Abstract: A blind bolt extends through a hole which extends through a first and second member. An anchor is disposed on the distal end of a blind bolt shaft, and the anchor has expanded and contracted configurations. An anchor is disposed on the distal end on a shaft and is positioned beyond the distal end of the hole engaging a surface of the second member thereby holding the shaft in the hole. A shear sleeve is disposed on the blind bolt proximate to the distal end of the shaft and has a length sufficient to extend across the second member, across the interface between the first and second members and partially across the first member. A nut is threaded on the threads of the shaft, and a collapsible cylinder is disposed on the blind bolt shaft between the sheer sleeve and nut.

Abstract: The invention relates to a spring, in particular to move at least one part of a fixture of the vehicle interior space. It was the object of the invention to create a spring, that does not cause disturbing noises due to vibrations. The object is solved by the spring being made of plastic.

Abstract: A spring aid for a vehicle suspension includes a compliant tower attachable to elements undergoing suspension travel. The tower defines an axis of travel or center axis and includes a plurality of rings and a plurality of window frames connecting the rings. The rings are perpendicular to, and spaced along, the axis, and define a cylindrical cavity. The window frames define a plurality of windows between the rings. The suspension element may also include a core, which substantially fills the cylindrical cavity of the compliant tower. A rod may be disposed within the core and movable within the hole of the shelf.

Abstract: A dispensing pump (10) for liquids, viscous materials, foams, gels, etc. includes a resilient plastic skirt spring (18) so that the entire pump can be more easily recycled. The dispensing pump (10) includes a base portion (12), an inlet valve (14), a piston valve (16), a polymer skirt spring (18), a spring guide structure (20) and a pump actuator (22). The skirt spring (18) comprises a plurality of concentric nesting rings (38) sequentially decreasing in diameter from a base ring (38A) to a top ring (38F) wherein adjacent rings are interconnected by spaced bridge segments (40) and the bridge segments are staggered at each sequential ring. The skirt spring (18) includes structures which interact with the piston valve (16) to open the outlet valve.

Abstract: A clamping device for clamping a workpiece or a tool or a tool holder to a machine component of a machine tool, including an axially movable tension rod, a clamping assembly which can be moved by the tension rod between a clamped position and a released position, a spring assembly dedicated to the tension rod for generating the clamping and draw-in force of the clamping assembly, and a releasing unit by which the clamping assembly can be moved by the tension rod against the force of the spring assembly into the released position. The spring assembly has a minimum of one spring unit with a plurality of flexible spring members disposed between a first and a second spring holder, with the first and second spring holders being secured against torsion relative to the tension rod.

Abstract: A force dissipating impactor device comprises a bar member including a hollow shaft, a first end, and a second end. The first end of the impactor device provides an impaction surface and the opposite second end of the impactor device provides an implant engagement surface. The implant engagement surface is contoured to mate with a surface of the implant member. The impaction surface is configured to be struck with a mallet or other tool. A plurality of holes are provided in the shaft and penetrate the surface of the bar member. The plurality of holes provided on the shaft surface of the bar member may be arranged such that a line passing axially along the shaft surface intersects at least one of the plurality of holes. Further, the plurality of holes may be arranged in a staggered matrix around the shaft surface.

Abstract: A machined spring for injector applications includes opposed first and second spring bases separated apart along a longitudinal axis. A spring body connects the first and second spring bases. The spring body includes a generally annular wall with a plurality of spring channels defined therethrough, such as machined channels. Exemplary applications for such machined springs include liquid strainers, valve components, and structural components for accommodating thermal expansion in injectors.

Abstract: A tubular spring is provided for receiving and pretensioning a piezoelectric or magnetostrictive actuator of an actuator unit, e.g., for actuating a fuel injector valve in internal combustion engines, wherein the tubular spring comprises at least two types of recesses, each comprising different maximum lateral extensions in the longitudinal direction of the tubular spring. The tubular spring is designed to comprise a uniform load distribution about the circumference of the tubular spring even without welding the longitudinal sides thereof abutting one another.

Abstract: A lens drive device may include a movable body movable in an optical axis direction, a support body supporting the movable body through a spring member which may include spring pieces electrically separated from each other, formed with a coil connecting part to which one of a winding start part and a winding end part of the coil is electrically connected. The movable body is provided with an accommodating part for accommodating the coil connecting part. The spring member may include a plate spring-shaped arm part connecting a support body side fixing part with a movable body side fixing part and the arm part is provided with a laser cut portion formed by a laser in a part of an edge part of the arm part. An edge part of the arm part except the laser cut portion may be a cut portion formed by press working or etching processing.

Abstract: A compliant mechanism is provided for accurate and precision alignment of mechanical component parts, surfaces or assemblies and the like, where low-cost, accurate, and repeatable alignment are desired. The compliant mechanism may be used in applications that require high precision alignment and where the relative location of coupled components must be variable or adjustable. The compliant mechanism includes a stage coupled to a plurality of hinges, at least one tab coupled to one of the hinges, and a support coupled to the tab. The relative position of the stage and the support may be adjusted by actuating (i.e., displacing) the tab(s) or other parts of the structure, to enable controlled movement in six degrees of freedom therebetween.

Abstract: A flexible coupling for flexibly joining two shafts includes a unitary solid cylindrical body having a first end, a second end, and therebetween having one or more longitudinally spaced circular disks spaced by asymmetric slot pairs; a radially offset beam formed between a first slot and a second slot of each asymmetric slot pair, such that the radially offset beam is parallel to a diameter of the cylindrical body and is offset from the parallel diameter by a radial beam offset distance R1; each beam being rotationally offset from longitudinally adjacent beams; and hub means at the first end for coaxially connecting the first end to a first one of the two shafts, and hub means at the second end for coaxially connecting the second end to a second one of the two shafts.

Abstract: A compliant mechanism is provided for accurate and precision alignment of mechanical component parts, surfaces or assemblies and the like, where low-cost, accurate, and repeatable alignment are desired. The compliant mechanism may be used in applications that require high precision alignment and where the relative location of coupled components must be variable or adjustable. The compliant mechanism includes a stage coupled to a plurality of hinges, at least one tab coupled to one of the hinges, and a support coupled to the tab. The relative position of the stage and the support may be adjusted by actuating (i.e., displacing) the tab(s) or other parts of the structure, to enable controlled movement in six degrees of freedom therebetween.

Abstract: In a fuel injector a valve-closure member movable axially along a valve longitudinal axis and a valve-seat body are provided for opening and closing the valve. Allocated to the valve-seat body is a valve-seat face which cooperates with the valve-closure member. In this context, the valve-closure member is joined to the valve-seat body via a spring element designed in the form of a diaphragm spring. The spring element is arranged in such a manner that it pulls the valve-closure member toward the valve-seat face as a return spring in response to closing of the valve. The fuel injector is particularly suitable for use in fuel-injection systems of mixture-compressing internal combustion engines with externally supplied ignition.

Abstract: A circular multi-wave composite compression spring (10) is formed from a carbon fiber (58) reinforced laminate. The circular compression spring (10) is comprised of unidirectional graphite fibers (58) encased in a polymeric resin of generally rectangular cross-section such that adjacent crests (14) and troughs (16) of the waves in adjacent turns (12) of the spring (10) contact each other along a radial line generally extending from the longitudinal axis (30) of the spring (10). The line contact provides for increased fatigue life and more stable loading of the spring (10) under compression. The carbon fiber reinforced laminate provides comparable strength characteristics similarly configured springs fabricated from conventional materials while providing significantly reduced weight. Furthermore, the composite spring (10) offers increased performance parameters such as increased linearity response over a wider spring deflection range and with insignificant hysteresis.

Abstract: A circular multi-wave composite compression spring is formed from a carbon fiber reinforced laminate. The circular compression spring is comprised of unidirectional graphite fibers encased in a polymeric resin of generally rectangular cross-section such that adjacent crests and troughs of the waves in adjacent turns of the spring contact each other along a radial line generally extending from the longitudinal axis of the spring. The line contact provides for increased fatigue life and more stable loading of the spring under compression. The carbon fiber reinforced laminate provides comparable strength characteristics similarly configured springs fabricated from conventional materials while providing significantly reduced weight. Furthermore, the composite spring offers increased performance parameters such as increased linearity response over a wider spring deflection range and with insignificant hysteresis.

Abstract: A metal component (10) having non-uniform material characteristics which cause the component to undergo differential growth upon exposure to a neutron flux, and a process for producing such a component. The invention is useful for making metal components for use in nuclear reactors, particularly fuel assembly cantilever grid springs (12). By cold working a portion (40) of a cantilever spring on the convex side of the curved region of the spring, a spring can be provided which has a smaller reduction in preload upon exposure to radiation than a conventional cantilever spring.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a grounding ring which may be used in grd adapters. The grounding ring has a structure resembling a miniature box girder with an irregular hexagonal cross section and is bent into a toroidal configuration. The grounding ring is characterized by increased wall areas for establishing electrical contact between a surface of a conductor and a surface of a stuffing tube, grounding conduit, or shield grounding fitting. The grounding ring provides improved EM performance and better capacitive coupling.

Abstract: A composite structure of elastic and viscoelastic components in which dynamic loads are effectively damped by transmission through the viscoelastic components. The structure includes a continuous sandwich comprised either of a single elastic layer enclosed by two viscoelastic layers or of a single viscoelastic layer enclosed by two elastic layers such that the sandwich has little stiffness in any intended direction of loading, and two segmented elastic layers having stiffness in a desired loading direction. The segmented layers have alternating segments and gaps and are disposed one on each side of the viscoelastic layer in such a manner that the gaps of one segmented layer overlap the segments of the other segmented layer. Dynamic loads in the loading direction are transmitted back and forth from one segmented layer to the other, through the continuous sandwich layer containing the viscoelastic material, which thereby provides a high degree of damping.

Abstract: A resilient spring defining a platform surface (250) and including a pair of side-by-side spring arms (244) extending in a common axial direction from the platform surface. Each of the spring arms defines an end (252) in an adjacent relationship to the base of the other spring arm, whereby the spring arms (252) extend generally in opposing transverse directions and in the common axial direction to define a pair of bearing surfaces (260) disposed to engage a common support surface (242) of another member (38). Locking lances (258) extend from side walls (254) of the spring in a direction opposed to the axial direction of the spring arms (252) to engage ledges along side walls (262) of a cavity (70) of the other member in a manner permitting only biased movement toward the common support surface (242) when an additional member (52) to be spring biased is placed on and urged against the platform surface (250).

Abstract: An apparatus for minimizing bending distortion in base support planes of tray units holding weighted modules. A cut out flap in the base plane is set at an angle to form a deflection spring plate against the module weight. The angle is adjustable to operate for various weight modules, material composition of the tray unit and deflection plate parameters.

Abstract: A variable shock absorbing compressional mounting apparatus. The apparatus includes a housing assembly having first and second housing portions, with the second housing portion being operable to move slidably partially inwardly and outwardly relative to the first housing portion, and a cylindrical, elongated elastomer member having a cylindrical, serpentine-shaped spring therein disposed coaxially within said housing assembly. The elongated elastomer member and elongated serpentine-shaped spring operate cooperatively to provide damping characteristics which vary with the compressional and tensional forces exerted on the elastomer member. When the apparatus is secured to two structures moving towards and away from each other in an oscillatory fashion with varying force, the apparatus operates to dampen the oscillatory motions of the structures in accordance with a first damping characteristic until a predetermined force is reached.

Abstract: The present invention resides in an expandable anode assembly which comprises an anode riser and anode surfaces on opposite sides of the anode riser. Each anode surface comprises multiple anode sheets. Each anode sheet is supported by spring connectors which allow movement of one sheet of an anode surface without movement of the other sheet of such surface. The spring connectors hold each sheet so that its profile remains essentially flat in such movement. Each sheet lies in the same or an essentially parallel plane with other sheets of the anode assembly.

Abstract: The flexure stage disclosed herein is useful in aligning a semiconductor wafer during microlithographic exposure to define circuit elements on the surface of the wafer. The stage is a unitary structure which permits essentially lossless small angle relative rotation of a central portion of the stage with respect to an outer, annular portion of the stage. Three pairs of slots define three links extending radially with respect to the axis of rotation and, radially outwardly from each pair of slots, a respective transverse slot in the outer portion provides radial compliance for the outer end of the respective link.

Abstract: A spring given elasticity by way of elastic portions formed between slits which are provided on a base material of, e.g. solid cylindrical shape, cylindrical pipe shape, etc. The slits are formed on an outer peripheral surface of the base material at different phase angles. They are arranged along the length of the material and parallel to each other. The elastic portions are disposed at different pitches along the length so that some of them have different elasticity from the others. The elasticity between some portions and the others may be varied by way of changing an inner diameter of a through hole formed in the spring. Thereby the spring has non-linear elasticity characteristics. The spring may have a through hole and a line of slit spirally extending about the axis and communicating with the through hole. A line of elastic portion is defined by the slit and also extends spirally about the axis of the spring. The width of the elastic portion is changed along the axis of the spring.

Abstract: A heat sink assembly for protecting at least one electronic device is provided which comprises a heat sink and a clip. The clip includes first and second opposed end portions and an interconnecting intermediate portion. The first end portion is pivotally anchored. In order to bias at least one device against the heat sink, the intermediate portion includes at least one spring member resiliently engageable with at least one electronic device. The second end portion removably fastens the clip to the heat sink.

Abstract: Disclosed is a new basic type of extension or compression spring that can be made from thin or heavy strip stock, but yields spring strengths associated with much heavier and larger springs of currently used coil, leaf and other types. Additionally, the new spring provides a two or three spring constant response consisting of a first strong spring response, then a weaker spring response, then (if desired) a strong spring response. The variable rate is controllable by design, and no new technology is required to make springs with a very wide spectrum of strength and non-linear response. Anticipated applications range from a new type of hose clamp to direct reading torque indicators or automotive suspension springs.

Abstract: A cylinder having a bore extending therethrough is formed with pairs of slits arranged axially of the cylinder at a predetermined spacing, the slits in each pair being opposed to each other diametrically of the cylinder. Like a coiled spring, the cylinder is adapted to perform a spring action against tension, compression or torsion.

Abstract: An article gripper with a fixed jaw has a movable jaw mounted on reed springs. Deflection of the movable jaw permits the article to enter and exit the gripper. The movable jaw has an inlet cam surface and an outlet cam surface, configured so that a low-level inlet force deflects the jaw and reeds laterally, while a higher-level outlet, or removal, force is directed parallel to the reed springs causing the jaw to behave stiffly and thus resist pullout of the article.

Abstract: A suspension system for an electromagnetic linear actuator armature includes plural suspension discs adjustably secured to the armature of the linear actuator. The discs include tortuous-path spring arms between inner and outer rims. The rims are stacked between annular spacers and retained by two annular clamps.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved integral machined spring adapted to be used in high speed spindles employing a tool holding mechanism which rotates with the spindle. The spring assembly includes a plurality of lands and slots arranged circumferentially and in tiers and includes a top and bottom face. The axial width dimension of the slots adjacent to the end faces is less than the axial dimension of the slots between the end faces in order to distribute the stresses more uniformly. The lands form a plurality of circumferentially arranged lobes whose radial dimension is greater than the portion between the lobes, again to distribute the stresses more uniformly. Various forms of the invention are described including a spindle assembly having a non-rotating actuating rod.

Abstract: A spring system for use with a geophone for suspending a reference mass axially and laterally. One spring of the spring system flexes more axially than laterally, and the other spring of the spring system flexes more laterally, although heavily damped, than axially.

Abstract: A foil thrust bearing having an underspring with alternating upper ridges and lower ridges.

Abstract: A friction clutch comprises a cover member, a pressure plate mounted to the cover member by drive straps and a diaphragm spring interposed between the cover member and pressure plate so as to urge the pressure plate towards and into frictional engagement with a driven plate. The diaphragm spring has the usual outer belville portion and inwardly projecting fingers. The outer parts of the fingers themselves and particularly the junctions with the belville portion are stiffened by stiffening ribs which resist finger bending and thus reduce release travel. The ribs extend into and terminate within the belville portion without reaching its outer periphery. Fulcrum rings such as 17 incorporate raised bridge portions to provide clearance for the ribs.

Abstract: A stirrup-shaped support for supporting ear protectors for example has two end parts, between which there is located an intermediate part incorporating an inner section and an outer section. When the end parts are moved away from one another, the inner section is arranged to be subjected to a tensile force while the outer section is arranged to buckle, at the same time, towards the inner section. The rigidity of the outer section is such that the force required to move the end parts away from each other is substantially constant within a predetermined range of distances between the end parts.

Abstract: A friction clutch whose diaphragm spring has equidistant prongs extending axially and radially from the energy-storing annular main section and being bolted directly to the flywheel on the crankshaft of an engine so that the spring normally biases a pressure plate against a clutch disc and the latter is thereby biased against the flywheel. The spring has alternating tongues and slots extending radially inwardly from the annular main section as well as an annulus of arcuate openings between the outermost portions of the slots and the prongs. The openings enhance the flexibility of the conical frustum which is constituted by the annular main section and the tongues with reference to the conical frustum including the prongs, and the openings thus prolong the useful life of the diaphragm spring.

Abstract: Flexual pivots are utilized as part of supporting elements in a mechanism requiring a high degree of precision of movement over an extremely small distance. An example illustrated is for a microscope used in viewing micropatterns on an integrated circuit chip wherein a focusing element is supported by such a flexual pivot structure.

Abstract: A friction clutch wherein a diaphragm spring is installed between two ring-shaped seats intermediate an axially movable pressure plate and a cover and has a circumferentially complete outer marginal portion extending beyond the seats and engaging with projections of the pressure plate. The spring has a radially innermost portion formed by an annulus of prongs whose tips surround an opening and which alternate with radially outwardly extending open slots. Such open slots alternate and overlap in part with the inner portions of closed slots whose outer portions are holes forming an annulus inwardly of the outer marginal portion. The regions of overlap between the open and closed slots include bridges which together constitute an annular tension spring enabling the diaphragm spring to store energy in addition to that which is stored in the outer marginal portion. The diaphragm spring can be tilted between the seats by a release bearing which cooperates with the tips of the prongs.

Abstract: A diaphragm spring whose outer marginal portion is a circumferentially complete annulus and whose inner marginal portion surrounds a centrally located opening and is formed with a set of radially extending prongs directly surrounding the opening and separated from each other by relatively short radially extending inner slots. The inner marginal portion is further formed with relatively long radially extending outer slots each of which is spaced apart from and registers with one of the inner slots and has an enlarged outer end portion inwardly adjacent to the outer marginal portion. Still further, the inner marginal portion has radially extending elongated closed slots which alternate with pairs of aligned inner and outer slots and each of which partially overlaps the adjacent inner and outer slots.

Abstract: An assembly, such as a friction clutch, has a cup spring with a conicity which is variable when the assembly is in use. The cup spring has a ring-shaped base, tongues extending therefrom at an angle and separated from each other by slots which extend radially outwardly and terminate in hole-like cutouts, and hole-like enlargements disposed radially inwardly of the cutouts and having a width greater than the minimal slot width. Holding means extend axially through the cup spring and radially at least into the enlargements to fasten the cup spring in the assembly.

Abstract: A large area semiconductor disk, wherein in order to be able to connect, for example, by soldering, welding or diffusion-bonding the semiconductor disk with copper disks serving for the heat conduction and for the current supply, a copper tape wound to form a spiral is used to make the connection between the two disks. Transverse slots are etched or punched into the copper tape so that free V-shaped crosspieces are formed on one side. The ends of the cross-pieces are connected with the silicon disk, and measures are taken so that the crosspieces do not connect with each other. The other side of the wound tape is soldered to the copper disk. The radial thermal expansion differences between the copper disk and silicon disks, as well as the axial thermal expansion differences between the silicon disk and the casing, as well as production tolerances in the planeness of the copper and silicon disks are absorbed elastically by the corresponding V-shape of the crosspieces.

Abstract: A resilient stop block for gradually loading the ram of a press for scoring easy open can ends to assure an accurately controlled residual and reduce press noise. The resilient stop block replaces the conventional solid stop block and comprises a metallic member having a longitudinal bore and vertically spaced overlying pairs of diametrically opposed angularly oriented segmental slots extending inwardly through the sides of the block into the bore. The resilient stop block is compressable by the overlying solid stop block as the ram approaches the press bed.

Abstract: An isolator designed to prevent transmission of shock and vibration from one structure to another, comprising a device structured to provide orthogonal excursion in three directions and comprising a plurality of nested, concentrically-arranged component structures, each of which is structured to permit orthogonal excursion and a connector element for securing structures in nested parallel relation so that the composite resistance to displacement is the sum of the resistances of the individual components. The component structure may decrease in size from the outside to the inside or be all of the same size.

Abstract: A test probe for electronic circuit testing includes a probe arm joined to a printed circuit board adjacent to an electronic circuit to be tested, said probe arm having a flexible neck portion at one end. An electrically conductive tip is attached to the neck portion and has one end adapted to contact a portion of an electronic circuit. The neck portion of the probe arm is provided with a plurality of transverse slots and intermediate slots communicating between the transverse slots, the probe being provided with a flexible insert for extension across a preselected one of transverse slots in order to vary the probe tip pressure of the neck portion in directions substantially normal to the circuit under test.

Abstract: A regenerator assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a center driven, rotatable disc type ceramic core with a hub and drive shaft including a chain driven sprocket fixedly secured thereto and wherein damper means including first and second relatively movable parts are connected between the sprocket and hub and a resiliently yieldable slipper is located in the hub and compressible to accept hub loads without taking a permanent set; the damper means and slipper combining to damp oscillations in said matrix disc drive shaft during operation of the regenerator assembly and further operative to isolate frangible material of the core from shocks imposed thereon by the drive thereto.

Abstract: A compression spring capable of having a very high rate comprises co-axial annular plates alternating in an axial direction with diametrical strips adjacent ones of which are perpendicular to one another. The spring may comprise a stack of washers with diametrically opposed pads or radial ribs on their faces, said washers having non-circular bores enabling them to be located non-rotatably on a correspondingly non-circular central support. Alternatively, the spring may comprise a single tubular element with pairs of diametrically opposed tangential slots perpendicular to its axis which extend from its periphery into its bore.

Abstract: A visor blade of molded, collapsible truss formation is provided which features both safety and reliable position-holding capability. The latter is attained by a clip blanked from sheet metal and of a configuration to be anchored in a hinge portion of the visor, and tensionally grip a mounting rod to uniformly resist turning of the visor from any selected angular position about the rod.