Abstract: Methods for manufacturing a flanged article (21) that comprises a central depressed body (27) and a peripheral flange (23) may include press forming a material (10) in order to form an intermediate flanged article (20) that comprises a central depressed body (26) and a peripheral flange (22). Then, the peripheral flange of the intermediate flanged article may be circumferentially squeezed in order to thicken the peripheral flange due to plastic flow caused by plastic deformation. The press forming step optionally may include forming a toothed portion (24) on an inner surface (22a) of the peripheral flange. The squeezing step optionally may include reshaping the toothed portion. Apparatus (1, 2) for performing each of these method steps are also described.

Abstract: A body having a thin region in substantially a half lower portion and a head joined to the body by a neck. When the element is blanked out of a metal sheet, an excess amount of metal produced by pressing the substantially half lower portion of the body flows from the body into the metal sheet positioned on an opposite side of the neck and a metal flow is produced into laterally spaced ends of the neck. The head has relatively thick laterally spaced ends and the head neck and the body have respective thicknesses equal to or smaller than the thickness of the head. The laterally spaced side end regions of the body have a thickness smaller than a thickness of the lower region of the neck in the substantially half upper portion of the body.

Abstract: A siding system includes panels having a facing element with a convex front face portion. A first connecting portion extending along an upper edge and a second connecting portion at a lower edge is adapted to engage the first connecting portion of an adjacent lower siding panel. Mounting holes at a top edge of the facing element provide for mounting the siding panel to a vertical surface. A support element, such as foam insulation attaches to a rear surface of the facing element. A machine for making the metal siding panels has a feeder and multiple roller sets. First ones of the rollers have a concave portion and complementary second ones of the rollers have a convex portion. The concave portion first roller set has a larger radius profile than the last roller set to roll form the siding from a coil of blank material. Bending rollers form the mounting structure of the panels. Embossing rollers forming an embossed pattern on the face of the panels.

Abstract: The subject invention provides a sheet bending brake assembly for securing a work piece. The sheet bending brake assembly includes a clamping member having a lower leg extending therefrom and a pivoting arm pivotally supported by and extending from the clamping member. The pivoting arm defines a clamping area with the lower leg. A base supports the clamping members and provides support to the assembly while moving the pivoting arm between the open position and the clamped position. A guide mechanism reacts between the clamping member and the pivoting arm for moving the pivoting arm between the open position and the clamped position. The guide mechanism has a guide slot with a detent positioned within the guide slot between the first and the second ends for positioning the pivoting arm in an intermediate position to allow for precisely aligning the work piece.

Abstract: A pontoon including a substantially cylindrical member having a length in excess of about 14 feet and having no external circumferential welds intermediate the ends of the member and being substantially linear along its length axis.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for strip processing with at least one uncoiling station, at least one strip processing station (1) and at least one coiling station. Especially to reduce undesirable strip-edge stresses, a known apparatus for strip processing is configured such that a strip-edge stretching station (2) which stretches the edges of the strip, is provided between the uncoiling station and the coiling station.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating bagged materials. A bagging machine is equipped with feed tubes that feed a conduit through a bag filling tunnel of the machine and through the open end of the bag and into the bag. The conduit is perforated and when the bag is filled, the length of the conduits is extended out through the bag end to be connected to a treatment media, e.g., forced air. An opening is provided at the rear end to provide an exhaust opening for air that is forced into the conduit, out the perforations and through the bagged material. The air will dry the material to lower the moisture content or provide oxygen as may be desired to enhance decomposition. Water may also be introduced as desired.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for forming sheet metal articles, such as automotive body panels, having significant curvatures in front-to-back and side-to-side directions. Opposing, complementary, preforming and final shape forming tools are used in a single press. A sheet of superplastically or quick plastically formable sheet metal alloy, heated to a forming temperature, is first stretched against the preform tool by the final shape tool to form a preform that has experienced most of the metal stretching required for the final part shape. The preform is removed from the preform tool and formed against the opposing, final shape tool with pressurized gas to obtain the final sheet metal part shape.

Abstract: In a method for continuous production of metal wires, the cross section of a round metal wire is reduced in one or more stages. To do so, the metal wire is shaped in a bore that is open on one side to form a flat wire at least in the last stage.

Abstract: An apparatus for press brake punch transfer consisting of a carriage; a plurality of rollers supporting the carriage and facilitating lateral rolling motion of the carriage; a press brake punch support bed having rollers facilitating longitudinal press brake punch movement; a plurality of screw actuated telescoping quills interconnecting the press brake punch support bed and the carriage, the quills facilitating vertical movement of the press brake punch support bed; laterally paired and longitudinally extending walls defining in combination with the press brake punch support bed, a press brake punch support channel having a lateral width; and a plurality of jack screw actuators spanning between and interconnecting the laterally paired and longitudinally extending walls, the jack screws being adapted for alternately increasing and decreasing the press brake support channel's lateral width.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for forming sheet metal articles, such as automotive body panels, having significant curvatures in front-to-back and side-to-side directions. Opposing, complementary, preforming and final shape forming tools are used in a single press. A sheet of superplastically or quick plastically formable sheet metal alloy, heated to a forming temperature, is first stretched against the preform tool using pressurized gas to form a preform that has experienced most of the metal stretching required for the final part shape. The preform is removed from the preform tool and formed against the opposing tool with pressurized gas to obtain the final sheet metal part shape.

Abstract: A compact chain cutting apparatus for automatically shearing and opening a chain link of a selected thickness in one operation is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing, a first shearing member, a second shearing member, and an electro-hydraulic actuator system. The first shearing member is mounted to the housing. The second shearing member is pivotally mounted to the housing for movement to exert, in cooperation with the first shearing member, shearing and bending forces upon the chain link. The electro-hydraulic actuator system cooperates with the second shearing member to move automatically the second shearing member to shear and to bend the chain link, thereby defining an opening in the chain link greater than the thickness of the link.

Abstract: A method for precision bending of a sheet of material (41, 241, 341, 441) along a bend line (45, 245, 345, 445) and the resulting sheet are disclosed. A method includes a step of forming longitudinally extending slits (43, 243, 343, 443) through the sheet of material in axially spaced relation to produce precise bending of the sheet (41, 241, 341, 441) along the bend line (45, 245, 345, 445) with edges (257, 457) engaged and supported on faces (255, 455) of the sheet material on opposite sides of the slits. The edge-to-face contact produces bending along a virtual fulcrum position in superimposed relation to the bend line (45, 245, 345, 445). Several slit embodiments (43, 243, 343, 443) suitable for producing edge-to-face engagement support and precise bending are disclosed, as is the use of the slit sheets to enhance various fabrication techniques.

Abstract: A crimper having a crimping block and a crimping lever. The crimping block has a top surface, a first end, and an opposite second end. The first end provides receptacles which each allow a swaged needle having a needle hole end having a needle hole to be inserted therein. The second end has suture channels which allow a suture to be inserted into the crimping block such that the suture is guided toward the needle end hole. The top surface has a plurality of crimping openings which each expose one of the receptacles and the needle hole end therein. The crimping lever has a plurality of protrusions which are aligned with the crimping openings such that one of the projections engages the needle end and mechanically crimp the needle end to secure the suture therein. The needle may then be withdrawn from the receptacle with the suture secured therein.

Abstract: Malfunctions of sliding bearings of cone crushers used in crushing stone are anticipated by providing sensors in connection to bearing parts, by means of which sensors it is possible to observe increases in friction forces. A beginning bearing damage can be detected by means of sensors at such an early stage, that extensive damage to bearings and to other parts of the crusher can be prevented.

Abstract: A microchannel forming device is provided for making microchannels in a wire. The microchannel forming device includes a plurality of dice for receiving a heated wire spaced along a longitudinal axis. Each die has a circumferential surface forming an opening, and teeth projecting normally from the surface and terminating in the opening. As the heated wire is drawn through the opening of each die, the teeth engage the heated wire to form longitudinal microchannels therein.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the manufacture of an annular article, which substantially consists of metal, ceramic material, and/or polymer. A cavity in a die is filled with a formable working material, which shall form said article. A tubular, upper punch (17) is introduced into the upper mouth of a hole in a die (34), so that a closed mould cavity is formed. The upper punch and a lower punch (27) are simultaneously struck towards one another at such a high velocity that the working material is plasticized and flows out and fills the mould cavity, and thereafter the upper punch is removed. Then, a mandrel (35) in the lower punch is driven out of the annular body by means of a mandrel expulsor (170), which is pressed against the mandrel from above, and thereafter the annular body is from below pushed out of the die by mean of the lower punch. The invention also relates to an equipment for the carrying out of the method.

Abstract: A hand tool is provided for securing adjacent vinyl siding strips. First and second handles, bearing first and second jaws, are pivotally attached. A first jaw forms a channel, and the second jaw supports a crimp bolt. A portion of one siding strip is disposed between the jaws. Actuation of the jaws moving the crimp bolt against the vinyl strip pushes the strip into the channel forming crimps on the strip, which crimps facilitate formation of a positive lock with an adjacent strip.

Abstract: The invention concerns an impact machine for forming, cutting, or punching a working material in a mould die by impact action during an impact operation carried out by means of impact devices, preferably from two opposite directions, said impact devices being provided to strike the working material or impact members which transfer the impact energy of the impact devices to the working material, said die (9) being carried by a carrier (2) included in the impact machine. According to the invention, the die is resiliently mounted in the carrier, which e.g. may consist of a stationary or moveable table.

Abstract: The present invention provides a plate material processing machine with a bending function which enables even a bending piece with two or more bending portions to be bent and which enables materials to be bend so as to have different bending directions, dimensions, angles, or the like using the same tools. An upper tool 21 and a lower tool 22 are provided which fix a plate material W by sandwiching it between themselves. An upper tool-side bending tool 23 and a lower tool-side bending tool 24 are provided on sides of the upper tool 21 and lower tool 22, respectively, so as to elevate and lower freely. The upper tool-side bending tool 23 and the lower tool-side bending tool 24 perform elevating and lowering operations relative to the upper tool 21 and the lower tool 22 to bend a plate material piece Wa of a plate material W sandwiched between the upper tool 21 and the lower tool 22.