Abstract: A turbine rotor disassembly, handling and reassembly apparatus employs a feedback-controlled electric heating oven to rapidly heat a turbine wheel while the rotor shaft is in the horizontal position. An adapter interfaces the wheel to a handling spool whose outboard end is adjusted to slide on the rotor shaft and to provide a fulcrum for supporting the wheel. A handling trolley includes a soft hydraulic system for supporting the weight of the wheel to avoid damaging the precision machined surfaces of the shrink-fit area while the wheel is being withdrawn. The handling apparatus also provides means for upending, or rotating, the removed wheel through 90 degrees to place its axis vertical for facilitating handling. A sensor system senses a radial motion of the wheel to detect clearance and to establish an appropriate fluid pressure to just balance the weight of the wheel and attached parts. The handling system includes means for rotating the wheel slightly during reassembly to align keyways or the like.

Abstract: A tool for removing split pin remnants which remain in anchor bores in the upper core plate of a nuclear reactor vessel after removal of guide tube assemblies therefrom, includes an elongated mast having parallel tubular members with handle apparatus at the upper end thereof and carrying at the lower end thereof a ram platform having an upstanding pin removal member. The ram platform is dimensioned to be lowered through any one of the guide tube seating apertures in the upper core plate. A locating plate mounted on the mast above the ram platform seats in the seating aperture and accurately positions the ram platform below the upper core plate with the pin driving member in registry with the pin bore. A hydraulic cylinder is mounted on the mast above the locating plate and has a piston rod extending through the locating plate and fixedly secured to the ram platform for moving it up and down to drive the pin from the bore. Hydraulic fluid is carried to and from the cylinder through the mast tubes.

Abstract: A method for axially aligning adjacent opposing faces of a first and second shaft segment having a respective joint face, of a steam turbine rotor to be welded together includes mating the joint faces of each shaft segment, placing a crushable lip, which axially extends from one of the joint faces, under an axially compressive force, and supporting the joined shaft segments at their axially outboard ends. An apparatus for axially aligning opposing end faces of a first and second shaft segment to be welded together, the first and second shaft segments including a respective joint face, comprises an adjustable support for raising and lowering the joined shaft segments thereby changing the axial distance across the annular groove defined by adjacent opposing end faces to be welded. Means for measuring the force at the adjustable support, provides an indication of the weight counteracted by the support when optimum axial alignment of the shaft segments is achieved.

Abstract: The specification discloses a device (32) for raising peripheral fuel rods of a fuel assembly for inspection under submerged conditions in a nuclear reactor facility. The device (32) includes a frame comprising top and bottom plates (36, 38) interconnected by rods (40) with an intermediate plate (52) supported therein for vertical movement responsive to a cylinder (60). A yoke (64) is mounted for horizontal movement on the intermediate plate (52) responsive to another cylinder (66) to engage a fuel rod so that it can then be lifted by the first cylinder (60). Proper alignment relative to the peripheral rods of the fuel assembly is accomplished by means of pins (50) which are received in indexing holes (80) of a support plate (68) for the fuel assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for accurately aligning an information-containing-disc stylus and assembling the stylus to a stylus holder. The apparatus transfers the stylus from a magazine holding a plurality of such styli into a rotary collet which is then rotated by an operator until a laser beam of light is reflected off a known surface of the stylus and impinges on a fixed target. The apparatus then causes the point of the stylus to pierce the stylus holder to a specific depth whereby the stylus is held firmly by the stylus holder.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for handling any desired length of flexible material such as tubing in any desired mass production operation or in any simple operation where various lengths of flexible material such as flexible tubing must be handled and/or cut to any desired length. The present invention also relates to a method and apparatus for mounting attachments onto a length of flexible material such as tubing wherein any desired number of attachments can be quickly and efficiently mounted onto the tubing at any desired location or multiplicity of locations along the length of the flexible material including but not limited to at or adjacent the material ends.

Abstract: A combined molding and assembling apparatus which comprises a conveyor movable from one position to another position spaced apart from such one position, a pallet frictionally engageable with the conveyor for movement together therewith, a catch mechanism releaseably engageable with the pallet to hold the pallet at a working position, a molding machine fixedly mounted on a bench of the apparatus adjacent the conveyor and including a movable plate movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the conveyor means for selectively closing and opening a mold assembly, and a handling machine including a head capable of moving selectively into and away from the space, in which the mold assembly operates, during the opening of the mold assembly.

Abstract: Apparatus for quickly and precisely installing depth rings on drills and for removing previously installed depth rings includes a base member on which are mounted one or more installation and removal mechanisms, each of the installation and removal mechanisms comprising a lever actuated push rod for moving a drill with respect to a retained depth ring, each of the installation mechanisms additionally comprising a dial indicator for accurately indicating the position of the depth ring with respect to the point of the drill on which it is being installed.

Abstract: A fuse puller device comprises a pair of spaced confronting body portions respectively having confronting lower fuse-gripping jaw sections each formed by a wall terminating in a horizontally inwardly facing lip-forming projection adapted to underlie the overhung portion of a fuse housing head portion, the jaw sections respectively joining confronting finger-squeezable sections which effect a pivoting separation of the jaw sections when squeezed between the user's thumb and forefinger. The lip-forming projections have recesses which engage ribs on the fuse housing to center the fuse puller device. A fuse condition indicator unit mounted on the inner face of one of the jaw section walls has a pair of indicator terminals adapted to engage fuse continuity test terminals exposed on the head portion of the fuse housing to test whether or not there is continuity between the test terminals when the fuse puller device is applied over the head portion of the fuse.

Abstract: A planar member is provided with locator surfaces arranged to cooperate with locator pins provided on the supporting surface of a registration apparatus. The planar member containing a pattern which is to be transferred is provided with a registration pattern. A holder supporting this member may be reciprocated to move this member toward or away from the first-mentioned planar member. Positioning means are provided for selectively moving the planar members relative to one another both orthogonally and rotationally. An alignment sheet containing locator surfaces identical to those of the first-mentioned planar member and a registration pattern complementary to that of the second mentioned planar member is positioned upon the supporting surface. The holder is moved downwardly to lower the second-mentioned planar member upon the supporting surface. The pins are retracted prior to such lowering.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rotatably positioning an uninflated tire relative to its wheel about the axis of the wheel whereby a predetermined relationship between wheel and tire will exist upon inflation. In the system of the invention an uninflated tubeless tire is placed upon its wheel in a random manner, both tire and wheel having indicia defined thereon indicating a desired final orientation. Automatic sensing apparatus determines the angular relationship between the wheel and tire indicia about the wheel axis, records and analyzes the position of the indicia, and thereupon the wheel and tire are automatically rotated relative to each other with respect to the wheel axis an angular degree which will locate the wheel and tire indicia in a predetermined relationship, usually at a 0.degree. deviation with respect to each other.

Abstract: Apparatus for installing a set of dissimilar piston rings (12,14,20,38) which must be arranged in proper predetermined order and orientation in an internal combustion engine piston. The apparatus includes a ring supporting element 48 for retaining the set of piston rings in the order in which they will be installed, order sensing means (115,136,138) for producing an electrical disabling signal if a corresponding ring is not in a predetermined sequential order and a plurality of orientation sensing means (140,142) for producing an electrical disabling signal if a corresponding piston ring is not in its proper orientation. Expanding means (60) responsive to a control means (174) operates to expand the set of rings to allow coaxial insertion of a piston and subsequently to relax the rings into corresponding grooves of the piston as long as a disabling signal has not been generated by the corresponding sensing means (115,136,138,140,142).

Abstract: Method involves programming crimp connection equipment to automatically and sequentially establish a plurality of desired different connection configurations. Information representing a series of desired connection configurations is transferred to a control means. Such information is carried by a card that also illustrates a desired final stator assembly configuration. An operator sets thumb wheel switches so that digital information on the card is entered into a control panel. The control means automatically sequences and conditions the apparatus to establish different connections. The card both directly controls machine operation and also is used as a process control card. Also disclosed is a means for positioning a crimp height controlling eccentric shaft in virtually an infinite number of different predetermined angular positions and virtually continuously monitoring the actual instantaneous position of such shaft.

Abstract: A preprogrammed microprocessor controlled apparatus for controlling automatic wire crimping equipment. The equipment disclosed is adapted to perform, in automatic sequence, a plurality of wire crimping steps on a dynamoelectric machine such as a motor. A wide variety of crimp height settings is selectively inserted by the equipment operator to achieve optimum crimp height for each crimp step to be performed. The crimp height setting mechanism includes an eccentric cam positioned by means of a pulse operated stepper motor with correct positioning indicated by a feed back pulse train from the cam shaft position encoder which pulse train is compared with the input information established by the equipment operator. Automatic and semi-automatic sequencing modes of operation are provided as determined by input selections established by the equipment operator.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in screwing a cover onto an annular bearing seat provided at the circumference of a circular orifice, the cover being provided with a circle of screws to be engaged in threaded bores in the bearing seat, comprises a screwing device comprising an arm pivotable about the axis of a pivot mounted on a support plate to be fixed to the cover, the arm extending perpendicular to the axis of the pivot which extends perpendicular to the plane of the bearing seat, a screwing head mounted on the end of the arm and carrying a screw key for engaging and rotating the screws, and which is movable axially between an operative position engaging a screw and an inoperative position clear of the screw and permitting the arm to rotate to bring the screw key into alignment with another screw, and drive means for rotating the arm, for rotating the screw key and for moving the screw key axially, a remote control console for controlling the drive means, and a television circuit for remote observation of operation of

Abstract: A method is disclosed for assembling components on printed cards with the use of a position-locating aid. This position-locating aid preferably comprises a display system which indicates receiving holes in the card for connection wires of particular components to be mounted according to a predetermined mounting program. A line or lines consisting of points of light are projected between the receiving holes. The line or lines form a plan or symbol representing the particular type of component to be mounted. The plan or symbol is repeatedly projected at a sufficient frequency so that a fixed image appears to a viewer who is assembling the components.

Abstract: A dual axis, laser powered light director system for routing wire of electric harnesses includes a laser light source carried on a carriage which is moved longitudinally of a wire harness assembly board. The laser light beam is directed to a rotatable mirror which directs the light beam transversely of the harness board. The movement of the carriage and mirror are computer controlled to move the light beam along a sequence of node points to form a continuous wire path for each wire in the harness. A machine readable code wand scanner serves as a communication interface between an operator and computer controls for purposes of wire identification.

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling a fuel rod bundle having a number or elongated fuel rods arranged in parallel with each other and fixed by means of a plurality of spacers and lower and upper tie plates comprises a fuel rod supplying apparatus for feeding successive fuel rods in a longitudinal direction of the rods, said fuel rod supplying apparatus including means for carrying the rods in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction to any one of a plurality of positions; a bundling apparatus including means for fixing or holding the spacers and the lower tie plate and means for rotating said fixing means by given angles; and a measuring apparatus including a circular pitch measuring mechanism and a layer space or pitch measuring mechanism for measuring circular and layer pitches of the assembled fuel rods in the bundling apparatus.

Abstract: An automatic piercing or clinch nut assembling arrangement which includes a punch member slidably supported in a punch holder connected to a press ram for pressing a piercing or clinch nut into a metal panel with a swaging die arranged opposite the punch member and cooperating therewith for swaging metal from the metal panel inwardly of the piercing nut to anchor the same in the metal panel. A nut holding arrangement is interposed between the punch member and the swaging die for holding a piercing nut in a punching path of the punch member. A monitoring arrangement is provided for electrically ascertaining the presence or absence of a piercing or clinch nut in the punch feed path.

Abstract: An apparatus for indicating mounting positions of components on a printed base which is designed so that the operation of mounting components can be performed accurately and easily even in cases where a wide variety of components are to be mounted on a printed base.

Abstract: An assembly apparatus and method for use in the manufacture of strain indicators of the type in which a window and an indicator area are provided in a fluid filled capsule. Movement of the indicator area with respect to the window gives a visual indication of the load condition of the indicator. The assembly apparatus comprises means to provide for the initial placement of the fluid filled capsule into the tensile member of the strain indicator. Thereafter a compressive force is exerted on the capsule in order to bring the indicator area of the capsule in close proximity to the window with the tensile element in a relaxed condition. Following initial assembly the apparatus of this invention exerts a tensile pull on the tensile member of the strain indicator which causes the indicator area of the capsule to be separated from the window. Gap measuring means are employed to measure the distance between the window and the indicator area with the tensile element in a state of tension.

Abstract: Automatic assembling method to screw a nut on a bolt comprises steps of detecting a position of a bolt which is maintained by a supporter, and of positioning in rough a nut thereto by a positioning mechanism, in which the nut is supported by an attachment coupled with a motor through an elastic mechanism, which is capable of deformation in both directions of an axis and a radius. The nut, then is movably pressed against the bolt and rotated by the motor. When the nut is not screwed on the bolt, the positioning mechanism changes its position in two dimensions so that the nut is maintained movably pressed against the bolt and the nut is rotated again. The changing position of the positioning mechanism will be continued until the nut is screwed on the bolt.