Abstract: An apparatus to be attached to each of at least two portions of a structure for mooring the structure to a pier comprises two universal joint assemblies to be arranged along two sides of a triangle having a base in parallel to the structure. Each of the joint assemblies includes a telescopic shank composed of two tubular members slidable one within the other, two universal joints provided at the opposite ends of the shank respectively, and superposed dish springs disposed within the shank to bias the tubular members away from each other.

Abstract: A laser beam is applied to a rotating workpiece tangentially of the path of rotation thereof with a suitable tolerance while the light is being shifted relative to the workpiece, whereby the irradiated portion of the workpiece is melted and the molten material is removed by removing means for shaping. This method forms an annular groove in part of the outer periphery of the workpiece or a smooth surface or indentations of specified depth in the outer periphery over a wide area.

Abstract: A universal joint assembly comprising a yoke to be connected to a drive shaft, another yoke to be connected to a driven shaft, a spider and needle bearings for rotatably supporting the trunnions of the spider. The joint is used to interconnect the drive shaft and the driven shaft at an angle of intersection of up to 15 degrees. The ratio of the diameter d of the trunnion to the allowable swing diameter D of the universal joint, namely d/D, is greater than 24%.

Abstract: A universal joint comprises a first pin disposed with its axis intersecting the axis of a first yoke at right angles thereto, a second pin disposed with its axis intersecting the axis of a second yoke at right angles thereto and positioned at right angles to the axis of the first pin, and a connecting member disposed between the first and second pins. The axes of the first and second pins intersect the axis of the connecting member as spaced apart from each other by a suitable amount of offset. The pins are provided at their opposite ends trunnions of increased diameter, giving the universal joint a greatly increased torque transmitting capacity.

Abstract: A driving device for rolls in high speed rolling mills and the like, designed to effect the centering of a drive shaft element and of a driven shaft element and the transmission of torque. In a hollow space defined in a shaft assembly comprising two shaft members coupled together as by a spline connection for rotation as a unit, a spring is disposed which acts to axially extend the drive shaft. Either the inner bottom surface of a driven fitting yoke coupled to one end of the shaft assembly through a joint member and loosely fitted on the driven shaft element or the end surface of the driven shaft element is provided with a conical projection axially aligned with the fitting yoke and the driven shaft element while the other is provided with a conical opening adapted to tightly engage the conical projection, thereby achieving automatic axial alignment between the driven fitting yoke and the driven shaft element and eliminating the problem of the rotational vibration of the drive shaft.

Abstract: An apparatus for selectively drivingly connecting two drive spindles to roll necks of a rolling mill includes a base frame, a movable frame slidable on said base frame, two pairs of sliding posts vertically secured on a transverse member of the movable frame, at least two pairs of holding means slidable on the pairs of sliding posts and actuated by a hydraulic actuating means respectively so as to hold yokes of the drive spindles in a position in alignment with the roll necks of the roll mill, and another hydraulic actuating means actuating the movable frame toward studs of a pinion stand or the roll necks of the roll mill.

Abstract: The coupling of a drive spindle to be fitted to a driven shaft has a fitting bore provided with liner grooves of suitable width opposed to each other diametrically of the bore and extending in parallel axially thereof. Two wedge-shaped superposed liners are fitted in each of the liner grooves in such a combination that the planar surfaces of the inner liners facing each other provide diametrically opposed parallel planar surfaces defining the fitting bore. The inner liners are movable in parallel radially of the fitting bore by axially moving the outer liners to bring the opposed planar surfaces of the inner liners into intimate fitting contact with parallel planar surfaces formed on the peripheral surface of the driven shaft and opposed to each other diametrically of the shaft. The liners in this state are locked to the coupling, rendering the drive apparatus operable free of oscillation.

Abstract: Fitting yokes are coupled each by a universal joint of the trunnion type to the opposite ends of a shaft assembly biased for axial extension. Each of the fitting yokes has a sleeve inserted in a center bored portion of the universal joint with a clearance formed therebetween to permit relative angular displacement between the axis of the shaft assembly and the axis of the fitting yoke. The drive shaft therefore has a greatly reduced length in its entirety. The shaft assembly includes a splined portion adapted to permit collapsing and extension of the assembly and circumferentially covered with a sleeve-shaped cover. The cover defines an interior space holding a lubricant to lubricate the spline portion for sliding movement.

Abstract: The opposed ends of a plurality of aligned rotary shafts are connected together by a spindle assembly including universal joints at its opposite ends. The spindle assembly comprises a splined spindle, sleeve-shaped flanged yokes slidably mounted on the opposite ends of the splined spindle respectively, and fitting yokes connected by trunnions to the flanged yokes respectively and each formed with a bore for receiving the end of the rotary shaft so as to be rotatable therewith only in the direction of rotation of the rotary shaft. The splined spindle is provided at each of its opposite ends with a stopper member engageable with the opposed end of the flanged yoke to retain the flanged yoke on the spindle. A sealing member in the form of bellows is provided between the flanged yokes.

Abstract: An apparatus for releasing a drive assembly from the neck of a roll of rolling mills and connecting the assembly to the roll neck. The apparatus comprises a pair of rails supported on fixed posts and extending in parallel to the axis of a working roll, a support member slidable on the rails, holding means mounted on the support member for holding the coupling of the drive assembly to be released from or connected to the neck of the roll in pressing with the outer periphery of the coupling, and operating means for slidingly moving the support member on the rails. The coupling is releasable from or connectable to the roll neck with ease for the replacement of the working roll. The apparatus is well-suited to small-sized rolling mills.

Abstract: A shaft member connected to a drive fitting yoke by a joint member is splined to a shaft member connected to a driven fitting yoke by a joint member. A spring accommodated in a hollow chamber continuously extending through the shaft members axially biases the shaft members away from each other. Limiting means for limiting the maximum length of extension of the shaft members prevents the spring from exerting a thrust load on the drive shaft element and driven shaft element interconnected by the drive shaft. The spline coupling portion has an increased diameter to ensure the strength of the drive shaft.

Abstract: Two drive assemblies disposed one above the other and each including a telescopic spindle, a universal joint and a coupling member are released from and connected to similarly disposed driven shafts respectively by an apparatus comprising a frame slidable toward or away from the driven shafts in parallel to the extensions of the axes of the driven shafts and upper and lower holding means vertically slidably supported by posts on the front end of the frame and each adapted to hold the opposite sides of the coupling member to support the coupling member in its horizontal position in alignment with the corresponding driven shaft when the coupling is to be released from or connected to the driven shaft. For the replacement of the driven shafts, the upper and lower coupling members as supported in their horizontal position by the holding means are vertically moved in a given ratio relative to each other and thereby brought into alignment with new driven shafts.

Abstract: A spring for longitudinally extending a drive shaft is disposed between a drive shaft member and a driven shaft member which are axially extensibly connected together as by a spline connection. The end surface of a driven shaft element adapted to be loosely fitted in a coupling connected to the driven shaft member has a cylindrical body fixed thereto coaxially with the center hole therein. The inner bottom of the coupling is provided at its center with a fitting hole of large diameter and a number of taper rollers are disposed in an annular space which is defined between the cylindrical body and the fitting hole as a result of the fitting between the coupling and the driven shaft element, thereby automatically bringing the axes of the coupling the driven shaft element into alignment with each other and eliminating the problem of rotational vibration due to the loose fit between the coupling and the driven shaft element.

Abstract: A drive mechanism which itself has the function of mounting a driven coupling on and dismounting it from a roll neck. The drive mechanism comprises a drive shaft section comprising inner and outer shafts coupled together in such a manner as to be only axially slidable, an extensible operating mechanism disposed between the inner and outer shafts for extending and collapsing the drive shaft section to mount the coupling on and dismount it from the neck of a working roll, a spring disposed between the inner and outer shafts and acting in a direction in which it reduces the length of the drive shaft section, and fixing device for fixing the drive shaft section to a drive universal joint when the drive shaft section is reduced in length.

Abstract: A needle case and a yoke are respectively formed on their surfaces to be joined together with a key and a keyway which are so shaped as to provide a clearance for receiving a wedge of suitable shape. When driven into the clearance thus provided in the keyway between the needle case and the yoke fastened together, the wedge tightly holds them together in intimate contact with each other.