Abstract: A robot hand changer for industrial robots, having a changer unit mounted fixedly on the industrial robots and a changer adapter holding a robot hand and being detachably fitted in the change unit. The changer unit has a fluid-operated piston and clamping balls urged toward a clamping position by the fluid-operated piston. The changer adapter is fitted in the changer unit and clamped by the agency of the clamping piston. A plurality of such changer adapters holding different kinds of robot hand are prepared.

Abstract: A snap lock connector is provided for positively mechanically locking two articles together while enabling their immediate separation responsive to the push of a button. The device comprises a bifurcated locking member extending from a first article and normally urged outwardly into locking position within a chamber in a second article. A push-button surmounts the locking member and projects outwardly from the second article. When the push-button is depressed, it overcomes the spring tendency of the locking member and moves the bifurcated locking portion together enabling to be withdrawn from the second article, whereupon the second article may be separated from the first article. The invention is capable of many uses, including the locking of a knife in its sheath.

Abstract: A wedge-type fastener which is economical to manufacture and can be installed using known installation tools, such as those used in Europe. The fastener comprises a main body portion having an exterior adapted to be grasped by a tool to hold the same and an insert mounted in its interior keyed to the interior of the main body portion for rotation therewith. A threaded stud having a head keyed to the interior of the insert is also mounted within the body portion having a threaded portion extending out of one end of the body portion. The body portion is closed off at one end by a snap-in cap which also aligns the threaded stud in the body portion and abuts against the insert. The threaded portion of the stud extends through the cap and terminates in a snap-on cap that keeps a threaded nut threaded on the threaded portion of the stud between the first cap and the second cap from running off the stud. The stud, at its other end, includes a pair of wire elements fixedly secured therein.

Abstract: A wedge-type low profile fastener is disclosed which is adapted to be inserted into aligned apertures in a pair of abutting surfaces. A hex head is provided on the fastener which is engageable by a tool to rotate the same. Such rotation moves a screw having a pair of spaced wires coupled thereto with a spreader between the wires. As the screw is moved, the wires move along the spreader wedging the spreader between the wires. This moves the wires outwardly against the non-accessible surfaces of the apertures thereby holding the fastener secure in the apertures until the wedging action is removed. The fastener presents a low profile so that the hex head does not stick out too far while retaining a predetermined grip range for the wires.

Abstract: A latch mechanism for retaining a sunroof closure panel in a vehicle body roof opening includes a pin projecting from the closure panel and received within a bore of a receptacle mounted on the vehicle body. The pin is bifurcated by a central slot defining a pair of legs. A latch lever is pivoted within a transverse bore in the receptacle and carries a cam member which is received within the slot of the pin and straddled by the legs when the closure panel is lowered into its closed position. Rotation of the latch lever and the cam member forcibly spreads the pin legs into engagement with the bore of the receptacle to latch the sunroof closure panel in the closed position. The pin slot and the cam member may have mating tapers by which an adjustment of the transverse position of the cam member will adjust the extent of forcible spread of the legs to adjust for wear and for manufacturing or assembly variations.

Abstract: The inner end of a hollow shaft (12) is releasably attached to a flight vehicle (2) by a ball-plunger type quick release mechanism. A rod (22) is axially slidable in the shaft (12) to release the shaft (12) from the vehicle (2). A plate (34) extends radially from the outer end (16) of the shaft (12) and abuts an outwardly facing surface of an external store (4) through which the shaft (12) and the rod (22) extend. The rim (48) of a cup-shaped retainer (42) interlocks with plate (34) to rotatably secure retainer (42) to plate (34). A solenoid (52) engages an arm (44) on retainer (42) to rotate retainer (42), release the interlocking engagement, and allow a spring (68) to move the retainer (42) axially outwardly. Retainer (42) contacts a shoulder (74) on rod (22) to move rod (22) axially outwardly. This releases shaft (12) from vehicle (2) and allows shaft (12) and store (4) to be separated from vehicle (2).

Abstract: A pin mounts a plurality of expandable and contractable bushings that upon expansion engage the bore of workpieces to hold the latter together. A ball lock expands behind the workpieces to present a positive lock against axial pullout of the fastener. The bushings are alternate male and female, split ring bushings that have complementary contiguous surfaces that act as wedges. Upon axial compressive loading the female bushings expand and the male bushings contract. The ball lock includes a pair of diametrically opposed balls radially displaceable in the pin. A slide has an annular recess for receiving the balls in a withdrawn position within the pin. A spring normally biases a land of the slide into a position radially inside the balls to rigidly hold the balls in their extended position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a buckling device of the type having a strap or other connecting means, a male and a female elements, means for retaining said strap and male and female catch means. Said catch means consist of a retaining volume of said female element and a protuberance of said male element. Two abutments of said male elements cooperate with two obstacle means of said female element in such a way that said male and female catch means are preserved from any traction forces applied to the buckling device. The removal of said abutments of said element from said obstacle means of said female element is produced by the crushing of an elastic means of the male element within a holding volume of the female element.

Abstract: A knob assembly is provided which includes a knob having an integral shaft. The knob further includes a circular groove therein, and first and second cams situated in the groove. A knob receiving member includes an aperture in which the shaft of the knob is situated. Two snap fingers of flexible material extend from the sides of the aperture to engage the knob when the knob is pressed into the aperture. The knob is conveniently removed from the aperture by rotating the knob until the first and second cams contact and push the first and second snap fingers, respectively, out of the groove.