Abstract: A heat treating furnace is disclosed for nitride case hardening and gas cooling a stationary workload in the same furnace which is comprised of a single chamber and an access door. The chamber is segregated into an outer portion and an inner portion, with the inner portion being adapted to receive the workload to be nitride case hardened through the access door. The inner portion is surrounded by graphite insulation to retain the gas used to nitride case harden the workload. The inner portion further includes a plurality of graphite resistance heating elements and a plurality of graphite plates juxtaposed in near proximity to the graphite resistance heating elements forming a conduit or plenum between them. The inner portion further includes a fan assembly including a graphite radial fan wheel adapted to circulate the nitriding gas within the inner portion and through the conduit to provide uniform nitride case hardening of the workload.

Abstract: Versatile vacuum furnace (also having high internal pressure capability) designed for facilitating directed gas flow has a treating chamber including a long, low profile work zone configuration, and powerful gas recirculation equipment with unique structure supporting gas flow patterns that facilitate high velocity gas flow into and through the chamber. The furnace can be used for single or multiple step metal treatment processes. An entire multi step process, for example, carburizing, including gas quenching, is accomplished relatively quickly in a single self-contained chamber of the furnace.

Abstract: A mid-wheel drive power wheelchair for use by handicapped and disabled persons is provided having a frame, a seat supported by the frame, a pair of drive wheels supported on the frame under the seat, drive means for causing rotation of the drive wheels, power means for supplying power to the drive means, a rearward idler wheel, a forward anti-tip device and a resilient suspension supporting the forward anti-tip device, the suspension being attached to the drive means rearward of the front portion of the frame.

Abstract: A mid-wheel drive power wheelchair for use by handicapped and disabled persons is provided having a frame, a seat supported by the frame, a pair of drive wheels supported on the frame under the seat, a motor for causing rotation of the drive wheels, a battery for supplying power to the motor, a rearward idler wheel, a forward anti-tip wheel and a resilient suspension supporting the forward anti-tip wheel, the suspension being attached to the frame rearward of the resilient front portion of the frame.

Abstract: An impact wrench (1) comprising an output shaft (5) for receiving a socket or other fastener engaging element for tightening a fastener is powered by a pneumatic motor (11). Apparatus (20) for determining when the fastener has been tightened to a predetermined tightness comprises a body member (21) extending around the output shaft (5), and an eccentrically disposed member (24) on the output shaft (5) located within a central bore (30) of the body member (21). A pair of photo sensors (33a, 33b) in light accommodating bores (34a, 34b) receive light through the bores (34a, 34b) from corresponding light emitting diodes (36a, 36b).

Abstract: A process for shaping threaded metal and ceramic parts from powders and molding compositions therefor is disclosed. Parts produced by this process are formed net shape without the need for machining or other finishing operations. The process comprises forming a mixture containing metal powders, ceramic powders or mixtures thereof, a gel-forming material and an aqueous gel-forming material solvent, and molding the mixture in a mold containing internal and/or external threads under conditions of temperature and pressure to produce a self-supporting threaded article.

Abstract: This invention relates to brazing metals composed of cobalt-chromium-palladium-based alloys containing transition metals such as cobalt, nickel, tungsten, molybdenum and certain metalloids; and more particularly to multicomponent alloys containing cobalt, chromium, palladium, nickel, tungsten, molybdenum, boron, and silicon, which are especially useful for brazing metals at high temperatures to produce high strength, high oxidation and high temperature and corrosion-resistant brazements. Alloys of the present invention have a composition represented by the formula:Cr.sub.a Ni.sub.b W.sub.c Pd.sub.d Si.sub.e B.sub.f CO.sub.bal.

Abstract: An electrical choke comprises a magnetic amorphous metal core having, in combination, a distributed gap and a discrete gap. The amorphous metal is an iron based, rapidly solidified alloy. The distributed gap configuration is achieved by subjecting the magnetic core to a heat treatment, causing partial crystallization of the amorphous alloy. Such partial volume crystallization reduces the permeability of the magnetic core from several thousands to a value ranging from 200 to 800. The discrete gap is introduced by cutting the core and inserting a spacer. Depending on the width of the gap and the value of the annealed permeability, effective permeabilities in the range of 200 to 40 can be achieved. Advantageously, the reduced permeability magnetic core maintains its initial permeability under DC bias field excitation and exhibits low core loss, making it especially suited for use in power factor correction applications.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing a rare earth-containing powder comprising crushing a rare earth-containing alloy in water, drying the crushed alloy material at a temperature below the phase transformation temperature of the material, and treating the crushed alloy material with a passivating gas at a temperature from the ambient temperature to a temperature below the phase transformation temperature of the material. Rare earth-containing alloys suitable for use in producing magnets utilizing the powder metallurgy technique, such as Nd-Fe-B and Sm-Co alloys, can be used. The passivating gas can be nitrogen, carbon dioxide or a combination of nitrogen and carbon dioxide. If nitrogen is used as the passivating gas, the resultant powder has a nitrogen surface concentration of from about 0.4 to about 26.8 atomic percent. Moreover, if carbon dioxide is used as the passivating gas, the resultant powder has a carbon surface concentration of from about 0.02 to about 15 atomic percent.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved blind fastener assembly and an improved joint assembly using the blind fastener assembly. The blind fastener assembly is adapted to be installed in a workpiece having a first and a second surface with an opening therebetween. The blind fastener is of the type having a core pin, expander means, expandable sleeve means, and resilient washer means, each having an initial diameter which permits it to pass through the opening in the workpiece. The improvement in the blind fastener assembly in accordance with this invention comprises the washer means having two portions including an inner portion and an integrally formed outer flange portion. The inner portion has a tapered nose section tapering outwardly away from the core pin shank portion to facilitate expansion of the sleeve means over the inner portion. The integrally formed outer flange portion is adapted to be unfolded by the sleeve means to form a bearing surface against the second surface of the workpiece.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing a rare earth-containing material capable of being formed into a permanent magnet comprising crushing a rare earth-containing alloy and treating the alloy with a passivating gas at a temperature below the phase transformation temperature of the alloy. This invention further relates to a process for producing a rare earth-containing powder comprising crushing a rare earth-containing alloy in a passivating gas at a temperature from ambient temperature to a temperature below the phase transformation temperature of the material. This invention also relates to a process for producing a rare earth-containing powder comprising crushing a rare earth-containing alloy in water, drying the crushed alloy material at a temperature below the phase transformation temperature of the material, and treating the crushed alloy material with a passivating gas at a temperature from the ambient temperature to a temperature below the phase transformation temperature of the material.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing a rare earth-containing powder comprising crushing a rare earth-containing alloy in water, drying the crushed alloy material at a temperature below the phase transformation temperature of the material, and treating the crushed alloy material with a passivating gas at a temperature from the ambient temperature to a temperature below the phase transformation temperature of the material. Rare earth-containing alloys suitable for use in producing magnets utilizing the powder metallurgy technique, such as Nd-Fe-B and Sm-Co alloys, can be used. The passivating gas can be nitrogen, carbon dioxide or a combination of nitrogen and carbon dioxide. If nitrogen is used as the passivating gas, the resultant powder has a nitrogen surface concentration of from about 0.4 to about 26.8 atomic percent. Moreover, if carbon dioxide is used as the passivating gas, the resultant powder has a carbon surface concentration of from about 0.02 to about 15 atomic percent.

Abstract: An electrical contact structure for making and maintaining an electrical connection through a rotatable tool head is provided. A low cost contact probe assembly can be incorporated into the drive of various conventional tightening tools to extend onto the head of a fastener to make and maintain electrical contact therewith while the head is being operated upon by the socket or gripping means of the tightening tool. This contact probe assembly includes an insulated and shielded electrically conductive tube.

Abstract: This invention relates to a set screw comprising a shank having external threads and a work-engaging end portion integrally formed at one end of the shank. The work-engaging end portion has a frustohemispherical outer surface comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced serrations in the form of teeth. Each of the teeth comprises a ramp extending outwardly from a root to a crest thereof with the ramp being inclined in a direction which is opposite to the direction of rotation of engaging the set screw in a workpiece. A cavity is formed in the outer extremity of the work-engaging end portion. The cavity cooperates with the frustohemispherical outer surface to form therebetween an annular wedge. The work-engaging end portion can be readily formed by a forging process.

Abstract: A barrel nut retention apparatus for retaining a barrel nut within a cylindrical bore in a panel comprising a barrel nut and retaining means. The barrel nut is comprised of a threaded bore having a longitudinal axis, and a partially cylindrical base portion having opposed first and second shoulders on the outer extremity thereof. The opposed shoulders project away from the threaded bore. Furthermore, the retaining means is comprised of a resilient member having a first portion and a second portion being positioned on opposite sides of the threaded bore and being seated on the opposed shoulders in a plane generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. A part of the first portion and a part of the second portion are adapted to engage the panel when the apparatus is installed within the cylindrical bore. Additionally, the resilient member has a third portion disposed between the first and second portions and integrally connecting the first and second portions.

Abstract: This invention relates to a load indicating member comprising a shank having at least one groove and an ultrasonic transducer coupled to a load indicating member so that an ultrasonic wave is directed to the groove. A surface can be formed adjacent to one longitudinal end of the shank and the ultrasonic transducer can be coupled to this surface. Further, the ultrasonic transducer can be coupled to this surface so that the ultrasonic wave is also directed to the other longitudinal end of the shank which is remote from the surface. The groove may be located on the shank at a predetermined distance from the surface for identification of the member. Moreover, the surface can have a recess, with the ultrasonic transducer being located in the recess. Advantageously, the groove can be an annular groove or the groove can be comprised of threads disposed on the shank. Also, the shank can have two or more annular grooves.

Abstract: An electrical contact structure for making and maintaining an electrical connection through a rotatable tool head is provided. A low cost contact probe assembly can be incorporated into the drive of various conventional tightening tools to extend onto the head of a fastener to make and maintain electrical contact therewith while the head is being operated upon by the socket or gripping means of the tightening tool. This contact probe assembly includes an insulated and shielded electrically conductive tube.