Abstract: The push actuator has a fixed base which rotatably carries a selectively rotatable rotor. A horizontal band has a lower portion stacked in a helical pattern and has an upper portion engaged by the upper portion of a vertical band, to form a telescopic column. The lower portion of the vertical band is stacked in a spiral, separately from the horizontal band, the horizontal band is supported on the rotor with a helical ball support track along which a number of balls can roll and slide, to allow substantially frictionless rotation of the rotor member while the horizontal band remains rotatably stationary. A ball re-circulation unit allows the balls to circulate between the top of the track and the bottom of the track.

Abstract: A variable reach device for attachment to a boom of a lift truck to increase the range of movement of a fork carriage of the lift truck. In one embodiment, the device has a mast connected at one end to the boom and an arm pivotally connected at one end to the other end of the mast. The fork carriage is pivotally connected to the other end of the arm and its attitude or orientation is controlled during movement of the arm. In another embodiment, the reach device provides a purely horizontal movement of the fork carriage to extend the fork carriage away from the boom as the device unfolds and to retract the fork carriage back towards the boom as the device is folded. In this embodiment, the fork carriage is slidably carried by the arm via a lift chain connected to a cam which rotates in proportion to the rotational movement of the arm relative to the mast.

Abstract: A cable rack mounted cable puller and installation system for removably attaching to a cable rack and efficiently removing/installing cable upon the cable rack. The cable rack mounted cable puller and installation system includes a first support frame attachable to a first rail upon a cable rack, and a second support frame attachable to a second rail upon the cable rack. A shaft is rotatably supported between the upper portions of the support frames to receive a length of cable. A plurality of securing brackets are pivotally attached to a base of the support frames to selectively surround the rails. A plurality of securing fasteners within the securing brackets allow for tightening of the support frames to the rails. A coupler is attached to an end of the shaft for connecting a powered tool thereto to drive the shaft for pulling or dispensing cable. The support frames are preferably comprised of an extendable structure for accommodating cables positioned at various heights.

Abstract: A clamping apparatus is provided with a shoe mountable on a work surface, and a clamp having a foot adapted for removable engagement with the shoe. Also provided is a method of clamping a workpiece in a fixed location with respect to a work surface including mounting a shoe on the work surface, providing a clamp with a foot and a clamping head, where the foot is adapted for removable engagement with the shoe, engaging the shoe and the foot, and clamping the workpiece between the clamping head and the work surface.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a camshaft holding tool and corresponding method for operating the camshaft holding tool in double overhead camshaft engines. In one embodiment, the holding tool includes a body portion including first and second curved portions, where each of the first and second curved portions includes two or more teeth. Each tooth of the first and second curved portions engages adjacent teeth of respective one of first and second camshaft sprockets. A method of operating the tool includes placing the tool between the first and second camshaft sprockets and rotating the tool about an axis until the teeth of the first and second curved portions engage teeth of the first and second camshaft sprockets, respectively.

Abstract: A clamping device for work piece(s) having at least one clamping surface and coupling elements on the clamping surface. The clamping device comprises a first clamping element having a contact surface and a plurality of form-fit elements and a second clamping element having a contact surface and a plurality of form-fit elements. The plurality of form-fit elements have a shape that complements that of the coupling elements. The distance between the contact surfaces are adjusted by a retaining device which is coupled to surfaces of the clamping elements.

Abstract: A hand tool for rolling an O-ring under a downward pressure into a slot opening is described. The hand tool is constructed by a tool body that has an arcuate top surface adapted for gripping by a human hand and a planar bottom surface. The planar bottom surface of the tool body is provided with a cavity adapted for receiving a pair of rotatable balls mounted juxtaposed to each other. The pair of rotatable balls are mounted on a shaft through a center aperture of the balls in the cavity in such a way that only less than half of the spherical surface of the balls is protruding beyond the planar bottom surface of the tool body.

Abstract: A device for removing post id provided and includes a movably disposable base which is capable of disposal at least partially circumferentially about the planted post, a diametrically adjustable member connected to the base for securely gripping about the post, and aback connected to the gripping member for mechanically displacing the gripping member and in turn the fence post from the ground.

Abstract: A portable apparatus for supporting and maintaining fascia in proper position during installation upon the exterior of a building, such as a residential dwelling. A forked member is temporarily attached to the eave of the building. A cross member is connected to the forked member. The vertical position of the cross member, relative to the forked member, is adjustable and temporarily fixable. A support member, upon which the fascia rests and is supported, is connectable to the cross member. The horizontal position of the support member, relative to the cross member, is adjustable and temporarily fixable. By selectively adjusting the horizontal position of the support member, and by selectively adjusting the vertical position of the cross member to which the support member is connected, the position of the support member, and thus the fascia, is precisely adjustable in two dimensions. The apparatus thus permits the fascia to be held in proper place while the user permanently installs the fascia to the building.

Abstract: A device particularly adapted to engage an irregular bottom surface of an object and then carry that object includes a support block. In the support block is a set of longitudinally spaced apart upright bores. On each side of the bores in a top wall of the block is a guide channel for a slide bar. Ends of these bars operatively connect with a reciprocating mechanism attached to one end of the block. In each bore is a sleeve having an inner opening formed with an upper section for a spring. An upper and lower end coil of a coil portion of each spring connects with an arm that projects outwardly. The upper arms fit respectively in upward facing slots in one slide bar while the lower arms fit respectively in downward facing slots in the other slide bar. In the sleeve inner openings and extending respectively through the coil portion of each springs is a support pin. Top ends of these pins fit in openings in a top cover plate fastened to the support block top wall.

Abstract: This invention provides a novel apparatus and method for securing a work object, such as a pipe, conduit, bar, rod or the like, using a wrench or other gripping tool that acts as a second set of hands. The wrench is pivotally attached to a support that has a receiving location wherein a work object sits. The wrench can be rotated about its end opposite the mouth so that the mouth engages the work object, and the wrench is held in engagement with the work object by the force of gravity. When a pipe wrench is gripping a work object in such a way, the work object will be prevented from rotating in one sense, thereby allowing someone practising this invention to use both hands to apply a torque to the work object.

Abstract: A polishing pad with a layer that provides a polishing surface. The layer has a thickness between about 0.06 and 0.12 inches, and a plurality of substantially circular grooves having a depth between about 0.02 and 0.05 inches are formed in the polishing surface.

Abstract: A portable apparatus for displacing a manhole cover from a manhole where the manhole cover includes an engaging surface where the portable apparatus includes a leg having a first end and a second end and a shaft attached to the first end of the leg such that the leg and the shaft define a fulcrum point for the device. A tool is attached to the engaging portion wherein the tool engages the engaging surface of the manhole cover.

Abstract: A vacuum chuck/insert assembly (100) for firmly supporting a semiconductor wafer (106) during wafer processing. The vacuum chuck comprises a chuck (102) and a removable insert (104). The chuck includes a base (108) and a plurality of spacers (112) for holding the insert in spaced relationship to the base of the chuck. The chuck further includes first and second vacuum seals (116, 118) and vacuum ports (128) extending through the base of the chuck. The insert includes a base (132) and a plurality of spacers (136) for holding the wafer in spaced relationship to the base of the insert. The insert further includes a vacuum seal (140) and vacuum ports (146) extending through the base of the insert. During operation, vacuum applied to the vacuum chuck/insert assembly holds the insert firmly in contact with the chuck and the wafer firmly in contact with the insert.

Abstract: A grossing board for preparing gross tissue samples having relatively uniform thickness features one or more tissue-receiving depressions and one or more knife-guiding members. The bottom surface of a tissue-receiving depression is essentially parallel to the upper, cutting surface of the grossing board, and the knife-guiding members are configured to guide the pathologist's knife so as to ensure cuts that are parallel to the bottom surface of the tissue-receiving depression, thereby yielding gross tissue samples of desired reproducible, uniform thickness.

Abstract: A vacuum holding fixture for a thermoformed part carries a base attachment plate which is releasably coupled to the top wall of a vacuum support box having a vacuum passage sealed to a vacuum passage within the attachment plate and a vacuum chamber within the holding fixture. The attachment plate is precisely positioned and releasably locked to the vacuum box by a plurality of couplers each including a stud projecting downwardly from the attachment plate and received within a corresponding cylinder recessed within the vacuum box. Each cylinder has locking balls which releasably grip the corresponding stud in response to axial movement of a fluid actuated spring biased piston surrounding the cylinder.

Abstract: A staple remover that includes a tool having a main portion with first and second end walls, top and bottom sections that extend between the first and second end walls, and a slot that is located between the top and bottom sections and extends between the first and second end walls. A staple grasping portion for removing staples extends from the main portion. A magnetized receptacle has a receptacle portion with an access opening for receiving staples. The access opening is disposed near the staple grasping portion of the tool. A lower flange extends from the receptacle portion, and a channel is defined between the lower flange and the receptacle portion. The top section of the tool engages the channel and the lower flange of the receptacle engages the slot of the tool, thereby coupling the tool and the receptacle.

Abstract: An electromotive adjustment assembly, includes at least two spindles, each spindle carrying a spindle nut, with both spindle nuts secured against executing a rotation movement. A motor unit is positioned between the spindles and coupled in driving relationship with the spindles for rotating the spindles, whereby the spindles are secured against displacement in longitudinal direction. Connected, directly or indirectly, to the spindle nuts are flexible pull strands which are trained over deflection rollers for attachment with their free ends to profiled lifting members which are secured at an angle to a structure to be adjusted.

Abstract: A jack with a rotary handle sleeve is disclosed. The handle sleeve 4 of a jack is locked to a rotary supporting seat 3. The rotary supporting seat 3 passes through the pump 2 and washers to be locked to the base 1 of the jack. Thereby, handle sleeve 4 may rotate rightwards and leftwards. The oil return valve 10 is connected to a flexible shaft for controlling the opening and closing of the oil return valve 10. A steel ball bearing or a thrust bearing can be installed between the rotary supporting seat 3 or the base 1 of the jack so that the handle sleeve 4 may rotate freely. The handle sleeve 4 and the rotary supporting seat 3 have a design for confining the lower limit.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for suction-holding a semiconductor pellet on a positioning stage of a bonding apparatus without causing the pellet to be misaligned after positioning thereof including a suction force control device. The suction force control device comprises a suction-switching electromagnetic valve, a suction force-adjusting electromagnetic valve, a vacuum source, a compressed air source and a throttle valve so that a semiconductor pellet is held on a positioning stage by a suction force that is weak enough that a positioning claw can move the semiconductor pellet for positioning; and upon completion of the positioning, the semiconductor pellet is held to the positioning stage by a suction force that is stronger than the weak suction force used for positioning.