Abstract: An aqueous tube cleaning system as described herein can be utilized to clean a plurality of tubes having different lengths. The system includes a tower assembly having a wash chamber that houses the tubes during the cleaning cycle. The tower assembly is held in a horizontal load/unload position for loading and unloading of the tubes. The system rotates the tower assembly into a vertical cleaning orientation to accommodate cleaning with cleaning and rinse solutions, which flow through and around the tubes using the force of gravity. After rinsing and draining, the tower assembly is rotated back to the horizontal position for unloading.

Abstract: An aqueous tube cleaning apparatus and method includes a cleaning receptacle and a vertical receptacle, which is taller than the cleaning receptacle. A tube, or bundle of tubes, is placed in the cleaning receptacle, extending through an inlet port from the vertical receptacle, and a gate is closed to clamp the tubes in place. The vertical receptacle is then filled with a fluid, and the pressure created by gravity forces the fluid through and around the tubes, cleansing the inner and outer surfaces of the tubes.

Abstract: An ultrasonic blade includes a blade body and a cutting edge. The blade body is defined about a generally axial line. The cutting edge is on the blade body and is defined by the intersection of a first surface and a second surface. The first surface includes a first incident angle of about 0° to 35° from the axial line and a first curve of about 10° to 20° formed at the first incident angle. The second surface includes a second incident angle of about 0° to ?35° from the axial line and a second curve of about 10° to 20° formed at the second incident angle.

Abstract: An aqueous tube cleaning apparatus and method includes a cleaning receptacle and a vertical receptacle, which is taller than the cleaning receptacle. A tube, or bundle of tubes, is placed in the cleaning receptacle, extending through an inlet port from the vertical receptacle, and a gate is closed to clamp the tubes in place. The vertical receptacle is then filled with a fluid, and the pressure created by gravity forces the fluid through and around the tubes, cleansing the inner and outer surfaces of the tubes.

Abstract: An aqueous tube cleaning apparatus and method includes a cleaning receptacle and a vertical receptacle, which is taller than the cleaning receptacle. A tube, or bundle of tubes, is placed in the cleaning receptacle, extending through an inlet port from the vertical receptacle, and a gate is closed to clamp the tubes in place. The vertical receptacle is then filled with a fluid, and the pressure created by gravity forces the fluid through and around the tubes, cleansing the inner and outer surfaces of the tubes.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for cutting curved tube and duct assemblies using a high-powered laser, which locates, measures and follows a scribe line. The invention generally is comprised of a multi-axis laser-based machine tool to cut formed (i.e., curved) welded tube and duct detailed parts to a planar scribe line. It is further comprised of a laser focusing head positioned on a rotating and tilting platform; fixturing aids to position and hold the tubes or ducts to be cut; a machine vision system to locate and measure a scribe line in a plane on the tube or duct, thus determining its orientation; and a controller that tilts the turntable to a co-planar position, and then operates a high-powered laser to cut the duct at the scribe line.

Abstract: A workcell for making parts in a vertical orientation from rigid sheet material capable of self-support on edge includes a plurality of CNC machines for performing machining operations on said sheet material in a vertical orientation. The CNC machines receive machine control data from a cell controller which, in turn, receives nest order packages from a factory system. The parts data from which the factory system constructs the nest order packages comes from the original engineering parts definition in a central data storage system which is the ultimate parts design authority of the assembly for which the parts are to be made. The rigid sheet material is transferred in a vertical orientation to and between the CNC machines in at least one automated handling cart. The cart has a transfer mechanism for transferring sheets of the rigid sheet material on edge between the cart and the CNC machines.

Abstract: A drill spindle (62) is carried by the forward end of an elongated gear housing (12, 14). A parallel drive shaft (84) is carried by the housing (12, 14) rearwardly of the spindle (62). A parallel lead screw (92) is positioned between the spindle (62) and drive shaft (84) and is attached to a workpiece-engaging foot (20). A plurality of gears transmit rotation of the drive shaft (84) to the spindle (62) and lead screw (92). Two leader pins (182) are attached to the foot (20) and engaged by bearings (186) carried by the housing (12, 14) to slide freely relative thereto and to provide stiffness between the housing (12, 14) and the foot (20). The leader pins are spaced laterally and rearwardly from the drive shaft (84). A fluid activated pusher member (30) cooperates with the foot (20) to wedge the forward end of the drill (10) in a recessed work area. A fluid operated dog clutch (124, 132) engages rotation of the lead screw (92).