Abstract: An intensifier is operable to supply force and includes a housing defining a cavity. A ram is slidably positioned within the cavity and partially extends from the housing. The intensifier also includes a force transfer rod and a plurality of power pistons. The ram is moveable between retracted and extended positions along a longitudinal axis. The force transfer rod is selectively moveable between a retracted position where the force transfer rod is not axially aligned with the ram and an advanced position where the force transfer rod is axially aligned with the ram. The plurality of power pistons are axially aligned with each other and the ram. The power pistons are selectively operable to provide an output force to the ram when the force transfer rod is in the advanced position.

Abstract: A clamp includes a body, a lead pin moveable relative to the body and an actuator supported by the body. The actuator is axially moveable between an extended position and a retracted position. The actuator includes a camshaft drivingly coupled to the lead pin. Axial movement of the camshaft causes the lead pin to rotate between a first positioned aligned with a first longitudinal axis and a second position aligned with a second longitudinal axis laterally offset from the first longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A sheet fastening apparatus and method are provided. In another aspect of the present invention, a die assembly for forming a joint between sheets of material is disclosed wherein the die assembly includes an anvil, at least one die blade disposed adjacent to and overlapping a punch-side of the anvil, a flexible retainer, and a shield that coaxially and radially surrounds a portion of the anvil and/or die blade.

Abstract: A clamp and method for locating a clamping workpiece in predetermined location are disclosed. The clamp includes a clamp body, a driving member, a workpiece-locating pin and a clamping member. The driving member is moveable in a first linear direction at least partially inside the clamp body. The workpiece-locating pin is moveable in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction and at least partially externally projects from the body. The clamping member is moveable relative to the workpiece-locating pin in the first direction when moving between a retracted position and a clamping position.

Abstract: A computerized document retrieval system has a file store holding a collection of documents, and indexer for constructing and updating at least one index from the contents of the documents, and a search engine for searching the index to retrieve documents from the file store. The indexer comprises three asynchronously executable processes: (a) a crawl process, which scans the file store to find documents requiring to be indexed, (b) an extract process, which accesses the documents requiring to be indexed and extracts indexing data from them, and (c) a build process, which uses the indexing data to construct or update the index.

Abstract: A press for translating a tool includes a first member, a second member and a plurality of retention members. The first member is drivingly coupled to an actuator. The first member is axially moveable between first and second positions in response to movement of the actuator. The first member includes a first end surface having a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart detents. The second member is threadably engaged with the first member. The first and second members define an assembly having a length. The retention members are positioned between the first and second members. Each retention member is biasedly engaged with one of the detents to provide resistance to relative rotation between the first and second members. The resistance to relative rotation may be overcome to adjust the length of the assembly.

Abstract: A pressure intensifier for generating a relatively large force includes a plurality of pistons driven in advancing and retracting directions. The pressure intensifier includes a body having a cavity used as an internal fluid reservoir. Furthermore, a damping mechanism limits the relative acceleration between pressure intensifier components during operation.

Abstract: A pressure intensifier for generating a relatively large force includes a plurality of pistons driven in advancing and retracting directions. The pressure intensifier includes a rod selectively drivable into a cavity to amplify the force acting on one of the pistons. A valve limits fluid flow to control the rate of movement of one of the pistons.

Abstract: A sealed pin locating and clamping apparatus includes a body, an actuator moveably supported by the body, a pin mounted to the body and a clamping member drivingly coupled to the actuator. The actuator includes a first rod having an internal cavity and a second rod rotatably positioned within the internal cavity. A portion of the pin is positioned within a cam slot formed in the second rod and the second rod rotates in response to linear movement of the first rod to position the clamping member.

Abstract: A flexible retainer for retaining die blades in a tool assembly. The retainer comprises inner and outer walls with the inner wall being generally concentric with and radially spaced inward from the outer wall. The inner wall defines a central opening in the retainer which is configured and adapted to extend radially around the die blades so that the retainer retains the die blades in the die assembly while allowing radial movement of the die blades. The retainer may have at least one channel that extends axially between the inner and outer walls.

Abstract: A sealed pin locator clamp includes an actuator having a linearly drivable member, a clamp body, a locating pin coupled to and protruding from the clamp body and a clamping member slidably positioned within an arcuate slot formed in the pin. The clamping member is drivingly coupled to the actuator and selectively moveable between a first position inside the pin and a second position at least partially protruding from the pin.