Abstract: A method for forming a variable wall thickness axle or tube with internally thickened wall sections comprises extruding a tubular metal blank within an elongated die. An elongated punch pushes the blank through the die. The punch has an end abutting and pushing the blank into and through the die and an elongated portion which is spaced from the interior wall surface of the die. Movement of the punch in pushing the blank causes the blank to partially extrude forwardly through the die until stopped and then to extrude rearwardly around the punch elongated portion through the space for forming a tube. A tubular ring is then inserted within the extruded tube at a pre-determined location and is fixed in place to provide a thick, combined tube wall and ring wall, section which extends radially inwardly of the tube. A number of spaced-apart rings may be used to provide spaced-apart thickened wall sections within the tube.

Abstract: A folding ramp system to be deployed under power for a truck, truck bed or trailer is disclosed.

Abstract: Section 7 of the Clayton Act, 15 USC § 18, prohibits mergers that substantially lessen competition, which has generally been interpreted to prohibit mergers that reduce consumer welfare. Determining whether consumer welfare is reduced in any particular market requires a balancing of the procompetitive and anticompetitive effects of the transaction. The present invention provides a method for analyzing mergers and balancing the efficiencies and anticompetitive effects to determine whether a merger is overall beneficial or neutral for consumer welfare. The method utilizes the risk-adjusted, net present value (NPV) for both the competitive effects and the efficiencies of the merger then determines whether a particular merger should be challenged as anticompetitive based on an analysis of this NPV.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for automatically forming raw tuna loins into homogenized, formed packets and packing those packets into bags for freezing and shipping to distant canning plants. A conveyed stream of raw tuna loins is tamped and compacted into a homogenized tuna stream of a predetermined height and width with dimensions compatible with processing equipment at the canning plant. A predetermined length of the homogenized tuna stream is measured and cut into packets and automatically packed into bags of predetermined size. In one embodiment, a servo controlled, intermittent advance conveyor is provided which is adapted to periodically advance said stream of raw tuna loins a distance which corresponds to the length of the bags into which the tuna is being packed. The apparatus for homogenizing the raw tuna loins is either a ski-shaped tamper driven by rotating cranks or a top belt including a pressure cylinder for urging the top belt into contact with the stream of raw tuna loins.

Abstract: Apparatus for treating a surface using a plasma discharge includes a first capacitor electrode of a first capacitor; a second capacitor electrode of a second capacitor; and an electrical connection for connecting the first capacitor electrode to the second capacitor electrode. The first capacitor electrode and second capacitor electrode are disposed in juxtaposition.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling fuel injection timing in a compression ignition engine is provided. The method includes monitoring a position of a piston reciprocating in a cylinder between a top dead center (TDC) position and a bottom dead center (BDC) position and injecting a predetermined quantity of fuel into the cylinder when the piston is at least one of reciprocating from said TDC toward BDC during an intake stroke and at BDC reciprocating toward TDC during a compression stroke.

Abstract: A shatterproof pressure vessel for storing pressurized gas used in a hybrid-type air bag inflator until the gas is expanded for inflating an air bag, is formed of a thin wall, metal tube made by extruding a metal ring axially through a constricted die orifice to provide an elongated tube. The extrusion generally aligns the metal grain structure into a generally elongated, axially oriented fiber-like configuration. End closures are secured to the opposite ends of the tube to form the sealed pressure vessel. One end closure is openable to receive an ejection from a solid propellant means which is actuated for heating and expanding the gas within the vessel. The opposite end closure is openable to release the expanding gas into a vehicle occupant restraining air bag for inflation of the bag.

Abstract: A lightweight drive shaft, such as for use as an automotive vehicle engine drive shaft for transmitting engine power, has an elongated extruded tube of uniform external diameter. The tube is formed with a center section and integral opposite end sections which are extruded integrally so as to have similar metallurgical structures. The center section is longer than the end sections. The center section has a thin wall and the end sections each have thick walls of the same thickness, with the thin walls being roughly less than half or about one half the thickness of the thick walls. Also, a coupling formation is formed on the exterior of the thick wall in sections to connect the shaft to a power supply and power take off within a power transmission system.

Abstract: An elongated, rod-like rack for use in an automotive-type steering gear assembly and like mechanisms, is formed of an elongated extruded tube divided lengthwise into a substantially solid rack portion and a substantially hollow, link portion. Transversely extending teeth are broached on the rack portion for engagement with a drive pinion means and the like for transmitting power through the rack. The rack is formed by positioning a tubular blank within an open ended extrusion die having an extrusion throat and pushing the tubular blank through the throat for extruding the material longitudinally and collapsing radially inwardly to form a substantially solid, elongated rack portion continuing the pushing the blank with the mandrel within the die throat to extrude a thin wall length, which forms the hollow, integral link part of the rack. The trailing end may be terminated in an inwardly extending, thick wall portion suitable for forming threads thereon.

Abstract: A method for forming a lightweight flanged axle shaft particularly for use within automotive vehicles for transmitting power from a power source, such as the differential, to a driven wheel. The method includes extruding a tubular blank through a die throat by pushing the blank through the die throat and causing the blank to collapse inwardly around a mandrel-like member located within the die throat to thereby form an elongated, thin wall, hollow tube. A flange member, which is separately stamped out of metal, is formed with a disk-like flange and an integral central tubular-shaped hub whose free edge is of approximately the same diametrical size and thickness as the end of the shaft. The flange hub and the shaft end are welded together, face to face, by engaging the two and rapidly spinning one relative to the other to generate sufficient heat to fuse them together upon discontinuance of the rotation.

Abstract: A method for forming a lightweight flanged axle shaft particularly for use within automotive vehicles for transmitting power from a power source, such as the differential, to a driven wheel. The method includes extruding a tubular blank through a die throat by pushing the blank through the die throat and causing the blank to collapse inwardly around a mandrel-like member located within the die throat to thereby form an elongated, thin wall, hollow tube. A flange member is separately forged out of metal with a disk-like flange and central cup-shaped hub whose free edge is of approximately the same size and thickness as the end of the shaft. The flange hub and the shaft end are welded together, face to face, by engaging the two and rapidly spinning one relative to the other to generate sufficient heat and to butt the adjacent faces to fuse them together upon discontinuance of the rotation. This produces a long, hollow, thin wall, lightweight shaft having one end closed by the flange extending laterally thereof.

Abstract: A lightweight driveshaft is extruded from a tubular metal blank into an elongated tube having an integral center and opposite end sections. The center section has a thin wall while the end sections have a thick wall. The shaft is formed by inserting a tubular blank within a tubular die having a restricted die throat through which the blank is extruded. Punches are inserted into the tubular blank to extrude the shaft.

Abstract: A large drive shaft is formed of an extruded metal, thin wall tube, having integral, annular, inwardly thickened, ring-like areas at its opposite ends. A number of radially inwardly directed ribs are integrally formed upon the inner wall surface of the tube wall and extend the full length of the tube between the ring-like areas. The ribs are spaced apart from each other and, preferably, area of a height which is less than the thickness of the thin wall. The opposite ends of the shaft are provided with conventional connecting means for connecting the shaft to a drive device and a driven device transmitting power therebetween.

Abstract: An elongated, rod-like rack for use in an automotive-type steering gear assembly and like mechanisms, is formed of an elongated extruded tube divided lengthwise into a substantially solid rack.

Abstract: An elongated, rod-like rack for use in an automotive-type steering gear assembly and like mechanisms, is formed of an elongated extruded tube divided lengthwise into a substantially solid rack portion and a substantially hollow, link portion. Transversely extending teeth are broached on the rack portion for engagement with a drive pinion and the like for transmitting power through the rack. The rack is formed by positioning a tubular blank within an open ended extrusion die having an extrusion throat and partially pushing the tubular blank through the throat for extruding the material longitudinally and collapsing radially inwardly top form a substantially solid, elongated rack portion. Then, extrusion is continued with a punch having a mandrel arranged within the blank and within the die throat for extruding a thin wall length, forming the hollow, integral link part of the rack. The trailing end may be terminated in an inwardly extending, thick wall portion suitable for forming threads thereon.

Abstract: A metal tube, such as a valve body sleeve, is cold extruded to form full length and partial length longitudinal channels in its interior wall surface. The channeled tube is formed by extruding a metal, tubular blank, through an open ended die having an extrusion die throat at one end. A punch is inserted in the die and bears against an end of the blank for pushing the blank longitudinally through the die throat. The punch has an extension, having a leading edge section and a trailing edge section that pass through the blank. Longitudinally extending teeth are formed on the two sections, with some of the teeth being continuously longitudinally aligned and others being located only on the trailing section. Initially, the leading section is arranged within the die throat and the leading end portion of the blank is extruded through the die throat, around the extension leading section to form channels therein.

Abstract: Seamless well drill tubes are formed by extruding seamed tube blanks through a die throat by pushing the tube blank through the die throat with a pusher rod having a portion located internally of the tube and die throat. The pusher rod has a narrow lead portion so that as the lead end of the tube length is forced through the die throat, its material flows inwardly to form an inwardly thickened annulus and therefore, the remainder of the pusher rod is located within the die throat and blank so that the blank material flows into the desired wall thickness. Before the tube is completely pushed through the die throat, the pusher rod is removed and the second tube blank is inserted in end to end contact with the trailing end of the first blank.

Abstract: A process for cold forming integral spindle-axle tubes includes placing a tubular blank within an open ended die having an extrusion die throat, and pushing the blank through the die throat with a punch. The punch is formed with a ram portion that applies pressure to the blank for moving it axially through the throat. The punch also has an extension closely fitted within the blank so that as the punch pushes the tube axially, the blank is extruded between the die throat and the extension to form a thin wall tube. After the blank is partially extruded, the punch is removed and a second blank is inserted. This second blank is then located between the punch ram portion and the trailing end of the first blank so that further movement of the punch causes the second blank to push the first blank through the die throat.

Abstract: A process for cold forming semi-float axle tubes and similar types of metal tubes which includes arranging a short, tubular blank within an open ended die having an extrusion die throat, and pushing the blank through the die throat with a punch. The punch is provided with a ram portion, for applying pressure to the blank for moving it axially, and also an extension formed in several sections of successively smaller diameter which act as mandrels for sizing the tube interior walls. As the punch pushes the tube axially through the throat, initially a middle size extension is arranged within the throat to extrude a thickened leading edge portion on the blank. Further movement of the die results in a larger extension section traveling through the throat for extruding a thin wall tubular section of considerable length, leaving a small unextruded portion of the blank still within the die. At that point, the punch is removed and a second blank is inserted within the die.

Abstract: A process for cold extrusion forming a metal tube with thickened end portions, including positioning a short, tubular blank in a die having an extrusion die throat, and pushing the blank through the die throat with a punch. The punch is formed with co-axial extension portions of successively smaller diameter. Thus, the first extension portion is closely fitted within the blank, while the second extension portion is aligned within the die throat as the punch end pushes the blank towards and through the die throat to thereby form the tube lead end thickened end portion. Further pushing of the blank by the punch takes place while the first extension is aligned with the die throat to thereby extrude the relatively thin wall middle portion of the tube. Next, the punch is removed, and a second blank is inserted within the die against the trailing end of the first blank.