Abstract: Apparatus and method for supporting an elongated slender member having a high axial compression stress state during a change in length of the member.

Abstract: Hydraulic or pseudo hydraulic methods and apparatus using component area ratios to amplify the displacement or force responses of super-elastic (SE) and shape memory actuator (SMA) devices by means mechanically coupled to the SE/SMA devices.

Abstract: Hydraulic or pseudo hydraulic methods and apparatus using component area ratios to amplify the displacement or force responses of super-elastic (SE) and shape memory actuator (SMA) devices by means mechanically coupled to the SE/SMA devices.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for supporting an elongated slender member having a high axial compression stress state during a change in length of the member.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for supporting an elongated slender member having a high axial compression stress state during a change in length of the member.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for supporting an elongated slender member having a high axial compression stress state during a change in length of the member.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for supporting an elongated slender member having a high axial compression stress state during a change in length of the member.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for moving a wire along its own axis against a high resistance to its motion causing a substantial uniaxial compression stress in the wire without allowing it to buckle. The apparatus consists of a wire gripping and moving drive wheel and guide rollers for transporting the moving wire away from the drive wheel. Wire is pressed into a peripheral groove in a relatively large diameter, rotating drive wheel by a set of small diameter rollers arranged along part of the periphery causing the wire to be gripped by the groove. The drive wheel can have a smooth peripheral surface and a groove or grooves parallel in the outer surface of small diameter rollers.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for supporting an elongated slender member having a high axial compression stress state during a change in length of the member.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for moving a wire along its own axis against a high resistance to its motion causing a substantial uniaxial compression stress in the wire without allowing it to buckle. The apparatus consists of a wire gripping and moving drive wheel and guide rollers for transporting the moving wire away from the drive wheel. Wire is pressed into a peripheral groove in a relatively large diameter, rotating drive wheel by a set of small diameter rollers arranged along part of the periphery causing the wire to be gripped by the groove.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for moving a wire along its own axis against a high resistance to its motion causing a substantial uniaxial compression stress in the wire without allowing it to buckle. The apparatus consists of a wire gripping and moving drive wheel and guide rollers for transporting the moving wire away from the drive wheel. Wire is pressed into a peripheral groove in a relatively large diameter, rotating drive wheel by a set of small diameter rollers arranged along part of the periphery causing the wire to be gripped by the groove. The drive wheel can have a smooth peripheral surface and a groove or grooves parallel in the outer surface of small diameter rollers.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for moving a wire along its own axis against a high resistance to its motion causing a substantial uniaxial compression stress in the wire without allowing it to buckle. The apparatus consists of a wire gripping and moving drive wheel and guide rollers for transporting the moving wire away from the drive wheel. Wire is pressed into a peripheral groove in a relatively large diameter, rotating drive wheel by a set of small diameter rollers arranged along part of the periphery causing the wire to be gripped by the groove.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for moving a wire along its own axis against a high resistance to its motion causing a substantial uniaxial compression stress in the wire without allowing it to buckle. The apparatus consists of a wire gripping and moving drive wheel and guide rollers for transporting the moving wire away from the drive wheel. Wire is pressed into a peripheral groove in a relatively large diameter, rotating drive wheel by a set of small diameter rollers arranged along part of the periphery causing the wire to be gripped by the groove.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method to produce a semi-crystalline fluoro-polymer film. A semi-crystalline fluoro-polymer material is used. The material is compressed to produce the film. During compression, the material is maintained at a temperature below the melting point of the material. The compression step can be cycled to allow cooling of the material between compression stages. Alternative methods are provided for compressing the material with a co-extrusion substrate, extruding the material and utilizing mandrel expansion for the material.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for moving a wire along its own axis against a high resistance to its motion causing a substantial uniaxial compression stress in the wire without allowing it to buckle. The apparatus consists of a wire gripping and moving drive wheel and guide rollers for transporting the moving wire away from the drive wheel. Wire is pressed into a peripheral groove in a relatively large diameter, rotating drive wheel by a set of small diameter rollers arranged along part of the periphery causing the wire to be gripped by the groove.

Abstract: A hydrostatic extrusion apparatus whereby semicrystalline thermopolastic polymers can be hydrostatically extruded in a solid state is described. The apparatus includes an outer tooling support means; a container assembly aligned within one end of the outer support means and having pressure means contiguous therewith whereby pressure is applied to the apparatus to both rigidly align the tooling and provide sufficient pressure for extrusion of a polymer billet within the container assembly and a receiver assembly coaxially aligned with the container assembly in the other end of the tooling means. The container assembly includes a container means, sealing means to prevent leakage of hydrostatic fluid in the container means and a die portion on the inner forward surface of the container means. The receiver assembly includes a concentrically aligned mandrel which supports and aligns a mandrel-head in spaced relationship with the die portion of the container means.

Abstract: A hydrostatic extrusion apparatus whereby thermoplastic polymers can be hydrostatically extruded in a solid state is described. The apparatus includes:(a) an outer casing or tooling support means,(b) a container assembly concentrically contained within the outer casing and having pressure means attached thereto to provide extrusion pressure to a fluid in the assembly, sealing means to prevent leakage of the fluid, means for holding a polymer billet and including a die portion, and(c) a receiver assembly axially aligned with the container assembly concentrically within the outer casing having pressure means to clamp the container and receiver assemblies together, a mandrel for holding and aligning a mandrel-head in spaced relationship with the die, and means for receiving, lubricating and cooling the extrudate.Optionally, means for preheating and loading the polymers into the container assembly are provided whereby the press may be operated on a semi-continuous or continuous basis.

Abstract: A resettable apparatus including a deformable restraining element adapted to contact and restrain active elements for producing a time-delayed force or displacement response. The apparatus functions by the release of the force and/or displacement active element by the creep deformation action of the restraining element at a time interval after actuation of the active element.

Abstract: A thick-walled, seamless, rigid conduit having a substantially uniform wall thickness which is not less than about 0.5 percent of the outside diameter consisting essentially of an oriented crystalline thermoplastic polymer characterized by a structure comprised of radially compressed discrete, platelet-like spherulitic crystalline aggregates and having a combination of good ultimate tensile strength and low temperature tensile impact strength is described.The conduit is fabricated by solid state hydrostatic extrusion of a substantially non-oriented semi-crystalline thermoplastic polymer preform which may contain up to about 60 weight percent filler. The polymer is substantially simultaneously elongated in both circumferential and axial directions by compressive forces with the circumferential elongation being at least 100 percent.

Abstract: Die arrangement for use with conventional and hydrostatic extrusion presses consisting of a first die for providing a first extruded section of a billet and a second die cooperating with the first die to further extrude said first extruded section to final shape. Successive dies beyond the second die are contemplated to provide successive step-wise extrusion for greater reductions, especially of large billets. The method of the invention comprises step-wise incremental sequential extrusion of the billet and extruded portions of the billet until the final shape is achieved.