Abstract: A coil handling device which orientates coils on a reel between two positions, e.g., vertical axis and horizontal axis. The device is constructed to be suspended from an overhead hoist and thereby lift or lower a reel to a selected position. The device is constructed to cause the center of gravity of the reel to coincide with the axis of rotation when suspended. Therefore, the forces of resistance caused by weight are eliminated and only friction forces have to be overcome. Hence, a manual device is provided.

Abstract: A fuel pin transfer tool has a tubular housing of sufficient length to enable it to be suspended in a body of water in which a fuel pin assembly is submerged with the upper end of the housing above the water and with the tool in vertical alignment with a selected fuel pin from which the lower end of the tool is closely spaced. The housing has a cylinder spaced from its ends in which there is a piston having a tubular piston rod extending slidably through both ends of the cylinder. An actuator, the control for which has first and second positions, is fixed on the upper end of the piston rod and has a member extending freely downwardly therethrough which on short downward travel, resulting when the control is in its second position, effects the pin-releasing position of a latching device secured to the lower end of the piston rod.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for loading, in stepwise fashion, hollow cylinders on a recumbent positioned mandrel, for retaining the cylinders on the mandrel during transfer for vertical positioning, and for releasing the cylinders on a seat without disturbing the linear alignment of or dropping the cylinders.

Abstract: A pick and place mechanism is provided for selecting a part from a pick-up location, transporting the same to a place location, and placing it in a precise position at the place location. A part is engaged by a pair of gripping fingers which depend from a casing mounted for movement between the pick and place locations. The fingers are connected to a cam mounted for reciprocation in the casing to alternately extend and retract the fingers. The fingers cooperate with an actuating mechanism carried by the casing to engage and disengage the part in response to movement of the cam. The cam is normally biased upwardly and is actuated by a follower which is guided in a slot in the casing, and an air cylinder drives the follower and hence the casing between the pick and place locations.

Abstract: A pipe extractor tool has been devised for use in removal of broken pipe sections, such as, the riser in a sprinkler system and includes cams formed at the lower end of a hollow shank through which a push rod is inserted, the cams being movable under the urging of the push rod in a generally radially outward direction into firm gripping engagement with the inner wall of the pipe section to be removed so that a twist or torque can be applied to the tool to unthread and remove the broken pipe section.

Abstract: Hydraulic pliers useful for mounting and dismounting snap rings (otherwise called C-shaped stop rings) of large nominal diameter. They comprise a hand-holdable plier main body having working fluid contained therein, a hydraulic piston mechanism contained in the plier main body and adapted to be moved by hydraulic forces exerted by manual pumping operation effected by gripping action applied from outside, and a working-pin opening and closing mechanism mounted on a plier head for operative connection to the hydraulic piston and adapted to be opened or closed in the same plane and at right angles to the directon of movement of the hydraulic piston as the latter advances. The hydraulic pliers do not require any accessory equipment and are handy to carry. Thus, they are designed to expand or contract snap rings of large diameter lightly and efficiently by their hydraulic force.

Abstract: A jar pick-up assembly having a plurality of pivotal fingers insertable into the mouth of a jar when in a closed retracted condition and expandable within the jar to engage interior jar surfaces is provided with an annular stabilizing member adapted to bear on an exterior surface area of the jar and in cooperation with said fingers to grip the jar in clamp-like fashion as the jar is being lifted and carried from one location to another.

Abstract: A jig is provided for use in supporting objects from which fingerprints are to be removed or lifted, the operative mechanism comprising a plurality of pivoted arms which can be made to expand or contract to engage a bottle, glass or the like from the inside or the outside, this movement being effected by means of rotating a junction collar to which the arms are pivoted at their inside end about a central shaft, advancing the collar toward or away from a guide disk. A stand is provided into which the shaft is inserted and in which it may be rotated about its longitudinal axis or removed, and a second shaft having a frustoconical stopper on the end may be used in the stand alternatively to the more complicated, expanding-arm structure described above.

Abstract: Apparatus is described for grasping hollow bodies, such as bottles, from the inside. It is particularly useful in protecting grasping equipment used in conjunction with bottle coating equipment. On a movable rod inside a housing are mounted a structure adapted to engage the rim of the bottle and grasping arms which can be inserted into the neck of the bottle. The rod is spring-biased toward a position in which the structure and the grasping arms are retained within the housing. To grasp a bottle, a force is applied to the rod against this spring-bias so as to urge the rod, the structure and the grasping arms toward the bottle. At an intermediate point on the outward stroke, the structure is released from the rod. If the structure engages the rim of the bottle after its release and before the outward stroke ends, the structure is prevented by a slider from moving back into the housing and relative movement between the rod and the structure causes the grasping arms to engage the inside of the bottle.

Abstract: Apparatus such as a pickup unit for releasable connection to a member such as an anchor insert embedded in an object such as a concrete body, of the type including a housing forming part of the apparatus and which is inserted into the object adjacent to the member, lugs movably mounted in the housing for releasable engagement with the member, and an actuator movably mounted in the housing for moving the lugs between member-engaging and disengaging dispositions, is provided with sockets in the housing, a lug mounted in each socket for reciprocal rotational movement between such dispositions, the actuator having first reaction surfaces engaging the lugs to prevent them from being rotated under load, and a seat for each lug forming a part of the socket structure and providing a second reaction surface for transferring to the housing load forces exerted on the lug by the member.

Abstract: An automatic grapple comprising a hollow body and a slide suspended by a maneuvering cable with axially spaced portions to transform the relative movement of the slide to a displacement of gripping arms for engaging an object to be seized. The slide carries a locking member having variable orientation modified in a lower position of the slide. The position of extension or retraction of the arms is controlled by the axially spaced portions which have different diameters. The relative position of these portions is determined to permit rotation of the locking member only if the arms can be engaged in the object to be seized or is totally disengaged therefrom.

Abstract: Spare wheel carrier having a bracket portion fastened to a chassis of a vehicle the bracket portion having at its lower side two hooks a first one of which being movable towards and from a second one, the second hook having a horizontally protruding leg for pivotally supporting the spare wheel at an edge surrounding a central opening through the wheel rim and for allowing the spare wheel to be pivoted to a substantially horizontal position in which the first hook engages an opposing portion of the edge. To lock the spare wheel securely against the bracket portion without use is being made of the wheel bolt holes of the rim the second hook has a portion movable to press the rim against the bracket portion or rubber elements provided on the lower side thereof. The two hooks are connected to a locking mechanism for locking the first hook in its position engaging the edge and the second hook in its position pressing the rim against the bracket portion.

Abstract: A device is provided for transporting hollow plastic blow moldings having at least one opening thereinto which device is particularly useful for removing hollow moldings from the cavities of blow molds. The device includes at least one gripper unit supported for axial movement toward and away from a blow mold, which unit has gripping means movable between a normal, retracted position and an expanded position. The gripping means are insertable within the opening of a hollow molding disposed in the mold cavity and are expanded to engage and grip the interior walls thereof. The device also includes means for adjusting the degree of expansion of the gripping means to ensure precise position control and to minimize damage to the hollow molding during gripping and transport.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in the lifting of tires that includes a master support sleeve, two movable arms slideably associated with the master support sleeve, and two hook units pivotably connected to the arms for easy engagement with the inner rim of a tire.

Abstract: A gripping apparatus for lifting objects remotely utilizing three pivotally mounted gripping arms driven by integral cam followers located on extremities and roller grasping means located on their opposite extremities. The cam followers are carried in tracks, located in a rotatable can which moves the gripping arms and rollers inwardly or outwardly upon rotation of the cam by a remotely controlled bi-directional electric motor. A positioning cone centers the gripping arms over the load to be gripped thereby preventing an unsymmetrical grip which could cause inadvertant or premature release of the load. A bottom limit switch senses tension in the cables upon which the apparatus is suspended to prevent activation of the gripping fingers unless the apparatus is fully lowered, and an inertia switch senses rotation of the apparatus for preventing excessive torque on the cam by reactive torque of the motor which could cause the entire apparatus to twist.