Abstract: A tool for engagement with overhead valves to retain them in securely raised positions while working on the valve associated structure to prevent valves from falling into the cylinder when released from such associated structure. The tool has a flexible tube with an inflatable balloon at one end thereof which is projected through a spark plug opening into the combustion chamber and a compressible bulb at the other end of the flexible tube for manually supplying air pressure to said balloon through the tube. The tool includes control valve means for selectively connecting the bulb directly to the balloon for inflating the latter in the combustion chamber to engage the valves and hold them in a raised position and for venting the tube to deflate the balloon and release the valves when the work is complete.

Abstract: A force may be applied to any point along a line which may be straight or curved in a plane or in space. For this purpose a force applicator is used which includes a pressure expandable hose section closed at its ends, a reaction member against which the hose rests, and a pressure transmitting plate moving in response to an expansion of the hose. These three elements are held in an operative position relative to one another by a modular frame section which also holds a guide member and a reset element for restoring the hose section to a starting position when no pressure is applied inside the hose. A piston rod extends through the guide member and is operatively connected to the pressure transmitting plate. The modular frame section, the guide member and preferably also the reset element form a modular unit.

Abstract: Apparatus for releasably clamping a plurality of elements, such as electrodes associated with an electrical machine, are provided wherein a housing generally defines a cavity with at least one of the elements protruding into the cavity. A fluid medium adapted for hydrostatic pressurization is disposed within the cavity and means are provided which are also disposed within the cavity and responsive to hydrostatic pressurization of the medium for generating a force for clamping the element.

Abstract: Guide for electrodes in a metal paper printer comprising a multipart arrangement of a guide portion, with parallel grooves for the electrodes, and of a cover portion assembled to the guide portion. The cover portion has a recess extending transversely of the electrodes and retains an elastic, nonconductive, and deformable tube frictionally restraining the electrodes, yet allowing electrode advancement as required.

Abstract: Apparatus for holding hollow wall panels while they are filled with foamed plastic having a base, a lower platen, an upper platen, and a plurality of inflatable hoses. The base has a top pressure surface upon which the inflatable hoses are positioned. As fluid under pressure is released into the inflatable hoses, the upper surface of the hoses contact the bottom pressure surface of the lower platen to lift the lower platen upwardly. The hollow wall panels are supported by a plurality of longitudinally spaced roller support brackets that extend downwardly from the opposite sides of the upper platen. As the inflatable hoses are pressurized, the upward travel of the lower platen will cause its top pressure surface to contact the bottom of the hollow wall panels and hold them in rigid engagement against the bottom pressure surface of the upper platen. When the hollow wall panel is thus positioned, it is filled with foamed plastic.

Abstract: A rack for supporting curved or flat glass, such as multi-curved automobile windshields, utilizes upstanding support members in combination with pneumatically inflatable hose to support the windshields in a vertical position. The hose is arranged in a serpentine fashion over the exterior surface of each of the upstanding members, so that a hose segment is facing each major surface of the windshield. With no pressure in the hose, the glass is arranged in the rack and the hose is inflated causing the hose to expand and contact the glass, thereby supporting and cushioning the glass.

Abstract: A fluid expandable drum for building portions of tires in a tire building machine includes an annular supporting drum and an expandable annular tube element having an inner peripheral surface supported on the annular drum. The tube element includes an outer peripheral surface upon which support means is secured for movement therewith. A plurality of shoe members are connected to the support means for movement therewith with the shoe members defining an annular building surface thereon which is movable in a radial direction toward and away from the annular support drum upon contraction and expansion, respectively, of the tube element. The tube element is expanded to expand the diameter of the building surface to enable a tire portion to be built thereon and retracted to decrease the diameter of the building surface to enable a build tire portion to be removed therefrom.

Abstract: An improved fluid-tight tensioning seal is provided for use in apparatus of the type wherein an inside diameter cutting blade is mounted in a circular saw blade housing, the blade being continuously tensioned during the cutting operation. The tensioning seal comprises two pieces, one of which is elastic and moves in sealing relationship within a channel provided in the housing in response to pressurized fluid. The second piece is substantially rigid, abuts the first piece on one side and has a contoured projection extending from its other side for engaging and tensioning the blade.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assembling a fluid conducting tubular member into secure engagement with a channel integral with an elongated solar heat absorbing plate. The apparatus includes an elongated inflatable tube secured to an upstanding wall fastened to a table top. A fixture having a shallow V-shaped concave face is mounted on said table top with the concave face adjacent and parallel to said tube. An elongated plate having a channel parallel with the longer plate edges is positioned between the tube and the fixture with the channel opening toward the fixture. When the tube is inflated, it presses the plate toward the concave fixture surface. Plate edges contact and are restrained by the fixture edges, while the center of the plate is free to move further toward the fixture, flexing the plate in a manner increasing the diameter of the channel. A tubular member having an outside diameter equal to or greater than the unflexed channel diameter is inserted into the channel.

Abstract: A casting head and clamp arrangement for vacuum aspiration casting of metal rods in glass tubes is provided having a casting head with a generally vertical vacuum passage, a removable fluid pressure chuck in the lower end of said vacuum passage adapted to receive and hold the end of a glass tube, said chuck including a pair of spaced annular support discs, spaced elongate members connecting said support discs, sleeve members having an internal diameter larger than a glass tube to be held fixed on each of support disc annulus and projecting beyond said discs between the elongate members, an elastomer tube fixed at its opposite ends to the sleeve members and having an internal diameter larger than the diameter of the glass tube to be held and fluid pressure means acting between said discs to cause the elastomer tube to decrease in effective internal diameter under pressure to engage and hold the glass tube ends and to release the tube ends when the fluid pressure is released.

Abstract: A mold-locking or catching device which comprises a support on one mold half or part, a bellows anchored to this support at one side of the bellows, a hook engageable with the rim of the other mold half or part and carried by the other side of the bellows and means for swinging the hook laterally into and out of engagement with the rim of the other mold half when the bellows is activated by fluid pressure or depressurized respectively.

Abstract: A plate hold-down device for use during the abrasive cutting of plates which includes an expansible and retractable member adapted to be filled with a liquid and placed onto the plate.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing monocrystals by potless zone melting, in which the monocrystal, setting out from a seed crystal, passes through a neck and a transitional zone into the main part of the monocrystal. A chamber is provided for the formation of a vacuum or a protective gas atmosphere plus a heating device for the production of the melting heat, driving means for the mechanical movements necessary for the crystal formation, a mounting for the seed crystal, and a supporting device which is applicable to the monocrystal beyond the neck, and a plurality of gripping bodies distributed about the circumference and applicable to the monocrystal radially on its substantially cylindrical surface the gripping bodies are disposed such that they first perform a radial approach to the monocrystal until a virtually force-free contact is made therewith, adapting themselves to the surface geometry and position of the monocrystal, whereupon the gripping force is increased and the gripping bodies are locked.

Abstract: Plate blocks are clamped by pneumatically inflatable multilayer elements.

Abstract: A jig for positioning an image mask and image receiving medium which includes a housing having a central bore, first means within the bore for supporting a mask or image receiving medium, a flexible diaphragm, second means for drawing vacuum, and a third means for applying superatmospheric pressure on one side of the diaphragm to deform it towards the first means to ensure proper positioning of the mask and image receiving medium. Also, the process for positioning the mask and image receiving medium is provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus for supporting or clamping bodies of irregular shape, (particularly large workpieces) comprising a clamping jaw, in the form of a box with axially moveable plungers extending from its work face, said plungers being supported in different axial positions, determined by contact with the surface of the workpiece, by a solid medium within the box. Known apparatus do not have positive means for locking the plungers in their positions. The invention provides a simple and effective locking arrangement in which the solid medium is a multiplicity of hard balls, each plunger is formed with ball-receiving cavities, and application of a pressure to the balls is transmitted via the ball-receiving cavities to lock said plungers.

Abstract: A tester for printed circuit board circuits having an elastomeric member on which printed circuit boards are positioned for testing. When a pressure differential is created across the member, the circuit board being tested is moved into contact with electrical leads connected to a computer programmed with respect to the circuits being tested. The circuit board is supported on the elastomeric member by a thin non-conducting, sealing foam sheet having a cutaway central portion to permit the circuit to make contact with the leads which extend through openings in the elastomeric member and outwardly thereof. Under the thin foam is, preferably, a non-conducting sheet of thicker foam, both layers of foam being supported on the elastomeric member, and being movable by the pressure differential to lower the foam layers with respect to the electrical leads and also to lower the circuit board to make contact with the leads.

Abstract: An improvement is provided in an apparatus for mounting and tensioning an inside diameter cutting blade which is mounted in a circular saw blade housing. The outer circumference of the blade is clamped within a mounting apparatus. Pressurized hydraulic fluid within a channel exerts pressure against the blade radially inward of the clamping means by exerting pressure on a fluid-tight gasket which, in turn, bears against the blade. By virtue of the uniform pressure distribution throughout the fluid, uniform tensioning of the blade is accomplished. The improvement comprises constructing the gasket in two pieces with an outer sleeve which contacts the hydraulic fluid, and which while deformable, is fixed relative to the housing, and a filler ring mounted within the sleeve and which is relatively movable with respect thereto.

Abstract: Apparatus for handling a large object, i.e., for example, an annular core on which a tire carcass is to be formed, includes an annular wall positionable about the annular core, and a diaphragm associated with the inner surface of the wall and defining with the wall a chamber into which pressurized fluid may be directed. Such introduction of pressurized fluid expands the diaphragm so that such diaphragm comes into contact with and grips the core. The core may then be moved and or turned over by manipulation of the wall.

Abstract: A machine is provided for cutting rod-like material traversely to its longitudinal axis. The machine comprises means for feeding the material, means for cutting a portion off the rod-like material; brake means, which are located in the vicinity of the cutting means, for guiding and braking the rod-like material in the vicinity of the cutting means; wherein the brake means comprises a housing which includes two radially movable jaws and a flexible hose surrounding the jaws for frictionally engaging the material as it is being fed by the feeding means to guide the material in the vicinity of the cutting means.