Abstract: A saw blade stabilizer is provided. The saw blade stabilizer includes a housing and a shaft at least partially within a cavity of the housing. A piston is connected to one end of the shaft. A mechanical wedge is connected to a second end of the shaft in the housing. A stabilizer contact element slideably receives a portion of the mechanical wedge. Movement of the piston slides the portion of the mechanical wedge within the stabilizer contact element and moves the stabilizer contact element in a first direction not in line with the movement of the piston.

Abstract: An automatic load table and related method are provided. The automatic load table utilizes a movable loading arm and a riser assembly with a stepped configuration. The movable loading arm is operable to move billets in a loading direction along the stepped configuration of the riser assembly. The movable loading arm is capable of lifting and separating adjacent billets in a single lifting motion.

Abstract: An automatic load table and related method are provided. The automatic load table utilizes a movable loading arm and a riser assembly with a stepped configuration. The movable loading arm is operable to move billets in a loading direction along the stepped configuration of the riser assembly. The movable loading arm is capable of lifting and separating adjacent billets in a single lifting motion.

Abstract: A saw blade stabilizer is provided. The saw blade stabilizer includes a housing and a shaft at least partially within a cavity of the housing. A piston is connected to one end of the shaft. A mechanical wedge is connected to a second end of the shaft in the housing. A stabilizer contact element slideably receives a portion of the mechanical wedge. Movement of the piston slides the portion of the mechanical wedge within the stabilizer contact element and moves the stabilizer contact element in a first direction not in line with the movement of the piston.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a fixture element for attaching workpieces to a support, a bed, a tombstone, etc. of a machine tool. In particular, the fixture element has a retracting stud that allows for quick attachment of the workpiece. The fixture also includes a ball element that swivels to provide support for non-planar or multi-plane surfaces.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a fixture element for attaching workpieces to a support, a bed, a tombstone, etc. of a machine tool. In particular, the fixture element has a retracting stud that allows for quick attachment of the workpiece. The fixture also includes a ball element that swivels to provide support for non-planar or multi-plane surfaces.

Abstract: Stabilization of a circular saw blade is provided, through use of a blade stabilizer mounted adjacent a workpiece in a fixed relationship to the workpiece and having a stabilizer contact element adapted to bear against the circular saw blade and exert a force against the saw blade in a direction substantially perpendicular to a cutting plane of the saw blade at a point on at least one of the blade faces on the working side of the blade, proximate an axis of motion passing through an axis of rotation of the saw blade and the workpiece in the cutting plane, as the circular saw blade and/or the workpiece move relative to one another along the axis of motion. The axis of motion may be linear or curved. Some embodiments include additional blade stabilizers.

Abstract: Stabilization of a circular saw blade is provided, through use of a blade stabilizer mounted adjacent a workpiece in a fixed relationship to the workpiece and having a stabilizer contact element adapted to bear against the circular saw blade and exert a force against the saw blade in a direction substantially perpendicular to a cutting plane of the saw blade at a point on at least one of the blade faces on the working side of the blade, proximate an axis of motion passing through an axis of rotation of the saw blade and the workpiece in the cutting plane, as the circular saw blade and/or the workpiece move relative to one another along the axis of motion. The axis of motion may be linear or curved. Some embodiments include additional blade stabilizers.

Abstract: A rod clamp device having a rod clamp sleeve with a frusto-conical outer surface and an annular cam with a frusto-conical inner surface and an annular ball guide cage arranged to equalize movement of the bearing balls in circumferentially spaced paths along the clamp sleeve so that the annular cam applies pressure through the bearing balls uniformly around the rod clamp sleeve when the cam is moved axially in one direction to a rod clamp position, and the annular cam uniformly releases pressure on the bearing balls when the cam is moved axially in an opposite direction to a release position. The rod clamp sleeve has slots and the ball guide cage is keyed to the clamp sleeve to maintain a preset angular relation therebetween while allowing relative axial movement.

Abstract: An adjustable lock nut comprising a one-piece annular body having an internally threaded axial bore extending between and faces of the body and a circumferential outer face. The body has a narrow annular internal groove that opens intermediate the ends of the axial bore and extends generally radially outwardly from the axial bore. A set of radial bores extend into the body at circumferentially spaced locations with their axes disposed in a plane normal to the body axis and bisecting the internal groove and the radial bores each include an internally threaded outer end portion and a threadless conical inner end portion, configured to form semi-conical recesses in the body at opposite sides of the internal groove adjacent the internally threaded axial bore. An externally threaded screw in the outer end portion of each radial bore actuates a wedge that engages the semi-conical recesses to apply separating forces thereto.

Abstract: A rod clamp device having a clamp sleeve and a cam member spring biased axially in a direction to actuate the clamp sleeve to a clamp condition, and a clamp release piston that is operable through a mechanical force amplifying mechanism to move the cam member in opposition to the spring to release the clamp sleeve. The clamp release piston is operated in response to fluid pressure to produce a force correlative with the fluid pressure and the clamp release piston moves an annular ramp to force a plurality of ball elements between a thrust surface on an end of the cam ring and a stationary thrust surface and move the can ring axially in a direction to recompress the spring.

Abstract: A fluid pressure operated braking device for a piston rod. The braking device includes a clamp sleeve and a cam member spring biased axially in a direction to actuate the clamp sleeve to a clamp condition, and a fluid pressure operator that provides a hydraulically amplified force for moving the cam member in opposition to the spring to release the clamp sleeve. The fluid pressure operator includes a first piston operated in response to fluid pressure applied thereto to produce a force correlative with fluid pressure and the first piston is connected to a second piston that pressurizes a non-compressible fluid in a closed pressure chamber communicating with a third piston, and a third piston actuates the cam ring in opposition to the spring to release the clamp ring.

Abstract: A lock nut comprising an internally threaded body having an internally threaded bore and one groove opening at the bore and a second groove opening at the outer surface, the grooves are axially spaced apart and configured to divide the body into first and second end ring portions and a thin axially relilient intermediate portion integral with the end portions. The body has a plurality of internally threaded openings extending inwardly from the outer surface and externally threaded secews threaded into the internally threaded openings and configured to wedge the end ring portions axially away from each other when the screws are threaded into the openings.

Abstract: A universal system for supporting and holding a workpiece having a contoured work holding surface is provided with a spaced array of work holding fixtures mounted on a base. Each fixture includes a work engaging head having a vacuum cup and three work engaging projections spaced outwardly from the vacuum cup and disposed in a work contact plane. The work engaging head is supported by a ball joint on a rod mounted for axial movement relative to a base and the ball joint supports the work engaging head for tilting movement about axes orthogonal to each other and to the axis of the rod. The ball joint includes a ball and casing and a ball clamp in the casing with ball clamp operating means for selectively moving the ball clamp means into a ball clamped condition to a ball released condition. A rod clamp means is provided for selectively locking the rod in a rod clamp adjusted position.

Abstract: A lockable ball joint apparatus including a ball and a ball receiving cavity and at least one annular clamp ring in the casing extending around the ball. The clamp ring has a spherically concave inner clamping surface engaging the outer surface of the ball and a frusto-conical outer surface. An annular cam extends around the clamp ring and has a frusto-conical inner surface engaging the frusto-conical outer surface of the clamp ring. The annular cam is formed on an annular piston and springs are provided for moving the annular piston and cam axially in a first direction to diametrically compress the clamp ring into clamping engagement with the ball, and fluid pressure is applied to the annular piston for moving the annular cam means axially in a second direction to release the clamp ring from clamping engagement with the ball.