Abstract: An automated machining center performs various operations on a work piece which is locked onto the pallet using a hydraulically operable fixture. An automatic coupling system according to the invention provides for automatic coupling between the pallet and a source of hydraulic power to selectively lock or release the work piece on the pallet. The coupling system includes a cam ring associated with the pallet in axial alignment with a rotatable locking rod associated with a base unit. The locking rod is axially mounted to a dual acting hydraulic cylinder itself axially mounted to a carriage which is moveable relative to the base unit. Alternate extension and retraction of the cylinder causes the locking rod to selectively engage the cam ring to draw the carriage towards the pallet to provide automatic coupling between quick coupler sockets on the carriage and quick plug couplers on the pallet to provide a fluid communication line between a source of power and the hydraulic fixture.

Abstract: A universal control system for hydraulic cylinders to enable controlled increments of movement for varying uses including shaping members and lifting and lowering of loads. The lift control system is utilized to synchronize the raising or lowering of a load by, for example, four simultaneously-acting pump-operated hydraulic rams which have plural increments of movement. A sensor associated with the load adjacent each ram measures incremental movement of the load. A master controller controls the operation of the rams in accordance with the sensed increments and operates each pump simultaneously and independently until each pump achieves a preselected increment of movement of a ram, to maintain the load substantially level, followed by movement of all the rams through another increment of movement until the total lifting or lowering movement is achieved.

Abstract: A bar-type puller having a cross block with a central section and a pair of end sections with a forcing screw threadably mounted in the central section. A pair of work-engaging members, such as pulling jaws, can be radially and axially adjustably mounted on the cross block by end sections of the cross block having spaced-apart arms to define spaces therebetween which receive the work-engaging members for infinite lateral adjustment along the arms. The work-engaging members have spaced-apart pins which span the top and bottom of the arms, with a slight clearance to facilitate lateral adjustment. The pins are caused to move into binding relation with the cross block when the work-engaging members are under load to lock the members in radially adjusted position. There is also provision for axial adjustment by providing additional spaced pins on the work-engaging members providing an alternate mounting location for the members to the cross block.

Abstract: A control valve for controlling the flow of fluid to and from a single-acting cylinder and having a metered flow-controlling valve section and a rotatable valve member movable to four different positions to provide four different operations of the single-acting cylinder, namely: rapid advance, slow metered advance, hold and return.

Abstract: A bearing cup installing tool adjustable for installation of bearings of various diameters. The tool has a cross head with a driving handle connected thereto and extending from one side thereof. An adjusting screw associated with the cross head extends outwardly therefrom from a side opposite the driving handle and three jaws are pivotally mounted on the cross head in equally-spaced relation and extending from the same side of the cross head as the adjusting screw and disposed in a circular array with the adjusting screw at the center. Each jaw has a bearing cup engaging notch at a free end thereof. The adjusting screw can be moved lengthwise of the cross head, by coacting structure on the adjusting screw and the jaws, to pivot the jaws to set an effective diameter as defined by the bearing cup engaging notches for engagement with a bearing cup.

Abstract: An adjustable work support for relatively light loading having an extendable plunger locked in position by a fluid-operated piston which acts on a disc positioned between the rod of the piston and the plunger and which is urged to a position to take up clearance to avoid shift of the disc and resulting inadvertent retraction movement of the plunger. A sealed cavity with a flexible bladder communicates with a piston chamber housing the piston and a closed end of the bore mounting the plunger whereby flow of fluid to the sealed cavity avoids any ram effect on the plunger when the piston is operated to lock the plunger in position.

Abstract: A hydraulic rivet tool having a pair of opposing supports on a frame one of which holds an anvil and the other supporting a hydraulic cylinder. A hollow sleeve is extensible from the cylinder and carries a guide to clamp the workpiece. Contained within the sleeve for relative movement therewith is a dual purpose piston carrying a rivet engaging member. A spring is interconnected between the sleeve and the piston to restrict their relative motion until the sleeve guide has clamped the workpiece. Hydraulic fluid under pressure delivered to the cylinder first causes the piston and sleeve to extend from the hydraulic cylinder and causes the sleeve to clamp the workpiece. The piston then, overcoming the spring restricting the relative motion between it and the sleeve, continues its movement to perform work on the rivet.

Abstract: An air-hydraulic pump wherein an air-motor drives the pump. The air-motor includes a reciprocal piston which is driven in one direction by fluid under pressure and is returned by a spring. A control valve is utilized to control the action of fluid under pressure on the piston with the control valve having an open position which is maintained by trapped fluid pressure within a piston chamber in which the control valve is positioned. The control valve is closed by physical contact thereof with an end wall of the cylinder movably mounting the piston at the end of the return stroke and a resilient member is positioned adjacent the cylinder end wall to maintain the control valve in closed position for a portion of the piston stroke as it moves away from the cylinder end wall in the pumping stroke to avoid a possible stall condition for the motor.

Abstract: A rotary valve, and more particularly a rotary directional control valve having a rotatable valve member operable by a two-stage operating lever providing a relatively long lever arm and an intermediate shorter lever arm. Solenoid-actuated actuator members are movable along a line for engagement with the shorter lever arm when the operating lever is in a neutral position extending in a direction generally normal to said line and for engagement with the relatively long lever arm when the operating lever is at a substantial angle to said line whereby a solenoid of medium force and moderate length stroke can be utilized in returning the operating lever to the neutral position.

Abstract: A shop press having a vertically-movable bolster which can be locked in any one of a number of positions to side members of the shop press frame and cable and winch structure for causing vertical movement of the bolster including a pair of cables connected one to each end of the bolster and with a pivotal member associated with one cable for varying the length of said one cable to raise the associated bolster end.

Abstract: A pilot-operated valve structure for controlling high pressure fluid flow relative to a pair of cylinders, each having an extend port and a retract port. The valve structure has a pair of pilot-operated 3-way valves, each with a poppet valve member and with pilot valve structure including pilot lines directed to the 3-way valves and to the retract ports of the cylinders. The pilot valve has multiple positions including a neutral position whereby pilot pressure may be directed to the 3-way valves for positioning thereof and to the retract ports of the cylinder for holding the pistons in the cylinders retracted or causing retraction of a piston of an extended cylinder. Two alternate positions of the pilot valve cause positioning of one or the other of the 3-way valves to cause extension of the piston in the associated cylinder while the piston in the other cylinder is maintained in retracted position.

Abstract: A two-stage pump having a low and high pressure stages having a casing with a pair of pumps positioned therein, with one pump being a low pressure stage unit and the other pump being a high pressure stage unit. Each of the pumps has a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet with the outlet of the low stage pump being in fluid flow relation with an outlet port from the casing and also the fluid inlet of the high stage pump. The low stage pump is supplied with fluid through internal flow passages in the casing and associated structure including a flow passage through a rotatable element of the high stage pump.

Abstract: A method of and an instrument for testing a breakerless ignition system for an internal combustion engine. The instrument, a self-contained portable unit, is coupled to the breakerless ignition system and several reference voltages are established. The voltage from the battery of the ignition system is compared with one of the reference voltages and an indication is provided if the voltage from the battery is sufficient to operate the breakerless ignition system. The DC voltage provided to the coil of the breakerless ignition system is compared to two established reference voltages and an indication is provided if the DC voltage provided to the coil is within an established range. Also, the width of the pulses to the coil, which pulses are ultimately used to generate the spark for the internal combustion engine, is measured and an indication is provided if the width of the pulses is sufficient to sustain a spark.

Abstract: A control valve for controlling flow relative to a pair of control ports which includes a pair of 3-way valve components each having one of the control ports and a poppet valve member which, when closed in one position under pilot control, blocks pressure flow to a control port and connects the control port to reservoir, a pressure-reducing valve which initially operates to supply a relatively low pressure pilot fluid to a pilot control for the 3-way valves and, after operation of the latter, permit full line flow through a pair of branch passages each having a one-way check valve preventing return flow.

Abstract: A valve assembly with decompression means having a valve body with a pressure port, a return port and a control port with internal passages connecting the ports, and a pair of valves within said body arranged in parallel and operable when closed to block the flow from the control port to the return port, the valves being operable in sequence with a first of the valves openable to slowly reduce the pressure in said internal passages and the second valve being openable thereafter to permit a substantial flow from the control port to the return port.

Abstract: A portable puller tool for track end connectors having a base with a fluid cylinder therein for mounting a ram for extension outwardly of the base, an arm extended outwardly from the base to locate an end thereof at a distance from the base to engage an end connector and a pair of pusher members connected to the ram for engagement with a pair of track pad shafts whereby extension of the ram relative to the base causes the base and arm end to move away from the track and pull the track end connector off said track pad shafts.

Abstract: A rotary valve having a valve body with a rotatable valve member in the form of a port plate rotatably positioned therein for causing free flow from pump to reservoir in a neutral position and having other operative positions for directing fluid to and from the valve. Passage means in the valve body have check valves providing free flow from a control port to an operative member, such as a cylinder, and for holding of pressure on the cylinder when the valve is returned to neutral position. The valve includes seat seal members positioned within flow passages in the valve body and engageable with the valve member and which are formed with opposed surfaces having a differential area whereby forces resulting from fluid pressure urge the seat seal members against the valve member.

Abstract: A puller apparatus and method for disassembling a universal joint which has a cruciform spider and two yokes each of which has collars that carry bearing cups mounted upon the opposite arms of the spider. Integral flanges on the cups prevent them from being pulled through the collars. A puller bridge assembly has studs which extend loosely through holes in the cup flange and are screwed into threaded bores in a first collar of the first yoke; and side plates are mounted on the collars of the second yoke. Puller means has a cross head with puller arms that engage the side plates and a driver screw that bears on the bridge plate so that turning the screw separates the first yoke from the first cup. The bridge assembly and puller means are then repositioned and used to remove the second cup from the first yoke, after which the first yoke is removed.

Abstract: A rotary valve having a valve body with a rotatable valve member in the form of a port plate rotatably positioned therein for causing free flow from pump to reservoir in a neutral position and having other operative positions for directing fluid to and from the valve. Passage means in the valve body have check valves providing free flow from a control port to an operative member, such as a cylinder, and for holding of pressure on the cylinder when the valve is returned to neutral position. The valve includes seat seal members positioned within flow passages in the valve body and engageable with the valve member and which are formed with opposed surfaces having a differential area whereby forces resulting from fluid pressure urge the seat seal members against the valve member.