Abstract: An automotive instrument panel (IP) has a thermostatically controlled electric heating element for maintaining the plastic material of the IP at a temperature warm enough to inhibit brittle fracture during deployment of an airbag mounted within the IP. The heating element is formed by depositing a layer of electrically conductive material on an inner surface of the outermost layer of the IP along the perimeter of an airbag deployment path, bonding the outermost layer to a substrate, and using a laser to simultaneously score the IP around the deployment path and cut the conductive layer so that it forms a circuit through which electric current may be passed for resistance heating.

Abstract: The invention provides improved biocompatible implant alloys and methods of constructing artificial implants having improved long term wear properties. Cobalt-base biocompatible implant alloys provided according to the invention are essentially free of carbide, nitride and sigma second phase particles, and can have hardness and strength properties equivalent to or greater than the standard CoCrMo alloy with significantly improved fatigue life and superior frictional contact properties with UHMWPE. Artificial implant constructions and methods provided according to another aspect of the invention are capable of eliminating latent defects that can promote long term failure of joint implants.

Abstract: A method for self-programming a computerized power nutrunner control system for tightening a number of similar screw joints to a desired final torque level (MF) is provided. The method includes the steps of: (i) tightening initially at a low speed one of the screw joints up to the final torque level (MF), while detecting and analyzing one or more screw joint characteristics, (ii) adjusting successively during a number of succeeding tightening processes one or more nutrunner operating parameters with respect to the detected and analyzed screw joint characteristics, and (iii) locking the self-programming after the nutrunner operating parameters have been adjusted to accomplish a safe tightening of respective following ones of the screw joints to the final torque level (MF) at a satisfactory short time interval.

Abstract: Repairing a chamber coke oven by heat-insulating a repair space in the oven, dividing a brick wall in a portion to be repaired into a plurality of layers stacked one above another, dismantling and removing the brick wall in the repaired portion, and carrying refractory assemblies into the oven one by one, each of the refractory assemblies being manufactured outside the oven by combining a plurality of bricks together correspond in shape to each of the stacked layers in one-to-one relation, thereby building the brick wall in the repaired portion with the refractory assemblies. A damaged combustion chamber brick wall of the coke oven near an oven opening can be repaired with high efficiency.

Abstract: In a hinge-part blank made from a rolled or drawn profiled strip of stock that is separated into the individual hinge-part blanks by beam-cutting along an oblique boundary line (I) followed by parting along a parting line (II), the profiled strip of stock has a T- or Y-shaped cross section and is separated into the individual hinge-part blanks by beam-cutting along the boundary lines (I) and the parting lines (II) and is separated at that time in the region of the hinge head (7 or 8) by means of a saw cut along a parting line (III).

Abstract: A metal ring having a greatest circumferential length is held in the shape of a substantially true circle, and other metal rings are arrayed in the order of increasing circumferential length toward the metal ring of the greatest circumferential length. At least three holder rods are lowered into the metal rings to hold the metal rings in substantially coaxial alignment with each other. Presser rods are pressed from outside of the metal rings toward the center of the metal rings, thereby deforming the metal rings into a shape including curved portions projecting radially and having a reduced diameter. The deformed metal rings are delivered successively in the array from terminal ends of the presser rods into the metal ring of the greatest circumferential length. The deformed metal rings that are released off the presser rods restore their original shape within the metal ring of the greatest circumferential length, and are laminated to the metal ring of the greatest circumferential length.

Abstract: Vehicle bed liners are widely utilized to cover the beds of utility vehicles and protect the bed from damage. Bed liners are conventionally secured by nails or screws which can easily vibrate loose and expose the vehicle bed to dirt and moisture which facilitates rust and corrosion. The present invention provides a method of securing the bed liner to the vehicle bed without the gaps and seems formed by conventional coupling methods.

Abstract: There is disclosed a plastic processing method for easily shaping a tip end of a metal rod material such that a sectional area of the tip end gradually decreases. A metal rod material 3 is contained in a molding groove 2 which is disposed in a mold 1 and whose end 2a has a sectional area smaller than that of the metal rod material 3. Then, a rolling roller 4 is rolled in contact with a mold surface 1a, and the rod material 3 is plastically deformed and molded along a shape of the molding groove 2. Subsequently, a burr 3b is removed. The molding groove 2 has a sectional area smaller than that of the metal rod material 3 on a tip end 2a side, and in addition has a width and depth larger in size than a diameter of the rod material 3 on a rear end 2b side, while having a gradually decreasing sectional area on the tip end 2a side. A rolling roller 14 rotates together with large-diameter rollers 15a, 15b, and is pressed in contact with the mold surface 1a by the rollers 15a, 15b.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an insulated vessel which may be produced at low cost, has superior insulating capabilities and excellent volumetric efficiency, and which may be suitably employed in a thermos, cooler, icebox, insulated cup, thermal insulated lunch box, thermal insulated electric pot, heat retaining rice cooker, refrigerator or freezer box insulating material, or as an insulating layer in a bath tub. The insulated vessel of the present invention is characterized in the formation of an insulating layer in the space interval between the inner vessel and the outer vessel of a double walled vessel which is filled with a low thermoconductive gas consisting of at least one the gases of xenon, krypton, and argon, and in the disposition of a metallic heat radiation preventing material at the insulating layer.

Abstract: A loading/unloading device for track-mounted attachment elements. The device includes a receiving member adapted to be disposed in a track having a channel which supports a plurality of attachment elements. The receiving member has securing means with a first and a second position, a biasing means biases the securing means in the first position. A loading/unloading member, with a channel, has engagement slots adapted to removably engage with the securing means. The loading/unloading member can be engaged, or disengaged, from the receiving member by a single operator movement. When engaged, attachment elements can be moved between the track channel and the loading/unloading member channel.

Abstract: A semi-automated method for forming armature coils comprising a plurality of transposed wire pairs includes joining a plurality of pairs of wires having offset segments along their lengths, insulating each of the transposed pairs of wires, assembling the plurality of the insulated transposed pairs of wires with the transpositions being staggered to create a pack, and forming the pack into an armature coil in an automated coil forming machine by bending the pack in two planes. The joining of the plurality of pairs of wires having the offset segments along their lengths is effectuated at a transposition point. Each pair of wires has a transposition at a unique point relative to others of the plurality of the pairs of wires forming the coils.

Abstract: According to the invention, different coloured and/or different types of flocks (8, 9) are applied to cover or flock-coat profiled joints or other profiled sections (11) in predetermined areas in a coating station (3) at the very moment when the required holes and separating cuts are made in the cutting and drilling station (4). The flock cabin (10) is divided up in to partial cabins (15, 17, 19) by means of partitions (16, 18) which can be displaced in a corresponding manner towards the profiled section (11) or brought tightly against it. Instead of the above-mentioned partitions (16, 18) or in addition to the partitions (16, 18), axially separating partitions (29, 30) extending in a longitudinal direction of the profiled section (11) are provided. The inventive method enables various coating areas (35, 36, 37) to be obtained on one single profiled section. This makes it possible, for instance, to adapt precisely defined areas, e.g., joint elements in a car body, to the colour of the car or fittings.

Abstract: According to this dynamic pressure groove processing method, dynamic pressure grooves are formed in specified regions by electrochemical machining with the electrode of an electrode tool put close to a workpiece in the initial stage. Through this electrochemical machining, corners of land portions adjacent to the dynamic pressure grooves can be curved and smoothed. Next, by subjecting the workpiece to electrochemical machining with the electrode of the electrode tool put away from the workpiece, the land portions are to undergo weak electrochemical machining. Surface roughness of surfaces of the land portions can be reduced, and the curved corners of the land portions can be made smoother at the same time. Therefore, the abrasion resistance characteristic of the dynamic pressure grooves can be improved further than that achieved by the conventional electrochemical machining, allowing the abrasion resistance characteristic and reliability to be sufficiently improved.

Abstract: Method of fixedly connecting together externally and internally threaded tubes by tight engagement of externally and internally threaded portions of the tubes, wherein a wrenching operation is performed to rotate the externally and internally threaded tubes relative to each other with the externally and internally threaded portions engaging each other while an axial force is applied between the tubes. A physical quantity relating to a coefficient of friction between said tubes is obtained on the basis of a detected wrenching torque applied to rotate the tubes relative to each other and the axial force, and a terminating condition for terminating the wrenching operation is determined on the basis of the obtained physical quantity. The wrenching operation is terminated when the terminating condition has been satisfied. Apparatus for practicing the method and recording medium storing a control program for the method are also disclosed.

Abstract: A bearing backlash adjuster for an axle assemby. A cylindrical body threadingly engages an inner surface of a housing wherein rotation of the cylindrical body causes longitudinal displacement relative to the housing. An opening is formed through the housing providing direct access to the cylindrical body. The cylindrical body has bevel gear teeth formed adjacent one end proximate the opening. A tool is inserted through the opening to directly engage the cylindrical body. By simply rotation the tool, the cylindrical body can be cooperatively rotation to cause the body to move to a desired position relative to the housing. The movement of the cylindrical body enables adjustment of backlash or preload to the differential bearings to which the cylindrical body engages. Once the backlash is properly positioned, a locking pin is inserted within the opening to engage the bevel gear teeth to lock the cylindrical body in place.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a hollow piston for variable displacement swash plate compressors of air conditioning systems is disclosed. This method produces a desired hollow piston by separately forming a body and a cap and by simply machining the body and the cap prior to simply welding the body and the cap together into a single structure through a frictional welding process. This method thus remarkably simplifies the pre-welding machining process. In the frictional welding process, the body and the cap are welded together into a single structure by simply and relatively rotating the body and the cap while forcing them toward each other under atmospheric air at room temperature. The frictional welding process is thus accomplished using a simple welding machine, thereby reducing the equipment cost while producing the hollow pistons. The frictional welding process is also free from oxidizing the welded portions of a resulting hollow piston, and so the resulting piston does not have micro pores in its structure.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for wire winding and fabrication for dynamo-electric machine components such as ferromagnetic armature or stator cores for motors or the like. Wire may be wound onto individual portions of dynamo-electric machine components, which may then be assembled to form complete components. Wire may be wound by steering a rotating flyer or the like in a trajectory that closely follows the surface of the core onto which the wire is being wound. Wire may also be wound by rotating the portions during winding. The same holding members that are used to hold the portions during winding may be used to hold the portions during assembly of the portions into machine components.

Abstract: An assembly technique and device for enclosing an open end of a movable socket (10) comprised of fully hardened materials with an expanding cover-plate (66) and for controlling the expansion of the cover-plate (66) to provide a central orifice (67) of predetermined dimensions to facilitate the installation of a grease fitting. During assembly, various internal components of the movable socket, including the pressure plate, are installed within a housing (12) through a posterior opening (16) with the cover-plate positioned over the components. A two-stage ram (100) having a contact surface and a concentric pivot punch (142, 158) is brought into engagement with the cover-plate. Pressure exerted by the two-stage ram is transferred to the cover-plate through the contact surface, expanding the cover-plate to conform to the contact surface and enclosing the internal components within the socket housing.

Abstract: A silicon carbide rail for use as a support in an apparatus for holding semiconductor wafers is made by forming a first series of parallel slots or grooves into the front side of a graphite plate usually without piercing the back side of the plate, converting the slotted graphite plate into a slotted silicon carbide plate, and forming a second series of parallel slots into the back side of the slotted silicon carbide plate such that each slot on the back side connects with a corresponding slot on the front side. The width of each back side slot is less than that of the corresponding front side slot, thereby forming rail teeth having a ledge running along their to top surfaces.

Abstract: A hydroformed tubular structure includes at least two hydroformed members connected at a joint. At least one of said members includes a flattened portion having opposite sides in engagement. One of the sides engages and is secured to a mating portion of another of the members and a hydroformed conjugate portion is formed in the one side adjacent the flattened portion and is secured in a recess of the other member. A hydroformed structural portion extends from the conjugate portion in a direction away from the flattened portion.