Abstract: A novel flexural mount kinematic coupling apparatus and technique in which a pair of surfaces is deterministically kinematically coupled with repeatable accuracy of positioning with respect to one another and an intermediate plane between, and with guided compliance provided by flexural, rolling or sliding bearing elements to permit translational clamping in a direction normal to the plane that brings the surfaces into contact without positional error motions between the surfaces.

Abstract: A lamp base and a lamp base kit having component parts capable of being compactly packaged and quickly and easily assembled into a lamp base by a customer. The lamp base kit includes three separate connectors respectively having internally threaded openings therein and includes a pair of tubes respectively having externally threaded portions on the ends thereof which are adapted to respectively threadedly engage with the threaded openings in the connectors when the lamp base is assembled to establish a pole. The lamp base further includes a stand, and a lamp and shade holder which respectively have fixedly attached thereto one of the connectors. The stand includes three disconnected legs and a mounting hub. Each of the legs has a recessed socket and a hole through one end thereof. The recessed sockets of the legs are adapted to respectively receive pins which are fixedly attached to the hub. Each of the legs in addition has a hole therethrough.

Abstract: A vehicle accessory has a mounting wall with an elongated slot which slideably receives a snap-in fastener which is fixed in the orthogonal direction of installation of the snap-in fastener. The fastener cooperates with an elongated slot formed in a vehicle support structure which slot extends orthogonally to the slot in the vehicle accessory such that the fastener can be moved into alignment on two axes to align with the aperture in the vehicle for insertion of the fastener and installation of the accessory.

Abstract: An improved construction for a pinch bolt yoke for use as a flexible coupling in a vehicle steering system includes two separate components, a block and a stamping. The block includes front and rear surfaces, upper and lower surfaces, opposing side surfaces, and edges between the surfaces. The block includes a longitudinal axis extending between the front and rear surfaces. The block further includes a cutout to accommodate a transverse bolt. The cutout extends across a portion of the upper surface in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The block further includes a bore to receive a shaft. The bore extends through the block between the front and rear surfaces in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis. The stamping is adapted to receive the block. The stamping includes a base and a pair of arms extending perpendicularly from the base. The stamping further includes a front surface and a rear end, upper and lower surfaces, and opposing side surfaces.

Abstract: An electric control mounting includes a control housing having a peripheral wall and a control shaft projecting forward of its front. A base covers the housing front and has an opening through which the shaft extends. A pair of ears extend from the base outward of the peripheral wall on opposite sides of the shaft and lie in a plane parallel to the base. A resilient finger is positioned outward of the peripheral wall and has a tang at its end which projects forward of the base. A mounting plate has an opening to receive the shaft, a pair of mounts formed on opposite sides of the shaft opening and adapted to mate with the ears, and an additional opening adapted to receive the tang as the ears become fully mated with the mounts.

Abstract: A string trimmer having a knock-down construction which enables the trimmer to be shipped in a partially disassembled condition and quickly assembled by an end user without the need for special tools and without the need for a large plurality of assembly steps. The string trimmer has a handle assembly having a coupling neck protruding therefrom and a base portion having a coupling neck protruding therefrom. An intermediate assembly has a coupling recess at each of its outermost ends which are adapted to snappingly engage with the coupling necks of the handle assembly and base assembly. Once coupled together, conventional threaded screws and nuts can be used to more permanently fasten the handle and base assemblies to the intermediate assembly. The interlocking coupling arrangements provide a high degree of resistance to twisting and bending forces and yet provide for quick and easy assembly of a new string trimmer by an end user with limited mechanical experience.

Abstract: Detachable chevron-shaped panels that fit within chevron-shaped apertures in the cover of an exit sign. The panels are dimensioned to fit integrally into the apertures in order to withstand years of stress, temperature changes, and wear and tear but continue to perform in a light-fast and reliable manner. Yet they may be easily installed from the exterior of the exit sign, with minimum risk that they will fall into the interior during installation. Surprisingly, the present devices permit such easy installation without the need to use conventional "slide `n` snap" exit sign arrow fasteners that usually allow reliable installation but have proven to be destructive of a secure fit and light fastness. The panel accomplishes this by employing at least three tabs positioned in a certain manner about the perimeter of each wing of the panel which engage the (preferably bevelled) edge of the chevron-shaped aperture.

Abstract: An adjustable foundation-to-frame member connection including a foundation, a frame member and an adjustable foundation plate connector attached to the foundation and frame member by a frame fastener member and foundation fastener member. The adjustable foundation-to-frame member connection being easily formed and adaptable to a wide variety of installation dimensions, including those where the frame member overhangs the side face of the foundation and is not in alignment with the side face of the foundation. The foundation plate connector includes a foundation attachment member, having foundation attachment openings, guide members, and an elongated openings, releasably connected to a frame attachment member, having frame member attachment openings and a staircase openings, by a held-holding fastener and a holding member attached thereto.

Abstract: An ready-to-assemble seating structure comprising a seat frame having an upper surface with downwardly extending, tapered sockets therein; a backrest frame having a lower surface with upwardly extending, tapered sockets therein, the sockets in said upper frame member being axially aligned with the sockets in said lower frame member; and a plurality of connector pins having two opposed, outwardly tapered ends, one of which is configured to removably engage aligned sockets in the seat frame and the other of which is configured to removably engage aligned sockets in the backrest frame. The structure may also include arm frames, each having a lower surface with upwardly extending, tapered sockets therein to join the arm frames to the seat frame with additional tapered connector pins.

Abstract: An improved mounting apparatus which is adjustable for providing a safety breakaway capability for the attachment of post assemblies normally adjacent to a road or highway location wherein the vertical post assembly includes mounting holes located in a foundation therebelow. The improved breakaway apparatus includes a plurality of anchors fixedly secured to the foundation and a breakaway coupling interconnecting the anchor to the vertical post assembly. The breakaway coupling includes a weakened section to facilitate breaking thereof responsive to a lateral force exerted adjacent to the lower end of the vertical post assembly. Securement of the breakaway coupling to the anchor is provided by a unique lateral and vertical adjustment design by providing of a lateral clearance space between the lower support member and the collar aperture while at the same time providing an annular clearance space between the coupling support shoulder and the collar lip within the containment bore.

Abstract: A metallic frame and the assembly from which it is constructed has a header and a jamb and a means to attach them together at a corner of the metal frame. The header and the jamb each have a soffit disposed inwardly from a rabbet and a stop extending substantially perpendicular to and between the rabbet and the soffit. One of either the header or jamb has terminal ends of a first soffit, a first stop, and a first rabbet that generally lie in the same plane with a first corner edge. A rail slot extends through a width of the corresponding first stop and thicknesses of the first soffit and the first rabbet. The other of the header and a jambs has track formed along a second rabbet between a terminal end of a second rabbet and a terminal end of a second stop and second soffit which are cut back and spaced a distance from the terminal end of the second rabbet such that the track and the rail slot are slidingly engageable.

Abstract: A hinge for use in pairs hingedly connecting two generally coplanar wooden structural members of a wooden truss structure enabling folding of the structure to reduce its height for transport over the road, comprising two pivotally interconnected plates each having teeth for nailing them to the wooden members and one having fingers for engagement with a surface of a wooden member for accurate alignment of two of the hinges for being nailed to the two members at opposite faces thereof to form a hinged joint between the members, and hinged joints utilizing the hinges.

Abstract: A connector unit of the multiple-connection, rapid-engagement type includes a first connector part and a second connector part which can be coupled face to face as a result of a relative movement along a general axis of the first connector part. The second connector part is carried by a movable body adapted to stop close to the first connector part so that these face each other. The connector parts include mutual centring means. One of these two connector parts is movable transverse the direction of coupling to compensate for any transverse misalignment relative to this direction. The movable connector part is carried by an auxiliary support structure with the interposition of resiliently yielding members so as to be swingable relative to the support structure. These resilient members are preloaded so as, in their undeformed condition, to define a rest position corresponding to the aligned condition of the two connector parts.

Abstract: A mounting for a windshield wiper pivot shaft on a vehicle body panel supports the shaft for rotation about an axis of the panel. The mounting includes a transmission housing adapted to be rotatably seated on a first side of the panel. A key on the transmission housing and an associated keyway in the panel limits housing rotation in a first direction to a mounting position wherein an axis of the housing is aligned with the axis of the panel. The key has a retention surface which engages the panel to limit axial movement between the housing and the panel when the housing is in the mounting position, thereby passively retaining the housing to the panel. In one embodiment, a plurality of screws are installed from a second side of the panel opposite the first side and threadingly engage the housing. The screws are tightened in the first direction to rigidly fix the transmission housing to the panel, thereby maintaining the housing in the mounting position.

Abstract: A claw-shaped protrusion is installed at the edge of one trim so that a forked portion is formed between the edge of the trim and the claw-shaped protrusion, a plurality of protrusions are formed at the edge of the other trim, and these trims are installed to the vehicle body in a condition where relative positioning between the trims is performed by inserting the edge of the other trim into the forked portion of one trim and abutting the side of the claw-shaped protrusion against the protrusions.

Abstract: A double terminal stop connector (1) has a terminal stop frame (4) and a connector housing (2). The terminal stop frame (4) has two opposing walls (8) and a pair of flexible hinge members (7) interposed therebetween on both sides of the terminal stop frame so that the two opposing walls can be elastically compressed. A temporary engagement arm 10 is formed with an end stopper surface (8c) and a temporary engagement projection (9). At least one complete engagement projection (11) is formed on at least one surface of the two opposing walls of the terminal stop frame. The connector housing (2) is formed with a temporary engagement slot (16) which is engageable with the temporal engagement arm projection (9) when the terminal stop frame is temporarily engaged with the connector housing. At least one complete engagement hole (17) is engageable with the at least one complete engagement projection (11) when the terminal stop frame is completely engaged with the connector housing.

Abstract: An alignment system for a robotic gun assembly comprising a dual-keyed alignment system having a gun mounting arm comprising a keyway with a positive stop that corresponds to a key on the gun housing, and a second keyway with a positive stop within the gun housing that corresponds to a key on the robotic gooseneck.

Abstract: Instead of creating hand railings by joining together sections of rectangular hollow tubing using mitre cuts and welding of the abutting cut ends, a metal knuckle is welded to the straight ends of such tubing. The knuckle has a body with a rectangular cross-section and in profile a circular sector with an included angle less than 180.degree.. Each end of the knuckle is formed as a pyramidal frustum that is adapted to enter the straight end of the tubing. A notch of generally triangular cross-section is created to hold welding bead between an end of the tubing and a respective frustum end of the knuckle. The notch size increases with the thickness of tubing inserted over the frustum end, and filling the notch with welding bead will automatically increase the joint strength as tubing thickness increases.

Abstract: In a vacuum booster in which a holding tube is fitted in a cylindrical valve case, and the base end portion of a valve member is fitted in an annular holding groove formed in the outer surface of the front end portion of the holding tube in such a manner as to be sealingly engaged with the inner surface of the cylindrical valve case, the inner surface of the cylindrical valve case is gradually larger in diameter towards the open rear end thereof, while the outer surface of the holding tube is tapered towards the rear end thereof, and guiding grooves and arcuate engaging grooves are formed in the inner surface of the cylindrical valve case in such a manner that each guiding groove is axially extended a predetermined distance from the open end of the cylindrical valve case, and each engaging groove is extended circumferentially of the cylindrical valve case, while guiding pawls and engaging pawls are formed on the outer surface of the holding tube in such a manner that the guiding pawls are slidably engaged wit

Abstract: An end frame assembly includes an outer frame, a lower support attached to the outer frame, and a plurality of spindles attached between the outer frame and the lower support. Heat deformable connectors are disposed between the outer frame and the lower support subsequent to painting the outer frame, lower support, and spindles. A plurality of rivets are used to connect the outer frame to selected spindles.

Abstract: Hand-operated control devices for a motor vehicle comprising a shaft having a first upper end and a second lower end, the shaft having a length adapted to extend from a pedal of a vehicle to a location within the reach of a driver; coupling means for coupling the second lower end of the shaft to a pedal of a vehicle such that the shaft is rotatable and movable with respect to the second end, the coupling means adapted so that it may be removed from the pedal without using any tools; and a handle coupled to the first upper end of the shaft, enabling a driver to apply downward pressure from the handle through the shaft and coupling means in order to depress a pedal. Also included is a second device couplable to a second pedal of a motor vehicle for remote operation of the second pedal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring a functional package from a jack-up rig to a fixed platform is provided. A functional package comprising a drilling package, a construction crane, a rocket launch module, or other heavy apparatus may be directly placed upon a fixed platform without exceeding the load bearing limits of a fixed platform. This placement occurs using a cantilever beam that is spliced so that it may be separated into a shuttle portion and a base portion to reduce the weight effect of the cantilever beam upon the fixed platform. The cantilever beam may be provided with a new and unique splice section that permits detachment of the distal shuttle portion upon which rests a functional package. The distal shuttle may be deposited onto a fixed platform. The distal shuttle may be reattached after operations are completed for transfer of the functional package to another location.

Abstract: A novel attachment system provides rapid alignment and attachment of adjacent modular panels which eliminates interpanel support members and permits individual panel reversal. The system utilizes pairs of substrates affixed to each panel edge. Each substrate has a plurality of tapered pins and sockets for alignment. Portions of the panel edges are provided with releasable VELCRO-type fasteners for attachment. Disassembly is accomplished by the application of tension to adjacent panels accompanied by a bending force at the junction therebetween.

Abstract: An improved joinder method and system which allow either individual vertical columns or prefabricated module assemblies which incorporate a plurality of said vertical columns to be quickly and accurately lowered into position on top of one or more similarly configured underlying columns. In one preferred embodiment the uppermost ends of the underlying columns comprise a portion of a similar previously installed module located immediately below the particular module being lifted into place.

Abstract: A matable connector assembly, suitable for use in fluid dispensing apparatus, comprising (1) a male connector comprising a housing defining an outer male coupling distal portion and having an axial bore containing therewithin an inner male coupling element which is axially bidirectionally slidable in the axial bore, the outer male coupling distal portion comprising transversely protruding tang element(s) thereon, and a manually securable locking member, and (2) a female connector comprising a housing defining a cavity therein, wherein the cavity contains an enclosing wall member defining a first cavity compartment therewithin, and a second cavity compartment exterior to the enclosing wall member within the cavity. The first cavity compartment is of a size and shape to couplingly receive the inner male coupling element therein.

Abstract: In a light-metal vehicle body, a girder assembly joins a first longitudinal girder member located in a forecarriage region of the vehicle body to a second, laterally offset, and generally longitudinally oriented side sill member. The girder assembly includes a pair of open shell-shaped, light-metal castings which form a single, hollow section enclosure when brought together along their mutual open face regions. The concave interior surfaces of the shell-shaped casting are provided with a plurality of spaced integrally formed stiffening rib members. The stiffening ribs are oriented transverse to the curving longitudinal center axis of the girder assembly which curves in conformance with the Z-shape configuration. The stiffening ribs of each shell-shaped castings are arranged in coordinate pairs such that they formed a series of substantially continuous webs along an interior cross section of said girder assembly.

Abstract: A longitudinal bearer joint assembly for joining the abutting ends of two axially aligned, extruded light-metal bearer members of a front end longitudinal bearer assembly in a passenger car bodywork. The two bearer members are designed with different cross sectional profiles and wall thickness dimensions to favorably control deformation of the front end longitudinal bearer assembly. The bearer joint assembly includes a pair of half shell portions which surround and conform to the abutting ends of the two axially-aligned bearer members. The half shell portions include vertical contact surfaces which are mutually offset about a neutral axis in a vertical plane.

Abstract: A pedestal assembly having two opposing and abutting parts, each including a base portion, a wall, both a locking extension and a locking recess, such that the two parts interlock to create a floor region for holding a computer enclosure.

Abstract: A clamping device for a vertebral locking rod includes an outer clamping member and an inner clamping member. The outer clamping member has a U-shaped clamping mount provided respectively in both inner sides thereof with a fitting member, with at least one of the two inner sides having a retainer. The inner clamping member has an arcuate fastening mount and a fastening block provided respectively in both outer sides thereof with a fitting member engageable with the fitting member of the outer clamping member. The arcuate fastening mount and the U-shaped clamping mount are joined together to form a retaining hole to hold therein a vertebral locking rod. The fastening block is provided in at least one of the two outer sides thereof with a retainer engageable with the retainer of the U-shaped clamping mount of the outer clamping member so as to prevent the fastening block from sliding in the U-shaped clamping mount.

Abstract: A dust mop has a swivel joint for coupling a mop head to an elongated handle. A swivel base on the mop head has a swivel socket with a cylindrical passageway along an axis parallel to the plane of the mop head. The passageway is unrestricted at the rear and restricted at a front by a raised lip for axially locking a rod of a swivel connector arranged to pivot on the base and couple to the handle. The handle receptacle defines an angle relative to the swivel rod, this rod forming a cylindrical bearing member for rotatable reception in the passageway. A planar ramp is formed on an axial front of the front end of the swivel rod, to guide the ramp over the raised lip when the swivel connector is rotated to align the ramp to the lip. A circumferential groove is formed adjacent the end of the swivel rod for receiving the lip. The swivel rod is flattened from the ramp rearwardly, along a transverse chordal surface aligned to the ramp, preferably tapering out to the full radius of the cylinder.

Abstract: A shaft (6) extending from a motor housing (1) of the mixer terminates in an end portion (10) which, for easy attachment of a mixing head (H) thereto, is formed with a shallow circumferential groove (18). This permits fitting a hub or sleeve (13) on the mixing head (H) onto the end portion (10) of the shaft with axial misalignment, without exerting lateral bending forces on the hub (13). The head is formed with a resiliently deflectable tab or flap (15) for frictional engagement with the shaft, to hold the head in secure axial position on the shaft. The terminal end (19) of the shaft (6) is convex and rounded, or essentially part ball-shaped or part-spherical. Preferably, a guide ring or guide surface (23), having the diameter of the shaft, is positioned between the circumferential or ring-shaped groove (18) and the convex and rounded, or part spherical ball-shaped or part end (19). The groove (18) is shallow, wider than deep, and preferably, in cross section, part-circular.

Abstract: A universal attachment assembly for securing saw blades of different mounting configuration to the actuator shaft of an oscillating surgical saw. The blade is held firmly between a fixed receptor plate on the shaft and the selected surface of a selected profiled mounting disk by a locking nut. Each side of each mounting disk is differently profiled to mate with a different saw blade.

Abstract: A device for connecting in rotation two substantially coaxial elements (10,12), of the type comprising a splined shaft (10,20), a splined hub (24) and clamping elements for achieving a relative axial immobilization between the splined shaft and splined hub. A first end portion of the splined shaft (20) is provided with a centering ring (30) having an outer surface (34) including an outer screw threading (36) having unsymmetrical flanks, which ring (30) is screw-threadedly mounted in a corresponding portion (42) of the splined hub (24) comprising a complementary tapping (44) having unsymmetrical flanks. The second end portion (46) of the splined shaft (20) comprises an outer screw threading (48) on which is screw-threadedly mounted an axial clamping nut (50) having a radial face (52) cooperating with a confronting radial face (54) on the splined hub (24). The invention is of utility in connecting in rotation a power shaft and a rotating element of a turbomachine.

Abstract: There is disclosed an addressable device for receiving address coded signals from a central control unit. The device includes an electrical unit that is detachably connected to a base. The electrical unit has a switch for setting the address of the electrical unit. The base has an addressable key that is insertable into an opening in said switch when the addresses of the key and switch match and is not insertable when the addresses do not match. Alternatively, there is an addressable lock on one of the electrical unit and base and a separate addressable key on the other of the electrical unit and base.

Abstract: A two-part weaving machine includes a stationary machine-frame part containing at least a takeup for winding woven material, and a removable machine-frame part containing at least the bearing for a warp beam. The two machine-frame parts include mutually engaging guides which define a path for constraining the relative motion of the two parts during initial removal of the removable part from the stationary part, and during final re-assembly of the removable part to the stationary part, thus permitting fitting of the two parts together in a compact arrangement without unintentional contact between the respective mechanisms carried by the two parts, and enabling the removal and final re-assembly to be carried out using simple vertical and horizontal movements of the conveyance device.

Abstract: A system for coupling two bodies together and for transmitting torque from one body to another with mechanical timing and sequencing so that (1) the bodies are handled in a safe manner and nothing floats loose in space, (2) electrical connectors are engaged as long as possible so that the internal processes can be monitored throughout by sensors and (3) electrical and mechanical power and signals are coupled. The first body has a splined driver for providing the input torque and the second body has a threaded drive member capable of rotation and also of limited translation embedded within that will mate with and fasten to the splined driver. The second body also has a bevel gear member capable of rotation and also of limited translation embedded within and this bevel gear member is coaxial with the threaded drive member.

Abstract: An alignment and mounting apparatus for mounting two modules (10,12) includes a first portion having a cylindrical alignment pin (16) projecting normal to a module surface, a second portion having a three-stage alignment guide (18) including a shoehorn flange (34), a Y-slot (42) and a V-block (22) which sequentially guide the alignment pin (16) with successively finer precision and a third portion in the form of a spring-loaded captive fastener (20) for connecting the two modules after alignment is achieved.

Abstract: A drive shaft has a driving end and a driven end and is provided at the driving end with an external helical thread and a cylindrical pilot surface disposed between the thread and the driving end, the pilot surface having a diameter approximately equal to the inner diameter of the thread. During a mounting of an impeller to the drive shaft, a crest flat of an internal helical thread in the impeller rides on the pilot surface. The shaft has an additional pilot surface on the other side of the shaft thread. Upon a mounting of the impeller to the shaft, the two pilot surfaces on the shaft engage two precision impeller hub bores which straddle the threads to provide a controlled close fit of impeller and shaft to one another and to maintain the geometric axes of impeller and shaft true with one another.

Abstract: A sleeve which may be used to align a reciprocable member with operations performed in structurally discrete abutting members. The sleeve has coaxial axially extending diametral portions each having different diameters. The juncture of the diametral portions forms an annular face which abuts the outer face of one member when a first diametral portion of the sleeve is placed in a respectively sized bore formed therein. The second abutting member may then be aligned with the first member by locating the respective structure such that a bore formed in the second member receives the second diametral portion of the sleeve. A bore formed in the sleeve may be used to slidingly support a first translatable member. In this manner the respective positions of the abutting structures are established and respectively aligned with a translatable member interacting therebetween.

Abstract: A heavy-duty machine, such as an excavator, having a boom mounted for motion in a generally vertical arc, a stick mounted onto the distal end of the boom, and a tool mounted at the distal end of the stick. The stick is connected to the boom by a quick-disconnect coupling including a coupling member that is rockably mounted at the distal end of the boom and a coupling member mounted at the proximal end of the stick. A grab hook on the boom coupling member is used to pick up the stick by hooking onto a grab pin of the stick coupling member. A set of rack gear teeth on the boom coupling member intermesh with a corresponding set of rack gear teeth on the stick coupling member, and these eliminate play between the stick and boom.

Abstract: A butt clamp consists of two shoes slidably mounted within a sleeve. The shoes are joined by a bolt having a nut threaded onto one end thereof. Each shoe has suitable openings therein so that it can be affixed to a substrate of a section of countertop. The assembled clamp is used to join two sections of countertop where one shoe is affixed to one section and the other shoe is affixed to the other section. The sleeve aligns the two shoes and when the bolt and nut are tightened, the two shoes are pulled towards one another, thereby pulling the two sections towards one another until the two sections are joined. Additional clamps can be used on the same joint. Adhesive can be used in the joint if desired. When the clamps are used, the two sections of countertop can be joined in the field rather than at the manufacturing site. Presently after two sections of a countertop have been cut along a 45.degree. angle, part of the substrate of each section is machined out by a LOCKTITE machine.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) for correcting misalignments in a robotic assembling devices has a first shaft (102) having a ferrous material (120) and a second shaft (104) having a magnetic material (122). The first and second shafts (102, 104) are magnetically coupled, and a motion on the first shaft (102) is provided to the second shaft (104) which corrects misalignments between the magnetic coupling (112) of the first and second shafts (102, 104).

Abstract: A rod end clip for retaining an elongated L-shaped actuating rod, terminating in a short substantially right angled end portion, in a connected state with respect to an apertured lever member includes a rear wall section upstanding from a base member and having its distal end terminating in an overlying arm portion. A rigid retaining wall member upstanding from the base member and disposed substantially opposite the rear wall section is provided so as to form a retaining groove therebetween for securely retaining the actuating rod therein against rotational and vertical movement. The rigid retaining wall member has a cam surface which permits the insertion of the long leg of the actuating rod into the retaining groove with a low insertion force.

Abstract: A robot-friendly coupling device for an Orbital Replacement Unit (ORU). The invention will provide a coupling that is detached and attached remotely by a robot. The design of the coupling must allow for slight misalignments, over torque protection, and precision placement. This is accomplished by using of a triangular interface having three components. A base plate assembly is located on an attachment surface, such as a satellite. The base plate assembly has a cup member, a slotted member, and a post member. The ORU that the robot attaches to the base plate assembly has an ORU plate assembly with two cone members and a post member which mate to the base plate assembly. As the two plates approach one another, one cone member of the ORU plate assembly only has to be placed accurately enough to fall into the cup member of the base plate assembly. The cup forces alignment until a second cone falls into a slotted member which provides final alignment. A single bolt is used to attach the two plates.

Abstract: A positioning pin of the invention is attached to an engine part for installing a gasket thereon. The positioning pin includes a body having a projection extending outwardly from the engine part. The projection includes at least one large diameter portion, and a small diameter portion about the body. When the gasket is accidentally moved on the engine part to slip out of the positioning pin, the gasket engages the small diameter portion or is blocked by the large diameter portion to prevent accidental disengagement of the gasket from the engine part.

Abstract: A method for machining a part with gear teeth onto an unmachined part to form drive pinion gears is disclosed. A center bore is formed at one end of the part and receives a tool center to mount the part for machining. The center bore includes a plurality of lobes which are in point contact with the lathe center, allowing adjustment between the unmachined part and the lathe center. Drive apertures are formed radially outwardly of this center bore to receive drive pins from the machine tool. Most preferably the drive apertures are slots which provide clearance, facilitating the alignment of the drive pins in the drive apertures.

Abstract: A method and structure for joining two elongate objects together end-to-end includes a first object having an end formed with an annular groove, a second object having an end formed with an annular ridge dimensioned to fit snugly in the annular groove of the first object, and a double-ended screw, one end of which is screwed into the first object at a point spaced equally from the various circumferential sections of the group, and the other end of which is screwed into the second object at a point spaced equally from the various circumferential sections of the ridge to thereby join and hold the first and second objects together with the ridge fitted in the groove.

Abstract: The vehicle door has a mounting panel with a track formed therein by integral flanges struck from the panel. The window regulator arm has a roller carried thereon for engaging with the track to permit movement of the roller along the panel. The track has an open end permitting entry of the roller into the track when the roller has obtained both axial and cross-track alignment with the track. In order to facilitate installation of the roller into the track, the roller has an end face and the panel has an integral portion thereof underlying the open end of the track and being engaged by the end face of the roller to establish the roller in a position of axial alignment with the panel from which the roller may be easily entered into the open end of the track.

Abstract: A connector assembly comprised of two halves, each respectively including a shell type connector sub-assembly, one being an active half and the other being a passive half. The active half includes an alignment cusp that causes a coupling motion in response to coming in contact with the outer portion of the other half which causes the respective connectors within the two sub-assemblies to move toward each other into coupling relationship at twice the rate at which the two sub-assemblies come together. Both halves are adapted to rotate about and translate along respective mutually orthogonal axes to facilitate an interconnection.

Abstract: A positioning pin of the invention is attached to an engine part for installing a gasket thereon. The positioning pin includes a body, and at least one groove around an upper portion of the body. When the gasket is accidentally moved on the engine part or slips out of the positioning pin, the gasket engages the groove to prevent accidental disengagement of the gasket from the engine part.