Abstract: A method of attaching a surgical suture to a needle and testing the attachment includes dispensing a length of suture from a spool by using a first suture gripper, and using a surgical needle gripper for holding a surgical needle stationary. A leading end of the suture is inserted into and attached to a receiving end of the surgical needle. A second suture gripper is located between the first suture gripper and the spool. After the second suture gripper is closed for gripping the suture, the second suture gripper is advanced downstream toward the surgical needle to reduce the tension on the suture. The tension on the suture is reduced by moving the second suture gripper a pre-determined distance. The first suture gripper is opened for releasing the suture and the first suture gripper is moved toward the suture spool for re-grasping the suture at a location between the second gripper and the suture spool.

Abstract: A system configured to couple a hydraulic hammer and tool is disclosed. A hydraulic hammer may include a housing defining a chamber, elongate along a longitudinal axis, configured to receive a tool. The chamber may comprise an opening through which the tool may be inserted. A plurality of upper splines and a plurality of lower splines may be disposed, parallel to the longitudinal axis, on an inner surface of the chamber. A locking mechanism, comprising a rotatable locking ring, may be disposed within the chamber between the plurality of upper splines and the plurality of lower splines. The locking ring may comprise a plurality of locking ring splines disposed on an inner surface of the locking ring, wherein the plurality of locking ring splines are configured to align with the plurality of upper splines and the plurality of lower splines when the locking ring is rotated to an unlocked state.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to an apparatus and method for securing and transferring substrates. A substrate carrier, having one or more electrostatic chucking electrodes disposed therein, electrostatically couples a substrate to the carrier. Optionally, a mask may also be electrostatically coupled to the carrier and may be disposed over a region of the carrier not occupied by the substrate. In one embodiment, multiple electrode assemblies are provided such that a first electrode assembly chucks the substrate to the carrier and a second electrode assembly chucks the mask to the carrier. In another embodiment, a pocket is formed in the carrier and an electrode assembly provides chucking capability within the pocket.

Abstract: A method is provided which forms a closed section hollow structural element by performing the following steps which include press forming an upper sheet metal component configured with two primary parallel downstanding interface flanges; press forming a lower sheet metal component configured with two primary parallel upstanding interface flanges; complementarily trimming the downstanding interface flanges and the upstanding interface flanges using five-axis laser cutting; and butt welding the interface flanges of the upper and lower sheet metal components to one another to form a continuous hollow structural element of variable cross section.

Abstract: An automated assembly apparatus, characterized by comprising an assembly robot having a plurality of hands, the plurality of hands being movable in an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction by an X-axis moving unit and a Y-axis moving unit, and a plurality of workbenches which are provided with Z-axis moving unit and which are movable in a Z-axis direction by the Z-axis moving unit. A work area is independently provided for the plurality of workbenches, a width of a predetermined work area among the work areas is larger than clearance widths of the plurality of hands, widths of the work areas other than the predetermined work area are smaller than the clearance widths of at least some of the plurality of hands, and the hand which performs a job on the predetermined work area is disposed at a lowermost level in the Z-axis direction.

Abstract: A method of forming a sealed cavity around an end of a fastener protruding from a structure is disclosed having the steps of: (i) installing a cap having a cap body terminating at a rim which surrounds an opening of a cavity over the end of the fastener so that the end of the fastener is enclosed within the cavity; (ii) heating the cap to increase a temperature within the cavity; (iii) providing a bead of uncured sealing material around the rim of the cap body to seal a volume of gas within the cavity; and (iv) curing the bead of sealing material during a cure period.

Abstract: A method. Rack containers include rack units stacked in a first direction that is parallel to a floor. Each rack unit has wheels positioned on a supporting structure on the floor which enables adjacent rack containers to move closer to or further from each other. The supporting structure is on the floor and is oriented in the second direction. The second direction is parallel to the floor and perpendicular to the first direction. A cooling fluid is flowed through a flexible tube into each rack container via a cooling conduit secured at a first port on a top surface of each rack container. The cooling conduit encapsulates the flexible tube. The to surface is further from the floor than is any other surface of each rack container.

Abstract: An adjustable tool handle for holding a tool during use provides an improved handling of tools during use of tools that are difficult to use on their own, specifically L-shaped hexagonal wrenches. The adjustable tool handle includes a tool handle body with a handle and an adjustable opening for receiving a tool. In order to place a tool within the tool handle, a user opens the tool handle. When the tool handle is open, one leg of the tool handle is inserted into one of a plurality of openings on the back of the body and the other leg is placed within the adjustable opening. After the tool is placed within the tool handle, the tool is held in place by a securing mechanism. With the tool coupled to the tool handle, a user is able to tighten and loosen work pieces of different sizes and different types.

Abstract: A door regulation apparatus positions a door mounted in a freely rotatably state in a vehicle body at a reference position in a gap/step measuring process, makes a step of a preset portion of the door to zero, and includes: i) a frame installed outside of a vehicle body transfer line; ii) a moving member reciprocating in the frame through a driving unit; iii) a clamping unit installed in the moving member vacuum adsorbs a skin surface of the door; iv) a sensor installed in the clamping unit senses a vacuum pressure operating at the skin surface; v) a vision photographing unit installed in the moving member photographs a preset portion of the door; and iv) a control unit analyzes and processes a sensing signal from the sensor and vision data that acquires from the vision photographing unit to control the driving unit.

Abstract: A method and system for manufacturing a hairpin tube. The method includes cutting a coil of tube to provide a plurality of lengths of tubes, and bending each length of tube to form a plurality of hairpin tubes. A lubricant is then atomized with an injector nozzle, and injected into at least one open end of each hairpin tube. After lubricating the hairpin tubes, the legs of each hairpin tube are expanded.

Abstract: A rotor blade disassembly method includes applying spanwise support to a rotor blade body and heating a bond disposed on an end of the rotor blade body. The method also includes removing the spanwise support from the rotor blade body and exerting shear stress on the bond using weight of the rotor blade body. A blade disassembly system is also described.

Abstract: The present application relates to a method for producing a housing for an axial turbomachine compressor having a metal sheet with annular rows of stator blades which are welded to the metal sheet. The method includes the steps of: (a) providing or producing a planar metal sheet with a step of machining in order to form blade stumps; (b) welding stator blades of friction to one of the planar faces of the metal sheet, the blades being arranged so as to form parallel straight rows of blades; (c) bending the metal sheet about a bending axis perpendicular to each row of blades, so as to form a half-tube with annular half-rows of blades which are axially spaced apart, and producing annular grooves by rolling; (d) welding annular flanges and axial flanges; (e) application of annular layers of abradable material.

Abstract: An insulated HVAC duct component such as a transition box includes a first insulation layer and a second, different insulation layer. The transition box includes at least four sidewalls and one of a top and a back wall, the transition box further including a first access port and a second access port, the first access port having a different cross section than the second access port, one of the access ports being spaced from a nearest sidewall by less than 2 inches. The first insulation layer is located along an inside surface of the box. The second different insulation layer overlies the first insulation layer, the second different insulation layer having an air impervious surface, wherein the combined thickness of the first insulation layer and the second different insulation layer is less than 2 inches.

Abstract: A rotor has a rotor core with protruding fingers defining slots for conductors and support blocks at the axial ends of the fingers fixed by screws. The fingers have holes for housing the screws. The method for repairing the rotor includes removing the screws and support blocks, drilling the holes to increase the diameter thereof, providing plugs into the holes.

Abstract: A pin is made of a synthetic resin having an appropriate thermal expansion rate and a low friction coefficient. At a state where respective members configuring a cross shaft universal joint are assembled, a tip portion of the pin is heated and softened, and one yoke is pivotally displaced relative to other yoke. Thereby, it is possible to set a fitting margin of the pin to a bottom inner surface of a bearing cup to an appropriate size and to adjust a shape of an end surface of the pin.

Abstract: A tool for removing a fastener head from a fastener includes a body that includes an alignment surface configured to couple substantially flush against a structural surface proximate the fastener head. A blade coupled to the body includes a tip configured to sever the fastener head from the fastener as the blade is moved in a first direction generally parallel to the alignment surface from a first blade position to a second blade position. The tool also includes a force transfer member coupled to the body for movement parallel to a longitudinal axis of the force transfer member. The longitudinal axis is oriented at an acute angle with respect to the first direction. The force transfer member is configured to move the blade from the first blade position to the second blade position in response to an impulse received by the force transfer member.

Abstract: A camshaft-manufacturing method includes: a split die group preparation step; a processing preparation step of preparing a cam including a through-hole, a cam body which is smaller than each of the cam accommodation portions, and ribs which are provided on both sides in a thickness direction of the cam body and configured to be fitted into the rib accommodation portions, and a hollow shaft, accommodating the cam body in the cam accommodation portion and fitting the ribs in the rib accommodation portion, and inserting the hollow shaft into the through-hole of the cam; and a processing step of performing hydroform processing, and fixing the cam to the hollow shaft by expanding the hollow shaft.

Abstract: A method. A cooling fluid flows through a flexible tube into each rack container including a plurality of rack units via a cooling conduit that encapsulates the flexible tube and is secured at a first port on a top surface of each rack container. The rack units are stacked in a direction parallel to a floor. The cooling conduit includes a first segment, a second segment, and a third segment. The first segment is linked to, perpendicular to, and in direct physical contact with, the second segment through a first articulation. The second segment is linked to, parallel to, and in direct physical contact with, the third segment through a second articulation. The first and second articulations are configured to rotate horizontally in a plane parallel to the floor to enable the flexible tube to maintain smooth contact with the top surface of each rack container.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for assembling a structure constructed from components, in particular a wind turbine. The device includes a lift placed on a surface for the purpose of placing a component on an available support structure, wherein a boom of the lift is provided with a main hoisting cable with a hoisting tackle for releasable attachment of the component for lifting to the boom. The boom further includes a guide device for the hoisting tackle, the guide device is connected to the boom for displacement along a longitudinal axis of the boom using a displacing device, and the guide device is configured to limit movement of the hoisting tackle in at least one direction. The invention likewise relates to a method which makes use of the invented device.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming a gasket for sealing opposing flange surfaces of a pipe having corrosive fluid flowing therethrough. The method comprises defining a gasket profile incorporating a serrated profile core having a flange extending radially inward therefrom. A deformable pillow extends radially inward from the serrated profile core, to define a gasket intermediate portion about the flange, and a gasket inner portion radially inward from the flange. The deformable pillow material and thickness are selected such that upon compression to a thickness no less than the core thickness, the gasket inner portion exhibits a stress level sufficient to preclude corrosive liquid flowing through the pipe from passing radially outward beyond the gasket inner portion, and the gasket intermediate portion exhibits a stress level sufficient to preclude gas and liquid flowing through the pipe from passing radially outward beyond the gasket intermediate portion.