Abstract: A hot stretch wrap forming apparatus includes a die having a work surface formed of a thermally and/or electrically insulative material, and a set of spaced jaws for stretching and wrapping the metal form around the work surface. A preferred insulative material is a flexible blanket of woven ceramic fibers. A heat source is used to heat the metal form prior to stretching and wrapping. The metal form is preferably heated resistively to maintain a uniform temperature throughout the metal form. The die is typically formed primarily of metal and thus the insulative material thermally insulates the metal form from the metal of the die to prevent the formation of hot spots which would otherwise occur therebetween. The insulative material also electrically insulates the metal form from the metal of the die to prevent shunting therebetween.

Abstract: A hot creep stretch wrap forming method includes heating a metal bar to a forming temperature within a temperature range suitable for creep deformation thereof, applying a stretching force to the metal bar at a strain rate no greater than 0.05 inch/inch/second, and wrapping the metal bar around a die, preferably having a thermally and/or electrically insulative work surface. The stretching force is typically applied to a strain ranging from 0.5% to 15.0%. The metal bar most preferably is a titanium alloy with a forming temperature ranging from 0.45 to 0.60 of its melting temperature. The wrapped metal bar is held in position and its temperature maintained within the temperature range typically for 5 to 120 minutes for stress relief. Preferably, the metal bar is held substantially at the forming temperature throughout the process. Thermal insulation around the die and metal bar reduce heat loss from the metal bar.

Abstract: A hot creep stretch wrap forming method includes heating a metal bar to a forming temperature within a temperature range suitable for creep deformation thereof, applying a stretching force to the metal bar at a strain rate no greater than 0.05 inch/inch/second, and wrapping the metal bar around a die, preferably having a thermally and/or electrically insulative work surface. The stretching force is typically applied to a strain ranging from 0.5% to 15.0%. The metal bar most preferably is a titanium alloy with a forming temperature ranging from 0.45 to 0.60 of its melting temperature. The wrapped metal bar is held in position and its temperature maintained within the temperature range typically for 5 to 120 minutes for stress relief. Preferably, the metal bar is held substantially at the forming temperature throughout the process. Thermal insulation around the die and metal bar reduce heat loss from the metal bar.

Abstract: A high performance main bearing cap has particular surfaces densified for improved fatigue crack resistance. The surfaces densified are the bolted face inside of a perimetral margin and outside of bolt head interface areas around the main bolt holes, the surfaces of the main bolt holes and the side bolt hole threads. Preferred methods of densification are single needle programmable pattern peening of the bolted face peened area, over-burnishing of the bolt holes, and forming the threads rather than cutting them for the side bolt threads.

Abstract: A device and system for lifting and transporting a rail panel is disclosed. The rail panel includes a first and a second spaced apart rail attached to a plurality of ties. The system includes a frame and a plurality of hydraulically operated pins coupled to the frame. When the hydraulically operated pins are actuated, the frame is fixed to the first and second spaced apart rails. The system further includes a piece of equipment capable of lifting the frame while the frame is fixed to the rails.

Abstract: A lift truck cab having front, side, and rear faces, and a roof, mounting structure attached to the roof for suspending the cab from a mast of the lift truck in a manner that permits the front and side faces when installed on the truck to be hung in the manner of curtains without the necessity of direct fastening of lower portions of the front and side faces to the chassis/body of the truck. The cab construction affords generous operator space, high visibility, a convenient electrical raceway and ready access to truck control circuitry.

Abstract: A method for obtaining a selectively non-carburized powdered metal part. The steps include compacting, sintering, removing, forging and cooling. A metal powder is compacted to form a preform having at least one first surface in which a forged part is required to have a case depth and at least one second surface in which a carburized portion is required to be removed prior to forging. The preform is then sintered and carburized. After carburizing the at least one second surface of the preform is removed and subsequently forged and cooled. The forged part has at least one second surface having improved post forging properties and at least one first surface having improved performance features. A part made from the present method is also provided.

Abstract: A forged composite gear and a method of making a forged composite powder metal gear. The forged composite gear includes a plurality of teeth extending from a core, a first section having a first powder metal material, a second section having a second powder metal material and a variable boundary profile. The variable boundary profile is formed between the first section and the second section, whereby said variable boundary profile exhibits greater tooth wear resistance on the teeth and greater impact resistance in the core.

Abstract: A gear and a method of making a forged powder metal gear having a plurality of teeth and a variable case depth profile forged in the plurality of teeth. Each tooth of the plurality of teeth has a first surface and a tooth root. A variable case depth profile is formed in each tooth of the plurality of teeth, whereby the variable case depth profile exhibits greater tooth wear resistance on the first surface and greater impact resistance in the tooth root.

Abstract: A trailer hitch assembly is removably attachable to a receiver connected to a towing vehicle. The receiver has a rectangular port defining a receptacle. The trailer hitch assembly includes a support arm assembly and at least one hitch ball. The support arm assembly has a first support arm and a second support arm. Each of the first and second support arms are sized and dimensioned to be disposed in the receptacle for attachment to the receiver. The at least one hitch ball is supported by the support arm assembly.

Abstract: A pipe guide includes a pipe receiving body comprising two sections. The two sections are joined by a hinge to allow the pipe-receiving body to be opened and closed about a pipe. The pipe-receiving body circumferentially surrounds a pipe in a closed position. The pipe receiving body includes one or more marking slots. The marking slots allow the pipe inside the pipe-receiving body to be marked in a predetermined pattern. The pipe guide includes a hinged disposed longitudinally on the exterior of the pipe receiving body. A device disposed inside the hinge retains the pipe-receiving body in a closed position around the pipe. The pipe receiving body is cylindrical having first and second ends. The first end can be substantially perpendicular to the axis of the pipe receiving body and configured to allow the pipe to be marked at a 90 degree angle. The first end can be at any other angle (e.g., 45 degree, 22 ½ degree) or can have a predetermined shape or a pattern. The second end can have a predetermined shape (e.

Abstract: A no flow fluxing underfill having a hardener component comprising a phenolic component and an anhydride component in a molar ratio of phenolic component to anhydride component of between about 0.1:1 and about 2:1; or between about 0.8:1 and about 1.2:1. An underfill preparation method involving blending an epoxy component and a phenolic component, heating the blend, and cooling the blend, prior to incorporation of an anhydride component.

Abstract: A solder preform having multiple layers including a solder layer filled with additives interposed between two unfilled layers for improved wettability. A solder preform having a sphere which contains a solder material filled with additives, and an unfilled surface layer for improved wettability. A thermal interface material having a bonding component and an additive component which is a CTE modifying component and/or a thermal conductivity enhancement component. Active solders containing intrinsic oxygen getters.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a fluid filter for screening carbon-microparticles exhausted from diesel engines, such filter has two types of structure, i.e. the plate type and the preferable tube type, which includes plurality of multilayer corrugated filtering rings and flat filtering rings, a central tube, and an outer casing; the innermost layer of the flat filtering rings is welded onto the central tube, and the outermost layer of the flat rings is welded onto the outer casing; the multi-layer corrugated filter rings are coaxially alternated within the flat filtering rings and formed with a zigzag manner, wherein side edges of each of the corrugated filtering rings are respectively welded onto neighboring flat filtering rings so as to form a continuous filter core with ‘Z’ shaped side endings, wherein two sides of the Z shaped side endings of said filter core are alternatively applied as fluid inlet and fluid outlet.

Abstract: An improved blast furnace system for producing molten iron incorporating a preheater to heat the cold blast air used to temper the hot blast temperature is disclosed. The improved blast furnace system comprises a blast furnace, a hot blast main for conveying a supply of hot blast to the blast furnace, a plurality of stoves for heating a supply of cold blast and generating the hot blast, a cold blast main for conveying a supply of cold blast to the plurality of stoves, and at least one cold blast preheater for heating a portion of the cold blast, that has been diverted to the preheater, into heated air and the heated air is mixed with the hot blast to temper the hot blast temperature.

Abstract: Fastener joints induce static pre-stresses into a fastener that clamps the joint in a magnitude equal and direction opposite from bending stresses induced in the fastener by application loading. Such joints include angling the bolts seats of a connecting rod bearing cap inwardly, creating a relief at the bolted interface between the cap and the rod adjacent to the main bore of the connecting rod or skewing the threaded holes in the rod body inwardly as they extend from the bolted joint faces.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a fluxing curative for curing an underfill that comprises an epoxy resin and for fluxing a solder during a solder assembly of an electronic component to an electronic device substrate and a method for producing the fluxing curative. Specifically, the fluxing curative comprises a salt that is a reaction product of an imidazole component and a carboxylic acid component having at least 10 carbon atoms per molecule. Additionally, the invention is directed to an underfill solution comprising the fluxing curative and a method of attaching an integrated circuit device using the underfill solution.

Abstract: A novel process for the continuous casting of lead-free bronze alloys. By careful control of such factors as the melt temperature, order of addition of alloy components, cooling temperature and withdrawal rates, continuous casting of high quality lead-free bronze alloys can be achieved.

Abstract: A swiveling fitting for multi-directional movement includes a housing having a bore therethrough to accommodate a button shaft. A ball housing receives at least a portion of the button shaft. The ball housing has at least one ball recess to accommodate at least one ball. A locking sphere receives at least a portion of the ball housing. The locking sphere has at least one groove to accommodate the at least one ball, and a baseplate for moveably securing the locking sphere. The baseplate is releasably securable to a substrate.