Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a shaft assembly, an articulation section, an end effector, an articulation connector, and an articulation drive assembly. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body. The end effector is connected to the articulation section such that the end effector is configured to deflect relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft assembly. The articulation connector is configured to translate relative to the shaft assembly to deflect the end effector relative to the longitudinal axis. The articulation drive assembly is configured to translate the articulation connector relative to the shaft assembly. The articulation drive assembly includes a rotatable housing and a first lead screw assembly. The first lead screw assembly includes a first half and a second half. The first lead screw assembly is slidably coupled with the shaft assembly and is configured to translate in response to rotation of the rotatable housing.

Abstract: Screws 4 are inserted from a bottom surface of a ceiling plate 32 and screwed to a base plate 31, and the ceiling plate 32 and the base plate 31 are press-connected to each other by an elastic restoring force of an elastic member 51 interposed between a head of the screw 4 and the ceiling plate 32. A gap is formed between the head and the ceiling plate 32. Further, a periphery of the head is covered with a cover via a ring-shaped elastic member 52. In another embodiment, a periphery of a base plate 31 is protruded from a periphery of a ceiling plate 32, and the protruded portion of the base plate 31 and a ring-shaped clamp positioned at an outer side of the ceiling plate 32 are joined by screws. Here, an elastic member is interposed between the clamp and the ceiling plate 32.

Abstract: A fixing device used for fixing a pivot shaft includes a latching member and a fastening member. The latching member has a hollow conical latching portion. The fastening member defines a conical hole corresponding to the conical latching portion of the latching member. The latching member is capable of deforming elastically along a radial direction, and the fastening member is tightly sleeved on the latching portion of the latching member.

Abstract: The invention relates to a self-locking nut (1) having an upper threaded collar (3) provided with longitudinal slots (7), being V or U shaped, also with sharp edge, defining in the collar a plurality of circular arc segments (9) compressed by an external helical spring (5), and in which the collar slots have such a width as not to allow the mutual contact of the circular arc segments (9) compressed by the spring. The spring of the self-locking nut is made of precipitation hardening stainless steel whereby it shows high constancy of braking torque features even for repeated screwing/unscrewing cycles. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing the nut.

Abstract: A profile rail has a face and is formed with a longitudinally extending channel open at the face and with longitudinally extending stabilizing formations on the face flanking the channel. The channel has confronting ribbed flanks. A stabilizing element has a face engageable with the face of the rail and formed with a pair of stabilizing formations fittable with the stabilizing formations of the rail and with a throughgoing hole between the respective stabilizing formations and aligned with the channel when the element stabilizing formations are fitted with the rail stabilizing formations. A screw fittable through the hole has a screwthread engageable with the flanks of the channel so that the screw can clamp the element to the face of the rail.

Abstract: A clip has a retainer for securing the clip and a wire harness to a bolt protruding from a vehicle surface. The retainer includes a beam having an aperture with an inner wall. The aperture receives the bolt. A flange projects into the aperture from the wall. An opening in the wall opposite the flange communicates with a passage in the beam. A sliding component of the retainer has a flanged end for insertion into the passage and through the beam into the aperture. The flange and the flanged end of the component are received between selected threads of the bolt to clamp the bolt in the aperture. Projections extending from opposite edges of the sliding component are received in cavities along side walls of the beam passage in positions corresponding to the size of the bolt. The projections and cavities cooperate to secure the sliding component in the beam.

Abstract: A quick release nut (1) includes a pair of body members or segments (2, 3) having internal surfaces (4) to be placed around and engage the shaft of a bolt. The segments (2, 3) are movable between an operative position and an inoperative position in which the segments (2, 3) are spaced further apart. A pin (8) and quick release cartridge (15) on segment (2) slide within corresponding channels (12, 18) in segment (3), and a pair of ball bearings (25, 26) are released from the groove (28) by pushing the end of pin (21) axially relative to the quick release cartridge (15).

Abstract: A spring collet clamping system and method therefor including a collet disposed about a shaft, for example a rotary motor shaft, a substantially balanced spring clamp having a coil portion with arms extending from generally opposite portions thereof, the coil portion of the spring clamp is disposed about a portion of the collet, for example resilient arms thereof, to constrict and clamp the collet about the shaft.

Abstract: A free-running-on, locking-off and tension directly indicated locking nut, capable of indicating whether the locking nut is suitably tightened with the required axial tension and preventing the locking nut from becoming loose, includes a body portion formed with a base and a conical seat portion extending upwardly from a central portion of a top of the base, the seat portion having an upper end formed with a vertical outer wall surface, the body portion having an axial hole extending through the body portion and provided with internal threads, and a cap having an axial through taper hole which is smaller than the concial seat portion in height. The axial through taper hole is formed with a conical surface with a large diameter at a bottom thereof, a neck with a vertical surface extending upwardly from a top of the conical surface, and a chamfer extending upwardly outwardly from a top of the neck to form a countersink, the conical surface being configured to fit over the conical seat portion.

Abstract: The clip of the present invention includes a plurality of internally threaded legs which form an aperture for receiving an externally threaded stud or similar structural device. A moveable circular collet is attached to a plunger and travels from a pre-driven position wherein the collet is substantially free from engagement with the internally threaded legs and allows for flexure of the internally threaded legs and a fully driven position wherein the collet engages the internally threaded legs in a locked position, inhibiting flexure and engaging the externally threaded stud.

Abstract: This invention relates to a lock nut in which, when a double nut is fastened against a bolt, projections at the lock nut are deformed and crushed to be applied around the threaded part of the bolt and a frictional force is increased to improve an effect of looseness-prevention. A seat surface of a circumferential edge of the threaded hole 4 of the nut 2 is formed with a plurality of projections 5, 5, 5, the nut 2 is fastened against the fastening nut 7 already fastened against the bolt 6 acting as a member M to be fastened with its projections 5 being faced to the nut, the projections 5 deformed between seat surfaces 3, 8 of both nuts 2, 7 are applied around the threaded part between the threaded hole 4 of the nut 2 and the threaded part 9 of the bolt 6 so as to enable both nuts 2, 7 to be prevented from being loosened.

Abstract: A fastener comprises a nut surrounding a collar that in turn surrounds a t, the nut and collar holding a bracket element against a mounting surface. The collar fits closely but slidably within the nut. Of the nut or collar, one has a boss that rides upon a cam surface of the other, so that a camming relation exists between the nut and collar. Turning the nut relative to the collar will thus squeeze the collar into an interference fit with the post so that the fastener attains a locking configuration. A groove adjacent the cam surface accepts the projection and retains it such that the fastener maintains its locking condition. A predetermined torque is needed to rotate the projection to the groove, whereby the fastener is a torque controlled fastener.

Abstract: A measuring device is provided, having a cylindrical connection piece (1), having a collar (2) which engages around at least one section of the connection piece (1) and is to be fastened at a measuring location, having a restraining means, by which the connection piece (1) is fastened in the collar (2), having an annular seal (3), which is arranged in the collar (2) and bears in a sealing manner against the connection piece (1), and having a thrust ring (4) which is releasably fastened in the collar (2), and, in an end position, puts the seal (3) under pressure in the axial direction, with which device mounting and demounting at the measuring location take place in one operation and with which device, during mounting, the fastening of the connection piece (1) takes place before or at the same time as the restraining of the seal (3), and with which device, during demounting, first of all the seal (3) is released and then the fastening.

Abstract: Screw or nut braking rings and mountings established with the rings include a nut having an upper portion hollowed from a circular throat. Slits divide the upper portion into blocks by cutting the throat. A shape-memory alloy ring is housed in the throat so as to retighten the blocks on the threaded portion of the mounting and thus tighten it. The ring exhibits a change between the tightening state and a mounting state where it is free in the throat and can be easily mounted.

Abstract: This invention relates to an automated work center for use in materials handling operations. The work center includes a randomly accessible vertically moving temporary storage queue 11 for receiving containers 25 that hold material goods. A fixed loading ramp 20 is arranged to receive containers 20 from an external system and to load the received containers onto the storage queue 11. A work area 5 having a plurality of rotatable work tables 7 provides an gives the operator access to the containers. A delivery system 14 transfers containers between the storage queue 11 and the work tables 7 and a takeaway system 16 transfers containers between the work area and the conveyor network. An automated control system 17 coordinates the delivery of containers between the temporary storage queue 11 and the work area 5. A consolidation queue 18 having a multiplicity of vertically spaced shelfs may be disposed opposite the work tables 7 to facilitate the consolidation of ordered goods.

Abstract: In a self-locking nut including a threaded upper collar equipped with longitudinal slots in U-shape defining in collar a plurality of circular arc segments compressed by a helical external spring, the spring is subjected to a hot-galvanizing treatment and is provided in harmonic spring steel if it operates below 250.degree. C., while it is provided in stainless spring steel if it operates above 250.degree. C., and the nut, provided in stainless steel if it operates at high temperatures, is subjected to an electrolytic coppering treatment.

Abstract: An improved deformable locking fastener system comprises a bolt, a deformable collar and an installation tool. The bolt has a threaded exterior for engaging the collar. The collar has an axial bore threaded to engage the bolt. The exterior of the collar is defined by a central portion and a head portion. The central and head portions preferably have an elliptical shape with the central portion slightly greater in size. The central portion and the head portion are deformed from their elliptical shapes to substantially round shapes to securely fasten the collar and bolt. The central portion advantageously generates a predetermined preloaded tension between the collar and the nut. The head portion locks the collar and bolt together because it is swaged or deformed into recesses on the threads of the bolt. A tool is used to secure the collar on the bolt.

Abstract: A locking nut assembly in which a dished washer (16) has a cylindrical bore (19) which is a close runner fit on the external cylindrical face (15) of a spigot (12) formed under the head (11) of the nut (10). In use the washer (16) is flattened, the bore (19) contracts and grips the spigot (12) which is thereby deformed inwardly so that the thread (14) within the spigot is forced into close contact with the complementary thread on a bolt with which the nut is used.

Abstract: A self-locking fastener system comprises a pin for receipt in a hole in a workpiece and having an external thread which mates with a collar having an internal thread for carrying a tensile load. A plurality of helically extending flutes in the external thread on the pin collectively extend approximately one full revolution around the circumference of the thread. The collar has three longitudinally extending lobes for driving by a deltoid driver socket. When a desired clamp-up load is achieved on a workpiece, the socket plastically deforms the lobes and collar material radially inwardly thereof so that some of the collar material inwardly from each lobe is displaced into the void volume created by a helical flute. This displaced collar material inhibits unscrewing of the collar from the pin.

Abstract: An improved self-locking nut comprising a threaded upper collar provided with longitudinal slots defining in the collar a plurality of circular arc segments compressed by a helical external spring. The slots may widen upwardly in V or U-shape to prevent the segments from contacting one another.

Abstract: A tapered shaft retention apparatus is used with a shaft having a shoulder, a cylindrical surface, a smooth conically tapered surface, and an annular member such as an inner race of a bearing assembly mounted on the cylindrical surface. A sleeve is mounted on the shaft with an adjustment nut screwthreadably mounted thereon, and an internally tapered hub is mounted on the tapered surface in abutment with the nut with a preselected press fit. This assures the transmission of torque through the hub and positions the bearing assembly on the shaft. During assembly the hub is initially installed at an ambient temperature and the adjustment nut set at a preselected clearance therefrom, the hub is then removed and thermally expanded and reinstalled in abutment with the nut to establish the desired press fit.

Abstract: An anti-backlash nut having one or more longitudinal flexural members with one end fixed and one end free-floating is disclosed which undergoes translational movement along a shaft. This anti-backlash nut is improved by providing ramps at the free-floating ends of the flexural members and means to apply axial forces on the ramps to thereby create radial force vectors which maintain the ramps in contact with the shaft even after the nut has become worn.

Abstract: An anti-backlash nut having one or more longitudinal flexural members with one end fixed and one end free-floating is disclosed which undergoes translational movement along a shaft. This anti-backlash nut is improved by providing ramps at the free-floating ends of the flexural members and means to apply axial forces on the ramps to thereby create radial force vectors which maintain the ramps in contact with the shaft even after the nut has become worn.