Abstract: A pin has a pilot point of uniform width throughout 360.degree. and a body containing a cross section of arcuate polygonal lobular configuration, also of uniform width but wider than the point. The pin may be driven into a circular hole in a member such that the lobes of the pin are elastically deformed in compression to enhance the grip between the pin and the member and with there being regions of stress relief on the member intermediate the lobes. The hole in the member may also be reshaped into a lobular form. The uniform body width approximates the minimum diameter of the hole in the member. Furthermore, the pin is of a range of lobulation sufficient to span a wide range of hole diameter tolerances.

Abstract: A cartridge pin mounting wherein a cartridge pin is secured in accurately preselected relationship to a frame having a mounting hole opening through an outer surface thereof. An outer surface associated with the pin is urged into flush relationship with the outer surface of the frame by a retainer which, in turn, is locked in the frame opening by a suitable locking ring. The outer surface of the pin may be defined by a ring structure at the outer end of the pin, and in the illustrated embodiment, the pin projects slightly from the ring portion.

Abstract: Means are disclosed for securing together a first, U-shaped member and a second member received within the first member. In the preferred embodiment, the second member is a holder for a mineral cutter pick and the U-shaped member is formed on a drum or cutter chain of a mining machine. The means comprise registering bores in the legs of the U-shaped member and in the second member, one of the members being formed with a recess extending transversely from the bore therein. A hollow cross pin is received within the bores and a locking pin is driven through a transverse bore in the cross pin to extend into said recess. The cross pin has a length equal to or less than said bores in registration, and part of its internal surface is provided with a screw thread.

Abstract: A connector for coupling a pair of single optical fibers is disclosed. Each contact of the connector utilizes three spheres of equal diameter defining a tricuspid interstitial space therebetween into which the end of a fiber is mounted. The spheres are embraced by a circular race. In the preferred embodiment, the spheres engage each other and the race. When a pair of contacts are mated in axial abutting relationship, the spheres in the mating contacts nest with respect to each other, thereby precisely laterally aligning the optical fibers which are mounted in the interstitial spaces of the sets of spheres in the two contacts. In another embodiment, the spheres are dimensioned so they do not engage each other, but engage the optical fiber at three points. Also, more than three spheres may be mounted in a contact for positioning a fiber therein.

Abstract: A modular, symmetrical space frame structure utilized in the construction of special architectural spanning structures comprises standardized component parts made of corrosion resistant aluminum or high-strength plastic composite for preferred exterior application and of steel for interior application - all manufactured to precise dimensional tolerances giving the assembled structure an inherent uniformity in the transfer of tension/compression load factors within the web and chord members. A basic standardized eight-way connector capable of connecting four diagonal web members and four horizontal chord members can be interchangeably installed in both the top and bottom chord assemblies thus minimizing the number of different component parts required to assemble the structure and also resulting in a totally symmetrical design.

Abstract: A cable or rope clamp comprising a ferrule or sleeve having an oval body portion and a frusto-conical end portion, the wall of said end portion having an outer surface which, at the junction with said body portion, has a sharp concave part to locate said ferrule in compression dies, said wall of said end portion being generally of concavo concave shape.

Abstract: Method for splicing optical fiber cables which applies to those cables having an axial core and fibers disposed around the core, parallel to the cable axis or having a slight slant with respect thereto. At the places where splicing will have to be made, when the cable is laid down, the jacket of the cable is removed the fibers are glued on the core and two half-shells are disposed round the glued fibers and encase them. The half-shells are bonded to the core and fibers by gluing under pressure. When the glue has set, the half-shells together with the fibers and cable core are sawn perpendicularly to the cable axis which gives two half-shell segments. These segments have registering bores and splicing is achieved by inserting calibrated columns or pins into these bores.

Abstract: A quick change connector for use in connecting flexible rotating shafts. The device comprises a cylindrical segment and cooperating sleeve member which are locked into engagement by means of a depressable latch pin member. The sleeve is provided with a transversely disposed bar and the cylindrical segment is provided with a transversely disposed slot capable of receiving the bar therein for transmitting torque through the connector without applying said torque to the latch pin.

Abstract: An adaptor bolt to permit fitting wheels having a given bolt hole circle diameter to wheel studs having a different circle diameter. The kit is made up of a plurality of adaptor bolts each comprising an internally threaded bore located eccentrically in the bolt with respect to its external threads. The internal threads fit on the studs and cap nuts fit on the external threads to mount the wheel on the adaptor bolts. Friction increasing devices are provided on the internal threads to hold the adaptor bolts in various adjusted positions defining different diameter bolt circles.

Abstract: The invention is an exercise unit having a pair of rigidly connected spaced rails being elevatable at one end to a selectable height to define an incline, and a flat carriage rollable on said rails and having structure including pulley lines and a foot retainer for drawing the carriage and the body of the user upward along the incline by the physical exertion of the user. The rails are separable into upper and lower halves and are connected together in use by a novel tongue and socket structure reinforced with a hook and rod system. On the rails a foot grip is mounted so as to be freely pivotable during an exercise program.

Abstract: A hinge pin construction including a pin adapted to journal an arm or the like, an annular wedge member associated with one end of the pin, an axially extending lubricant passage in at least one of the wedge member and the pin for directing lubricant to the interface of the pin and an arm journalled thereon, a plug removably closing the axially outer end of the passage and a collet received on the wedge member and including a bolt securing the collet to the pin. An axially extending passage is located in the collet and is of a size greater than that of the plug whereby the plug may be removed from the lubricant passage. An additional plug is employed for selectively closing the collet passage and a keying device is employed for precluding assembly of the collet to the wedge member except with the collet and lubricating passages aligned to allow the introduction of lubricant into the lubricant passage without removing the collet.

Abstract: A force transmitting connection for interconnecting a pair of members to transmit force therebetween includes a pair of spaced apart brackets secured to one of the members and disposed on opposite sides of the other member with each of the brackets having an open-ended substantially U-shaped slot formed therein. A force transmitting device is connected to and projects outwardly from the other member and is nested within the U-shaped slots. A retainer apparatus bridges the space between the brackets and is removably secured to the brackets and has a pair of spaced projections which are disposed on opposite sides of the other member and extend into the slot embracing the force transmitting device to retain the force transmitting device within the slots.

Abstract: Spline members are retained together by a split retaining ring which is urged by a ramp on one of the members from an installation position into an assembly-disassembly position in an annular groove on the other member and on proper mating of the members assumes a retention position in this groove and in another groove on the one member which is ramped on one side to provide for disassembly by reversal of the assembly operation. To facilitate the assembly operation, the retaining ring is formed with its two end portions radially displaced over substantial distances from the normal circular shape so that the ring is supported along its entire length when in the installation position by the groove in the aforementioned other member.

Abstract: A U-shaped holder includes free ends which may be adjustably drawn together by an adjustment bolt such that a bushing positioned in a cavity formed in the free ends is adjustably clamped. A magnetized dowel pin is eccentrically positioned in the bushing. A locater pin may be positioned in the lower end of the cavity and be urged downwardly by a spring between the dowel pin and the locater pin. The bushing is of non-ferrous material to shield the locater pin from the magnetic dowel pin.

Abstract: A universal joint comprises an external cup-like element, and a part spherical head located in the element. Three balls are interposed between opposing surfaces of the head and the element and are engaged in pairs of grooves in the head and in the element. The balls are retained in slots in a cage. An auxiliary groove is formed in the external element adjacent one of the ball-receiving grooves and is spaced therefrom by a surface having a width less than that of the slots in the cage whereby this surface can be located in one of the slots during assembly of the joint to permit insertion of the cage into the external element.

Abstract: An improved connector for removably interconnecting elongate structural members, comprising a sleeve member adapted to be removably fitted to an end of the structural member and holding an internally threaded nut apparatus, a connector bolt one end of which is threaded in the nut apparatus and having a T-head at the other end, and a tapered cylindrical collar having a concentric bore, through which the bolt extends. The T-head is adapted to non-rotatably engage an appropriately sized aperture. Intermediate the collar and sleeve, and located about the bolt, is a bias spring which biases the collar towards the T-head to hold the bolt in engaging relation with the aperture in which the T-head is inserted. The connection between the aperture and bolt may be secured by rotating the nut apparatus in a predetermined direction.

Abstract: A mobile construction machine comprises a pair of working components pivotally connected together by a pin. The pin has a first stop means secured on a first end thereof to prevent longitudinal movement of the pin in a first direction relative to the components and a second stop means releasably attached to a second end of the pin to prevent it from moving in the opposite direction. Upon removal of the second stop means from the pin, the pin may be removed from aligned bores formed through the components to disconnect the same. Upon reinstallation of the pin, a conically shaped self-centering member is attached to the pin in lieu of the second stop means to facilitate reinsertion of the pin into the bores formed in the components.

Abstract: A method for making a two-piece cam lock suited for locking a pair of telescopically interfitting poles together at a selected overall length.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a clutch actuating system having means for establishing initial free play without using an external gauge. A clutch system in accordance with this invention may have a clutch pedal, a clutch release lever and a Bowden wire assembly interconnecting the pedal and the lever. The sheath portion of the Bowden wire has one of its ends secured to a bracket adjacent the clutch release lever. The other end of the sheath is secured to the vehicle fire wall adjacent the clutch pedal where an externally threaded fitting in the second end of the sheath fits within a tubular housing bolted to the fire wall. The end of the tubular housing has four angularly spaced apart slots in its end face. A special adjustment nut on the threaded fitting has four axially extending projections arranged to engage the tubular housing. During initial installation of the clutch actuating mechanism, the adjustment nut is rotated to remove slack in the Bowden wire.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improvement in a coupling mechanism for uniting two plates comprising a coupling member and associated apertures in the plates wherein the coupling member comprises a head portion and two legs integrally connected to the head portion and each having a stepped engaging portion on the periphery thereof, whereby when the two legs are inserted in the apertures of the two plates and rotated by 90.degree., the stepped engaging portions catch some selected parts of the circumference edge of the aperture of one of the plates, and clamp these plates in cooperation with the head portion, which is pushed against the other plate. The coupling mechanism according to this invention further comprises means to regulate the rotation angle of the shank of the coupling member at 90.degree., thus preventing the shank of the coupling member from overrunning the stop position at which the stepped portions catch selected parts of the circumference edge of the aperture of one of the plates to be coupled.