Abstract: The method for manufacturing products having a metal surface by imparting microfeatures onto the metal surface. The method if further described as the steps of: creating a transfer tool from a microstructured intermediate fabricated from a microstructured prototype having microfeatures; and, transferring the microfeatures to said metal surface using the transfer tool.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for securing a distributor plate to a backing plate of a chromatography column without the need for releasable fixing means as screws or bolts. The invention also relates to chromatographic columns utilizing such methods. The method employs a negative pressure or vacuum that is generated internally within the column to affix the distributor to the backing plate.

Abstract: A parabolic trough solar collector system has a parabolic reflector used with an independently supported collector tube. The parabolic reflector has a reflective surface formed on a reflective surface support structure, supported by a circular support beam. This assembly rests on a plurality of support and drive rollers supported by a roller support arm, supported by a roller support column. The parabolic reflector assembly rotates against the rollers along a single axis to maintain a focus line of the parabolic reflector surface at the same location as the center of the circle described by the outer edge of the circular support beam. Located at this same focus line is the independently supported collector tube not attached to the parabolic trough reflector. The collector tube is supported on pipe roller hangers, which in turn are supported by a wire catenary system connected to support towers which straddle the parabolic reflector.

Abstract: The invention relates to a piston for a piston-cylinder arrangement, particularly a shock absorber piston, which includes a piston body, that has a circumferential surface. A sealing collar has an outer circumferential surface, an inner circumferential surface, a first peripheral surface, and a first sealing lip, and extends around the circumferential surface of the piston body and covers at least part of the circumferential surface in the axial direction. The first peripheral surface connects the two circumferential surfaces to each other at a first end of the sealing collar. The first sealing lip is delimited by the first peripheral surface and the outer circumferential surface, and the first sealing lip is configured evenly in the circumferential direction.

Abstract: A tampon applicator barrel including a cardboard tube having a first end and a second end and at least one gripping structure defined from the cardboard tube proximate the second end is provided. The cardboard tube has a wall thickness of between about 0.015 and about 0.020 inches, while the gripping structure has a height of up to about 0.035 inches.

Abstract: An electrical junction box may include a casing with a lower casing member and an upper casing member. A multi-layered circuit board may be retained in the electrical junction box. The multi-layered circuit board may contain a lower layer circuit board, an upper layer circuit board and an insulation plate that is disposed between and supports the lower layer circuit board and the upper layer circuit board. A rib and a boss may project from the lower casing member and may contact the insulation plate without contacting either the lower layer circuit board or the upper layer circuit board. In this manner, no physical stress is applied to a surface of either the lower layer circuit board or the upper layer circuit board thereby preventing detachment of an electronic component from the multi-layered circuit board.

Abstract: A cable assembly having an elongate cable and a cable fitting having an elongate body with a first end, a second end, and a tubular duct extending therethrough adapted to receive the elongate cable. First and second annular rings extend substantially circumferentially around a portion of the elongate body and define an annular groove therebetween. A circumferential support has a first section that extends from the first annular ring to the first end and a second section that extends from the second annular ring to the second end. An outer circumference of the annular groove is less than an outer circumference of the circumferential support.

Abstract: An aircraft wing box comprises a pair of half ribs (18, 20) joined to form a rib extending from an upper wing skin (12) to a lower wing skin (10). Each half rib (18) comprises a base (19) and a plurality of projections (4) that extend away from the base (19), the projections (4) defining a series of troughs (2a) and peaks (4a). Respective projections of one half rib (18) overlap with respective projections of the other half rib (20) thereby defining overlapping portions (3), the half ribs (18, 20) being joined in the regions of the overlapping portions (3). There may be projections (4) shaped such that the overlapping portion (3b) defined by the two projections is separated from the neutral axis N of the rib (18, 20).

Abstract: A trough reflector for solar energy collection is constructed from transverse ribs which support a reflective surface. Side edge support rails mounted on ends of the ribs support linear edges of the reflective surface. The edge support rails have a channel-like construction with an inner flange member which is in contact with a top of the reflective surface, and a lip member extending from an outer flange member. The edge region of the reflective surface rests on the lip member with the edge of the reflective surface in contact with the outer flange member. A turning moment is applied to the edge regions of the reflective surface to ensure that the entire reflective surface is parabolic. An arcuate profile of ribs of the trough reflector is converted into a parabolic profile by the application of a force to the ends of the ribs.

Abstract: An assembly mechanism for an external box includes a casing body, a cover body, and a retaining body. The casing body has an opening formed on one side thereof. The cover body is assembled on the casing body. The retaining body is used for sliding the cover body to approach the opening in order to retain the cover body and the casing body together or for sliding the cover body out from the opening in order to separate the cover body from the casing body. Hence, it is easy for users to assemble or detach the external box of the present invention and the cost of the present invention is less than that of the prior art. Therefore, the present invention can solve the problem of needing to use a number of screws to assemble the external box of the prior art.

Abstract: The present invention is a specialized orthopedic implant having an exterior surface for engaging bone. The surface comprises arrayed projections having at least one forward facing facet directed at least in part toward the leading end of the implant and at least one rearward portion directed at least in part toward the opposite trailing end of the implant. Each of the forward facet and rearward portion has a length and a slope. The length of the forward facet is longer than the length of the rearward facet. The slope of the rearward facet is steeper than the slope of the forward facet. The surface projections also have opposed side facets directed generally toward the sides of the implant. The side facets are located between the forward facet and rearward facet and converge toward each other in a direction away from the base of the surface projections. The surface may also include projections having left and right forward side facets and a rearward facet.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a can with a polygonal cross-section and a can with a polygonal cross-section, the process comprising the steps of milling the cylindrical lateral wall of a tubular body (10), providing said wall with a plurality of circumferential ribs (20) which are continuous and axially spaced from each other and defined by a certain degree of radial plastic deformation of the respective circumferential region of the cylindrical lateral wall of the tubular body (10); expanding the formed tubular body (10), deforming it, in order to define longitudinal edges (12) in whose region the circumferential ribs (20) are eliminated; and double-seaming a bottom and an upper wall of the can to the tubular body (10). This process defines a can having any polygonal cross-section and circumferential ribs (20) on the lateral wall thereof, between the longitudinal edges (12).

Abstract: A shape-adjusting mechanism for a backrest has a lumbar basket which includes a pair of supports spaced apart along a predetermined axis. Resilient axial ribs are fastened between the brackets, and resilient transverse ribs are fastened to the anal ribs. The axial ribs are structured to flex as the supports are drawn together, to achieve a profile that better conforms to the shape of a user's spine. To that end, each axial rib is stamped with reinforcing flanges that extend partially along its length and produce lengthwise rib sections of different bending resistance that determine the profile of the lumbar basket in its flexed state.

Abstract: A ribbed metal plate for a composite slab that includes a substantially planar plate having an upper surface and a lower surface and a plurality of laterally-spaced, longitudinally-extending ribs that have a keystone profile and wherein the sidewalls are angled toward each other. Ends of the ribs are integrally formed. The rib plate is secured to bearing walls in a structure and concrete is poured on the ribs to form a composite deck. The ends of the ribs extend in the lateral direction to form a composite structure retarding movement of cured concrete in a longitudinal direction. The ribbed plate can also be used in composite beams.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for forming compound shaped surfaces. A skin conforming to the visual shape of the surface being formed is prepared from a blank sheet of material that is cut to size and includes any desired stamped-out detailing or notched edges or lines. Disposable strips of material are used to form hems in the skin. A preforming die is used to create tight bends or outer contours in the skin. A liner of the desired size and detailing is formed along with two-shaped side flanges. A plurality of ribs or silhouettes are provided and placed into the skin to form and maintain the desired final shape. The pre-formed liner is then assembled to the skin, the ribs being disposed between the liner and the skin.

Abstract: A splined assembly 10 is disclosed and includes a generally annular outer spline member 12 into which a second generally annular inner spline member 14 is rotatably placed. Member 12 includes a plurality of splines 22, 24, each having a snap ring reception slot 30 formed therein. In a first embodiment, housing member 12 also includes a band 34 which substantially surrounds the housing member 12 and overlays slots 30. In a second embodiment, housing 12 includes a plurality of elliptically protruding portions 40, each of which is positioned between pairs of adjacent splines 22, 24. Both band 34 and portions 40 are effective to prevent structural deformation caused by the received snap ring.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for fabricating lightweight honeycomb type structures out of material such as silicon carbide (SiC) and silicon (S). The lightweight structure consists of a core to define the shape and size of the structure. The core is coated with an appropriate deposit such as SiC or Si to give the lightweight structure strength and stiffness and for bonding the lightweight structure to another surface. The core is fabricated from extremely thin ribs of appropriately stiff and strong material such as graphite. First, a graphite core consisting of an outer hexagonal cell with six inner triangular cells is constructed from the graphite ribs. The graphite core may be placed on the back-up side of a SiC faceplate and then coated with SiC to produce a monolithic structure without the use of any bonding agent. Cores and methods for the fabrication thereof in which the six inner triangular cells are further divided into a plurality of cells are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a ribbed flow channel (38) results in enhancing the heat transfer performance of a hydraulically expanded heat exchanger such as a coiled tube boiler (10). The ribs are machined or rolled into a flat metal sheet (20) prior to forming a cylinder. One cylinder (28) is rolled so that the ribs are located inside the cylinder while the other cylinder (32) is rolled with the ribs located on the outside. Cylinder (32) is positioned inside cylinder (28) and electron beam welded to form a helical weld path (16). A pressure fitting (34) is attached to the welded cylinder (36) and hydraulic pressure (P) is applied to deform the cylinders (28, 32) between the helical weld path thus creating a ribbed flow channel (38).

Abstract: A catalytic converter with a one piece housing is made by inserting catalyst elements into opposite open ends of a sheet metal tube until their support mats abut against preformed annular ribs after which annular ribs are formed in the tube to engage the other ends of the support mats and the ends of the tube are pinched together to form sealed end closures with gas flow passages in them.

Abstract: A method of applying and removing a fluid actuated nut, the nut having a cylindrical casing engageable at an inner end with a base, the casing containing a coaxial relatively axially shiftable plunger having an inwardly opening partial central bore for threadedly receiving a shank of a bolt, a compression spring acting outwardly on the plunger and inwardly against the casing, and a fluid pressure chamber outwardly of the piston, the nut being applied by screwing the piston onto the bolt shank to the point of engagement of the inner end of the casing with the base and tightened by sequentially compressing the spring by fluid injected under pressure in the fluid chamber for shifting the casing away from the base, turning the casing to reengage the base and releasing the fluid pressure to expand the spring, and repeating the sequence as necessary to produce the desired tensile and/or compressive force, the nut being removed by applying fluid pressure to advance the piston for compressing the spring and disengagi

Abstract: A method for manufacturing sandwich panels of the type in which a pair of facing sheets 12 are separated by a multiplicity of pins 14 is disclosed. Concepts and techniques for fabricating the structure in a leachable matrix are discussed. Selective roll bonding and cutting are employed to form pins of accurate dimension contour and spacing.

Abstract: Cylinder wall repair wherein worn or damaged areas of the cylinder are restored. The cylinder housing is rebored and threaded or ground. An externally threaded or grooved sleeve member is then screwed or inserted into the cylinder housing. The internal configuration and dimensions of the sleeve member may be designed to duplicate that of the original cylinder. The thread or groove design provides tunnels between the sleeve member and the cylinder housing.

Abstract: U-bolt clamp saddle for pipe joints, such as automobile exhaust pipes, is formed from a stamped sheet metal blank. The saddle includes two mirror-image halves integrally joined and folded along their "bottom" edge. Symmetrical deformations forming the U-bolt sleeves and rigidifying the blank are provided. The sleeves are hexagonal in cross-section. The halves are spot-welded face-to-face after folding.

Abstract: A boat construction apparatus and method which comprises a mold assembly with integral frames, stem, knee and keel. The mold assembly consists of a base support portion with a series of frame support members perpendicular to and affixed to the base portion. A center backbone keel support member is interlocked with each of the frame member, the backbone keel is also affixed to and perpendicular to the base portion. The frame support members and backbone are partially pre-cut so that the boat frames and the keel portion are integral with the frame supports and backbone during boat hull construction. After the hull is constructed over the frame support members and backbone support member, the boat frame and keel portion are cut away from the integral support portions, thus freeing the boat hull from the support segment of the frames and backbone.

Abstract: In the manufacture of sandwich panels, a filler assembly is made up of rib elements and core elements that are roll bonded into a unitary structure, and slices are then cut from the unitary structure forming filler assemblies to be positioned between surface sheets. The surface sheets and the filler assemblies are then bonded together to form the panel.

Abstract: For forming a lifting lug upon an ingot mould, either as a replacement for a broken-off lug on an existing mould or as a lug on a newly-produced mould formed in the first instance without lugs, a mounting plate is secured to the mould by fasteners driven through said plate and into the mould; then an array of fillets is welded to the plate in correspondence with and in conformity with the desired lug configuration; whereafter a consolidating plate is positioned to overlie the outer edges of the fillets and is welded to the latter.