Abstract: A process and plant for producing metallurgical coke is disclosed. The process comprises rapidly drying coal particles in an inert atmosphere, and maintaining the particles, once dry, in an inert atmosphere. The dried particles are then compressed into a briquette without addition of a binder. The briquette is heated to a temperature between 1000° C. and 1400° C. for a period of between 1 and 5 hours to produce metallurgical coke.

Abstract: A wire feeder including a motor driving a set of feed rolls to force a welding wire from a spool through a welding torch to a welding operation. The wire feeder has an input lead to be connected to the output terminal of a remotely located power source having an on condition and an off condition where a welding current is directed to the output terminal only when the source is in the on condition. A weld starting trigger with a weld start position located adjacent the torch closes a switch when the trigger is shifted to the weld position, a circuit senses when the switch is closed, and a transmitter on the wire feeder transmits a start signal to the power source when the trigger switch is closed whereby the power source is shifted to its on condition when the trigger is in the weld position.

Abstract: A wire feeder for an electric arc welder comprising a set of feed rolls driven by a DC motor with a commutator, first and second opposite polarity leads receiving power to drive the motor, and having a first brush at a given position on the commutator and connected to the first lead, a second brush circumferentially spaced from the first brush a first annular distance around the commutator and connectable to the second lead to cause the motor to rotate at a first speed to drive the rolls at a first speed, a third brush circumferentially spaced from the first brush a second annular distance around the commutator and connectable to the second lead to cause the motor to rotate at a second speed to drive the rolls at a second speed, and a switching circuit with an operative condition to connect the second lead to a selected one of the second and third brushes.

Abstract: A hollowing system for a lathe having a tool rest. The hollowing system comprises a boring member, and a stabilization assembly. The boring member is adapted to support a tool such that at least one of the boring member and the tool extend past and engage the tool rest. The stabilization assembly is mountable adjacent to the lathe. The stabilization assembly supports the boring member such that the boring member extends generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the lathe. The stabilization assembly has a vertical axis and a horizontal axis. The stabilization assembly is adapted to prevent downward movement of the tool when the stabilization assembly is mounted adjacent to the lathe and the tool is positioned on the tool rest. The stabilization assembly is provided with an articulation assembly.

Abstract: A shoe stud and receptacle combination for specifically oriented studs, the shoe stud (1) including a ground-engaging part (4). The stud (1) and receptacle (2) are adapted to be secured together by a multi-start threaded connection comprising a screw-threaded spigot (5) on one of the components adapted to be inserted with rotation into a screw-threaded socket on the other component. A locking means (7) of the components is arranged to become interengaged at least when the spigot (5) is fully inserted into the socket (22) to resist unscrewing of the components. The locking means (7) comprises at least one locking assembly (8), the arrangement is such that the relative number and/or position of the threads of the threaded connection and the locking assemblies (8) determine the initial and final positions of the stud (1) relative to the receptacle (2).

Abstract: A universal joint seal for retaining lubricant therein. The seal cooperates to form a static seal with the trunnion and a static seal with the bearing cup and permits relative angular movement between the trunnion and bearing cup through a flexible web portion. The seal optionally permits venting of pressure within the grease cavity formed between the trunnion and bearing cup. The seal also has a passage communicating with the grease cavity. The seal has an outward facing lip seal that provides a fluid barrier to the migration of lubricant out of the passage. In response to a moderate pressure level within the grease cavity, the lip moves away from the contacting surface so as to vent the moderate pressure within the grease cavity out of the sealed region and to prevent an excessive pressure differential from developing across the lip. Several alternate embodiments permitting venting of pressure from the grease cavity are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for wireless communication with and among nodes of a welding cell are provided. The system includes a communications device adapted for wireless communication with a welding node provided with a wireless communications interface. The system further includes welding nodes of one welding cell communicating wirelessly with welding nodes of the same welding cell, welding nodes of another welding cell, a customer specific LAN and global factory controls. The invention further comprises methodologies for facilitating wireless communication with and among nodes of a welding cell.

Abstract: A removably mounted spare tire carrier for use in mounting a spare tire to a side wall of the load bed of a pickup truck which carrier is engaged in a mounted position by manual adjustment of a vertical mounting bar assembly having portions which both engage the beaded edge or rail of the truck body and the floor of the truck bed and which assembly is prevented from further adjustment after the spare tire is mounted thereto by a tire mounting assembly which extends therefrom through the wheel hub of the tire and which tire mounting assembly is manually tightened to secure the tire to the truck bed.