Abstract: A power transmission mechanism includes a hydrokinetic torque converter driven by a hydraulically actuated modulating friction clutch having a piston disposed in and sealingly engaged with the converter housing to form opposed fluid chambers. Fluid in the torque converter housing flows through an orifice between the chambers and exits the converter housing by way of a flow control valve. A pressure differential is imposed on the piston by controlling the outflow of fluid from one of the chambers to modulate clutch engagement for varying the power output of the torque converter.

Abstract: A drill pipe bushing for stabilizing a drill pipe at the mouth of the well during drilling which includes a frame surrounding the drill pipe axis and a plurality of support arms supported from the frame in a circular array about the drill pipe. The support arms are pivotable about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the drill pipe. Rollers are attached to each support arm with the axis of the rollers normally parallel to the axis of the drill pipe. A rotatable member encircles the drill pipe axis and a plurality of toggle arms are secured between the rotatable member and the end of a corresponding support arm remote from the connection of the support arm to the frame. Structure is provided for rotating the rotatable member relative to the frame thereby moving the toggle arms and the support arms to move the rollers into engagement with or away from the drill pipe. The rotational axis of the rollers become canted upon both rotation and translation of the drill pipe.

Abstract: A helical screw air compressor unit has a rotary capacity control valve, a compressor inlet throttling valve, and a pressure relief valve for venting the compressor discharge conduit. A control circuit senses pressure in the compressed air supply system downstream of the compressor and operates the capacity control valve, inlet throttling valve, and pressure relief valve in a predetermined sequence to provide an improved power consumption characteristic for variable demand compressor applications. The control circuit includes a hydraulic control valve and an actuator for operating the rotary capacity control valve to regulate compressor throughput to maintain a predetermined pressure without overpressuring the supply system during operation at conditions of reduced demand for compressed air.

Abstract: A wrapping bit for insulated conductor wire includes a transverse end face having a shelf projecting from the surface of the end face adjacent the longitudinal wire receiving groove. An insulation slitting knife edge is formed on the shelf and extends along the surface of the shelf in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the wrapping bit. A conductor guide channel intersects the wire receiving groove for guiding the insulated conductor onto the shelf and over the knife edge for slitting the conductor insulation longitudinally and just prior to wrapping the wire onto a terminal.

Abstract: A drive system for a hoist-pulldown linkage of a blast hole drill employs a variable speed electric motor and a variable ratio coupling between the motor and the hoist-pulldown linkage. A first regulator actuates the electric motor for high torque operation when the ratio of the coupling is low. A second regulator means activates the electric motor for low torque operation when the ratio of the coupling is high. Transfer in coupling ratio is coordinated with change between regulators. The first regulator means is a voltage regulator with a current spillover limit. The second regulator is a voltage regulator with an adjustable pulldown force limit with means to select the rotational speed reference of the motor.

Abstract: Apparatus for cutting and insulation stripping of twisted conductor wire pairs comprises a wire feed mechanism for feeding predetermined lengths of twisted wire pairs into clamping mechanism including a rotatable clamp operable to untwist a predetermined portion of a wire pair. Movable cams operate to position two wires of the pair whereby dual sets of insulation cutting blades, cooperable with the cams, move in to cut preselected lengths of insulation from the trailing end of a wire pair and the leading end of the next wire pair to be formed. Wire cutting blades operate in unison with the insulation cutting blades to cut the wire pair between the respective sets of insulation cuts. Carriage mechanism is operable to move the wire clamps apart to strip the cut insulation from the respective trailing and leading ends of the wire pairs.

Abstract: A portable air compressor unit includes a sound attenuating enclosure formed to have a first compartment through which cooling air flows before passing through side-by-side mounted heat exchangers for engine coolant and compressor injection liquid. Engine and compressor inlet air filters are disposed in the first compartment. An engine driven fan draws cooling air from the first compartment into a second compartment containing the engine and compressor. An engine inlet air silencer and exhaust gas muffler are also disposed in the second compartment. Heated cooling air is discharged from the second compartment into three side-by-side ducts at the end of the enclosure opposite the first compartment. Exhaust openings in the end and side walls of the enclosure provide for final exit of the cooling air from the enclosure above the level at which cooling air enters the first compartment.

Abstract: The mast of a portable earth drilling rig is mounted for pivotal movement between a horizontal transport position and selected drilling positions. A series of radially spaced apart lateral projections on each side of the lower end of the mast are provided with apertures for engaging laterally extending projections disposed on a pair of telescopic braces mounted on the rig frame. The braces may be selectively positioned for automatic engagement with a predetermined pair of projections on the mast whereby the mast, for drilling, may be positioned in the desired angular attitude.

Abstract: A low cost universal joint is disclosed, and the method for making the same, in which the smaller cross pin is transversely deformed in the region of intersection thereof with the main pin. In one embodiment, the transverse opening in the main pin is offset slightly from the center of the pin toward one end thereof, and pressing the main pin into a seated relation causes the slight deformation of the cross pin, thus capturing the pins in place. In another embodiment, the main pin is hollow, and the portion of the cross pin within the walls of the main pin is transversely deformed by inserting a punch through one end of the main pin and striking the exposed portion of the cross pin within the main pin, thus performing the transverse deformation and locking the pins in assembled relation within the universal joint.

Abstract: A tool for preparing tube ends for welding comprising a rotary tool head connected to the drive shaft of an air motor driven angle drive unit, said tool head having a plurality of radially extending arms provided with inclined cutting edges operative, upon rotation of the tool head and axial advance thereof with respect to the tube, to chamfer or bevel the end of the tube for welding, said tool head further being provided with guide means for rotation of the tool head about the tube axis. One form of tool herein is further characterized in that the cutter carrying arms are radially adjustable for chamfering different sizes of tubes. Another form of tool herein is further characterized in that at least one of the cutters is indexable to a position wherein the cutting edge thereof is perpendicular to the axis of the tube to dress the end surface of the tube.

Abstract: In a hydraulic percussion rock drill the operation of the working fluid distributing valve is controlled to effect a variation in percussive blow energy and blow frequency by varying the piston hammer stroke. Actuation of the distributing valve is controlled by a remote controlled hydraulically actuated pressure control valve interposed in a fluid passage which conducts hydraulic fluid from the hammer bore to actuate the distributing valve. Substantially infinite variation of hammer impact blow energy between high and low limits provides for selecting the maximum penetration rate of the drill for any type of rock conditions. The hydraulic rock drill is connected to a source of hydraulic fluid supplied to the drill at substantially constant fluid power by a variable displacement constant power hydraulic pump.

Abstract: A rotary drill rig includes an elongated mast, a pulldown head disposed for linear traversal along the mast and connected to mechanism for effecting pulldown and hoisting movements on a drill string, and a rotary drive unit adapted to be connected to the pulldown head for unitary movement therewith to form a rotary top drive drilling head. The rotary drive unit may be detached from the pulldown head and disposed at the lower end of the mast for performing joint breakout operations on the sectional drill string members and for performing drilling operations as a rotary table drive. A pair of parallel tracks are disposed on the mast for guiding the pulldown head and the rotary drive unit. The tracks are turned inward into the mast near the top end thereof to provide for parking the pulldown head out of the way of a block and tackle which may be used to raise relatively long drill strings from the drill hole.

Abstract: A rock drill feed shell is slidably mounted on a support bracket and is connected to a feed screw which is threaded through a feed nut mounted on an elongated supporting tube disposed telescopically within the feed shell. The supporting tube is displaceable with respect to the support bracket by a feed extension cylinder mounted on the support bracket. A rock drill is slidably mounted on the feed shell and engages a second feed screw supported by the feed shell. A feed motor is drivably connected to both screws.

Abstract: A pneumatic power tool for tightening threaded fasteners includes a planetary gear unit in which the ring gear is rotatable against the bias of a torsion coil spring to actuate a motor shutoff control valve at a predetermined torque reaction exerted on the ring gear. The torsion spring is in a substantially relaxed state during fastener rundown and before torque buildup on the fastener regardless of the torque setting at which motor shutoff is to occur. Adjustment of the motor shutoff torque setting is obtained by changing the positional relationship between a control valve pushrod and a cam surface on the ring gear member.

Abstract: A positive displacement rotary compressor is in circuit with a closable chamber disposed upstream of the compressor gas inlet and including a conduit operable to be placed in communication with the compressor discharge conduit. A control circuit is operable to sense compressor discharge pressure and at a predetermined pressure condition sequentially operate valves to shut off compressor inlet flow thereby evacuating the chamber and then placing the compressor discharge port in communication with the chamber. The compressor thereby runs unloaded or at idle at a greatly reduced inlet and discharge pressure. The operation of unloading the compressor may be controlled by sensing the chamber vacuum or by the use of time delay devices.

Abstract: A speed shifting mechanism for a pneumatic wrench or nutsetter comprises a planetary gear arrangement in the drive mechanism of the wrench in which the planet gear carrier is connected to the driver clutch member of a torque responsive clutch and the planetary ring gear is mounted in a one way clutch to provide for unidirectional rotation of the ring gear. The torque responsive clutch is of the sloping tooth type and the driving clutch member is connected to a piston having opposing faces and fitted in the tool housing to form opposed fluid chambers. Pressure fluid is admitted to one of the chambers at a controlled pressure to act on the piston for holding the clutch in the engaged condition. Movement of the driving clutch member at torque causes pressure fluid at the controlled pressure to be vented and the opposite chamber to become pressurized thereby acting on the clutch to disengage and enable the planetary gear arrangement to become operative to reduce the output speed of the wrench.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming twisted pairs of electrical conductor wire cut to predetermined lengths and having one wire end of a pair longitudinally offset from the adjacent end of the other wire of the pair. The apparatus includes plural wire preparation units which operate to cut predetermined lengths of wire and strip insulation from one or both ends of each wire. The wire preparation units are operable to feed prepared wires to a rotary wire carrier which includes a plurality of pairs of side by side elongated wire receiving tubes. The wire carrier is rotatably indexable from a wire receiving position to a position where a wire offsetting device comprising a fluid operated clamp and linear actuator operates to longitudinally offset one wire of a pair of wires prior to a twisting operation. The wire carrier is further indexable to a position wherein a pair of wires becomes engaged with a wire tensioning device and the adjacent ends of a pair of wires are gripped by a twisting and pulling apparatus.

Abstract: A flexible diaphragm for a hydraulic fluid accumulator is provided with a plurality of concentric circular ridges for engagement with the wall surface of the accumulator housing between concentric circular rows of fluid discharge openings formed in the housing. The ridges maintain the diaphragm in spaced relation to the discharge openings to prevent extrusion of the diaphragm into the discharge openings.