more cylindrical members to be joined together in an overlapping relation by means of a rolled annular crimp. The apparatus or machine includes a portable main body part having an annular platform rotatable within the main body part about a centerline axis. The annular platform inner circumference defines a co-axial bore into which a workpiece may be received. A ball bearing is introduced part-way into the bore in the radial direction to contact the workpiece whereby a circumferential groove may be formed into the workpiece. The depth of the groove may be automatically controlled and the apparatus itself is circumferentially mounted about the workpiece to facilitate the application of the apparatus to the workpiece.

Abstract: This device relates to a device or tool for pressing sheet metal toward and to engage a spinning or rotating cylindrical-like mold to forceably deform the metal to assume the shape of said mold. More particularly, it relates to an improved device having a freely rollable or universal ball captively held in a ball bearing racer and thereby effect a substantially frictionless inward movement of said sheet metal against said pressure deforming universally rollable ball.

Abstract: A ball sizing machine for sizing an internal passage in a workpiece in which pressure is employed to force a sizing ball through the passage against a fluid counter-pressure. The opposite ends of a passage to be sized are sealed at each end with a tapered ram plug with the sizing ball within the head end of the passage. The passage is filled with a fluid, such as oil, from the tail end of the passage. When passsage has been filled from the tail end to a predetermined pressure, the system is conditioned to permit a metered flow of fluid out of the tail end when pressure is applied to the head end of the passage in front of the ball to force the ball through the passage.

Abstract: The process of passing a rotating tool through a tubular workpiece such as a heat pipe having longitudinal capillary grooves in the walls thereof such that a swaging ball carried by the tool flattens the lands between the grooves to thereby produce a capillary configuration in which the width of the opening of the grooves is narrower than a cross-section of the groove and the lands between the grooves have a mushroom-shaped cross-section. Deformation of the lands by the swaging ball is essentially of a limited-load point-contact type to avoid a destructive collapse of the lands during the swaging process.

Abstract: An improved peening tool comprising a cylindrical body having a plurality of holes each adapted to receive a spherically shaped ball bearing. A sleeve member having a plurality of holes is located over the cylindrical body so that each hole in said sleeve is aligned with the hole in said cylindrical body. The diameter of the hole in the sleeve is less than the diameter of the spherically shaped ball. A rotatable driver body is located within said cylindrical body and contains an even number of individual rotatable hammers adapted to sequentially contact said spherical balls. During operation each hammer is free to rotate about its own axis thereby presenting a new contacting point for moving the spherical balls.