Abstract: Methods of designing and producing a connecting rod using carbon fiber reinforced epoxy molding compound composite material are provided, such that the method allows connecting rod designer to machine several different connecting rod designs, lengths, and beams. The material is molded into a near-net shape. After molding, the blank is machined into the final shape of a connecting rod and the material is sealed.

Abstract: An anti-slip and safe chopping board structure contains: at least one top board, at least one bottom board, at least one reinforcement layer, and at least one anti-slip fringe. A respective one reinforcement layer is defined between a respective one top board and a respective one bottom board. The respective one anti-slip fringe is injection molded around peripheral sides of the respective one top board, the respective one bottom board, and the respective one reinforcement layer. The anti-slip fringe includes an extension extending along the peripheral sides of the respective one top board and the respective one bottom board and the respective one reinforcement layer. The respective one anti-slip fringe includes a covering portion, and a highness of the extension of the respective one anti-slip fringe is higher than a highness of the respective one top board and the respective one bottom board.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for tray heads and wear plates for tray heads for a railroad spike dispenser. An example wear plate set includes a first wear plate configured to couple to a first sloped surface of a first wall of a tray head. The first wear plate defines a first sloped wear edge along which a head of a railroad spike is to slide when the first wear plate is coupled to the first wall and a shank of the railroad spike travels through a channel. A second wear plate is configured to removably couple to a second sloped surface of a second wall of the tray head. The second wear plate defines a second sloped wear edge along which the head is to slide when the second wear plate is coupled to the second wall and the shank of the railroad spike travels through the channel.

Abstract: A method of expanding an elongated and at least regionally planar metal element that has two respective marginal regions oppositely disposed and extending in a longitudinal direction and a central region arranged therebetween and including cuts, the marginal regions of the metal element are moved apart transversely to the longitudinal direction and in parallel with a planar extent of the metal element such that connection portions of the central region formed by the cuts and connecting the two respective marginal regions to one another are folded, the method includes displacing the two respective marginal regions with respect to one another transversely to the planar extent of the metal element to form a displaced state, and subsequently moving apart the two respective marginal regions in the displaced state.

Abstract: A handle is coupled to an industrial machine tool, along with a method of operating the industrial machine tool via the handle. The handle comprises a housing, a first switch, and a second switch. The housing includes a first side, a second side, a top end, and a bottom end, the first side facing toward the industrial machine tool and the second side facing away from the industrial machine tool. The first switch actuates a float mode for the industrial machine tool, the float mode being a mode in which movement of a moveable portion of the industrial machine tool is power assisted for an operator of the industrial machine tool. The second switch actuates a machining portion, coupled to the moveable portion of the industrial machine tool, to perform a machining process on a workpiece.

Abstract: A mounting system for performing an installation operation in an elevator shaft of an elevator system has a mounting apparatus that includes a carrier component with a mechatronic installation component, a displacement component, a suspension cable and a deflection roller deflecting the suspension cable between the displacement component and the carrier component. The carrier component is supported against a supporting wall of the elevator shaft by an upper support roller, at least during displacement in the elevator shaft. The suspension cable has, between the deflection roller and the carrier component, a diagonal pull relative to the vertical in the direction of the supporting wall and is guided via the deflection roller such that the diagonal pull can be varied by displacing the deflection roller. The deflection roller is arranged via a holding apparatus on a surface of the supporting wall such that the deflection roller protrudes into the elevator shaft.

Abstract: Provided a full-automatic wheel hub feeding-blanking system for intelligent production line of automotive wheel hubs, comprising: an intelligent material rack and a robot; the intelligent material rack comprises a bracket assembly, a turntable assembly and a bearing seat assembly; the turntable assembly being rotatable is mounted on the bearing seat assembly; the bracket assembly mounted on the turntable assembly comprises a base provided with at least one group of lifting devices, and each the group comprises three the lifting devices, and each of which an automotive wheel hub supporting plate assembly is provided on, central axis of the three automotive wheel hub supporting plate assemblies forming the angle of 120 degrees; the robot being mounted on one side of the intelligent material rack and comprises a robotic arm, and a manipulator is mounted on the robotic arm, and the manipulator is used for clamping the automotive wheel hub.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a truck topper supporting table device for removing and storing a truck topper from a pickup truck. The truck topper table enables a single individual to easily remove and install the topper on their own, and avoids the topper from having to be placed onto the ground when it is not on the truck. The truck topper table has two pairs of scissor-style collapsible legs that can be adjusted to a desired height. The table has a pair of horizontal rails positioned on the collapsible legs with rollers disposed along the length of the rails for easily rolling off the topper of the truck and onto the table. The table has cross members for increasing strength of the table to withstand heavy truck toppers.

Abstract: Power lines are installed with a rope brake apparatus that enables a rope to be suspended above the ground during installation and that thereby eliminates the need to block off the ground between power poles. The rope brake apparatus has a pair of opposed cam cleats mounted on a base adjacent each other for allowing movement of a rope between them in one direction and for preventing movement of a rope between them in an opposite direction.

Abstract: A method is provided for disassembling a gas turbine engine. The gas turbine engine includes a compressor section, a combustor section, a turbine section, a static structure and a bypass duct. The static structure houses and supports the compressor section, the combustor section and the turbine section. The static structure includes a turbine support structure. The bypass duct includes an inner duct wall, an outer duct wall and a bypass flowpath formed radially between the inner duct wall and the outer duct wall. The outer duct wall extends axially along the static structure and overlaps the turbine support structure. During the method, the turbine support structure is removed from the gas turbine engine while the outer duct wall remains installed.

Abstract: A staple removing device includes an aligning part with which a fold of a booklet stitched by a staple having a crown portion and leg portions and folded along an extension direction of the crown portion is brought into contact, a guide part that guides the fold of the booklet to the aligning part; and a removing part having an operating part that moves in a direction intersecting with the fold of the booklet, to engage with the crown portion of the staple that stitches the booklet.

Abstract: A method for planning and at least partially installing an elevator system in an elevator shaft includes automated installation steps carried out by an automated mounting device. The method steps include: deriving a target layout of the elevator system from target dimensions of the elevator shaft, establishing the installation steps to be carried out by the automated mounting device, checking that the automated installation steps can be carried out by the mounting device, detecting several actual dimensions of the elevator shaft, deriving an actual layout of the elevator system from the target layout and the detected actual dimensions, planning the automated installation steps based upon the actual layout and carrying out the automated installation steps with the mounting device.

Abstract: A portable railroad spike remover comprises an extractor that is shaped to engage and secure a railroad spike previously installed into a rail tie. A drive shaft is connected to the extractor such that as the drive shaft is rotated, the extractor is vertically raised and lowered within a main column. The extractor may have an opening extending through at least one side to engage the railroad spike.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for replacing expired or unserviceable aircraft emergency slides (“slides”) in an aircraft. The disclosed methods utilize containers that are configured to securely retain both unserviceable slides and serviceable slides at different times in different configurations as installation tools. The container can be placed on an aircraft through the main door of the aircraft, and are further configured to be easily transported within the aircraft from a staging area of the aircraft to a slide installation and removal point at either the main door or an emergency exit door of the aircraft. The containers can be aligned with the installation and removal point to facilitate replacing an unserviceable slide with a new, serviceable slide. The disclosed methods and containers improve personnel safety concerning lifting and handling of the slides, which are heavy.

Abstract: A method for mounting rotor blades of a wind turbine is provided. The wind turbine has a rotor hub with three rotor blade ports. A rotor blade is to be mounted to each of the three rotor blade ports. A mounting arm is fastened to a first rotor blade port. The mounting arm has a first section and a second section, which are coupled with each other via a hinge, so that the angle between the first and second sections can be varied. The hub is turned until the first rotor blade port is in a 90° position. A first end of the first section of the mounting arm is fastened to the first rotor blade port of the rotor hub. The rotor hub is turned with the help of the mounting arm, until the second rotor blade port is in a 270° position. The angle between the first and second sections of the mounting arm is varied while turning the rotor hub. A first rotor blade is lifted, so that the first rotor blade is horizontally mounted to the second rotor blade port of the rotor hub.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assembling a hanging scaffold system within the aft pressure bulkhead area of an aircraft to provide access to the pressure dome without contacting the pressure dome. The hanging scaffold system comprises a group of horizontal supports to support at least one floorboard. A group of vertical supports is connected to and extends perpendicularly from the group of horizontal supports. A clamping device is attached to each vertical support of the group of vertical supports and further engages an attachment point on an internal structure of an aircraft.

Abstract: A tool holding section opposite the first section with a bore formed in the tool holding section adapted for receiving the shank of the tool. A plurality of stress rods positioned around the bore and comprising a thermal rate of expansion less than a thermal rate of expansion of the tool holding section. The plurality of stress rods form corresponding bulges on the surface of the bore to decrease the inner diameter of the bore to mechanically lock the shank of the tool in the bore.

Abstract: Provided is a cutting board including a first board section, a second board section, and a hinge assembly pivotally coupling the first and second board sections together. The first board section has a first top surface, a first bottom surface, a first inner surface, a first outer surface, a first front surface, and a first rear surface and the second board section has a second top surface, a second bottom surface, a second inner surface, a second outer surface, a second front surface, and a second rear surface. The hinge assembly pivotally and removably couples the first and second board sections together such that the first and second inner surfaces face one another in an unfolded position and the first and second bottom surfaces face one another in a folded position.

Abstract: Systems and methods for manufacturing aircraft are disclosed. For example, a method for repetitively manufacturing aircraft comprises fractionally pulsing a constituent part down an assembly line by periodically advancing the constituent part down the assembly line by less than a length of the constituent part. The periodic advancing may include advancing the aircraft component by a pulse length that is less than the length of the aircraft component, stopping movement of the aircraft component for a duration and performing work on the aircraft component, and then advancing the aircraft component by the pulse length again. In another example, a method comprises determining a fractional pulse length to fractionally pulse one or more constituent parts of an aircraft based on one or more of a minimum workstation length of one or more assembly line workstations and a minimum section length of one or more work processes to be performed.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for an assembly fixture for positioning a component having a pivot pin including a rigid member, a fixed positioning pin affixed to a first point on the rigid member for insertion in a first locating hole in an assembly, a component restraint affixed to a second point on the rigid member for applying a force to the component for retaining the component in a fixed position and orientation with respect to the assembly fixture, and a pivot positioning pin coupled to a third point on the rigid member by a flexible mounting assembly, the flexible mounting assembly facilitating a linear movement of the pivot positioning pin along a linear path.