Abstract: A process for forming a hydroformed automotive component with an integrally formed attachment bracket or weld flange begins with a tubular blank manufactured through a roll-forming process to convert sheet metal into a tubular body portion having excess parent sheet metal material extending past the tube weld joint to define an integrated flange. This integrated flange tubular blank is then placed into a forming die and subjected to a conventional hydroforming manufacturing process to form the automotive component into the desired shape and configuration. One side of the forming die is formed with a slot defining a gap in which the integrated flange material is received to create the weld flange or attachment bracket when the die is closed against the integrated flange material while the hydroforming process is undertaken. Alternatively, the integrated flange material could be welded onto the tubular blank during the formation of the tubular blank.

Abstract: A cable protection and guide device is disclosed which can reliably protect and guide cables without increasing and decreasing the width between link plates even if the height of the link plates of the cable protection and guide device is increased. The cable protection and guide device includes a number of link frame bodies each comprising a pair of right and left spaced link plates and upper and lower connecting rods respectively bridged on upper edge and lower edges of the link plates are connected to each other in the longitudinal direction of the device while restricting a flexion radius to a fixed value. A central connecting rod connects the pair of link plates at substantially the center portion along the height direction of the link plate. The central connecting rod is integrally molded with the pair of link plates.

Abstract: A hybrid metal forming system includes a die cavity defined by a first die and a second die and a press adapted to apply a static pressure over the first die to deform a workpiece against the second die. The hybrid forming system also includes a dynamic loading system coupled to and positioned between, the press and the die cavity.

Abstract: A tool and method for installing collapsible inserts. The tool includes a stabilizing handle which is threaded onto a tool body. The tool body is threaded onto a tool shaft. In use, a collapsible insert is threaded onto the tool and the insert is positioned in a hole in a workpiece. An actuating handle of the tool is then rotated, while holding the stabilizing handle, to cause the collapsible insert to collapse, thereby installing the insert relative to the workpiece. Once the insert has been collapsed using the tool, the actuating handle is rotated in the opposite direction, while holding the stabilizing handle, to disengage the tool from the insert. Then, a hanger is threadably inserted into the collapsed insert and a threaded rod is threaded into the hanger. Alternatively, the threaded rod is directly threadably engaged with the collapsed insert, without need for a hanger.

Abstract: A system for repairing a continuous loop chain includes a plurality of pairs of chain links, each link having a pair of straight, substantially parallel side bars. Each pair of chain links has an outer link having a first width between the outer link side bars, and an inner link having a second width between the inner link side bars. The second width is less than the first width such that the side bars of the inner link are adapted to fit between the side bars of the outer link. The outer links and inner links are pivotally joined to each other. A repair link having a pair of offset side bars is adapted to connect on one end to the inner link of one of the pairs of chain links and on the other end to the outer link of another one of the pairs of chain links. In this way, a defective link, or a pair of defective links, can be replaced by one or more of the repair links.

Abstract: The present invention is a hinge repair tool constructed from two, spaced apart pairs of modified vise grip or wrench pliers. A single, elongated, upper bar is connected to the respective top jaws of each of the pairs of pliers. Two lower bars are also connected to respective lower jaws of the two pairs of pliers. Each of the pairs of pliers is operative independently of one another, so that each of the respective lower bars can be repositioned relative to the common upper bar. The lower bars are separated from one another and a gap is formed therebetween. A rigid bar is connected to the handles of the two pairs of pliers to provide additional stability. The vise grip pliers each include a mechanism for locking the lower jaw relative to the upper jaw thereof.

Abstract: An investment cast, stainless steel chain link is provided for chains used in water and wastewater treatment. The chain link comprises a pair of spaced apart, elongated sidebars having forward ends and rearward ends. The forward ends are spread apart and are provided with outwardly and laterally extending bosses having transverse boss pin bores coaxially aligned with each other. The rearward ends are interconnected by a cylindrical barrel having a barrel pin bore extending through each of the sidebars. The sidebars are formed with outwardly and laterally projecting reinforcing ribs extending between the bosses and the barrel pin bore along a substantial length of the sidebars. A freely rotatable chain pin is inserted through aligned boss and barrel pin bores from either end thereof for interconnecting first and second pairs of sidebars. An arrangement is provided for preventing the lateral dislodgement of the chain pin from the sidebars.

Abstract: A pneumatic/hydraulic riveter includes a valve unit formed of a socket set and a control valve movable relative to the socket set to provide a forward rotation control air loop, a pulling control fluid loop, or a reverse rotation control air loop in such a manner that when one loop is provided the other two loops are closed, so that the riveting unit is controllable to perform a forward rotation action, a pulling action and a reverse rotation action in proper order.

Abstract: A mandrel for bending which inhibits generation of irregularities on the inside of the bend is provided. The mandrel comprises a plurality of plugs in the form of discs and a through-hole is created substantially in the center of each plug. A flexible member is inserted through the through-holes of the respective plugs. One end of the flexible member is fixed to a shank so that the plugs are connected to the shank in series. Each plug is provided with a flat slant surface that descends from about the center of the plug toward the outer periphery of the plug. A lock hole is formed in parallel to the through hole in each plug and a flexible lock member, one end of which is fixed to the shank, is passed through the lock holes of the respective plugs.

Abstract: An insert installation apparatus comprises a housing having a body section and a nose piece. The nosepiece comprises a forward end and a rearward end, where the rearward end of the nose piece is attached to the body section. The apparatus comprises a rotary power source and reciprocating means which are employed to set a threaded insert in a work piece. The rotary power source has an extension member which connects the rotary power source to the first end of a drive shaft which is received by the extension member. The second end of the drive shaft is operationally coupled to a partially threaded mandrel which extends out of the forward end of the nose piece. The apparatus further comprises mandrel shock absorbing means which allow the mandrel to reciprocate with respect to the nose piece from a first position to a second position, where the mandrel shock absorbing means operates independently from the reciprocating means which usually employed to set the threaded insert.

Abstract: A guiding shaft structure for a chain connector includes a black shaft and a guiding bolt. The black shaft comprises a passage with a threaded section therein and a first protruding ring, a second protruding ring and a third protruding ring on an outer surface thereof. The guiding bolt comprises an insertion section and a guiding section. The insertion section comprises grooves, a circular flange and a guiding surface. The guiding section comprises a threaded portion. The black shaft and the guiding bolt are secured with each other to form a one piece and to provide a secure connection.

Abstract: The centreline runout (a) and out of roundness (b) of a shaft (100) is measured by measuring the distance between the central longitudinal axis (102) of the shaft (100) and each of a plurality of angularly spaced measurement points (103) located on the outer surface of the shaft in a measurement plane (18) using a measuring device (10). The position of the centroid (104) of the shaft at the measurement plane (18) is calculated along with the distance between the centroid (104) and the shaft central longitudinal axis (102), providing a centreline runout measurement (a). The distance between each measurement point (103) and the centroid (104) is calculated with these distances being used to calculate an out of round measurement (b).

Abstract: The hydroforming tool of the present invention comprises a pair of upper and lower tool inserts having open axial ends and defining an elongated cavity there between when the tool inserts are forced together. The upper and/or lower tool inserts are composed of segments that are attached to the upper and a lower base plates, by bolts. Retaining elements, such as pins, are introduced into holes in the base plates and continues into cavities formed in the segmented inserts. This prevents the insert segments from moving during the forming operation. In this way the use of base blocks may be omitted. Sometimes the friction force acting between the base plate and segmented inserts, caused by the high pressure applied to the tool surfaces, is sufficient to prevent the separation of the segments, whereby the segments are kept in place without the use of retaining elements.

Abstract: The press of the invention includes a first component and a second component for holding and pressing a workpiece to be processed between them, the first component being driven into translation relatively to the second component by an air cylinder. Thus, the first component is floatably mounted relatively to the second component, said components comprising means for positioning them relatively to each other at the limit of travel. Proper centering of the workpiece between the components, without stresses, may thereby be provided.

Abstract: A press mounted cam has a slide guided on an adapter by structural features including as one or more T blocks fixed to the slide and received in a respective channel formed in the adapter. In an aerial cam embodiment, a vertical clearance space is provided between the T block and adapter channel such that positive driving engagement between cam surfaces on the slide and the adapter is momentarily delayed after the initial engagement of the slide and driver surfaces to let the momentum of the slide be absorbed prior to the beginning of positive driving by the press motion, reducing shock and noise. The slide is laterally located with respect to the driver by an upwardly projecting locator-guide key on the driver received in a central channel in the slide. A positive return is provided by engagement of a driver key having T features received in a T-shaped slide channel and captured therein when the slide is driven laterally.

Abstract: A system for automatically cold working holes in metal components is disclosed. An automated mandrel moves in relation to a workpiece in order to perform cold expansion of holes in the workpiece. The mandrel is aligned with the axis of each hole and the surface of the workpiece adjacent to the hole. The system may be used to cold work holes in aircraft components, such as wings and fuselage skins.

Abstract: A reconfigurable tool and/or die geometry and methods of use generally comprise forming at least a portion of a shape defining surface with a shape memory material. In response to an activation signal, the shape memory material changes geometry of the shape defining surface to provide a means for forming parts with different geometries from the same tool and/or die. In an alternative embodiment, an insert for a tool and/or die can be used, wherein the insert has at least a portion of its shape defining surface formed of a shape memory material. Also disclosed are processes for forming a first part with a defined geometry and a second part with a defined geometry different from the first part defined geometry using a reconfigurable tool and/or die as well as a reconfigurable insert with a standard tool and/or die.

Abstract: A driving anvil washer retaining apparatus (12) for a rivet gun (14) includes a magnetized element (21). The magnetized element (21) is coupled to the rivet gun (14) and retains an anvil washer (52) during installation of a rivet (82). A method of installing a rivet (82) includes inserting a stem (46) of a rivet assembly (80) into a rivet gun nose (22) having at least one magnetized portion (21). A rivet (82) of the rivet assembly (80) is inserted into at least one object. The stem (46) is removed from the rivet assembly (80). A driving anvil washer (52) is retained via the magnetized portion (21).

Abstract: A wedge driving tool for cutting and/or non-cutting shaping of a sheet metal workpiece in a press includes a mould- and/or tool-bearing working slider, which may be displaced between a slider bed and a driver at a predetermined angle. For obtaining a working slider which may be continuously angularly adjusted, segmental disks are in each case arranged on both sides of the working slider in a continuously movable manner with respect to an angle of rotation, in each case, on the slider bed and the driver or on the working slider and the driver. The segmental disks, in each case, being arranged in pairs on an axis of rotation, are non-rotatably mutually connected along their chord-type boundaries such that corresponding straight-line guides, particularly for the working slider, are arranged in these connections.

Abstract: A compression connector crimp die is disclosed. The crimp die includes a first section and a second section. The first section connects the crimp die to a compression connector tool, and the second section is connected to the first section for crimping the connector. The first section also includes a locator mounted thereon.