Abstract: A prime mover for hot chamber die casting machines and the like, comprises a cylindrical housing with a piston slidably mounted therein for translation between extended and retracted positions. A rod connects the piston with an injection plunger portion of the casting machine. A closed reservoir, retaining high pressure gas therein, communicates with the power side of the piston, and urges the same toward the extended position. The piston is translated to the retracted position, and selectively released, whereby the high pressure gas contained in the reservoir quickly accelerates the piston to a fast speed portion of the shot stroke, and also facilitates substantially instantaneous deceleration of the piston at the end of the shot stroke without substantial backlash.

Abstract: A molding machine for die casting, injection molding, and other similar processes, comprises a base shaped to support thereon a two-part die, and a ram for converging and diverging the die halves between open and closed positions. A pair of clamping frames are pivotally mounted on one end of the base, and include a closed border shaped to surround or receive therein side portions of the die halves. The clamping frames are laterally pivoted between a fanned-apart or open position wherein the die can be freely lifted off of the base, and a folded or closed position wherein the frame borders surround the die side portions and capture the same between the ends of the frames. In the closed position, retractable compression columns extend between the die and one end of the frames to positively lock the die halves in the closed position, whereby die separation forces developed during injection of the die are resisted substantially solely by the clamping frames.

Abstract: A vehicle visor includes a molded body pivotally secured to a vehicle by means of a pivot mounting bracket and a support rod. The support rod is L-shaped with a torque fitting at an end secured within the pivot bracket for movement about an axis permitting the visor to swing from the front of the vehicle to the side. The visor body is secured to an elongated section of the L-shaped rod by a pair of torque fittings permitting rotation of the visor body on the support rod. The torque fittings comprise a lubricous polymeric material molded onto the support rod to provide a predetermined torque between the fittings and the rod. The fittings are anchored within the body of the visor and the pivot bracket permitting movement of the visor along the two axes. In the preferred embodiment, the torque fittings include oppositely extending configurated flanges fitted into keyways within the visor body and pivot bracket for anchoring the rod within the visor body.

Abstract: A molding machine for die casting, injection molding, and other similar processes, comprises a base shaped to support thereon a two-part die, and a ram for converging and diverging the die halves between open and closed positions. A pair of clamping frames are pivotally mounted on one end of the base, and include a closed border shaped to surround or receive therein side portions of the die halves. The clamping frames are laterally pivoted between a fanned-apart or open position wherein the die can be freely lifted off of the base, and a folded or closed position wherein the frame borders surround the die side portions and capture the same between the ends of the frames. In the closed position, retractable compression columns extend between the die and one end of the frames to positively lock the die halves in the closed position, whereby die separation forces developed during injection of the die are resisted substantially solely by the clamping frames.

Abstract: A system for individually adjusting tie bars of a die casting machine during operation includes a threaded sleeve securing one end of each of the threadless tie bars to a backing plate with an adjustment nut positioned between the backing plate and threaded sleeve for adjusting the machine lockup tension on the tie bar. The adjustment nut associated with each of the four tie bars has gear teeth and can be adjusted by means of disengagable idler gears commonly engaging a centrally located bull gear for selectively adjusting one or more of the tie bars. In one embodiment of the invention, strain gauges are placed on the threaded sleeves for detecting the lockup force applied to the tie bars through the sleeves and an electrical control circuit is employed for automatically controlling the tie bar adjustment mechanism to maintain tie bar tension within prescribed limits during production operation of the die casting machine.

Abstract: A system for mounting instruments such as CB radios, tape players, or other vehicle electronic systems such as computers in the dashboard opening of the ventilation system of a vehicle includes an adaptor plenum, housing and faceplate for redirecting the vehicle's output ventilators and providing adjacent space in the housing for the mounting of an electronic instrument. Such a system incorporates the existing ventilating system opening for the addition of after-market electronic systems to achieve a factory installed design appearance and to conveniently position the electronic instrument for use by the vehicle operator.

Abstract: A system for individually adjusting tie bars of a die casting machine during operation includes a threaded sleeve securing one end of each of the threadless tie bars to a backing plate with an adjustment nut positioned between the backing plate and threaded sleeve for adjusting the machine lockup tension on the tie bar. The adjustment nut associated with each of the four tie bars has gear teeth and can be adjusted by means of disengagable idler gears commonly engaging a centrally located bull gear for selectively adjusting one or more of the tie bars. In one embodiment of the invention, strain gauges are placed on the threaded sleeves for detecting the lockup force applied to the tie bars through the sleeves and an electrical control circuit is employed for automatically controlling the tie bar adjustment mechanism to maintain tie bar tension within prescribed limits during production operation of the die casting machine.