Abstract: A rack lubricator is bolted to a drive pinion housing. The lubricator supports a porous felt gear on a rotatable shaft. Lubricant is ported through the shaft to the inner surface of the gear, and the gear wicks the lubricant onto the rack teeth, thereby coating the surface of the rack with minimal lubricant as the felt gear rolls with the rack.

Abstract: A strand laying head is disclosed wherein strands of composite material pass from a strand storage device under a spacing roller and are warmed by a heat source. A precompaction roller applies pressure to the strands against a laydown surface as the head moves along the laydown path. A trailing main compacting roller applies final compacting pressure. A heat source is applied to the strand at a point between the precompaction and main compacting rollers to ensure final bonding of the strands.

Abstract: A rotatable spindle is carried in bearings located in one end of the bore in an adapter. The other end of the adapter is fixed in a machine base so as to cantilever the adapter. A damping chamber is formed along the adapter length between the machine base and the adapter, and a damping medium is provided in the damping chamber to control vibrations of the cantilever assembly. In one embodiment, a viscous damping medium is utilized to effectuate squeeze film damping. In an alternate embodiment, a visco-elastic damping medium is utilized in the damping chamber.

Abstract: A tape laying machine is disclosed carrying a tape laminator unit which forms in situ from individual strips of composite material.The strips are first spaced apart on a carrier sheet and next compressed to a relatively thin widened state where the widened strips are contiguous to one another, forming a unitary wide composite tape.The tape is conveyed to a tape laydown station where it is transferred from the carrier sheet and deposited on a work surface.

Abstract: An anti-backlash mechanism for a machine drive is disclosed, wherein a shaft carries a rotary worm wheel having drive connections to the tangs of two back-to-back clutch units. The first clutch unit is connected to a rotatable shaft, concentric with the worm wheel, and having a first helical gear on its end. A second helical gear on the support shaft is torsionally and axially free to slip. The second gear is connected to the second clutch unit by a torque tube permitting relative axial movement to occur between the two. A first actuator biases the two gears apart, and a second actuator between the second helical gear and the clutch units provides clamping force to engage the mechanism. An output bull gear is in mesh with the pair of helical gears. To engage the mechanism, the second actuator is energized, impressing a snugging force on the discs of the clutch units, and driving the second helical gear in an axial direction toward the first helical gear.

Abstract: An adjustable tool mount positions a rotatable tool on a machine tool spindle by a central tool mount ring having a internal thread machined throughout. The thread engages a pin extending from the tool spindle, so that rotation of the assembly causes axial advancement of the tool mount. The tool mount is clamped and unclamped by a lock nut received on the tool mount which compresses a plurality of nested conical spring rings which are closely fitted to a counterbore within the tool mount and to the machine spindle. Compression of the spring rings tends to enlarge the ring outer diameter and tends to reduce the ring bore, thereby causing a secure frictional grip to be effected between the tool mount and machine spindle.

Abstract: A tool changing system for turning machines is disclosed wherein a tool magazine having a plurality of common-based tools carries the tools on a serpentine chain matrix. The tool holders are secured to the links of the chain. The tool storage magazine is removable from the tool changer base, and replaceable with a similar tool storage magazine. A tool interchange arm is carried on a dual slide assembly, wherein a first slide moves a pair of gripper fingers to positions between the tool holder block on the tool turret of the machine and the tool storage magazine. When changing ID tools, which are mounted to the face of a tool turret, a secondary slide is moved relative to the first slide, to provide additional onward stroke positioning, and a turn-around cylinder rotates the interchange arm housing and gripper fingers to bring the tools around to the face of the tool turret.

Abstract: An adjustable tape chute guides a composite tape on a tape laying machine. The chute has a main body with a central guide slot of nominal width, for receiving a composite tape. The exit end of the chute has a pair of opposite edge guides which are movable with an adjusting screw along guide pins to conform to the actual tape width, so the tape may be accurately deposited alongside previously deposited tape strips.

Abstract: In a machine tool having cooperating first and second slides slidably with respect to one another, an improved way damper has a damper plate carried by the first slide in slidable engagement with the second slide, and the plate is retained so as to permit slight movement of the plate in a normal direction to the movement of the first and second slides. A sealed damping chamber is formed between the damper plate and the first slide, having a viscous medium within the chamber which effects squeeze film damping as the damper plate and first slide undergo relative vibratory motion. An alternate embodiment employs a visco-elastic medium in the damping chamber to effect damping.

Abstract: A knife assembly for composite tape laying machines is disclosed which has a knife movable to a fixed distance from a tape support platen so that the knife, which is transversable across the platen will completely sever a composite tape but not a paper backing tape. A floating presser foot serves to hold the reeled tape snuggly against the platen while cutting is taking place, and the float relative to the knife will accommodate variations in composite tape thickness.

Abstract: A robot toolchanger system is disclosed, where an adapter unit is mounted to the end effector of a robot. The housing of the adapter unit has central opening for receiving a T-shaped member which is affixed to a common toolbase, applied to a variety of tools. The crossbar of the T-shaped member is engaged by a slide movable in the housing in reversing directions to lock and unlock the tool with respect to the robot end effector.

Abstract: A pallet receiver for a machine tool is disclosed utilizing a pin and socket for registration and alignment. A pallet clamp piston is employed to clamp the pallet to the receiver base for subsequent machining operations. A registration pin is rigidly secured to the receiver base, and a cooperating pin socket is mounted to the pallet underface by means of a compliant diaphragm spring so that as the socket and pin are engaged during the first portion of clamp piston movement the pallet will be registered and aligned with respect to the receiver base, and during the second and final portion of piston movement the axially compliant pin socket will permit the pallet to engage a rigid clamp down surface on the receiver base, thus insuring a positive final resting position for the pallet on the receiver base.

Abstract: A facial relief and seal creates a closed damping chamber between the spindle end face and adjacent tool support plate. A plurality of tools are located on the face plate near the outer periphery. In one embodiment, a viscous medium, such as oil, is provided in the damping chamber. In an alternate embodiment, a visco-elastic material, such as PVC, is provided in the damping chamber. Relative movement between the spindle end face and the tool support plate will cause vibration damping.

Abstract: A machine tool bearing system is disclosed for grinding machines and the like, wherein a housing has a spindle bore in which is carried a plurality of bearing sets of the rocking shoe segment type. A spindle is rotatably journalled in the bearing sets, and a lower pressure operating fluid is supplied to wet the spindle bearing surfaces. A hydrostatic pressure area is defined on the lowermost of the rocking shoe segments, and fluid at a higher operating pressure is supplied through a check valve system to the hydrostatic pressure area to provide a lifting force to the spindle during start-up conditions. When the spindle reaches its operating rpm., a hydrodynamic pressure is generated in the shoe segments, and serves to provide a stiff support system to the spindle and also serves to shut off the flow from the check valve system.

Abstract: A plurality of like modules having an open sided C-frame construction are provided with slot-forming guides for receiving a plurality of circuit boards which are inserted from the open side. The circuit boards, when fully received in the guide slot, are engageable with electrical connectorings on the main body section of the C-frame. A plenum chamber is formed on the bottommost surface of the plurality of C-frame modules, and vent slots are provided through the modules at the upper and lower limbs of the C-frame, thereby permitting air to be ducted through the plenum chamber and convected up through the vent slots, thereby dissipating heat from the circuit boards. Means is provided for connecting the plurality of modules in a predetermined fashion to one another, to form a rigid assembly.

Abstract: A work contact shoe floats in an elastomeric mount within a shoe holder, and the shoe holder is mounted by bracket means to a machine base. A preload mechanism is employed for forcing the work contact shoe into a slight preload against a workpiece so that as the workpiece is machined and vibrations are generated, the vibrations will be attenuated by shearing of the elastomer.

Abstract: An apparatus that is designed to heat a flowable granular material up to an elevated temperature and cool the material back down to a temperature that is as close as possible to the temperature of the incoming material before exiting, where a substantial portion of the heat transferred in both heating the incoming material up and cooling the outgoing material back down is not being accomplished by outside heat sources and heat sinks, but rather by transferring heat from outgoing material to incoming material on a more or less direct basis. This is to be accomplished by an apparatus that is comprised of two coaxial cylinders rotating about their common axis whereby feed material enters and exits from one end, and a heat source is provided at the opposite end. Feed material enters into the inner chamber and travels towards the heat source.

Abstract: A toolholder for supporting thin rotary tools is disclosed, utilizing first and second tool rings having flange portions for respectively clamping and driving the sides of a rotary tool such as a thin grinding wheel, wherein the respective tool rings have generally circular tool support sections adjacent to their flange portions, and the circular tool support sections are relieved so as to form facial teeth or lugs on the two rings, and the respective teeth of the one ring engage the tooth spaces of the other ring and vice versa, when the rings are clamped against a thin tool.