Abstract: A low frequency underwater sound electro-mechanical transduction bender apparatus for radiating sound at deep submergence depths and including at least one piezoelectric bilaminar or trilaminar beam or disc having opposed support ends; a pair of piezoelectric structures that each have sides that are respectively connected at the opposed support ends of the beam or disc. The piezoelectric bilaminar or trilaminar beam or disc is driven by the pair of piezoelectric structures. The apparatus further includes a housing that contains the piezoelectric bilaminar or trilaminar beam or disc and the pair of piezoelectric structures, as well as an internal fill of a fluid substance.

Abstract: The present application is directed to toner transfer systems with an adjustable transfer belt. The transfer belt transfers toner images from a first location to a second location. Two or more support rolls position and drive the transfer belt. A tensioning device is operatively connected to one of the support rolls. The tensioning device moves the support roll between a first position that places a first amount of tension on the belt, and a second position that places a lesser second amount of tension on the belt. The support roll is in the first position during image formation, and in the second position during non-image formation such as storage and shipping.

Abstract: The present application is directed to toner transfer systems with an adjustable transfer belt. The transfer belt transfers toner images from a first location to a second location. Two or more support rolls position and drive the transfer belt. A tensioning device is operatively connected to one of the support rolls. The tensioning device moves the support roll between a first position that places a first amount of tension on the belt, and a second position that places a lesser second amount of tension on the belt. The support roll is in the first position during image formation, and in the second position during non-image formation such as storage and shipping.

Abstract: A vertical shaft furnace for melting non-ferrous metals, such as copper, aluminum, and their alloys, includes metal blocks disposed in an annular wall just beneath the charging section of the furnace. Preheated air is forced into the furnace shaft through openings in the wall of metal blocks to burn or oxidize substantially all the CO gas contained in the combustion gases rising from the melting chamber of the furnace. A pressurized plenum surrounding the shaft adjacent the charge opening is used to preheat ambient air which is then supplied under pressure to another plenum above the melting chamber where the preheated air is introduced into the shaft.

Abstract: An improved premixed gaseous fuel burner for a metal processing furnace includes an axially adjustable gas supply tube concentrically positioned within the burner body for delivering a flow of oxidant or other gaseous fuel component to the combustion chamber of the furnace. Axial repositioning of the air tube controls the spread of oxidant at the core of the flame, thereby controlling flame temperature and the operating environment of the combustion chamber and furnace. A flow mixer having a pair of helically arranged vanes provided in the annular space between the supply tube and the burner body imparts turbulent swirl to the premixture flow to cause enhanced mixing of the premixture. The gas supply tube is externally adjustable and includes a peep sight for externally viewing the flame in the furnace.

Abstract: A vertical shaft furnace for melting non-ferrous metals, such as copper, aluminum, and their alloys, includes metal blocks disposed in an annular wall just beneath the charging section of the furnace. Preheated air is forced into the furnace shaft through openings in the wall of metal blocks to burn or oxidize substantially all the CO gas contained in the combustion gases rising from the melting chamber of the furnace. A pressurized plenum surrounding the shaft adjacent the charge opening is used to preheat ambient air which is then supplied under pressure to another plenum above the melting chamber where the preheated air is introduced into the shaft.

Abstract: An improved premix-type burner for a gas-fired metal processing furnace includes a burner insert externally adjustable over a stepless continuum. The burner insert includes a helical thread disposed on its outer diameter which cooperatively engages with a helical thread disposed on an inner diameter of the burner body bore. Rotation of an adjustment tube, which extends into the burner body and is affixed to the burner insert concentrically disposed therein, causes axial translation of the burner insert, thereby regulating fuel flow to the combustion chamber and controlling the combustion process.

Abstract: A combustion piping system for a metal melting furnace is disclosed in which a sieve is used upstream of a flashback arrester to collect particulate matter carried in the fuel flow to the furnace so as to minimize maintenance of the flashback arrester. The sieve is mounted in a sieve holder that is arranged to be rapidly removed from and replaced in the piping system during furnace operation so as to minimize the pressure drop in the fuel flow to the furnace.

Abstract: A wire prefeeder has a tower standing on a base. A horizontal upper shaft is mounted fixedly to the upper end of the tower and a plurality of pulleys are on the shaft. A carriage is adapted to in the tower and another horizontal lower shaft which has a plurality of pulleys and is mounted to the carriage in parallelism with the upper shaft. A wire infeed device is driven with an electric motor. Wire feeds to a dancer pulley after which it is looped around the upper and lower pulleys in succession and departs tangentially from a pulley on its way to a wire processing machine which draws the wire. The carriage rises when there is an instantaneous increase in wire tension and an electric signal is produced whose magnitude corresponds to the amount of carriage movement. The motor responds to the signal by changing the motor and wire infeed speed to pay out wire at a rate which keeps the tension in the drawn wire constant. A new type of clamp is provided for coupling a wire reel to a shaft.

Abstract: A method of making an oil seal (10) having two separate annular lips (62, 64) formed by splitting a single lip liner blank (12). The lip liner blank is an annular wafer having an annular groove (14) formed on one side (15) of the wafer at the point on the wafer where the wafer is intended to be split into two annular pieces (49, 50). A mold (32) is loaded with the lip liner blank (12), a prep ring of elastomeric material (43) and a seal case (b 44) and then closed thereby clamping the prep ring and wafer between upper and lower dies (40 and 36) of the mold. In the molding step the prep ring and wafer are heated and compressed causing the prep ring to become molten as it flows over the wafer. The molten elastomeric material enters the groove and pressure exerted by the elastomeric material against the groove splits the wafer into two annular pieces (49, 50). A first annular piece (49) is displaced in the mold to the desired location of the excluder lip (64).

Abstract: A device for measuring end play between a vehicle spindle and a wheel hub. A rotary thrust rod has a swivel connection with a housing threaded onto the spindle, such that the rod applies a pushing or pulling force to the spindle, depending on the direction of thrust rod rotation.

Abstract: An electro/mechanical feedback system and method for displaying the positional and sizing information relative to the hole size formed by closed stripping blades of a wire stripping machine. The feedback system includes a pair of rotary optical encoders that are tied to the respective blade tool holders via adjusting screws. The adjusting screws provide infinite adjustment resolution. Turning the adjusting screws opens or closes the blades. The encoders convert the adjusting screw rotational information into blade translatory information, which is displayed. The displayed information represents positional information of each of the blades as well as the actual diameter of the cutting hole formed by the closed blades at a true zero position. The adjusting screw includes a torque head that limits adjusting screw torque to a predetermined amount. The present invention includes a positive stop used as a home position for each blade.

Abstract: A pair of tooling assemblies cooperate to cut and strip insulation from an insulated electrical conductor. The first tooling assembly comprises a die type stripping blade and an insulation guide. The first stripping blade has a cutting edge located a predetermined distance from a guide face on the insulation guide. The second tooling assembly comprises a second die type stripping blade and an insulation stop. The second stripping blade has a cutting edge complementary with the first stripping blade cutting edge. The insulation stop has a stop face that is located a predetermined distance from the second stripping blade cutting edge. The two tooling assemblies are aligned in a coplanar plane and clamped in respective toolholders.

Abstract: A method of making an oil seal (10) having two separate annular lips (62, 64) formed by splitting a single lip liner blank (12). The lip liner blank is an annular wafer having an annular groove (14) formed on one side (15) of the wafer at the point on the wafer where the wafer is intended to be split into two annular pieces (49, 50). A mold (32) is loaded with the lip liner blank (12), a prep ring of elastomeric material (43) and a seal case (44) and then closed thereby clamping the prep ring and wafer between upper and lower dies (40 and 36) of the mold. In the molding step the prep ring and wafer are heated and compressed causing the prep ring to become molten as it flows over the wafer. The molten elastomeric material enters the groove and pressure exerted by the elastomeric material against the groove splits the wafer into two annular pieces (49, 50). A first annular piece (49) is displaced in the mold to the desired location of the excluder lip (64).

Abstract: Blades for cutting and stripping insulated electrical conductors have alignment references thereon for aiding the set-up and adjustment of the blades. The alignment references comprise corners across the longitudinal edges of the blades. Each corner is formed by the intersection of the longitudinal edge and a first leg that is machined into the longitudinal edge and extends toward the blade interior. A second leg extends between the first leg and the longitudinal edge to create a generally V-shaped notch in the blade longitudinal edge. The first leg preferably intersects the longitudinal edge at a right angle to provide a sharp corner line. The second leg preferably intersects the longitudinal edge at an angle of less than about 45 degrees, thereby producing a rather blunt corner and permitting easy differentiation between the two corners.

Abstract: A machine for precisely cutting and stripping insulated electrical conductors. The depth of cut may be accurately set to accommodate wide ranges of conductor/insulation sizes. The length of the strip may be varied and accurately set without repositioning the entire machine. The machine may be bench mounted to act as a stand alone unit, or it may be mounted on a conveyor type automatic wire cutting and stripping machine. The machine includes a base plate that reciprocates parallel to the insulated electrical conductor to perform the stripping operation. A cutterhead opens and closes over the insulated electrical conductor to perform the cutting operation. The cutterhead comprises a pair of cutterhead slides that are accurately aligned with each other and that precisely reciprocate on a common plate. The cutterhead slides are driven by a dual cam-yoke system. The base plate and cutterhead mechanisms are cushioned at the ends of their respective strokes by a shock absorbing system.

Abstract: Apparatus for center notching an insulated electrical conductor includes two pairs of cutting blades that circumferentially slice the insulation at predetermined locations along the insulated electrical conductor to thereby define a slug of insulation. A jaw with a knife edge is located in each of the four quadrants about the insulated electrical conductor axis. The jaws travel in respective rectangular paths in a four stroke cycle. During the first stroke the jaws are translated toward a first plane passing longitudinally through the insulated electrical conductor axis with the knife edges in a separated configuration. During the second stroke the jaws translate toward a second plane perpendicular to the first plane to close the jaws and cause the knife edges to longitudinally penetrate the insulation slug. During the third stroke the jaws are translated away from the first plane with the knife edges in the closed configuration to thereby strip the insulation slug from the conductor.

Abstract: Insulation is precisely cut and stripped from insulated electrical conductors by V type stripping blades. Precision cutting and stripping is assured by forming the blades with complementary and interlocking T and U-shaped cross sections. The blades have increased stiffness compared with prior blades even though the overall thickness of the blade pair does not exceed the overall thickness of prior blade pairs. A blade stop is interlockable with either stripping blade to precisely control the cutting hole size during production. An insulation stop is also interlockable with a selected blade for precisely locating the insulated electrical conductor relative to the blade cutting edges when the blades are closed over the conductor.

Abstract: A vertical shaft furnace for and a method of efficiently melting aluminum and aluminum alloys substantially completely by convection is disclosed. The vertical shaft furnace has a generally cylindrical cross-section with a refractory liner and a cast refractory hearth having a concave, generally conical shape. A plurality of downwardly inclined burners are provided in the walls of the furnace arranged in such a way as to prevent the high velocity burner flame from blowing the aluminum material to be melted across the furnace and into burners on the opposite furnace wall.

Abstract: An ultra-sonic welding machine has independently adjustable front and rear anvils. Each anvil is independently clampable at desired locations. The rear anvil is reciprocable under power to opened and closed positions relative to the front anvil to thereby permit easy insertion and withdrawal of a workpiece. The end positions of the rear anvil are positively controlled by an adjustable and clampable stop block. The invention further comprises a welding tip that has a concave working edge and relief pockets for improving the welded connection and reducing ultra-sonic energy losses.