Abstract: A rocker mill includes a pair of roll dies rotatably mounted in a structure and having tapered circumferential grooves for receiving a workpiece. A support is provided for supporting the structure so that it is longitudinally movable relative to the support. The support is rotatably mounted on a frame. A reciprocating driving apparatus is provided for reciprocating the roll dies longitudinally relative to the support through a reduction stroke and a smoothing stroke. A rotating driving apparatus is provided for rotating the roll dies around a longitudinal axis of a workpiece. A method of forming reduced diameter tubing is also described.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing corrosion resistant tubing from seam welded stock of a titanium or titanium alloy metallic material having a hexagonal close-packed crystal structure. The method includes cold pilgering a seam welded tube hollow having a weld area along the seam in a single pass to a final sized tube. The cold pilgering effects a reduction in cross sectional area of the tube hollow of at least 50% and a reduction of wall thickness of at least 50% thereby orienting the crystals in a radial direction. The method also includes annealing the final sized tubing at a temperature and for a time sufficient to effect complete recrystallization and reform grains in the weld area into smaller, homogeneous radially oriented grains. After the recrystallization annealing step, the tubing exhibits enhanced corrosion resistance which is similar to seamless tubing.

Abstract: A dropout for a bicycle receiving tube includes an integral consumable ring which is melted upon the application of heat thereto to form a weld joint between the tube and the dropout. A one-piece dropout for a front axle includes a cylindrical mounting portion, a slotted front portion, and a tapered transition portion. The dropout can be cast or machined from a single piece of barstock such that the slotted front portion is offset radially inwardly relative to a largest outer diameter of the dropout. A three-piece dropout for receiving a rear axle includes two transition elements and a slotted plate welded to the transition elements.

Abstract: A test apparatus for testing objects such as tubing is disclosed. The apparatus includes a rotatively fixed transducer and a rotating lens, wherein the transducer receives an input signal and converts it into an emitted wave energy, the lens focuses the emitted wave energy onto the tubing and focuses reflected wave energy from the tubing back onto the transducer, and the transducer receives the reflected wave energy and converts it into an output signal. The transducer can be provided on one support shell and the lens can be provided on another support shell. One of the support shells can then be positioned within the other support shell. The apparatus is useful for performing dimensional tests and longitudinal and circumferential flaw tests on tubing.

Abstract: A zirconium-base alloy including gallium in amounts effective to improve creep strength of the alloy. The Zr-base alloy can include up to 1 wt. % Ga, up to 0.5 wt. % oxygen, up to 1 wt. % Sn and up to 1 wt. % total of Fe, Cr and V. For instance, the alloy can include 0.5-0.5 wt. % Ga, 0.1-0.7 wt. % Sn, 0.1-0.5 wt. % Fe, 0.15-0.4 wt. % V, 0-0.5 wt. % Cr, 0.1-0.25 wt. % oxygen, balance Zr and unavoidable impurities. The alloy is particularly useful as a component of a fuel assembly such as a fuel tube.

Abstract: A metal drop-out is attached to a receiving tube of a bicycle frame. The drop-out includes a slotted axle-retaining section and a mounting section which is of one-piece integral construction with the axle-retaining section. The mounting section is bent relative to the axle-retaining section along a transverse band region by an angle by about 10 to 90 degrees. An end edge of the mounting section is machined to a generally cylindrical configuration defining a first longitudinal axis. The machined end edge of the mounting section is inserted into an end of a receiving tube and is welded thereto.

Abstract: A wood golf club shaft adapted to receive a wood club head is about 44 to 45 in. total length from a butt end to a tip end thereof. The shaft comprises a butt section, a tip section, and a tapered section interconnecting the butt and tip sections. The tapered section tapers down toward the tip section at a rate of 0.021 in./in. The tapered section has a length shorter than a length of the butt section, longer than a length of the tip section, and no longer than about 13 in. The shaft has a low kick point disposed at a distance of at least about 29 inches from the butt end.

Abstract: A rocker mill for reducing the diameter of metal tubes includes a rollstand mounted on a reciprocable sled. The rollstand includes upper and lower roll dies between which the tubes travel as the sled and rollstand are reciprocated. The roll dies are mounted on tapered segments of respective arbors to facilitate removal of the roll dies. The arbors are driven by respective spur gears which are in meshing relationship on one side of the rollstand. One of the spur gears is driven by a pinion gear coaxially attached thereto on the same side of the rollstand as the spur gears. The rollstand is arranged to be slid horizontally from the sled after a plurality of fasteners have been released. A stationary toothed rack which drives the drive gear is spring-biased vertically to raise the rack in order to facilitate the sliding of the rollstand off the sled.

Abstract: A hollow metallic shaft for sporting implements includes a cylindrical tip section having a first constant wall thickness, a shank section including a tapered portion and having a second constant wall thickness, and a cylindrical portion located adjacent the tapered portion and opposite the tip section. An increase in wall thickness provides additional reinforcement at the tip section. The method of making the shaft includes an initial rotary swaging of an end portion of the shaft followed by a series of sink drawing operations to form a stepped contour on the outer periphery of the shaft. A final rotary swaging of the stepped contour provides the shaft with a smooth taper towards one end.

Abstract: A rocker mill includes a rollstand and a carriage for supporting and repositioning a workpiece extending through the rollstand. A first hollow-shafted electric motor is mounted on the carriage and includes a first hollow open-ended rotor and threaded nut through which the stationary feedscrew passes. The threaded nut is connected to the first motor to be rotated thereby in order to move the carriage longitudinally toward the rollstand. A second hollow-shafted electric motor is mounted on the carriage and includes a second hollow open-ended rotor and a clamp through which the workpiece passes. The clamp is actuated into clamping engagement with the workpiece for transmitting rotational and longitudinal movements thereto. Such mechanism for imparting rotary and longitudinal movements to the workpiece is of very low inertia and thus is able to reposition the workpiece with a high degree of precision.

Abstract: Improved zircaloy tubes for PWR reactors are produced by a method and apparatus by controlling spirality, that is, the spiral formation of the wall-thickness eccentricity. In the past, that spiral formation has caused the tubes to bow during use, and the present invention permits the maintenance of that spiral formation to acceptable limits. The hollow or workpiece is positioned upon a cylindrical mandrel and is advanced step-by-step through a work zone between a pair of rolls having grooves which define the work zone. The workpiece is turned through a predetermined angle on the mandrel prior to each rocking cycle. The present invention involves controlling the angle at which the metal working forces are exerted so as to minimize the turning moment or torque effect which results in producing the spiral formation.

Abstract: A method for producing zircaloy tubes from hollows or workpieces which are in the form of tubes having greater wall thickness than the finished tubes. The method is carried out upon a mill of the general type known as a McKay rocker which has a stationary tapered mandrel, but the mandrel is cylindrical and is moved with the workpiece.