Abstract: Safety apparatus for a tire changer having a support table for tire/rim assemblies and a tire inflation system includes a post having a quick disconnect mechanism for engagement with and release from the support table. The post has high pitch threads which receive a restraining cone with mating threads. The post is engaged with the table through a central rim opening and the restraining cone is moved on the threads to engage the edges of the rim opening. The post-table engagement actuates an air interlock which enables the tire inflation system. The cone is trapped on the post by structure on either end of the post.

Abstract: A rotary film sealing and severing device for use with thermoplastic film for forming packages. The device includes a rotating anvil assembly and a counter-rotating film cutting assembly having a heated sealing and cutting knife. First and second liquid cooled clamping bars on either side of the knife hold the layers of film together while the film is being sealed and cut. Cooling the clamping bars prevents the film from adhering to the clamps and causes the layers of film to quickly fuse together and allows high speed operation by preventing separation of layers of film due to slow cooling.

Abstract: A current and torque feedback system for use with sine-wave controlled brushless servo motors each having a plurality of stator windings, a permanent magnet rotor and a rotor position sensor. Current sensors detect instantaneous values of electrical currents in each of the stator windings; and circuitry computes peak current values and electrical polarity of each current. Circuitry uses sensor signals from the rotor position sensor to divide the electrical revolution of the brushless motor into a number of regions equal to the number of phases of the brushless motor with each of the regions centered about the peak values of the sensed currents. The peak values of the currents and the current polarities are coupled to circuitry which generates an output signal having a value proportional to the peak values of the currents and having a polarity indicative of the direction of the torque generated by the brushless motor.

Abstract: An end connector for double-pin track shoes or the like receives a pair of pins having arcuate grooves therein. The connector includes pin receiving openings having small diameter pin engaging arcuate surfaces, and large diameter arcuate grooves therebetween which nest arcuate portions of a spring therein. The spring also includes resiliently stressed portions that snap into the arcuate grooves in the pins when assembled, and a cap screw operatively connected between two walls of the connector clamps the connector onto the pins, thus providing double protection for maintaining the connector on the pins.

Abstract: The outer surface of an elongated metal component such as a bar is rapidly heated by an induction coil and is thereafter cooled by a quenching spray while being subjected to tensile forces so high that the center portion of the bar approaches yield causing the bar to elongate slightly. The tension on the bar is released thereby obtaining high residual compressive surface stresses in the cooled outer layers of the bar which define an annulus and which shortens the bar slightly until compressive stresses in the surface layers equal the tensile stresses acting on the central sections of the bar thereby greatly improving the fatigue life of the bar.

Abstract: An autoloading method and apparatus is disclosed for a turret mounted gun that is pivoted horizontally relative to the turret and must be lowered to a substantially horizontal 0.degree. position for loading selected cartridges from a magazine conveyor, ejecting empty cartridge cases and misfired cartridges from the gun and turret, assisting in replenishing cartidges from outside the turret into the magazine, and off-loading cartridges from the magazine. A partition divides the turret into two compartments with a gunner and a commander located in one compartment and the mechanical components of the autoloader and breech of the gun located in the other compartment. When the gun is returned to the 0.degree. position for ejecting an empty case, the site of the director system remains on target. The turret is preferably mounted on a military land vehicle.

Abstract: A rim engaging finger is configured to engage a wide variety of passenger vehicle and truck wheel rims, so that a wheel clamp upon which an array of three of the fingers are mounted may be attached to the wheel rims. The clamp is configured to carry a variety of wheel alignment devices. The rim engaging finger is rotatable in its position on the clamp so that its tip may be put in contact with the inside or the outside of the periphery of a vehicle wheel rim. Additionally, fallow grooves on the finger may be put in contact with the fallow of a vehicle wheel rim for supporting the clamp on the wheel. An inner knife edge is also included to provide contact with certain wheel rim configurations by the array of fingers for clamp mounting purposes.

Abstract: A method for forming a composite door to custom fit a predetermined door opening. A template is formed by spraying a quick hardening foam on a door jam of the door opening. The template is moved a base member of the tool and the base member adjusted to conform to the shape of the template. A mold is formed using the template and base member. Composite material placed inside the mold and on top of the base member forms a door to custom fit the door opening.

Abstract: A tire changer has a base on which is mounted a rim and tire assembly support table upon which tires are inflated through an air inflation hose. A rigid arm-like member is pivotally attached to the base of the tire changer in a position so that it may be pivoted between a safety position overlying the support table and a rim/tire assembly thereon and a stowed position away from the support table. In one embodiment the rigid arm pivots from an overhead position to the safety position and in another embodiment the rigid arm pivots from a lateral position to the safety position. The rigid arm carries the air inflation hose with a short length of the hose extending therefrom, so the arm must overlie the support table for the hose to reach the inflation valve on a tire supported on the table.

Abstract: A tire changer has a base on which is mounted a rim and tire assembly support table upon which tires are inflated through an air inflation hose. A rigid arm-like member is pivotally attached to the base of the tire changer in a position so that it may be pivoted between a safety position overlying the support table and a rim/tire assembly thereon and a stowed position away from the support table. In one embodiment the rigid arm pivots from an overhead position to the safety position and in another embodiment the rigid arm pivots from a lateral position to the safety position. The rigid arm carries the air inflation hose with a short length of the hose extending therefrom, so the arm must overlie the support table for the hose to reach the inflation valve on a tire supported on the table.

Abstract: A drum rotation indicator for indicating the speed of raising and lowering a load by a crane winch. A rate generator connected to the winch develops electrical pulses having a frequency proportional to winch rotational speed. A solenoid having a movable plunger is mounted in the cab of a crane where the vibration of the plunger can be sensed by a crane operator. Pulses from the rate generator are amplified and coupled to the solenoid to cause the plunger to vibrate at a rate corresponding to pulse frequency.

Abstract: A frame fixture for use with a source of spray paint for camouflage painting of vehicles. A frame is formed in a shape corresponding generally to the shape of a portion of a vehicle to be painted. A plurality of strips connected to the frame divides an area inside the frame into a plurality of areas corresponding to areas to be painted on the vehicle. The strips can be mounted a predetermined distance from the vehicle to allow paint to spray into an area between the strips and the vehicle.

Abstract: An adjustable control station for an aircraft loader for transferring containers between a controllably driven loader conveyor and a conveyor in cargo aircrafts of different sizes. The control station includes a unique movable platform constructed of three easily assembled major components including a stationary support structure and a movable platform which supports a console with front and rear control panels thereon. The movable platform is moved to a position close to the aircraft thereby enabling an operator thereon to simultaneously actuate controls for the loader conveyor and the aircraft conveyor while observing the containers movement. A front rail of a handrail may be vertically adjusted.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for routing a plurality of plates of predetermined size through at least one precision processing station for accurately and economically performing machining functions or the like on the plates. Aligned group of plates are presented to an input end of the apparatus by fork lift trucks and after processing the group of plates, the process plates are aligned, and removed from the apparatus by fork lift trucks or the like thereby greatly reducing labor costs and providing a more accurately machined product.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for providing a continuous supply of clean air at a desired temperature to the crew compartment of a vehicle when in an environment contaminated by nuclear, biological or chemical warfare agents. Exhaust gases from the vehicle's engine is used to drive a first compressor which directs compressed and heated air to a precooler, an aftercooler, a heat exchanger and a pressure swing adsorption system which removes all known contaminates from the air providing clean output air. The clean air is expanded and cooled by a turboexpander which drives a secondary compressor and a coolant air compressor. A temperature controlled circuit is provided to control the temperature of the air throughout the circuit and in the crew compartment at the desired levels.

Abstract: A horizontal force balance shaker includes a horizontal shaking head supported for horizontal movement by parallelogram linkages. Counterweights are secured to concentric shafts for rotation at the same speed in opposite directions about an axis thereby causing the shaker head to oscillate horizontally. The axis may be oriented horizontally or vertically, and the shaking head may be advantageously used in row crop harvesters such as grape harvesters.

Abstract: A core box assembly includes an outer aluminum box containing an inner plastic or wooden mold section having a core depression therein adapted to receive mold sand. A strike-off surface on the box and mold section surrounds an opening providing access to the core depression. A peripheral portion of the strike-off surface is removed so that a step is formed around the periphery of the aluminum box. A portion of flat steel plate is formed with a centrally disposed opening therethrough and is fixed on the assembly with its upper surface in the plane of the strike-off surface, its outer boundary coincident with the outer boundary of the aluminum box, and its inner boundary abutting the step.

Abstract: A universal sterilizer for processing products packages in a wide variety of types and shapes of containers. Fluids for sterilizing and cooling products in the containers are directed horizontally toward the sides of the containers to provide uniform processing of the products. This can be used with either batch process of products or used in a continuous type sterilizers. Small quantities of water can be pumped around the system to reduce cost of operation.

Abstract: Safety apparatus for tire inflation operations on a tire changing machine having a tire inflation system. The machine has a support table for receiving a tire/rim assembly, and has a tower at one side of the machine which supports a tire mount-demount head on a vertical adjust arm in position over the support table. A foot is provided for mounting on the mount-demount head, in one embodiment, so that the foot may be placed above a tire/rim assembly being inflated to absorb explosive forces if the tire explodes from the rim due to over inflation or a faulty tire bead. In another embodiment the mount-demount head has an impact absorbing member adjustable in vertical position on the vertical adjust arm. The impact absorbing member extends therefrom to overlie a tire/rim assembly for the aforementioned purpose.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus for severing a sheath of thermoplastic material during a bag manufacturing operation. The cutting apparatus comprises a stationary frame (1) having a pair of timing pulleys (130, 131) mounted thereon which intermittently drive an endless timing belt (61) looped around the pulleys. The timing belt carries a cutter blade (56) across the width of the sheath during an intermittent cutting run for severing the sheath. The mid-portion of the timing belt is vertically displaceable by two pairs of vertically and horizontally spaced apart guide pulleys (135-138) supported on a vertically moveable frame (143, 71, 144) centered between the timing pulleys on the stationary frame. The vertically displacement of the mid-portion of the timing belt positions the cutter blade for the cutting run across the width of the sheath.