Abstract: A fiber bundle is wrapped with a tape by helically and entirely winding the tape around the bundle, while applying a constant longitudinal tension to the bundle; and thereafter unwinding and removing the tape from its last turn to gradually expose the bundle towards its basal end, while inserting the exposed portion of the bundle gradually into a cylindrical protector. The method keeps constant the outer diameter of the bundle by adjusting the tape tension, even if the bundles are composed of varied numbers of fibers in one protector, so that a wider use of the protector is realized. In the method, the wrapping operation does not produce any damaged fibers from which a fluid such as blood leaks in a hollow fiber apparatus, and no later adjustment is necessary for the wrapped bundles, thus improving the production efficiency.

Abstract: An improved method of moving a rotary fixture (20) from a first angular position to a second angular position includes the steps of: providing a body (25); mounting the fixture on the body for rotational movement about an axis (x--x); mounting a pin (23) in the spindle (22) of a machine tool; moving the pin so as to engage the fixture at a location eccentric to the axis; and selectively moving the pin relative to the axis from one location to another; thereby to rotate the fixture from the first angular position to the second angular position.

Abstract: A splining apparatus for seating an elongated flexible spline in the screen retaining channel of a screen frame to secure flexible screen material thereto, including a work support assembly for receiving and holding the screen frame, and a carriage assembly for longitudinal movement between a first position and a second position. The splining apparatus further includes a screen roll feed holder assembly for supplying screen material located at the first position; and a spline roll holder for supplying spline material located at the second position. The carriage assembly supports a spline head assembly for supplying the spline to the screen frame as the carriage assembly moves from the second position to the first position. The spline head assembly includes a spline wheel sub-assembly for inserting and seating the spline into the screen retaining channel as the carriage assembly and the spline head assembly move from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: An ultra thin walled wire reinforced endotracheal tubing includes a thin walled tubing comprising a polymeric material having a spring material incorporated therewith. Utilization of the spring wire material in combination with polymeric material results in a reduced wall thickness which results in a significant decrease in resistance to air flow through the endotracheal tubing. The endotracheal tubing of the present invention is made by depositing a dissolvable polymeric material on a rotating mandrel in successive layers. A spring material is also applied around the mandrel to produce the ultra thin walled wire reinforced endotracheal tubing. By controlling the rate of deposition of polymeric material along the length of the mandrel, different wall thicknesses of tubing may be achieved.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabrication of superconducting oxides and superconducting oxide composites and for joining superconductors to other materials. A coating of a molten alloy containing the metallic elements of the oxide is applied to a substrate surface and oxidized to form the superconducting oxide. A material can be contacted to the molten alloy which is subsequently oxidized joining the material to the resulting superconducting oxide coating. Substrates of varied composition and shape can be coated or joined by this method.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a wire made of oxide which is applicable for manufacturing a superconducting coil or the like. The process includes steps comprising preparing a mass of oxide having superconductivity from powder material, covering the mass of oxide with a metal pipe, and then reducing the diameter of the metal pipe containing the mass of oxide therein into a wire form by such plastic deformation that exert mainly compressive strain upon the metal pipe. The mass of oxide may be a compound oxide having Perovskite-type crystal structure exhibiting superconductivity. The metal pipe may be made of a metal selected from a group comprising Cu, Al, Nb, V, Mo, Ta, and Ag and of an alloy including these metals as the base. The mass of oxide may be produced by steps including extruding a powder material into a rod shape and then sintering the molded rod at a temperature ranging from 700.degree. to 1,000.degree. C.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for the performance of the method for the fabrication of dimensionally stable, cylindrical filler bodies for increasing the surface area in receptacles, e.g. for the protection against explosive combustions, consisting of foil-like, preferably corrosion resistant material strips, especially consisting of metal, paper, paper board, synthetic material or a combination by coating, which allows a continous fabrication without requiring oscillating masses in the machine parts. The aim is reached by a foil strip which receives perforated cutting spots, staggered transverse to the conveying direction, the cutting spots stretched to the breadth and folded, lopped in pieces, cylindrically bent so as to be round, twisted at the ends and continously rolled into cylindrical bodies.

Abstract: A sign holder (10) is disclosed which has a professional appearance but allows the sign insert (16) therein to be readily removed and replaced. An integrally molded spring assembly (34) including cantilevered springs (38, 40) is formed on the backplate (12). A frame (20) is mounted on the backplate (12). The sign insert (16) is placed on the inner surface (14) of the backplate (12) and a clear lens (18) is inserted so that a first edge (46) of the lens deflects the springs (38, 40). With sufficient deflection, the opposite edge (50) of the lens can clear the edge (52) of the frame to permit the lens to fit within the space (54) between the back plate and frame. The lens is released, permitting the springs to be released and push the lens so that the opposite edge (50) of the lens moves underneath the edge (52) of the frame to hold the sign insert and lens within the space between the backplate and frame.

Abstract: An improved expandable stent for implantation in a body lumen, such as an artery, and an improved method for making it from a single length of tubing. The stent consists of a plurality of radially expandable cut cylindrical elements generally aligned on a common axis and interconnected by one or more interconnective elements, the elements having a rectangular cross-section from cut-to-cut. The individual radially expandable cylindrical elements are disposed in an undulating pattern. The stent is manufactured by direct laser cutting from a single metal tube using a finely focused laser beam passing through a coaxial gas jet structure to impinge on the working surface of the tube as the linear and rotary velocity of the tube is precisely controlled.

Abstract: A machine and method for making a strip of dome arrays on a backup strip, wherein the dome arrays include a plurality of domes in a predetermined non-linear pattern and in oriented relation to each other that are adhesively mounted on a dome seal. The machine comprises a punch press or stamping machine capable of simultaneously stamping a pattern of domes in non-linear arrangement and oriented relative to each other and depositing those domes onto the adhesive side of a dome seal strip. The machine also includes means for feeding dome seals to the stamping machine and also for kiss-cutting the dome seal while on the backup strip to define a plurality of successively arranged dome arrays.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for carrying and supporting a portable bench top saw wherein the saw has a body housing a saw blade, the body being generally adapted for four-corner screw attachment downwardly into a table, the apparatus comprising a carrying frame having a transversely adjustable member for receiving a screw for attachment to the saw body in a multitude of transverse locations required thereby. Preferably, the saw also includes an attachable table assembly supported with a downwardly projecting table leg and, preferably, the carrying frame includes a transversely positionable leg receiving member, for receiving the table leg at any of a multitude of transverse locations required thereby.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for the assembly of a sliding sunroof frame and for the adjustment of a cover connected with it in a vehicle. The device has a tool that has one portion that can be introduced into the body of a vehicle and another portion that can be positioned above a roof opening of the vehicle. A positioning assembly for the sliding sunroof frame and the cover and various adjusting component with centering devices are provided on a floating frame on part of the tool positioned in the vehicle body, and allow fully automated raising and alignment, as well as fastening of the sliding sunroof frame to the vehicle roof and complete adjustment without play and fastening of the sliding sunroof cover to its tilting mechanism.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a method and apparatus for wrapping an article, wherein a metal foil is pleated and then formed in to a dished shape such that the pleats unfold, and then an article is placed within this dished shape.

Abstract: A hand held plastic rod gripping tool 25 is especially adapted for forcefully pushing thin cylindrical plastic rods into a resident pivot joint site between two modular links of a conveyor belt. Plastic pivot rods are difficult to insert manually because they are thin, and easily flexed, making them hard to grasp frictionally in the fingers at a stiff short section for forceful axial insertion. Also some conveyor modules require the rods or the modules to be distorted for snapping in over a barrier ridge thus requiring more force for initial entry. The tool 25 has a cylindrical knurled 26 hand grip body, of a diameter that permits a firm grasp, through which extends an axial passageway, typically a slot 27, for entry of the rod. A manually movable gripper assembly 45 is generally laterally movable to frictionally contact a rod 10 held within the tool body. Within an interior channel 49 at an acute converging angle 50 toward a rod 10 the gripper 45 is spring biassed 46 to move toward the rod surface.

Abstract: A system and a method provide a vacuum seal to be used when mounting an optical device onto a process chamber or a pump line removing exhaust gas from a process chamber. The system of the present invention includes: (a) a threaded nipple, having an internal mating surface and a threaded external surface, that is attached to the process chamber or to the pump line; (b) an internally threaded coupling, provided for accommodating the optical device, that is screwed onto the threaded external surface of the nipple, and having internally a first mating surface touching the internal mating surface of the nipple and a second mating surface; (c) a window placed on the second mating surface of the coupling; (d) means for creating a vacuum seal, e.g. an elastomer O-ring, between the first mating surface of the coupling and the mating surface of the nipple; and (e) means for creating a vacuum seal, e.g. an elastomer O-ring, between the second mating surface of the coupling and the mating surface of the window.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for manufacturing an optical fiber cable, a metal band is gradually shaped into a lengthwise slotted tube, the optical fibers are introduced into the still open slotted tube, the lengthwise slot of the tube is welded and the outside diameter of the welded tube is reduced. The welded tube with the reduced outside diameter is wound at least once around a take-up reel. A force provided on the reduced outside diameter welded tube as it is wound on the take-up reel causes an elastic strain of 0.1 to 0.6% on the tube. The strain is released on the take-up reel to produce an overlength of the optical fibers relative to the reduced outside diameter welded tube.

Abstract: A method of producing soft fine metal spheres for semiconductor packaging from a material selected from soft metals and soft alloys. A plurality of fine wires made of the material are arranged in parallel on a flat base plate. Each of the wires has a diameter of not more than 100 .mu.m. The fine wires are cut into wire chips having an equal mass relative to each other and a chip length/chip diameter ratio between 5 and 100 by utilizing a cutting jig having cutting edges which are arranged at a constant pitch. The resulting wire chips are arranged so that the chips are spaced apart a minimum distance sufficient to prevent the chips from merging when melted. The resulting spaced-apart wire chips are heated to a temperature up to but not exceeding 100.degree. C. above the melting point thereof, thereby forming the chips into molten spheres. The resulting molten spheres are cooled, thereby forming solid spheres having a diameter within about 5% of a desired diameter.

Abstract: A camshaft alignment tool and method uses a main body having at least three projections to engage cogs on cog wheel driven double overhead camshafts. The tool is used to maintain the cog wheels in a fixed relationship with respect to one another during replacement of a cooperatively toothed timing belt. Use of the tool enables a single technician to change the timing belt on a high performance internal combustion engine employing double overhead camshafts even if the cam surfaces are aggressive and the valve return springs employ large spring constants.

Abstract: High-Tc superconducting ceramic oxide products and macroscopic and microscopic methods for making such high-Tc superconducting products. Completely sealed high-Tc superconducting ceramic oxide provides are made by a macroscopic process including the steps of pressing a superconducting ceramic oxide powder into a hollow body of a material inert to oxygen; heat treating the superconducting ceramic oxide powder packed body under conditions sufficient to sinter the ceramic oxide powder; and then sealing any openings of the body. Optionally, a waveform or multiple pulses of alternate magnetic filed can be applied during the heat treatment.

Abstract: A rod guide is provided for centering a sucker rod within a tubular string that powers a pump within a wellbore. The rod guide comprises a rotor secured to the sucker rod and having upper and lower stop surfaces thereon, and a sleeve formed from metal to substantially increase the life of the rod guide. The rod guide stator has an elongate slot extending along its axial length. The stop surfaces limit axial travel of the stator on the sucker rod, and the sleeve prevents the stator from engaging the sucker rod. The sleeve may be retained on the rod by a clip, and plastic end members then molded over the clip and the ends of the metal sleeve. The stop surfaces may be formed by a ring member spaced axially between the upper and lower ends of the sleeve.