Abstract: An exhaust connection coupler and a method for manufacturing a braid cover incorporated therein are provided. The method of manufacturing comprises the steps of providing a tubular sleeve formed of braided wire filaments and forming at least one end of the sleeve into shape using a forming die such that the at least one end of the cover includes a circumferential neck portion having a diameter smaller than the diameter of a body portion of the cover. In the method, the sleeve may be pressed between male and female forming dies in order to create the cover's desired shape, which can include a shoulder extending radially outwardly from the cover's neck portion and meeting the cover's body portion at a corner.

Abstract: Wet electrostatic precipitator (WESP) collector tube bundles are formed by a procedure in which strips of conductive material are corrugated, intended abutting surfaces of the corrugated strips are abraded, adhesive is applied to the abraded surfaces, multiple ones of the corrugated strips are assembled with corrugation in abutting relationship, and outer panels are assembled with the resulting hexagonal tube bundle.

Abstract: An assembly plate and a method for arranging at least one module in a housing body, including an assembly side for assembly in the housing body and an opposing module housing side for housing the module. According to the invention, the assembly plate has clip pins by means of which the module can be locked in a position on the assembly side as defined by the clip pins.

Abstract: A metal matrix composite is disclosed that includes graphene nanoplatelets dispersed in a metal matrix. The composite provides for improved thermal conductivity. The composite may be formed into heat spreaders or other thermal management devices to provide improved cooling to electronic and electrical equipment and semiconductor devices.

Abstract: An intravascular balloon catheter having an ultra soft tip. The catheter includes a braided reinforcement member extending substantially the length of the elongate shaft. A balloon is disposed at the distal end of the elongate shaft. An ultra soft tip is formed from a distal portion of balloon material extending distal of the distal end of the elongate shaft.

Abstract: A fastening system for attaching cladding panels to a carrier panel and allowing for differential thermal expansion. The system fastens the two panels together at points in the direction perpendicular to the panel planes. A combination of different carrier panel hole sizes and slots fix the panels together at one point and allow the panels to expand and contract relative to each other while maintaining rectangular alignment. Wall panels and buildings constructed using the fastener are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of installing a filter unit includes aligning a filter unit into a filter head assembly. The filter unit includes a laterally extending key member and an engagement protrusion. The engagement protrusion includes a first portion that has a first radius of curvature and a second portion opposing the first portion that has a second radius of curvature larger than the first radius of curvature. The laterally extending key member is aligned into a key slot in the filter head assembly. An engagement surface is aligned on the filter unit into a complementary engagement surface on the filter head assembly. The filter unit is rotatingly inserted into the filter head assembly. The laterally extending key member shifts an interference member on the filter head assembly from an interference position, wherein the filter unit cannot sealingly engage the filter head assembly, to a non-interference position, wherein the filter unit can sealingly engage the filter head assembly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for quickly and easily installing a safety cord in the butt of a racquet, without damaging the safety cord, includes a handle and an elongate structure having a loop for engaging the safety cord.

Abstract: A method of balancing a crankshaft includes connecting a torsion-absorbing pendulum to a cheek of the crankshaft, which is coupled to a crankpin. As the pendulum connected to the cheek has insufficient mass to balance the crankshaft, a lightening bore is formed through a bisection plane of the cheek. In forming the lightening bore, enough material is removed from the cheek so that the mass of the pendulum becomes sufficient to balance the crankshaft.

Abstract: A one-piece rigid connector allows a nominal construction wood member to slip axially while fixed at its distal end, to accommodate the naturally occurring shrinkage of lumber. The connector surrounds the wood member and attaches to a second wood member to secure the members together. The connector may be slightly larger radially than the first member to accommodate natural movement. In one embodiment, the connector is made of a light gauge sheet metal and attaches a vertical baluster to the horizontal lower deck rail of an elevated wood deck guard rail system. The connector secures the baluster horizontally, but allows the baluster to move vertically to accommodate expansion or contraction of the baluster after construction. The distal end of the baluster is secured using conventional wood screw attachment. The connector includes tabs on each side to allow fastening of the connector to the lower deck rail using conventional wood screws.

Abstract: In order to sharpen and harden a corner portion of a score line edge portion of an iron golf club having a plurality of score lines on a face surface within a prescribed range, heat input is implemented on an edge portion of a groove through laser irradiation after the groove is machined and, as a result, the edge portion is hardened and melted to form a rounded corner R. The hardness is set at a Vickers hardness value (HV) of at least 350. The corner R forms a part of a contour line of the edge portion and this contour line is formed to exist between a first circle that contacts the face surface and a side surface of the groove and has a radius of 0.010 inches (0.254 millimeters) and a second circle that is concentric with the first circle and has a radius of 0.011 inches (0.2794 millimeters).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a non-ferrous, light metal alloy vibration-damped part for a vehicle chassis includes introducing a polymer insert into a cavity formed in the part. The polymer insert may be introduced into the cavity by separately fabricating the polymer insert and then sliding or maneuvering the insert into the cavity or by injecting a liquid polymer material into the cavity and then solidifying and shrinking the liquid polymer material into the polymer insert. The vibration-damped light metal alloy part can damp vibrations that originate within or are imparted to the part when such vibrations effectuate relative contacting frictional movement between an exterior surface of the polymer insert and an interior surface of the cavity.

Abstract: A pierce nut insertion tool is provided. In another aspect, a pierce nut feeding mechanism has a mechanically independent driver actuator from that of a punch. A further aspect of the present tool employs a member, moveable with a punch, that retains a pierce nut prior to fastening of the nut to a workpiece. An additional aspect uses a fluid actuated nut feeder including a piston.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are shown for installing a metal transition end on an open end of a length of plastic pipe having an outer diameter and an inner diameter by placing a stiffener sleeve within the inner diameter of the plastic pipe at a point which is circumscribed by the metal transition end. An installer apparatus is positioned over the open end of the length of plastic pipe and the metal transition end from the direction of the open plastic pipe end. The apparatus has a draw rod which extends along a horizontal axis generally aligned with the open pipe end. A metal stiffener sleeve is temporarily mounted on a segmented grip located on one end of the draw rod. An actuating sleeve, carried on the draw rod, allows the stiffener sleeve to be installed in a desired location within the open plastic pipe end by using the draw rod to first position the stiffener sleeve in the desired location.

Abstract: A panel loading method for loading an inner panel to an outer panel that has a bent portion provided by bending a periphery thereof, the outer panel and the inner panel being overlapped to integrate the outer panel and the inner panel at the periphery thereof. The method includes: providing at least one of the outer panel and the inner panel by an elastic body; disposing the outer panel onto a panel receiver so that the bent portion is directed upward; placing a guide plate on or above the bent portion; loading the inner panel into the outer panel from above the guide plate; and inserting the inner panel into an inside of the bent portion.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the conduit connector comprises a body, a cover, and a slide located in the channel. Optionally, the body can comprising a box engagement region capable of engaging an opening in an enclosure and a channel having body sides that diverge from an inlet end toward an outlet end, wherein the sides have a cover connector. The cover can be disposed across the channel and mated with the cover connector. The slide can optionally comprise slide sides that diverge toward the outlet end, a bore extending into the slide from a first end, and protrusions extending from the slide into the channel and having a size and geometry to engage a groove on a conduit.

Abstract: A one-piece rigid connector allows a nominal construction wood member to slip axially while fixed at its distal end, to accommodate the naturally occurring shrinkage of lumber. The connector surrounds the wood member and attaches to a second wood member to secure the members together. The connector may be slightly larger radially than the first member to accommodate natural movement. In one embodiment, the connector is made of a light gauge sheet metal and attaches a vertical baluster to the horizontal lower deck rail of an elevated wood deck guard rail system. The connector secures the baluster horizontally, but allows the baluster to move vertically to accommodate expansion or contraction of the baluster after construction. The distal end of the baluster is secured using conventional wood screw attachment. The connector includes tabs on each side to allow fastening of the connector to the lower deck rail using conventional wood screws.

Abstract: A mounting system includes a first wall mount and a second wall mount. The first wall mount includes a first protruding flange having a top edge, a bottom edge, a front edge and a slot defined by an upper edge that intersects with the top edge of the protruding flange, a lower edge that intersects with the front edge of the protruding flange, a coupling edge that couples the upper edge to the lower edge. The second wall mount including a second protruding flange having a top edge, a bottom edge, a front edge and a slot defined by an upper edge that intersects with the top edge of the protruding flange, a lower edge that intersects with the front edge of the protruding flange, and a coupling edge that couples the upper edge to the lower edge. Sporting equipment can be deposited in the slots in at least two different configurations.

Abstract: A method of assembling an optical relay assembly including forming a line of optical components within an optical component aligning groove of a first base member and directing the line of optical components from the optical component receiving groove into a cylinder covered by a shrinkable tube. The cylinder, line of optical components and shrinkable tube are then positioned within a cylinder receiving groove of a second base member and the line of optical components are extruded from the cylinder into the shrinkable tube. The line of optical components and shrinkable tube are advanced along the cylinder receiving groove and through a heating area for shrinking the shrinkable tube about the line of optical components.

Abstract: A method of making a universal joint from a tube, including forming a plurality of pairs of coaxially aligned holes at longitudinally spaced locations in the tube, cutting the tube along a curvilinear cutting path around the holes forming a pair of projecting arms and U-shaped recesses between the arms forming a plurality of yokes and pivotally interconnecting the yokes using a pivot member received in the holes of adjacent yokes.