Abstract: A three rack and double pinion weapon elevation mechanism is disclosed and is useful for positioning and balancing a weapon, such as a cannon, on a combat vehicle. Two hydraulically-actuated gear racks are in facing relation with a main pinion in meshing engagement therebetween. The main pinion is integral with a shaft to which an output pinion is attached. Rotation of the main pinion produces an identical rotation of the output pinion. The output pinion is in mesh with a sector gear attached to the weapon. The two racks are slidable past the main pinion causing it and the output pinion to rotate in one direction or the other, producing a corresponding elevation or depression of the weapon. A third hydraulically-actuated rack is meshed with the main pinion to exert an elevating torque on the output pinion counter to a depressing torque exerted thereon by the weight of the weapon and which varies with changes in weapon elevation angle.

Abstract: This invention provides a distribution system suitable for coating articles placed in a given area with particulate material in a substantially uniform manner. The system comprises a plurality of arms which are provided with an inlet opening and a discharge opening. The arms are mounted for rotation about a central axis in conjunction with means for dividing and feeding a supply of particulate material from a source thereof into said inlet openings of the arms. The discharge opening is located on each of the arms in such manner so as to permit discharge of the particulate material from each arm over the given area, whereby when the arms rotate in conjunction with the dividing and feeding means, a supply of particulate material is divided and fed into the inlet openings of the arms and is discharged through the discharge opening. In this manner, a substantially uniform shower of the particulate material is provided over the given area.

Abstract: A boring tool includes a central shaft which carries a tool head on a shaft working end and which is mounted in a rotatable bushing for eccentric movement in the tool body. For work adjustment up to 1.00 inch on diameter, the tool head is radially slidable on the working end of the central shaft by an adjustment screw arrangement while the shaft is held by the bushing. For micro-adjustment, the bushing is rotated to move the shaft working end in an eccentric path with a key on the tool body translating this movement into radial micro-adjustment of the tool head to 0.0001 inch.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for leveling a storage structure. A plurality of pairs of anchor bolts project upwardly from the footing of the structure and each pair is positioned in radially spaced relation. A support bar is connected to the threaded upper ends of each respective pair of bolts, and through threaded adjustment, the bars can be leveled in a radial direction, as well as leveled so that all of the bars lie in the same horizontal plane. Foundation angles are bolted to the support bars and carry a series of foundation sheets which comprise the lowermost tier of the storage structure. The bolts connecting the foundation angles to the support bars extend through slots in the lower flange of the angle, as well as slots in the bar to provide an adjustment for the foundation angle in a circumferential, as well as radial direction. By proper adjustment of the bolted connections, the foundation sheets can be properly leveled to insure the plumb condition of the storage structure.

Abstract: An overload mechanism for the drive system of a bottom silo unloader. The silo unloader includes a sweep arm mounted to rotate about the center of the silo and operable to dislodge stored material and convey the dislodged material to a delivery trough formed in the foundation. An overload mechanism is incorporated in the drive system for rotating the sweep arm about the silo, and the overload mechanism includes a drive pawl operably connected to a drive member of the drive system and disposed to be driven in a reciprocating path. A rotatable ratchet having a series of teeth is mounted to be engaged by the interruption drive pawl and engagement of the ratchet teeth by the drive pawl will incrementally rotate the ratchet in one direction. In addition, a holding pawl is engaged with the ratchet teeth to prevent rotation of the ratchet in the opposite direction. The ratchet is mounted on one end of a shaft and a sprocket is connected to the other end of the shaft and is located at the center of the silo.

Abstract: A bore sizing machine of the type having a plurality of single pass abrading tools with a preset single pass cutting diameter progressively increasing from one tool to the next is provided. Each abrading tool includes a wear compensation shaft threadably coupled at one end to an axially slidable tapered arbor inside the tool body and driven at the other end outside the tool body by a stepping motor or other drive device to slide the arbor relative to abrading device carried on the arbor or tool body to return a worn tool diameter to the original preset single pass cutting diameter, preferably in response to a signal from wear sensing and signaling devices.

Abstract: A Sarrus linkage is a type of folding linkage or structure in which two opposed links are connected by two sets of connecting links, each of which sets includes two separate links. The links of such a linkage are hinged together in such a manner that the entire linkage will fold and unfold as any part of the linkage is moved with respect to the remainder of the linkage. By providing a control link which is pivotally connected to one of the opposed links and a motion transmitting link pivotally connected to the control link and to one of the links of one of the sets, a folding structure can be obtained which can be employed for a variety of useful purposes. Best results are obtained when two of the motion transmitting links are employed, one of the motion transmitting links being pivotally connected between a link of one of the sets and the control link and the other of the motion transmitting means being connected between a link of the other of the sets and the control link.

Abstract: A metal machining device includes a pair of longitudinally movable gantries and a connecting transverse bridge which mounts carriages which carry machining tools. A computer numerical control unit is fixedly mounted adjacent one end of the bridge and is connected to supplemental electronic circuits. The transverse tool-carrying bridge is formed as a generally hollow heavy-walled closed box-beam which has mounted therein at least part of the supplemental electronic circuitry. A beam side-wall is provided with a plurality of doors which open to permit access to a plurality of circuit-holding drawers. When the doors are closed, the bridge forms a unitary hollow housing containing the supplemental electronic circuitry which serves to mechanically and electronically isolate them and substantially reduce the radiation of electronic noise therefrom to the computer.

Abstract: A machine tool control system adapted to provide automatic depth compensation for a cutting tool which controls the position of the tool in relation to a workpiece to hold the predetermined depth of a sleeve bore surface.

Abstract: An improved drive mechanism for rotating a sweep arm in a storage structure that contains a free-flowing stored material. The inner end of the sweep arm is mounted on a turntable that is disposed in the inner end of a radially extending trough in the foundation of the storage structure. The turntable is provided with a pair of spaced, concentric, downwardly extending flanges, and a plurality of ribs connect the upper portions of the spaced flanges. The spaces between the ribs define upwardly diverging passages. A drive pin is positioned beneath each rib and extends between the spaced flanges. The teeth of a drive sprocket are engageable with the drive pins, and rotation of the sprocket acts to rotate the turntable and thus rotate the sweep arm around the structure to dislodge the stored material. As the drive sprocket is rotated, any stored material in the vicinity of the drive pins is extruded upwardly through the passages by the sprocket teeth to prevent possible jamming of the drive mechanism.

Abstract: A hanger adapted to be fixedly attached to a mounting wall for supporting a length of hose in coiled formation of the type which comprises a one-piece body molded of plastic material so as to provide an upright mounting wall engaging section adapted to be fixedly attached to a mounting wall, a hose coil supporting section extending horizontally from the bottom of the mounting wall engaging section and a hose coil retaining section extending upwardly from the horizontally outwardly extending end of said hose coil supporting section. The hanger embodies improvements which include forming the coil supporting section with (1) spaced thin wall saddle portions defining hose coil engaging surfaces facing generally upwardly and disposed generally in an arcuate plane, and (2) horizontal thin wall channel structures integrally interconnected between the spaced thin wall saddle portions disposed below the adjacent hose coil engaging surfaces thereof and opening generally in a direction toward the same.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the horizontal motion of a double articulated crane comprises determining the angle about a common axis between a base member pivotally mounted on a crane post and a head member carrying a load application point on an outer end thereof. The angle can vary from 0.degree. to 360.degree.. A desired movement direction value is then set on a direction selector movable on a direction indicator. The value corresponds to a target position for the load application point. The desired movement direction value is adjusted by small increments to reach the target however. The desired movement direction value is broken up into two components, one aligned with the axis of the head and the other aligned with a perpendicular axis. The values of these two compartments are calculated as a function of the sin or cos of an angle of misalignment between the longitudinal axis and the direction of the selector.

Abstract: An expansion joint for heat exchangers, reactors, steam boilers and the like to compensate for differential displacements. Differential axis expansion occurs when the pressure within the tubes or outside the tubes is raised or when a thermal expansion of the tubes and shells are different. The invention comprises a multi-layer flexible connection between the tube sheet to shell junction. The thin layers can bend parallel and accommodate large axial displacements between the shell and tubes without excessive stresses in the tube sheets. The fully penetrated but-weld of a central layer can be easily inspected by X-ray and provide the required seal between the shell and tube sheets. Other layers increase the strength of the joint.

Abstract: A cutting machine for cutting sheet metal plates and the like includes a support table for the material to be cut. A shears frame mounts a movable shears blade and the frame is movable back and forth along one edge of the support table. In addition to the movable blade, the shears frame mounts a circular saw in spaced relation to the movable blade. The circular saw is movable on the shears frame in the up and down direction relative to the support table. Further, the cutting line of the circular saw is parallel to the cutting line of the movable blade.

Abstract: A light metal cylinder head, for a valve controlled internal combustion engine, which has at least one metal insert in that bottom region located between the valves, and has a bore in the combustion chamber bottom region for an injection nozzle or a shot or filling passage and/or an ignition aid. A crack or fissure hindering or precluding oxide layer is coated, covered, or applied at least to the bottom region located between the valves, including the bore region, and the metal insert is made of a material resistant with respect to the method of producing the oxide layer. The oxide layer comprises aluminum oxide and is applied by anodic oxidation. The metal insert may comprise titanium. The oxide layer may have a thickness of at least 50 .mu.m.

Abstract: The packaging machine illustrated and described herein is adaptable to loading bottles or cartons into cases. The machine includes a frame, a spider mechanism rotatably mounted on the frame for transporting containers to be loaded, a guide plate located adjacent the edge of the path of the spider mechanism and extending along a predetermined circumferential lower portion thereof, a chute for conveying cases past the guide plate, an opening formed through a wall of the chute adjacent the upper edge of the guide plate for communication with the open ends of the cases, a stop mechanism for controlling the movement of the cases past the opening in an indexing manner, and control means for controlling the simultaneous indexing of the stop mechanism and the spider mechanism so as to assure that each successive layer of containers will be fed by the spider mechanism so as to slide through the opening into the space of the next available row within the respective cases.

Abstract: A horizontal mixing aerator rides on an upright beam member for submersion in a body of water such as an equalization basin, oxidation ditch, or sludge holding tank. The aerator employs a submersible mixer motor driving a propeller which in one embodiment is mounted on the beam member by a slidable bracket for height adjustment. The bracket is also swingably mounted to the beam member for adjustment of the vertical plane angle. Because the beam member is also mounted for rotation, substantially any attitude or position of the mixer can be selected for creating an efficient flow pattern within the body of water. Air or fluid injection can also be provided by the use of alternate embodiments.

Abstract: A knuckle or swivel joint of the half-ball and socket type comprising a stud terminating in an enlarged diameter half-ball member disposed in the socket member and having a recess in which is engaged a biasing insert member made of resilient or elastomeric material placed under compression during assembly of the joint. The joint bearing surfaces are elastically pre-loaded in an appropriate direction which causes firm engagement of the bearing surfaces in mutual engagement and thus preventing play and rattling of the joint and compensating for wear.

Abstract: A surprisingly corrosion and abuse resistant plastic object vacuum-metallized with a corrosion prone metal, namely indium, on a dielectric substrate consists of minute specular electrically-discrete "islands" of the indium topcoated with a clear resinous layer which encapsulates and insulates the islands, one from another. The indium islands are less than one thousand angstroms thick and have an average diameter of less than three thousand angstroms. This island structure is secured by stopping the growth of the metal as it is deposited between the nucleation stage and the stage of channelization or formation of an electrically conductive film. The island structure permits the dielectric resinous topcoat to penetrate in, about and under the metal islands encapsulating and securely bonding them to the substrate.The vacuum deposited indium gives a bright sheeny appearance which, when properly topcoated, very closely duplicates the appearance of electrodeposited chrome.