Abstract: An apparatus for vertically separating stacked pallets a sufficient distance such that each pallet in the stack can be cleaned, with the pallets then immediately restacked after cleaning.

Abstract: An apparatus for vertically separating stacked pallets a sufficient distance such that each pallet in the stack can be cleaned, with the pallets then immediately restacked after cleaning.

Abstract: An apparatus for vertically separating stacked pallets a sufficient distance such that each pallet in the stack can be cleaned, with the pallets then immediately restacked after cleaning.

Abstract: An apparatus for vertically separating stacked pallets a sufficient distance such that each pallet in the stack can be cleaned, with the pallets then immediately restacked after cleaning.

Abstract: A hoist ring assembly includes an annular body, a first axial bore generally concentric with a longitudinal axis and including diametrically opposed first and second sockets. A mounting assembly is provided for facilitating the mounting of the annular body onto an object. A U-shaped hoist ring member is provided and has remote ends formed into integral stub shaft members, the stub shaft members extending generally coaxially with and spaced from one another to define a co-axis therebetween. The stub shaft members are relatively rotatably received in the sockets. The peripheral surface of the stub shaft members each has an annular groove therein located within the socket. A radially inwardly extending member in each socket is received in each of the grooves to prevent the legs of the hoist ring member from spreading apart as well as removal of the stub shaft members from the sockets while maintaining the ability of the hoist ring to pivot about the aforesaid co-axis.

Abstract: A method of manufacture of a metal pallet having a deck member formed as a grate or grid by the perpendicular intersection of plural rod members with flat bar members positioned on edge, where the rod members are embedded within the flat bar members by pressure resistance welding such that the upper surface defined by the rod members is even with the upper surface defined by the flat bar members.

Abstract: A workholding apparatus includes a top jaw member and a bottom master jaw element. The master jaw element is movably supported on a base member and has a keypart fixed thereto and projecting upwardly. The keypart receives the top jaw member. An aperture of the top jaw member having closed ends, and an open mouth surrounded by vertical walls, fits over the keypart of the top jaw member. The keypart can have a cross-section having portions resembling a double dovetail configuration. The aperture of the top jaw member has similar dovetail-shaped sections to receive the keypart. The keypart includes a takeup member having an arcuate keeper element secured and projecting from a surface of the keypart opposite the dovetail-shaped portions. The keeper element projects outwardly a small distance to seat on an inclined surface of the aperture very close to the vertical walls thereof. Thus the top member preferably is contacted by the keeper element at a location on the inclined surface within about 0.

Abstract: A metal pallet having a deck member formed as a grate or grid by the perpendicular intersection of plural rod members with flat bar members positioned on edge, where the rod members are embedded within the flat bar members by pressure resistance welding such that the upper surface defined by the rod members is even with the upper surface defined by the flat bar members.

Abstract: A workholding apparatus has an improved positioning assembly centering top jaw members grippingly supporting a workpiece. The workholding apparatus includes a base member defining a horizontally elongate guide channel which opens upwardly through a top surface to form a guide passage. At least first and second jaw assemblies are disposed in longitudinally spaced relation along the respective guide passage, the first and second jaw assemblies each including a bottom jaw element which is slidably positioned for longitudinal displacement within the guide passage, and a top jaw member releasably mounted on the bottom jaw element. The workholding apparatus includes an actuator assembly for effecting movement of the movable jaw members longitudinally along a path formed by the guide passage. The bottom jaw elements each include a push plate element mounted in the guide passage on the inner side thereof.

Abstract: A work holding apparatus includes a generally horizontally enlarged platelike support pallet having a plurality of vises mounted on and integrated into the pallet. The vises are typically disposed in sidewardly spaced but generally parallel relation. Each vise is associated with an elongate groove which extends horizontally of the pallet and opens downwardly from the upper surface thereof, and the vise jaws cooperate with and project downwardly into the groove so as to be movable longitudinally of the groove, whereupon the pallet effectively functions as the base for the jaws to simplify the overall structure of the apparatus and minimize the overall height thereof. The jaws are preferably activated by an elongate actuator screw which extends longitudinally of the groove and is also preferably positioned so as to be at least partially recessed into the groove to further facilitate the integration of the vise into the pallet and the minimization of the overall structure and height thereof.

Abstract: A vise with first and second movable jaws slidable on elongate ways on a base. An actuator shaft extends longitudinally of the base and has first and second reversely threaded portions threadably engaged with the respective first and second movable jaws. A releasable retraining device cooperates between the base and the second jaw to restrain slidable movement thereof. The actuator shaft is axially floatable supported relative to the base and when rotated in one direction causes the first jaw to move in a first direction along the ways. The restraining device prevents slidable movement of the second jaw so that rotation of the actuator shaft causes the shaft to be axially displaced due to its threaded engagement with the second jaw, and this increases the movement rate of the first jaw due to its threadable engagement with the actuator shaft.

Abstract: A bar puller having a body which mounts a pair of rockers which project forwardly to effectively straddle a bar. The rockers mount rollers on the free ends thereof, the latter being provided with elastomeric surfaces to effect gripping of the bar. An adjusting mechanism coacts between the rearward free ends of the rockers to permit the minimum spacing between the rollers to be selectively adjusted to accommodate a selected bar size, and to permit the initial gripping pressure of the rollers on the bar to be selectively adjusted.

Abstract: A workholder arrangement which employs a support module which can have one of several different workpiece-engaging units interchangeably mounted thereon so that the same workholder module can be readily adapted to function several different ways, such as a collet chuck, a step chuck and an expanding mandrel. The support module has a housing which attaches to the basic machine tool and slidably supports therein an activating sleeve defining an interior conical surface thereon, the activating sleeve being adapted for direct connection to and being axially movable by a draw or push bar.

Abstract: A bar puller adapted for mounting on a machine tool, such as a turret lathe, for engaging and pullingly advancing a workpiece bar. The bar puller has a compact cup-shaped housing provided with a stub shaft which mounts in the turret. The cup-shaped housing has a bore opening outwardly through the free end thereof, and an elastomeric grippping sleeve unit is closely fitted and seated within the bore, which sleeve unit projects axially beyond the free end of the housing. A nut threadably engages the housing and has an abutment wall which radially overlaps and axially engages the exposed axial end of the gripping sleeve. Rotation of the nut relative to the housing causes axial compression of the sleeve unit, whereby the latter elastically deforms radially inwardly so as to grippingly engage the workpiece bar as inserted into the central opening thereof.

Abstract: A bar puller for a machine tool, such as a lathe. The puller is provided with a body which mounts on the tool support so that the puller can be advanced radially toward the bar and also moved axially therealong to effect pulling. The body for the puller mounts a pair of rockers which project forwardly to effectively straddle the bar. These rockers mount rollers on the free ends thereof, the latter being provided with elastomeric surfaces to effect gripping of the bar. The body preferably has an adjustable guide pin which is moved to abut the side of the bar, thereby providing a three-point support. Springs urge the rockers inwardly toward one another so that the rollers grippingly engage the bar therebetween. When so engaged, the tool support is moved axially of the machine to effect the desired pulling of the bar.

Abstract: A device for releasably gripping a workpiece includes first and second axially elongated, cylindrical gripping sleeves, the second sleeve being coaxially supported within the first sleeve for axial movement relative thereto. Each sleeve includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced, axially extending segments, each connected at opposite ends to respective adjacent segments by relatively short integral webs. The radially outer surface of the first sleeve and the radially inner surface of the second sleeve are relatively smooth cylindrical surfaces. A plurality of axially spaced ramps are provided on the radially inner surface of each segment of the first gripping sleeve and on the radially outer surface of each segment of the second gripping sleeve. The ramps on the inner sleeve slidably engage respective ramps on the outer sleeve so that relative axial movement therebetween effects relative radial movement therebetween.

Abstract: A jaw chuck provided with an inner sleevelike housing which, at its forward end, is provided with radially extending T-shaped slots which slidably accommodate the jaw carriers. The inner housing is totally surrounded and fixedly connected to an outer sleevelike housing which overlaps the outer ends of the slots. A push-type activator is disposed adjacent the rearward end of the inner housing and is axially slidable relative thereto. This activator includes wedges which project axially forwardly and are slidably and wedgably engaged with the jaw carriers for effecting radial displacement thereof. The wedges have the outer peripheries thereof axially slidably supported on the inner periphery of the outer housing.

Abstract: A drill chuck, specifically for use on a portable powered drill, for selectively and releasably engaging the shank of a drill bit. The chuck includes a support secured to the drive shaft of the drill, and an actuator which is axially movable relative to the support. A holder is disposed between the support and the actuator for grippingly engaging the drill bit. The holder includes an annular support ring movably positioned within the support and having a plurality of springlike arms which project radially inwardly and are disposed for gripping engagement with the drill bit. A first pair of diametrically opposed arms extend axially from one side of the support ring, and a further pair of arms project axially from the other side of the ring, the latter pair being angularly offset with respect to the first-mentioned pair.

Abstract: Counterbalanced mechanism for a jaw chuck. There is provided for an otherwise conventional multi-jaw chuck suitable mechanism for independently balancing each said jaw. In a preferred embodiment, a pin is pivotally fixed at one of its ends into each master jaw, pivoted to the chuck body intermediate its ends and pivotally related at its other end to a radially movable counterbalancing mass. Each said mass and jaw are so related to the lever pin upon which they operate that they create balancing moments when the centrifugal force acting on each is equal and, due to the geometry of the apparatus, said moments remain sufficiently close to equal at any speed of operation of the chuck that a substantial balancing of the parts is obtained. Thus, whether the chuck is inside gripping or outside gripping, it can be properly adjusted in a normal manner at a standstill and the pressure of the chuck onto the workpiece will not materially change within the range of any normal operating speed.

Abstract: Self-ejecting chuck key for a gear chuck. A coil spring is arranged on the key of a gear chuck around the shank thereof and between means for holding same in position. Said spring includes a number of turns enlarged to clear the bevel gear of the key and preferably extends beyond said gear to a point between the small end of said gear and the end of the key. Said spring is made sufficiently soft that it can bear on both the body and the jaw nut of the chuck simultaneously without interfering with the effective and convenient operation of the key.