Abstract: A hydraulic chain tensioner including a retractable ratchet mechanism. A ratchet pawl in the form of a cylindrical plunger received in a bore formed in the tensioner housing is normally biased into engagement with grooves formed on the output member of the tensioner. The bore is in communication with a source of pressurized engine oil so that when the engine is operating the force produced by the oil pressure acting against the plunger overcomes the biasing force and disengages the plunger from the output member. When the engine is stopped the oil pressure goes to zero and the biasing force is again effective to move the plunger into engagement with the output member to maintain its axial position.

Abstract: An engine valve actuating system wherein a pair of valves is actuated by a single cam lobe. The system includes a primary rocker arm contacting the cam lobe and a secondary rocker arm or actuating plate which is contacted by the primary rocker arm and which contacts both valves and a pair of lash adjusters. The points of contact of the actuating plate with the valves and the lash adjusters are arranged in four corners with the point of contact of the primary rocker arm with the actuating plate being within a triangle defined by a line connecting the points of contact of the valves with the actuating plate and the point where lines connecting those points with the diagonally opposite points of contact of the actuating plate with the lash adjusters intersect.

Abstract: A method for applying a hardsurfacing material to a workpiece such as a reciprocating aircraft engine tappet in which a carbon-containing wear resistant material in powder form is applied to a surface of the workpiece in the molten state while a sharp temperature gradient is established from the surface into the body of the workpiece to ensure that solidification occurs from the body upward. The resulting surface material consists of wear resistant carbides in a tough martensitic matrix with minimal formation of graphite.

Abstract: A direct acting hydraulic tappet and a method for making same in which an oil groove and interior structure defining a weld interface are formed in a cup-shaped body by a rolling process, the body is heat treated, a web and hub structure is positioned against the weld interface and the resulting assembly is subjected to a localized, capacitive discharge welding process in the weld interface area. In accordance with the invention, the weld interface is formed to a specific shape to enhance the integrity of the weld. In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a baffle member can be assembled to the web and hub structure prior to its positioning within the body member.

Abstract: An end station for an ion implanter includes a loading station, a loadlock station, a vacuum chamber and a wafer handler within the vacuum chamber. The wafer handler includes a wafer-receiving platen assembly on the end of a multiple axis arm system wherein the arm system is capable of positioning the wafer for low and high angle of incidence implantation, rotating the wafer about an axis perpendicular to the wafer surface, and effecting scanning motion of the wafer along a straight line which intercepts the wafer tilt axis in any tilt position of the platen assembly. The invention further includes a loadlock including an upper element receiving wafers from the loading station and a lower element operable to position wafers for engagement by a transfer arm which transfers wafers from the loadlock to the wafer handler.

Abstract: A non-hydraulic direct acting tappet in the form of a cup-shaped body and a replaceable, cylindrical insert retained within a support formed inside the body. In a preferred embodiment, the support is in the form of a cylindrical boss formed on the inner end wall of the body and the insert is retained by press fitting. In other embodiments, the insert is retained by an O-ring on the insert, the boss and insert are of a non-circular shape, or the boss is on an axis offset from the longitudinal axis of the body.

Abstract: A phase change device of the type wherein an axially displaceable advancing plate drivingly interconnects input and output members through angled or helical, surfaces formed on interfacing portions of the input and output members. In accordance with the invention a plurality of balls of the type used in antifriction bearings are carried by the advancing plate and the interfacing portions of the input and output members are formed as angled or helical grooves in which said balls are received.

Abstract: A material handling apparatus is used to sequentially move rolls of material having cores from a loading station to an unwinding station and to sequentially move empty roll cores from the unwinding station. The apparatus includes a generally H-shaped transfer frame having spindle assemblies at opposite ends of the transfer frame. When spindle assemblies at one end of the frame have engaged the core of a first roll at the loading station, the frame is pivoted about the central axes of the spindle assemblies while the first roll remains stationary at the loading station. This pivotal movement moves an empty core along an arcuate path from the unwinding station to a position above the stationary first roll at the loading station. The first roll is then moved from the loading station to the unwinding station. The spindle assemblies have wheels which roll along rails during movement of the first roll from the loading station to the unwinding station.

Abstract: A phase change device of the type wherein a phase change is effected between an input member and an output member in response to the axial movement of an advancing element interconnecting the input member and the output member, and wherein such axial movement is effected by retarding the rotation of a drum member engaged with the advancing element. A grooved thread is formed in the drum member, and a plurality of balls carried in slots formed in the output member are received in the thread and in helical grooves formed in the input member to effect the relative rotation between the input and output members as the balls advance axially along the thread in response to retardation of the drum member.

Abstract: A drive mechanism which permits both rotational and vertical translation of a fluid dispense arm within a wafer processing system. A motor drives a brake/clutch coupling which, through selective actuation and the utilization of two drive gears, causes selective rotation and/or translation of an output shaft attached to the fluid dispense arm. Selective rotation and/or translation of the output shaft and the fluid dispense arm permits the use of the apparatus without modification of the spin deflector and associated baffling in the wafer processing area.

Abstract: A load rotator assembly rotates and positions loads which are transferred between vehicles which move along aisles. The load rotator assembly includes a carriage which sequentially receives loads from one of the vehicles. A carriage drive assembly rotates the carriage about a vertical axis while maintaining the load on the carriage offset to one side of a vertical plane through the ends of loads at storage locations to eliminate any possibility of interference between the load and a stacker crane which transfers the load to one of the storage locations. The carriage drive assembly is operable to move the carriage toward the vertical plane. By positioning a load on the carriage with its end in the vertical plane, the stacker crane can pick up the load from the carriage and move the load to a storage location. The carriage drive assembly includes a double geneva drive mechanism having upper and lower geneva plates.

Abstract: A hydraulic tappet is provided with an outer reservoir extending for 360.degree. on two levels, thus causing air bubbles in the oil supplied thereto to remain on the upper level of the outer reservoir. According to a first embodiment of the invention the circulation of the oil on two levels is provided by means of a first insert made of plastic, the support for the lash adjusting components is provided and by a second insert made of metal sheet, the second insert including a web portion which also serves as a boundary for the lower level reservoir. According to another embodiment of the invention, the support for the lash adjusting components is provided by a hub structure extending axially from the tappet body, and a single plastic insert is provided to define, along with the exterior of the hub portion, the two-level reservoir.

Abstract: A method for fixing an axle within a roller tappet in which a preload is applied to the axle in a direction perpendicular to its longitudinal axis while the ends of the axle are deformed into chambers formed in the ends of the axle-receiving aperture in the tappet body. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention the axle ends are deformed by an orbital staking process.

Abstract: A phase change device mounted on a camshaft of an internal combustion engine. The phase change device is mounted on an outwardly extending portion of the camshaft outside of the engine block and receives lubricating engine oil from the oil supply of the engine. A simplified sealing arrangement is provided, requiring only a lip seal acting between the engine block and the input member of the phase change device and a cap over the end of the camshaft. Also provided is a bearing supporting the input member on the camshaft.

Abstract: A device (10) for varying the angular phase relationship between a camshaft (12) and a crankshaft (not shown) in response to a control signal including a drive member (18) rotating synchronously with an engine crankshaft, a driven member (16) synchronously rotating with the camshaft on a common axis with the drive member. A coupling assembly (42) interlinks the two members and includes an actuator element (76) positionable to selectively vary the phase relationship between the members. An energy storage mechanism (100) including an inertia member (106) and a spring (104) converts kinetic energy from transitory speed differentials between the driven and inertia members to potential energy for selective release by a latch mechanism (144) in driving connection between the energy storage mechanism and the actuator element.

Abstract: A stem seal for a poppet valve in an internal combustion engine. The seal is a ring type seal received in a groove formed in the valve stem and in sealing engagement with the inside diameter of a tubular valve guide. In accordance with one aspect of the invention the seal element has a plurality of circumferetial ribs formed on its outer diameter, and in accordance with another aspect a helical rib is formed on the outer diameter.

Abstract: A device (10) for varying the angular phase relationship between a camshaft (12) and a crankshaft (not shown) in response to a control signal including a drive member (18) rotating synchronously with an engine crankshaft, a driven member (16) synchronously rotating with the camshaft on a common axis with the drive member. A coupling assembly (42) interlinks the two members and includes an actuator element (76) positionable to selectively vary the phase relationship between the members. An energy storage mechanism (100) including an inertia member (106) and a spring (104) converts kinetic energy from transitory speed differentials between the driven and inertia members to potential energy for selective release by a latch mechanism (144) in driving connection between the energy storage mechanism and the actuator element.

Abstract: An actuator for a phase change device of the type wherein a phase change is effected between an input member and output member in response to the axial movement of an advancing member interconnecting the input member and the output member, and wherein such axial movement is effected by retarding the rotation of a drum member engaged with the advancing member. The retarding force is provided by an electromagnetic wet brake mounted in juxtaposition with a brake disk surface formed on the drum in a fixed angular position but capable of limited axial movement relative to the brake disk surface.

Abstract: A mast to base connection for a storage and retrieval machine which incorporates a pin connection between the mast and the base. The base of the machine is formed as a plurality of elongated plates standing on edge with upwardly extending lugs formed integrally with the plates. The mast has similar lugs formed at its lower end which interleave with the lugs on the base. The mast and base are factory prealigned prior to shipment and line bored to receive connecting pins which can be precisely matched to each bore. The invention includes a method by which the mast is assembled to the base at a job site by laying the mast down on the base and inserting one of the connecting pins into the lugs, and then tilting the mast about the pin until the remaining lugs are aligned for insertion of a second pin.

Abstract: A system (10) for the vacuum processing of substrates such as semiconductor wafers which includes a central handling chamber (14), a number of separately pumped and randomly accessed process chambers (16-19), and dual load lock chambers (22) which communicate with the central handling chamber. This configuration permits one batch of substrates to be subjected to load lock evacuation while a second batch, having been previously evacuated, is transferred one at a time to selected process chambers. Substrate transfer from the load locks to the central handling chamber is by means of elevators (42) and by means of a handling assembly (24) which undergoes and Z motion only, with final transfer from the central handling chamber to the process chambers being accomplished by pivoting platen assemblies (66).