Abstract: A portable inhalation apparatus is provided comprising a base and a collapsible stem assembly. In some embodiments, the portable inhalation apparatus is a smoking pipe. The collapsible stem assembly may have an extended position in which the stem assembly extends away from the base and a collapsed position in which the stem assembly is collapsed towards the base. When the stem assembly is in the collapsed position, the smoking pipe may be in a compact form to store and transport the smoking pipe. The stem assembly may comprise at least two stem sections and at least one articulating connection interconnecting the stem sections. A related method for making a portable inhalation apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a fixture for a workpiece, a system and a method for performing a machining operation using the fixture. The fixture may include a frame, a plurality of holders, an actuator and a bracket. Each holder may be configured to receive and secure a workpiece. Each holder may be rotationally coupled to the frame. The actuator may be operatively coupled to the plurality of holders to drive rotation of the holders with respect to the frame. The bracket may allow for mounting the frame to a manipulator configured to move the fixture. The method may include the steps of loading a workpiece to the holder of the fixture, moving and/or rotating the workpiece by the actuator to perform one or more ancillary operations on the workpiece, and moving/and or rotating the workpiece by the actuator to grind the workpiece against a grinding surface.

Abstract: A portable inhalation apparatus is provided comprising a base and a collapsible stem assembly. In some embodiments, the portable inhalation apparatus is a smoking pipe. The collapsible stem assembly may have an extended position in which the stem assembly extends away from the base and a collapsed position in which the stem assembly is collapsed towards the base. When the stem assembly is in the collapsed position, the smoking pipe may be in a compact form to store and transport the smoking pipe. The stem assembly may comprise at least two stem sections and at least one articulating connection interconnecting the stem sections. A related method for making a portable inhalation apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: A grinding machine has a machine bed, a first spool and a second spool mounted on the machine bed. The spools are capable of storing stock to be ground and are rotatable in a coordinated manner. A grinding wheel is mounted on the machine bed. The first spool is capable of continuously unwrapping the stock, the second spool is capable of continuously wrapping the stock and the grinding wheel is adapted to grind the stock during its travel between the first spool and the second spool. The grinding machine can be used to continuously grinding a slender stock. The stock is continuously unwrapped from the first spool and continuously wrapped on the second spool. The stock is ground during its travel from first spool to the second spool.

Abstract: A grinding machine has a machine bed, a first spool and a second spool mounted on the machine bed. The spools are capable of storing stock to be ground and are rotatable in a coordinated manner. A grinding wheel is mounted on the machine bed. The first spool is capable of continuously unwrapping the stock, the second spool is capable of continuously wrapping the stock and the grinding wheel is adapted to grind the stock during its travel between the first spool and the second spool. The grinding machine can be used to continuously grinding a slender stock. The stock is continuously unwrapped from the first spool and continuously wrapped on the second spool. The stock is ground during its travel from first spool to the second spool.

Abstract: A centerless grinder for grinding an elongated workpiece includes a grinding wheel having a working surface with a plurality of raised areas extending circumferentially around at least a portion of the working surface. A platform is provided having an elongated top surface for supporting the workpiece substantially adjacent to the working surface of the grinding wheel and a front surface with a plurality of lateral grooves for receiving the raised areas on the working surface of the grinding wheel such that movement of the platform toward the working surface into a working area adjacent to the grinding wheel enables the raised areas to pass into the lateral grooves and grind the workpiece.

Abstract: A centerless grinder for grinding an elongated workpiece includes a grinding wheel having a working surface with a plurality of raised areas extending circumferentially around at least a portion of the working surface. A platform is provided having an elongated top surface for supporting the workpiece substantially adjacent to the working surface of the grinding wheel and a front surface with a plurality of lateral grooves for receiving the raised areas on the working surface of the grinding wheel such that movement of the platform toward the working surface into a working area adjacent to the grinding wheel enables the raised areas to pass into the lateral grooves and grind the workpiece.

Abstract: A centerless grinder for grinding an elongated workpiece includes a grinding wheel having a working surface with a plurality of raised areas extending circumferentially around at least a portion of the working surface. A platform is provided having an elongated top surface for supporting the workpiece substantially adjacent to the working surface of the grinding wheel and a front surface with a plurality of lateral grooves for receiving the raised areas on the working surface of the grinding wheel such that movement of the platform toward the working surface into a working area adjacent to the grinding wheel enables the raised areas to pass into the lateral grooves and grind the workpiece.

Abstract: A centerless grinder for grinding an elongated workpiece includes a grinding wheel having a working surface with a plurality of raised areas extending circumferentially around at least a portion of the working surface. A platform is provided having an elongated top surface for supporting the workpiece substantially adjacent to the working surface of the grinding wheel and a front surface with a plurality of lateral grooves for receiving the raised areas on the working surface of the grinding wheel such that movement of the platform toward the working surface into a working area adjacent to the grinding wheel enables the raised areas to pass into the lateral grooves and grind the workpiece.

Abstract: A guidewire position locator and a centerless grinder assembly including a guidewire position locator are disclosed. The guidewire position locator includes a plurality of optical sensors closely arranged to accurately detect the position of an elongate workpiece during machining operations.

Abstract: A guidewire position locator and a centerless grinder assembly including a guidewire position locator are disclosed. The guidewire position locator includes a plurality of optical sensors closely arranged to accurately detect the position of an elongate workpiece during machining operations.

Abstract: A gauging system is disclosed. The gauging system is adapted to determine the dimensions of an elongate workpiece. A movement assembly is provided for effecting relative longitudinal movement between the gauging device and the elongate workpiece so that the gauging device can repeatedly detect the diameter of the workpiece relative to reference positions along the length of the workpiece. This enables the profile of the workpiece to be accurately determined. The gauging device may comprise a laser gauge, or other non-contact gauge. Alternatively, the gauging device may comprise a contact gauge.

Abstract: A centerless grinder assembly for machining elongate workpieces and method of operating same are disclosed. The centerless grinder comprises a work wheel for removing stock from an associated workpiece, a regulating wheel arranged to cooperate with the work wheel in removing the stock from the workpiece and a support device arranged between the work wheel and a regulating wheel for supporting the workpiece during machining operations.

Abstract: A centerless grinder assembly for machining elongate workpieces is disclosed. The centerless grinder comprises a work wheel for removing stock from an associated workpiece, a regulating wheel arranged to cooperate with the work wheel in removing the stock from the workpiece and a support device arranged between the work wheel and a regulating wheel for supporting the workpiece during machining operations. The centerless grinder assembly may also include a slidable sensor bank spaced from the work wheel and the regulating wheel for detecting at least the position of the workpiece during machining operations and for generating signals corresponding to the detected position of the workpiece. The slidable sensor bank may be selectively adjustable to a desired distance away from the work wheel and the regulating wheel to permit versatility in machining workpieces having various lengths.

Abstract: A grinding machine comprised of adjustable grinding mechanism for grinding material into preselected sized grounds. The grinding mechanism includes a stationary grinding burr and a grinding burr affixed to an axially adjustable rotor assembly. The rotor assembly includes on its face opposite to where the grinding burr is located a vane assembly which is designed to insure that any of the ground material that seeks to move into the cavity in which the vaned portion of the rotor and other adjustable mechanisms are located is evicted from said cavity to prevent fouling of the adjustable mechanisms located therein.

Abstract: The finishing apparatus is a grinder or like device having a workpiece holder manipulator which is translatable along X and Y axes and rotatable about a Z axis, an axis of tilt with respect to the plane of the X and Y axes and an axis normal to the plane of tilt. The grinder head is mounted on an arm which moves toward and away from the workpiece holder manipulator. All of the above movements are hydraulically powered through servo valves driven by feedback amplifiers, the feedback coming from position and rate transducers on the apparatus. Signals from those transducers are supplied through analog-to-digital converters to a digital computer with random access memory. The grinder is operated in the Teach mode by manually controlling the movement of the workpiece manipulator and grinder head to cause the grinding element to transverse the faces of a finished workpiece or a pattern thereof and the successive positions are stored in the memory.

Abstract: A cylindrical wheel has a channel formed at its periphery. A plurality of bolts pass through the sides of the channel and transverse it. A plurality of uniform grinding segements are inserted into the channel. Each segment has a radius on opposite edges. The radius is adjacent to a bolt. Adjacent segments are adjacent to one bolt.