Abstract: A communication system of a multi-type air-conditioner and its method are disclosed. The communication system includes a main outdoor unit for wirelessly transmitting/receiving data to/from a plurality of slave outdoor units; an outdoor relay unit for communicating with the main outdoor unit through a fixed line serial communication method; an indoor relay unit for communicating with the outdoor relay unit through a local area communication network or a fixed line; and a plurality of indoor units for wirelessly communicating with the indoor relay unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a monitoring system for connection to an air conditioning system. The monitoring system includes a primary monitor for sensing the suction temperature and suction pressure of the air conditioning system along with the air conditioning unit temperature. In addition, the monitoring system includes a remote sensing device that is placed in the structure to monitor and transmit return air temperature and relative humidity to the primary monitor. The collected data is then used to calculate the superheat condition of the air conditioning system which is related to its efficiency.

Abstract: There is provided a water supply control apparatus for an ice maker and method thereof. In the apparatus and method, an ejector pushes out ice, a sensor detecting portion is formed on the ejector, and at least two sensors detect a senor transit time for the sensor detecting portion to travel from one of the sensors to the other. Therefore, an adequate amount of water can be supplied to the ice maker to make ice with a desired size regardless of the variation in the water pressure of a water inlet line from a household water source.

Abstract: A multi-type air conditioner includes an outdoor unit, one or more indoor units communicating with the outdoor unit, and a liquid-stay preventing device heating and evaporating a liquefied refrigerant so as to prevent the liquefied refrigerant circulating between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit from being accumulated at a low pressure side including the indoor unit. Accordingly, a liquefied refrigerant is not accumulated in an indoor unit and a connection pipe, which are a low pressure side where the pressure is relatively low, but smoothly passes therethrough regardless of a height difference between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit. Therefore, the efficiency of the multi-type air conditioner is improved.

Abstract: Disclosed is an air conditioner. The air conditioner includes: at least one indoor unit; an outdoor unit communicating with the indoor unit and having at least one compressor and one outdoor heat exchanger; a fluid path opening/closing valve for opening or closing a fluid path through which a refrigerant can flow to the outdoor heat exchanger; and a control unit for controlling the compressor and the fluid path opening/closing valve to perform appropriate compression and condensation of the refrigerant according to the load amount of the indoor unit. Accordingly, as the air conditioner comprises the fluid path opening/closing valve and the branch fluid path opening/closing valve which are capable of opening or closing fluid paths and a control unit for controlling the valves, a high pressure of a cycle is appropriately maintained even during small-load operation and therefore reliability in operation can be increased.

Abstract: An apparatus for changing capacity of a multi-stage compressor comprises: a first cylinder provided with a first suction and a first discharge port, and divided into a first suction chamber and a first compression chamber by a first rolling piston which orbits and a first vane which makes a linear movement in contact with the first rolling piston; a second cylinder provided with a second suction port and a second discharge port, and divided into a second suction chamber and a second compression chamber by a second rolling piston which orbits and a second vane which makes a linear movement in contact with the second rolling piston; a middle bearing inserted between the first cylinder and the second cylinder, having a bypass hole to allow communication between the compression chambers of the first cylinder and the second cylinder, and having a valve hole for communication in the middle of the bypass hole; a sliding valve slidingly coupled to the valve hole of the middle bearing, and selectively opening or closi

Abstract: An apparatus includes a circuit having a heat-generating circuit component, and structure for guiding a two-phase coolant along a path which brings the coolant into direct physical contact with either the circuit component or a highly thermally conductive part which is thermally coupled to the circuit component. The coolant absorbs heat generated by the circuit component, at least part of the coolant changing from a first phase to a second phase in response to the heat absorbed from the circuit component, where the second phase is different from the first phase.

Abstract: A temperature sensing assembly for monitoring a temperature of a pipe in a system. The temperature sensing assembly includes an insulator body having a first end, a second end, an outer surface, and an inner surface. The outer and inner surfaces extend between the first and second ends. The inner surface is configured to receive a portion of the pipe. A temperature sensor is disposed adjacent the inner surface and is configured to directly contact the pipe when the pipe is received by the inner surface.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus for such things as convenience foods and beverages has a tilted, open faced bed from which persons may select objects. The apparatus is self-contained, and may run from a standard single phase electrical outlet. It may be carried by two people, and is suitable for mounting either on its own base in a recess in a checkout counter or other similar installation. The open faced be may have a channel depth of section that is relatively deep as compared with to its width, the flow path length, or the depth of the flow released to run along the channel, thereby tending to discourage mixing of the cooled flow with the surrounding ambient environment. The apparatus may include a two piece molded housing that defines the structural skeleton for both the cooling bed and a lodgement for various elements of the cooling system. The bed may include a porous deck, or drain panels, that may tend to encourgare cooled air to drain toward a cooling plenum intake panel.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a cooling system for a battery pack that is usable as a power source of electric vehicles and hybrid-electric vehicles. The cooling system has the effect of effectively dissipating heat generated from battery cells by supplying a refrigerant to the battery cells at a constant flow rate, and of minimizing a temperature difference between the battery cells during a cooling process. This prevents degradation in the performance of the battery cells, and achieves optimal temperature control. Also, the cooling system employs a single refrigerant guide member arranged at a side of the battery pack, resulting in a reduction in the size of an overall battery system.

Abstract: A complete refrigeration system (CRS) including at least one heat exchanger which is designed to occupy an irregular volume to reduce the overall profile of the CRS. The heat exchanger may be a condenser or an evaporator, and includes a substantially solid body made of a thermally conductive metal, plastic, or other material. A plurality of fluid and refrigerant passageways are defined substantially within the solid body for conducing fluid and refrigerant, respectively, through the solid body and facilitating the transfer of heat between the fluid and refrigerant. Also disclosed is a method wherein the spatial orientation of each passageway is optimized with respect to all of the other passageways and the walls of the solid body by determining the relative distance of each passageway from all of the other passageways and the walls of the solid body at a plurality of points along each passageway, followed by adjusting the spatial orientation of the passageway accordingly.

Abstract: A refrigeration system for use in cooling electronic equipment includes a closed vapor compression circuit having operably disposed therein a compressor, a condenser, a first expansion device, a second expansion device, and a two-part evaporator. A first part of the evaporator receives working fluid from the first expansion device at a first pressure, and a second part of the evaporator receives working fluid from the second expansion device at a second pressure that is different than the first pressure.

Abstract: An air conditioning system and an apparatus for protecting the same. The air conditioning system comprise an outdoor unit, a plurality of indoor units connected to the outdoor unit by each refrigerant line, and a refrigerant line closing unit installed at the refrigerant line of the indoor unit for preventing a refrigerant flowing on the refrigerant line of the indoor unit from being introduced into the outdoor unit when power supply to one or more indoor units is cut off.

Abstract: A bottom mount household refrigerator is provided with an apparatus to permit the dispensing of ice. According to one embodiment, a sealed ice making compartment is provided within the fresh food compartment. The sealed ice making compartment may be located at the bottom, at the top, or along a side wall within the fresh food compartment. According to another embodiment, ice is made in the ice compartment, and lifted upward to a dispensing location through the door of the fresh food compartment.

Abstract: A continuous transfer type freezer for cooling or freezing articles such as foodstuffs transferred on a conveyor belt by spraying chilled air from slit nozzles on the articles is provided in which chilled air jets rectified to have long spray travel is produced, thin stream layer of chilled air is formed on the surface of the article to achieve increased heat transfer, and exhaust passages of the chilled air are formed such that they do not affect the cooling function. A plurality of slit nozzles 5a, 6a are apposed above and under the conveyor belt along the belt transfer direction, each of the nozzles 5a, 6a is shaped such that it has an angled and succeeding parallel entrance way so that the chilled air is rectified in the entrance ways and spout from the nozzle opening at large velocity, and exhaust passages 12 are formed between each of the slit nozzles such that the chilled air spouted from the nozzles flows toward both lateral end sides of the conveyor belt 2.

Abstract: An appliance cabinet with at least one openable door has a hinge at a pivoting edge of the door to allow the door to open about the pivoting edge. An endcap is secured to an edge of the door adjacent to the pivoting edge. A first conduit extends from an in-door apparatus to an end within the endcap. A second conduit extends from within the cabinet to an end exterior of the cabinet and within the endcap. An end connector is provided to receive the ends of the first and second conduits. The hinge is movable from the pivoting edge of the door to an opposite edge of the door. The second conduit is arranged to exit from either adjacent one corner or adjacent an opposite corner of the cabinet to be adjacent to the pivoting edge. In this arrangement, the two conduits are joinable within the endcap at the end connector to form a continuous conduit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cold drink fountain machine extensively made from aluminum materials including, but not limited to, its frame, exterior panels, and ice agitator. Lighting can be provided by a self-contained cold cathode, neon, or LED lighting module.

Abstract: An accumulator acts as a buffer to prevent over-pressurization of the vapor compression system while inactive. By determining the maximum storage temperature and the maximum storage pressure a system will be subject to when inactive, a density of the refrigerant for the overall system can be calculated. Dividing the density by the mass of the refrigerant determines an optimal overall system volume. The volume of the components is subtracted from the overall system volume to calculate the optimal accumulator volume. The optimal accumulator volume is used to size the accumulator so that the accumulator has enough volume to prevent over-pressurization of the system when inactive.

Abstract: A refrigerant cycle is provided with a multi-port compressor or compressor stages connected in series, and multiple condensers. A single evaporator communicates with the plurality of condensers. At least one of the plurality of condensers receives fully compressed refrigerant while the other condensers receive refrigerant at intermediate pressure. A control can optionally direct refrigerant to the condensers to achieve desired system heat rejection characteristics and operating conditions. One or multiple reheat coils may be associated with the evaporator and are arranged either in series or in parallel to provide a desired dehumidification function and reheat stages. One or several of the intermediate pressure condensers may be utilized for the reheat function as well.

Abstract: A tandem compressor refrigerant system where an economizer circuit and reheat coil are incorporated to provide additional flexibility and control over overall system capacity and sensible heat ratio as well as to increase system efficiency. In this system, tandem compressors deliver compressed refrigerant to a common discharge manifold, and then to a common condenser. From the common condenser, the refrigerant passes to a plurality of evaporators, with each of the evaporators being associated with a separate environment to be conditioned. Each of the evaporators is associated with one or several of the plurality of compressors. By utilizing the common condenser, yet a plurality of evaporators, the ability to independently condition a number of sub-environments is achieved without the requirement of the same plurality of complete separate refrigerant circuits for each compressor.

Abstract: A tandem compressor refrigerant cycle with an economizer circuit is introduced to provide additional capacity and improve system efficiency. In this system, tandem compressors deliver compressed refrigerant to a common discharge manifold, and then to a common condenser. From the common condenser, the refrigerant passes to a plurality of evaporators, with each of the evaporators being associated with a separate environment to be conditioned. Each of the evaporators is associated with one of the plurality of compressors. By utilizing the common condenser, and yet a plurality of evaporators, the ability to independently condition a number of environments is achieved without the requirement of the same plurality of separate complete refrigerant circuits for each of the environments. In some embodiments, several of the plurality of compressors can be provided by compressor banks having its own plurality of compressors.

Abstract: A tandem compressor system is disclosed that delivers compressed refrigerant to a common discharge manifold, and then to a common condenser. From the common condenser, the refrigerant passes to a plurality of evaporators, with each of the evaporators being associated with a separate environment to be conditioned. A reheat function is provided by a reheat coil(s) for one or several environments such that desired temperature and humidity levels are achieved. Various reheat concepts and system configurations are disclosed, where the reheat coils are interconnected or independent from each other, as well as each evaporator is associated with a single or a plurality of the reheat coils.

Abstract: A tandem compressor cycle is utilized that delivers compressed refrigerant to a common discharge manifold, and then to a common condenser. From the common condenser, the refrigerant passes to a plurality of evaporators, with each of the evaporators being associated with a separate environment to be conditioned. Each of the evaporators is associated with one of the plurality of compressors. By utilizing the common condenser, yet a plurality of evaporators, the ability to independently condition a number of environments is achieved without the requirement of having a dedicated circuit with multiple additional components. Thus, the overall system cost can be greatly reduced. In embodiments, one or more of the plurality of compressors can be provided by a compressor bank having its own plurality of compressors.

Abstract: The aim of the invention is to improve a refrigerating installation in such a way as to achieve high operating reliability, and savings in terms of energy and cost, in cooling circuits containing a cooling agent (cooling sols). To this end, disclosed is a refrigerating installation provided with frequency-controlled cooling units in the form of modules comprising an integrated two-stage evaporator provided with a liquid supercooler and a suction vapour superheater.

Abstract: A tandem compressor system is utilized that receives refrigerant from a common suction manifold, and from a common evaporator. From the compressors, the refrigerant passes to a plurality of condensers, with each of the condensers being associated with a separate zone for heat rejection, preferably at different temperature levels. Each of the condensers is associated with at least one of the plurality of compressors. A reheat coil is associated with the evaporator to improve comfort level in the environment to be conditioned. Multiple reheat circuits associated with separate condensers are employed to provide various stages of reheat or to condition separate environments. By utilizing the common evaporator, a plurality of condensers, and the reheat coils, the ability to independently control temperature, humidity and amount of heat rejection to a number of zones is achieved without the requirement of having dedicated circuits with multiple additional components.

Abstract: A method for producing liquefied natural gas wherein high pressure liquid natural gas is subcooled and then flashed to form flash vapor and liquefied natural gas product, and the flash vapor is employed in a refrigeration cycle to generate refrigeration for subcooling the liquid natural gas.

Abstract: A device for inserting jewelry into pierced body openings which consists of an elongated cylinder having a closed pointed end for insertion into body openings, and a hollow end which friction fits over the jewelry's end. Once the device is fitted over the jewelry, the pointed end of the device is inserted through the body's opening, which allows for the device with attached jewelry to be inserted and pushed through the body opening without damaging tissue. Since only the smooth plastic surface of the device makes contact with any tissue, contact of the jewelry's threaded or sharp edges with tissue is eliminated. This reduces tissue damage and risk of infection. The device's shape can be straight or curved, and its dimensions vary to accommodate the size of the jewelry and the specific pierced body openings.

Abstract: A hollow ring design which may be formed by stamping a shank and stamping a top piece is provided. The shank is formed with a comfort fit, such as a convex configuration, along its inside surface and with a non-planar recess, such as a concave, rectangular or square hollow configuration, at least along a portion of its outside surface. A top piece is also stamped along its inside surface and is thus formed with non-planar recess, such as a concave, rectangular or square hollow configuration, opposite that of the recess of the shank. The top piece is configured and sized to fit onto the shank without any need to force fit one piece to the other, while at the same time forming an arcuate channel inside the ring to reduce the cost of materials.

Abstract: Finger ring manufactured from high strength metal that provides a means to employ a seamless inlay of material such as hardwood or plastic that cannot be accommodated by traditional setting methods. The ring is made in two parts that telescope, locate the inlay, and lock onto each other without the need for threads or heating. The divide line between parts is in a location where it is not seen or felt.

Abstract: In a press molding apparatus for press molding a plurality of glass materials into a plurality of glass optical elements by the use of a pressing mold including upper and lower molds each of which has a plurality of molding surfaces, at least one of the upper and the lower molds is a heat generator within which heat is generated when the heat generator is subjected to a high-frequency induction heating by an induction heating coil. The heat generator having a plurality of shape-processed portions (130) produced by partially processing a shape of the heat generator in order that a temperature distribution of the heat generator is adjusted. The apparatus simultaneously press forms, into the glass optical elements, the glass materials supplied between the molding surfaces of the upper and the lower molds which are subjected to the high-frequency induction heating.

Abstract: A control for a glass forming machine which includes a blank station for forming a parison from a gob of molten glass having a number of mechanisms, a blow station for forming a parison into a bottle, having a number of mechanisms, a feeder system including a shear mechanism for delivering a gob to the blank station, a mechanism for transferring a parison from the blank station to the blow station and a takeout mechanism for removing a bottle from the blank station. The machine has a set cycle time. Each of the mechanisms in the glass forming machine is cycled within the time of one machine cycle. Interferences exist between the motion paths of the gob, the parison, the bottle and individual mechanisms. The thermal forming of the parison and bottle involve a number of thermal forming processes occurring during the time of one machine cycle and having finite durations.

Abstract: A control for a glass forming machine which includes a blank station for forming a parison from a gob of molten glass having a number of mechanisms, a blow station for forming a parison into a bottle, having a number of mechanisms, a feeder system including a shear mechanism for delivering a gob to the blank station, a mechanism for transferring a parison from the blank station to the blow station and a takeout mechanism for removing a bottle from the blank station. The machine has a set cycle time. Each of the mechanisms in the glass forming machine is cycled within the time of one machine cycle. Interferences exist between the motion paths of the gob, the parison, the bottle and individual mechanisms. The thermal forming of the parison and bottle involve a number of thermal forming processes occurring during the time of one machine cycle and having finite durations.

Abstract: A control for a glass forming machine is disclosed which receives as an input the event angles used to control the machines operation. These event angles, which define the time in a cycle when each event is turned on and off, are unwrapped to represent times in the glass forming process which takes more than two machine cycles to complete. A computerized model of the unwrapped cycle is defined and a control analyzes the computerized model as a constrained optimization problem to define an optimized schedule of event times and defines a plurality of intermediate event time schedules in an incremental application.

Abstract: A control for a glass forming machine which includes a number of devices that are operated at defined event times within a 360 degree machine cycle. An unwrapped glass forming process wherein a gob of molten glass is sheared from a runner of molten glass, the gob is then formed into a parison in the blank station, the parison is then formed into a bottle in the blow station, and the bottle is then removed from the blow station, takes more than the time of one machine cycle to complete. A computer analyses a computerized model of a mathematical representation of a network constraint diagram. The network constraint diagram includes at least one user collision branch which is connected either between the start or end nodes of displacement of two mechanisms that have an interference zone.

Abstract: A press die and a molding process can form a disk member having a shaft shaped portion at a center with satisfactory circularity and flatness in a disk portion, dimensional precision in the shaft shaped portion, and concentricity between the disk portion and the shaft shaped portion at the center. The press die is designed for press molding of a glass substrate of a disk member with a shaft shaped portion at a center thereof. The press die includes an upper die forming an upper surface of the disk member, an intermediate die having a shaft forming hole portion for forming a shaft shaped portion projecting from a disk portion of the disk member, a lower die for forming a lower surface of the shaft shaped portion and a guide member for guiding the upper die, the intermediate die and the lower die.

Abstract: Apparatus for making glass fibers has AC induction coils for AC inductive heating of a spinner for spinning molten glass into molten glass fibers, an enclosure that at least partially surrounds the AC induction coils to protect a human worker, and electrically insulating shielding reducing AC power drain by being positioned between the AC induction coils and the enclosure to reduce inductive heating of the enclosure.

Abstract: A stitch presser in a weft knitting machine installed on a carriage that slides in a reciprocating fashion on a needle bed and configured such that a presser bar fitted through a presser bar supporting arm joined to a rotation shaft of a motor is advanced into a mouth portion of the weft knitting machine with an electric power supplied to the motor driving the predetermined presser bar in conjunction with the directional switching of the reciprocating motion of the carriage, including a rotation energizing mechanism for rotating the rotating shaft of the motor to a side retracting the presser bar of the weft knitting machine when the electric power is not supplied to the motor for driving the presser bar advanced into the mouth portion.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to be provide a yarn feeding apparatus of a flat knitting machine capable of accurately predicting a required amount of a knitting yarn and knitting a fabric while supplying knitting yarn necessary for knitting. The knitting yarn is fed out based on an idea shown in a solid line in consideration of a yarn speed corresponding to the requirement for knitting yarn produced according to the movement of a yarn feeding member as shown by chain lines in FIG. 6(b). A knitting yarn is stored on a buffer rod at a start of knitting because the speed of a motor such as a servo motor for feeding a knitting yarn lags behind the yarn speed. A knitting yarn that runs short at the time of deceleration at an end of knitting is also fed out in advance.

Abstract: A drum washing machine having a vertically openable and linearly movable door includes a cabinet having an opening formed at a front wall of the cabinet to allow laundry to be put in and removed from the opening, a door provided at the front wall of the cabinet to open or close the opening, a door opening/closing mechanism connected between the cabinet and the door to allow the door to be opened while the door is moved downwardly, and to be closed while the door is moved upwardly, such that an outer surface of the door faces upwardly when the door is opened, and a linear movement mechanism to allow the door to be linearly moved such that the door can be moved into the cabinet in an opened state. The door can be utilized as a laundry holder when the door is opened, and the door can be easily opened or closed while the laundry can be conveniently put into or removed from the washing machine by pushing the door into the cabinet, even where the washing machine is located in a narrow space.

Abstract: The invention relates to a household machine, in particular a dishwasher or washing machine, with a motor, wherein at least one mounting unit comprising at least one damping device is provided for adjustably mounting the motor, which is characterized in that the damping device exhibits at least one first damping element with a first damping action, and a second damping element with a second damping action.

Abstract: Door on a washing machine, in which a seating position of a door glass is guided at the time of placing the door glass on a door frame, for securing the door glass at a right position. The door includes a transparent door window, and a door frame mounted on a top cover of the washing machine, the top cover having a cloth opening, and the door frame having an opening, and a guide for guiding positioning of the transparent door window to cover the opening. If a transparent window is provided to a door on the washing machine, a comparatively great seating recess is required for easy seating of the transparent window. However, the great seating recess is likely to cause difficult in positioning the transparent window at a right position, to cause inconvenience of mounting. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve this problem.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multi-functional laundry device capable of treating the laundry efficiently and controlling method for the same, comprising a washing unit for washing the laundry, a drying unit integrated with the washing unit as one body for after-washing treatment including smoothing out wrinkles, and drying and keeping the laundry, and a control unit provided at either of the washing unit and the drying unit for controlling the washing unit and the dry unit. The present invention has the advantageous effect that the treatment of the laundry including washing, drying, smoothing out wrinkles, and keeping the laundry may be performed in one device.

Abstract: A single use, tamper resistant lock that can be applied without tools. The lock has a lock body and flexible cable having a first end coupled to the lock body. Another portion of the cable is selectively engagable with and secured to the lock body to secure an item to be locked. This portion of the cable is secured to the lock body with a frangible locking member. The frangible locking member has a flared end coupled to a threaded body at a frangible neck. The flared head of the frangible locking member can be sufficiently engaged and manipulated by hand to thread the threaded body into the lock body and secure the cable to the lock body without the need for tools. As the cable is secured, the flared head separates from the threaded body at the frangible neck due to the hand-applied torque.

Abstract: An error-proofing combination padlock has a casing assembly, multiple dials, multiple sleeves, a shackle, a locking bolt and a spring. The dials are mounted rotatably inside the casing assembly. The sleeves are mounted rotatably and respectively inside the dials. The shackle is mounted retractably and pivotally on the casing assembly. A locking bolt is mounted slidably through the sleeves. The error-proofing combination padlock prevents dials from rotating except when the shackle is located in the locking (first) position or the combination-resetting (third) position and avoids a new and unintended unlocking combination arising during a resetting operation of the combination.

Abstract: A locking assembly for a truck bed closure includes an internal frame mounting a slider having a vertical portion with a dog-receiving aperture, a disk rotation flange, a manual actuation flange and a motor-actuator flange, and a horizontal portion with a pair of keyhole apertures for receiving the mounting studs. a hollow lock cylinder bushing secured to the mounting plate internally and rotatably receives a shaft and a lock tumbler. Rotation of the shaft by turning an exterior handle unlatches the truck bed closure. The interior end of the tumbler mounts a locking dog. Pivoting of the lock tumbler rotates the locking dog to shift the slider between the locked and unlocked positions. A lock disk fixed to the shaft engages the slider in the locked position, preventing unlatching. An electric actuator can be connected to the slider, enabling shifting of the slider from a wired or wireless remote switch.

Abstract: An interchangeable key system having a non-spheroidal head, where the head includes a front surface and a back surface, a side surface that spans the periphery, a top end, a bottom end that is opposite the top end, a cavity in either the front or the back surface, and an opening in the side surface, at the bottom end, connecting to the cavity. The key system also includes a blank having a blade at a distal end and a projection at a proximal end; where the blade is adapted for insertion into a lock, and at least a portion of the projection is adapted for insertion into the cavity. The key system also includes means for removably connecting the blank and the head together, such that the blank is generally fixed relative to the head when the two are connected. Faceplates may be attached to the front and back surfaces for ornamental enhancement of the system.

Abstract: The invention concerns a clamping device for a device for the production of metal parts by forming with a closed forming tool, the clamping device comprising at least several tension hoops (2), these tension hoops (2) each being provided with at least one tension frame (2.2) of a closed contour, the tension frame being provided with two segments (2.3) arranged opposite each other at some distance, between which a forming tool (12) can be arranged, each of these segments (2.3) being provided with at least either one bearing surface (2.1) or one bearing surface (2.4), and the tension hoops (2) being each linked by at least one articulated joint (8) in order to be pivoted, a bearing surface (3.1) which is located above or on the upper surface of the forming tool (12) and used as support for a bearing surface (2.1) of a tension hoop (2), and a device (5) which generates a clamping force of more than 3 MN and is composed of several power-generating elements.

Abstract: A method for producing vehicle parts is provided, particularly shell parts for vehicles, according to which a three-dimensionally preformed semi-finished or finished standard part, especially a standard shell part, is produced for a serially manufactured vehicle type. An individualized part is then produced from the preformed standard part by subsequently embossing a three-dimensional contour into the standard part by use of a mandrel-type reshaping tool which is pressed against the standard part from one side while being displaced relative to the standard part.

Abstract: A tube bending apparatus having an interior bending die about which a tubular segment having fittings on each end that would normally preclude bending to approximately 180 degrees is bent, the interior bending die being separable into two portions along the bending plane, such that the die can be split to release the bent tubular member.

Abstract: A wire drawing machine includes a frame; at least one die operatively supported by the frame; at least one drawing block rotatably supported by the frame for use in drawing wire through the die; and, a motor for use in providing power. A belt system connects the motor to the drawing block so that the drawing block can be rotated. To adjust the speed and torque of the drawing block, the belt is removed and one sprocket is replaced with a second sprocket.