Abstract: Devices and methods for crimping a prosthetic heart valve onto a delivery device are described. In some embodiments, valves are crimped over an inflatable balloon and between proximal and distal shoulders mounted on a shaft inside the balloon. Crimping methods can include multiple compression steps with the valve located in different axial positions relative to the crimping jaws at each different step. In some methods, the valve may extend partially outside of the crimping jaws during certain crimping steps, such that the crimping force is only applied to the part of the valve that is inside the jaws. Exemplary crimping devices can include two or more adjacent sets of jaws that close down to different inner diameters, such that different parts of a valve get compressed to different outer diameters at the same time during a single crimping step.

Abstract: The description relates to a joining head for fastening a fastening element by a die to the surface of a component with a gripper that can be linearly displaced in a first displacement direction RG and a magazine that can be linearly displaced in a second displacement direction RM. The magazine contains a plurality of fastening elements, with the first displacement direction RG running transversely to the second displacement direction RM.

Abstract: A mounting/dismounting device for mounting/dismounting a connecting pin used for an end-to-end assembly of two frame elements includes a mounting/dismounting rod having a longitudinal axis, a head adapted to cooperate with a screwdriver, and a rod body having a proximal portion and a threaded distal portion. The device also includes a base supporting a nut and having an abutment portion shaped to bear on one of the two frame elements, the threaded distal portion being provided to be screwed into the nut, a proximal stop mounted freely in rotation on the proximal portion of the rod body, and a bushing mounted around the rod body between the nut and the proximal stop.

Abstract: A method is used to manufacture a surgical guidewire that includes an outer coil assembly, a position sensor, a communication wire, an adhesive, a core wire, a hollow tube, and an atraumatic tip. The outer coil assembly has an outer coil that extends distally from a proximal coil retainer to a distal coil retainer. The position sensor is located distally within the outer coil assembly and is configured to be in communication with a processor via the communication wire. The core wire is between an outer coil proximal portion and the hollow tube. A distal end of the hollow tube is bonded to the atraumatic tip. The method includes affixing the atraumatic tip to the distal end of the hollow tube with the adhesive. The adhesive is constructed of instant glue.

Abstract: A system and method for threading a torque tube through an opening within a U-bolt and module rail device is described. The system and method provide aligned horizontal movement of the torque tube across an assembly frame resulting in the torque tube being threaded through a plurality of U-bolt and module rail devices. After the threading process is complete, the threaded U-bolt and module rail devices are secured in place on the torque tube to allow coupling of solar panels to the module rails.

Abstract: A method of properly aligning a sliding side door on a vehicle includes first preparing a prototype vehicle and determining how far out of alignment the door is to the body of the prototype vehicle. This amount of misalignment is then used to adjust the attachment position of an anchor plate to a sliding side door of the vehicle, so that the anchor plate is attached at a desired position to the production vehicle, which causes there to be no misalignment between the sliding side door and the body of the production vehicle. A jig is used to hold the anchor plate at the desired location while welding the anchor plate to the door. A roller assembly is then attached to the anchor plate and to a rail on a body of the vehicle.

Abstract: A processing installation for aircraft structural components having a processing station comprising a clamping frame, wherein the clamping frame extends along a station longitudinal axis which extends in a longitudinal direction, and a processing unit which has an upper tool unit having an upper tool which is orientated along a first tool axis and a lower tool unit having a lower tool which is orientated along a second tool axis, wherein the first tool axis and the second tool axis can be orientated parallel with a vertical direction which is angular, in particular orthogonal, relative to the longitudinal direction, wherein in at least one processing position of the upper tool and in at least one processing position of the lower tool the first tool axis and the second tool axis are orientated coaxially relative to each other, and wherein the lower tool is supported on a lower tool carrier.

Abstract: A self-piercing rivet escapement mechanism for a rivet setting machine includes a self-piercing rivet track in which self-piercing rivets are receivable. A first resiliently biased jaw is biased towards a closed configuration in which the first resiliently biased jaw retains self-piercing rivets in the self-piercing rivet track. The first resiliently biased jaw is moveable to an open configuration in which a self-piercing rivet can escape the self-piercing rivet track. The first resiliently biased jaw is configured to move from the closed configuration to the open configuration upon exertion of a load upon the first resiliently biased jaw.

Abstract: A joist assembly system that is structured for dynamic retrieval of components, dynamic and precise positioning and location of retrieved components, assembly of the components to form a joist, and delivery of the assembled joist. The joist assembly system has a plurality of material handling systems, a plurality of welding systems, and a rigging table system. The material handling systems are structured to load and position the components such as chords and webs onto the rigging table. The rigging table in turn supports the chords or webs. Subsequently, the plurality of welding systems weld the webs to the chords to form the joist.

Abstract: An equipment mounting system for mounting equipment to a support structure is described. An equipment mounting system including: (i) a mounting plate having defined therein a plate aperture of a particular shape; (ii) a bolt having a shaft portion including a threaded portion and a non-threaded portion that is of a complementary shape that complements the particular shape of the plate aperture; and (iii) a washer having defined therein a scored aperture that includes multiple radially extending scorings. In an assembled configuration of the mounting plate, the bolt and the washer, the plate aperture of the particular shape aligns with the scoring aperture such that both of the plate aperture and the scoring aperture receive the non-threaded portion of the complementary shape, and the particular shape of the mounting plate engages with the complementary shape of the bolt to prevent rotational displacement of the bolt around the mounting plate.

Abstract: A double eccentric bushing arrangement comprises a first eccentric bushing comprising a first eccentric aperture, a second eccentric bushing comprising a second eccentric aperture, a fastener, a washer configured to be received around a portion of the second eccentric bushing, and a snap ring configured to be received around a portion of the second eccentric bushing to secure the washer in an installed position. The first eccentric bushing is configured to receive the second eccentric bushing in the first eccentric aperture. The second eccentric bushing is configured to receive the fastener in the second eccentric aperture. The first eccentric bushing is rotatable with respect to the second eccentric bushing to adjust a position of the fastener with respect to an adjacent component to which the fastener is being attached.

Abstract: A jig for assembling a cabinet is disclosed. The jig includes a clamp assembly pivotally attached to a base. The clamp assembly includes a first jaw and a second jaw configured to apply a clamping force therebetween. The clamp assembly can pivot between a first position and a first inclined position. In the first position, a front support plate of the clamp assembly is oriented vertically, and in the first inclined position, a first angle less than 90 degrees is formed between the front support plate and a support surface on which the base rests. The clamp assembly may also pivot to a second inclined position at which a second angle less than the first angle is formed between the front support plate and the support surface.

Abstract: A method of making a fluid injection component for a gas turbine engine includes depositing material onto a piece of tube stock. The method includes machining an elbow into the deposited material, wherein machining the elbow includes forming a braze joint surface in the deposited material. Depositing can include laser cladding the material onto the piece of tube stock.

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling a heater assembly for a nicotine pod assembly includes a base, a wick feed, a slide, and a holder. The wick feed extends toward the base and defines a channel configured to receive a wick structured to draw a nicotine pre-vapor formulation via capillary action. The slide is configured to move along a plane on a top face of the base. The holder is disposed on the top face of the base.

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling a heater assembly for a non-nicotine pod assembly includes a base, a wick feed, a slide, and a holder. The wick feed extends toward the base and defines a channel configured to receive a wick structured to draw a non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation via capillary action. The slide is configured to move along a plane on a top face of the base. The holder is disposed on the top face of the base.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing annular sectors of an air intake lip includes arranging a revolution-shaped blank facing a three-dimensional forming surface of a die of a hydroforming tool, the three-dimensional surface including at least two plunging cavities spaced from each other along a circumferential direction, forming an air intake lip preform in one piece by hydroforming the revolution-shaped blank on the three-dimensional surface of the die, the air intake lip preform having in section a U-shape and including a plurality of crenellated portions each delimited by a plunging cavity, the production of a plurality of cutouts in the air intake lip preform so as to divide the preform into a plurality of annular sectors, each cutout including the removal of a sacrificial portion at the level of a crenellated portion so as to form two adjacent assembly edges with one of the two adjacent assembly edges including a plunging.

Abstract: A fastening apparatus includes: a plurality of fastening tools; a first movement mechanism configured to rotate the plurality of fastening tools in a circumferential direction; a second movement mechanism configured to rectilinearly move the plurality of fastening tools in a radial direction; and a third movement mechanism configured to rectilinearly move the plurality of fastening tools in a vertical direction. In particular, the first movement mechanism includes a closed-curve guide unit having a closed-curve shape and configured to define a route along which the plurality of fastening tools rotates in the circumferential direction.

Abstract: A fastening system for fastening a fastener to a workpiece, includes a movable carriage on which the workpiece is placed, a coordinate detection unit configured to detect a position of the fastener temporarily tightened onto the workpiece as coordinates in a coordinate system of the movable carriage, a storage device configured to store the coordinates detected by the coordinate detection unit, and a retightening device configured to determine a position of the fastener based on the coordinates stored in the storage device and retighten the fastener that is at the determined position.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a backrest and/or having a textile covering or the same, and mounted on a chair tubular chassis or the same includes the following steps: folding the lateral edges of the textile covering and seaming the edges to form lateral sheaths by a lateral seam line, affixing at least three visual markers, (notches), to at least one of the ends of each of the lateral sheaths, a first central notch at the lateral edge of each of the sheaths and two peripheral notches on both sides of the respective central notch, folding the free ends of the sheaths by fitting each central notch between the respective peripheral notches, such that the notches extend facing each other, seaming the free ends of the sheaths at the folding area of the notches by a transverse seam line, and turning over the textile covering by bringing out the corners.

Abstract: An automated clip application system for fitting clips in an automotive assembly line includes a cassette receiving station for receiving at least one cassette preloaded with a plurality of clips. The clips in the cassette are arranged in the same orientation. A dispensing opening dispenses clips from the cassette one at a time, and a robotic member is programmed to pick up the clips, one at a time, after they have been dispensed from the dispensing opening and fasten each clip in position in an automotive assembly.