Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing suture-needle assemblies in which the suture thread is connected to the needle shank through the provision of heat shrinkable tubing. The apparatus for securing the heat shrink tubing to the shank of the needle essentially comprises a needle holder, a heat source, a video camera and monitor device and means for insuring heating of the tubing only at the shank. An apparatus is also disclosed for securing the suture thread to the needle shank where the needle shank is already provided with the heat shrink tubing secured thereon. The apparatus for securing the suture thread to the needle shank includes a needle holder, a heat source, a heat cover to create a heating chamber, as well as video camera and monitor means to enlarge the image for an operator, as well as temperature regulating equipment.

Abstract: A method for making a screen includes preparing a plurality of elongated supporting plates, each of which being formed with a plurality of transversely and spacedly arranged grooves, and arranging the elongated supporting plates spacedly in a parallel manner to align the grooves on one of the elongated supporting plates with the grooves on an adjacent one of the elongated supporting plates; preparing a plurality of elongated bars, each of which being formed integrally with a longitudinal constricted portion, the longitudinal constricted portion normally having a transverse width wider than that of the grooves; heating the elongated supporting plates to expand the grooves; inserting the longitudinal constricted portion of each of the elongated bars into expanded grooves in order to juxtapose parallel the elongated bars and to form slots therebetween; and cooling the elongated supporting plates in order to permit contraction of the elongated supporting plates and the grooves so as to hold tightly the elongated

Abstract: A method is provided for securing a wellbore tool assembly to a wellbore tubular member, which includes a number of method steps. The wellbore tubular member is provided, and defines a surface with a substantially cylindrical shape having a selected tubular diameter. A wellbore tool assembly is likewise provided, and includes a plurality of ring-shaped components, with at least one ring-shaped component defining a cylindrical surface having a selected ring diameter which differs from the tubular diameter of the wellbore tubular member. A plurality of radial groove members and radial land members are formed on at least one of the cylindrical surface of the wellbore tubular member and the cylindrical surface of the at least one ring-shaped component of the wellbore tool assembly. The wellbore tubular member and the at least one ring-shaped component of the wellbore tool assembly are urged to differing thermal conditions to cause the tubular diameter and the ring diameter to become substantially equal.

Abstract: A method of controlling the temperature in a tunnel open at both ends and along which objects are displaced by conveyor means, the tunnel including heating or cooling means disposed along its two side walls between which the conveyed objects pass. According to the invention, the temperature is sensed in a particular zone of the tunnel in which a predetermined temperature is desired, and in organizing transverse displacement of the heating or cooling means (104) is organized in a direction essentially perpendicular to the direction in which the objects (103) are conveyed by means of a servo-control system causing the heating or cooling means to be displaced automatically mutually towards each other or away from each other whenever the sensed temperature differs from the predetermined temperature, thereby having the effect of permanently ensuring a constant temperature environment for the objects concerned in the above-mentioned zone of the tunnel.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel bearings and methods for making bearings. The method comprises dimensionally recovering at least one race or rolling or sliding element such that a rolling element is free to roll or slide yet contained within the race.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an embodiment of a measure including a bending resistant graduation carrier member and a base member and fastening elements for fastening the graduation member on the base member. The material of the graduation carrier member has a lower temperature coefficient than the material of the base member. The graduation carrier member is placed on the base member in a floating manner. Subsequently, the graduation carrier member and the base member are heated to a predetermined temperature. The end faces of the graduation carrier member are then fixed by means of the fastening elements to the base member in such a way that the graduation carrier member is in a compressed state when cooled to normal temperature.

Abstract: A rolling mill roll assembly comprising an inner cylindrical mandrel and an outer cylindrical sleeve bonded thereto with glue containing grit particles. Wire is spirally wound around the outside of the mandrel and secured thereto with the glue. The sleeve has an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the mandrel plus two times the wire thickness. The grit particles are thicker than the wire. The sleeve is heated to thermally expand the sleeve sufficiently to clear the grit particles when slipped over the mandrel. As the sleeve cools, the wire acts to center the sleeve on the mandrel, and the grit particles, which are harder than both the sleeve interior and the mandrel exterior become embedded in both to enhance the glue bond. The sleeve is substantially devoid of hoop stresses.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an embodiment of a measure including a bending resistant graduation carrier member and a base member and fastening elements for fastening the graduation member on the base member. The material of the graduation carrier member has a lower temperature coefficient than the material of the base member. The graduation carrier member is placed on the base member in a floating manner. Subsequently, the graduation carrier member and the base member are heated to a predetermined temperature. The end faces of the graduation carrier member are then fixed by means of the fastening elements to the base member in such a way that the graduation carrier member is in a compressed state when cooled to normal temperature.

Abstract: The tensile loading of a ceramic-metal joint, made by shrink-fit locking a cylindrical ceramic component into a flange of ferrous material in the axial direction of the ceramic component can be improved by undersizing the diameter D of the bore of the flange by 13-27 .mu.m making it, at room temperature, this much smaller than the diameter d of that part of the ceramic component to be attached to the flange by shrink-fit locking, by preparing the cylindrical surface of the said part of the ceramic component with a surface roughness Ra of 0.05-0.2 .mu.m and the surface of the bore in the flange with a roughness Ra of 0.4-0.8 .rho.m, and by heating the flange, before fitting it to the ceramic part, to a temperature such that, after fitting together the ceramic component and the flange, the resultant stresses produced on cooling the assembly to room temperature are below the yield strength R.sub.po.

Abstract: A camshaft is prepared from separately formed cams and a shaft. The cams may for example be formed by sintering. The cams are provided with holes which are under-sized and are provided with serrations. They are located on a correspondingly shaped dummy shaft in their required relative orientations and angular positions. Next, the cams are clamped in these positions and the dummy shaft removed. The cams are then heated to red heat and the serrated holes in them broached to bring them to their final size and to concentricity. Finally, a shaft having an exterior profile corresponding to the shape and size of the broached profile of the holes, at ambient temperature, is introduced into the holes and the cams are then cooled so that they shrink fit on to the shaft so ensuring that they are accurately positioned on the shaft. The cams are then released from the jig to give a finished camshaft.

Abstract: A shaft and an impeller assembly formed by individual blade members are connected together in an interference fitted connection. Both the shaft and impeller assembly are coated with a corrosion resistant material and the connection is created between the coated surfaces.

Abstract: A method for making a nuclear fuel channel is disclosed having a high degree of dimensional accuracy which uses the thermal expansion of a mandrel to precisely size the channel. An assembly of the mandrel and a channel preform is pulled through a die to die sink the preform into substantial surface-to-surface contact with the mandrel prior to the heating step.

Abstract: A connector for medical tubing for liquid transfusion includes a short tubular male connector member made of thermally resistant corrosionproof materia; a short tubular female connector member made of thermally resistant corrosionproof material; and a fitting surface portion on the outer surface of an insertion end of the male connector, shaped in the male form and made of a material having a smaller thermal expansion coefficient than the material of a corresponding fitting surface portion on the inner surface of an insertion end of the female connector shaped in the female form. The fitting surface portion of the insertion end shaped in the male form, and the fitting surface portion of the insertion end shaped in the female form, are of relative sizes such as to permit the insertion ends to be connected to and separated from each other by shrink fit utilizing the difference between the thermal expansion coefficients thereof. A medical solution bag device using the connector is also disclosed.

Abstract: A water-condensing heat exchanger recovers heat from a hot flue gas, subjecting tubes of the heat exchanger to substantial thermal expansion and contraction, and corrosive constituents in the flue gas require that metal tube sheets be thoroughly insulated from the flue gas during operation in a water-condensing mode. The heat exchanger is constructed by heat-forming edge portions of holes in plastic sheets through holes in tube sheets, temporarily plugging the plastic-lined holes to limit diametrical reduction, and entering tubes through the plastic-lined holes sufficiently shortly after unplugging the holes that further diametrical reduction of the holes causes them to grip and fixedly locate the tubes relative to the tube sheets. The method of manufacture also concerns providing a fluroplastic coating, e.g., polytetrafluoroethylene, on the interior elements of the heat exchanger to inhibit corrosion thereof; such coatings are hydrophobic thus allowing falling condensate to be washed away easily.

Abstract: A method of fixing an annular piston onto a piston shaft includes providing an annular piston with a central bore having a diameter slighty less than the shaft diameter, heating the annular piston to expand the bore diameter and then placing the heated piston onto the shaft so that the piston, upon cooling, is permanently shrink-fit onto the shaft. In an end-of-car cushioning unit for a railway car, the prior shaft is cut adjacent the piston and the piston is rebored to a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the end portion of the piston onto which it is to be shrink-fitted.

Abstract: A method for the in situ repair of heat exchanger tubes in major heat exchanger equipment is disclosed in which supercooled sleeves are inserted into cracked heat exchanger tubes and are expansion-fitted firmly against the inner walls of the cracked tubes. In order to prevent premature expansion of the relatively long, small diameter sleeves during insertion, the tubes may be filled with a heat sink material which is removed following insertion. The insertion is also preferably accomplished very rapidly by means of a power-actuated ram which maintains the sleeve at its low temperature until the very last moment before insertion. Various guide means and plug means for the sleeve are described. The technology is also indicated as being applicable to the temporary sealing of defective tubes by using a removable plug in the form of a closed-end sleeve into whose interior a cryogenic agent can be selectively introduced during insertion and removal.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing ball joints or other self-lubricated joints, comprising placing the inner ring of the ball joint in a heat-retractable sheath of determined thickness and shrinking the sheath on this inner ring. The inner ring is then disposed in an outer ring blank which is then deformed so that the sheath is clamped between the outer and the inner ring. After machining of the blank, the assembly is treated so as to eliminate the heat-retractable sheath and thus form between the two rings a free space whose thickness corresponds to that of the sheath. A self-lubricating resin is then injected in this space.

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 method of interference-fitting either a male or female resilient member to its corresponding female or male member using a hollow mandrel cooled to preferably cryogenic temperatures which freezes a compressed resilient member to at least its glass-transition temperature. The method enables one to combine the two members before the resilient member warms to a temperature above its glass-transition temperature. The method and apparatus have found usefulness in the assembly of elastomeric high voltage electrical insulators.

Abstract: An improved heat insulated piston assembly for an internal combustion engine and a method of assembly. The improved piston assembly includes a piston constructed of a sleeve having an interference fit about a heat insulated core. The core has a first end positioned flush with an end of the sleeve and has a second end located within the sleeve with a concave configured cavity formed therein. Mating in the concave configured cavity of the core is a connecting rod having a spherical ball shaped end. The spherical ball shaped end is securely held in the cavity by a retaining ring which attaches to the piston sleeve. The retaining ring allows for limited movement of the spherical ball shaped end of the connecting rod in the cavity while providing a means for returning the piston to its bottom position during the intake stroke.

Abstract: Ceramic inserts are embedded in thermally highly loaded zones and/or as a heat insulation in light metal castings for use in internal combustion engines.To provide a firm joint between the insert and the light metal, a metallic material which resists creep and/or relaxation is shrunk on the insert before it is embedded.

Abstract: A means and method for sutureless surgical anastomosis. A heat shrinkable sleeve is placed around two tubular members to be anastomosed and then shrunk to engage and maintain the two tubular members in an anastomotic relationship. The ends of the tubular members are everted over rigid or semi-rigid ferrules placed on the ends of the tubular members.

Abstract: A drill pipe is fabricated by forming a tubular tool joint with a pipe connection formation at one end. The other end of the tool joint is connected to one end of a tubular adapter by a threaded shrink grip connection. The other end of the adapter is connected to a first end of a tubular pipe body by welding. A second tool joint is similarly mounted on the second end of the pipe body by means of a second adapter.

Abstract: The invention relates to the manufacture of a body of a cellular structure by extruding a ceramic material through a die. The die comprises a succession of coaxial components (6, 10) fitted one round another, with two adjacent components defining between them longitudinal ducts (2) whose downstream ends communicate with an annular duct (3) and wherein the bottoms of said coaxial components fitted one round another have essentially radial notches (4) level with the annular ducts, the width of said notches being less than that of the longitudinal ducts, so that the ceramic material which flows through said longitudinal ducts is evenly distributed in the annular ducts and in the radial notches to form a body with a cellular structure directly on extrusion.The invention has application to thin-walled honeycomb ceramic structures.

Abstract: A lightweight motorcycle wheel and method of making the same comprising a die cast alumnium alloy hub and spoke unit around which an extruded aluminum alloy drop center rim is shrinkfitted and bonded by high strength thermosetting resin adhesive between coaxial cylindrical walls of said rim and unit.

Abstract: A heat-recoverable article for protecting a conduit, for example, an electric cable, where its conductors pass through an aperture in a bulkhead, in order, for example, to prevent chafing; the article has an inner expansible and an outer shrinkable sleeve, the outer jacket of the cable terminating in an annular space between the sleeves, the space shrinking on heating of the article; one end of the inner sleeve is expansible to grip the bulkhead.

Abstract: A method of making a sight glass assembly generally including forming a housing having an opening therethrough provided with an annular wall, forming a lens having an annular peripheral wall provided with a diameter greater than the diameter of the housing wall at predetermined equilibrium conditions, effecting a change in the predetermined equilibrium conditions of the lens and housing sufficient to cause a dimensional change between the diameters of the housing and lens walls sufficient to permit the insertion of the lens into the opening of the housing, inserting the lens into the housing opening while maintaining the change in conditions so that the lens wall is positioned in opposed relation to the housing wall, and maintaining the lens in the opening with the lens and housing walls disposed in opposed relation while permitting a return to the equilibrium conditions of the lens and housing whereby the housing and lens wall will engage to place the lens in radial compression and form a fluid tight seal th

Abstract: A method of making a sight glass assembly generally including forming a housing having an opening therethrough provided with an annular wall, forming a lens having an annular peripheral wall provided with a diameter greater than the diameter of the housing wall at predetermined equilibrium conditions, effecting a change in the predetermined equilibrium conditions of the lens and housing sufficient to cause a dimensional change between the diameters of the housing and lens walls sufficient to permit the insertion of the lens into the opening of the housing, inserting the lens into the housing opening while maintaining the change in conditions so that the lens wall is positioned in opposed relation to the housing wall, and maintaining the lens in the opening with the lens and housing walls disposed in opposed relation while permitting a return to the equilibrium conditions of the lens and housing whereby the housing and lens wall will engage to place the lens in radial compression and form a fluid tight seal.

Abstract: A track pin has the ends thereof mounted in bores defined by respective track links. The ends of the track pin are heated above the critical temperature of the steel making up the track pin, and then quenched, whereby the ends of the track pin have increased in volume to be retained in the bores of the respective track links.

Abstract: A method of supporting a metal tank having a circular horizontal section which comprises providing the tank with a horizontal ring-like portion having a substantially upright surface, forming a metal substantially upright skirt having a top portion with an internal surface which matches the tank ring-like surface and which has an internal diameter at ambient temperature at matching locations slightly less than the diameter of the tank ring-like surface at ambient temperature, heating the skirt top portion, or cooling the tank ring-like surface, or both until the internal diameter of the skirt top portion is larger than the diameter of the tank ring-like surface, positioning the skirt top portion around the tank ring-like surface, bringing the skirt top portion or the tank ring-like surface or both to ambient temperature to thereby shrink-fit them together, and joining the skirt top portion to the tank by welds, bolts or rivets.

Abstract: To prevent corrosion and provide for better relative movement of parts which move only slightly but are exposed to extremes in ambient operating conditions, a tubular piece of plastic material, typically Polyvinylidenfluoride or a polyamide, is drawn over the inner element of a relatively slidable pair, which may, for example be a distributor shaft, the distributor breaker cam, or distributor bearing pins, to cover the surface thereof engaged in slidable contact.

Abstract: An X-ray apparatus including a telescopic column support comprising concentrically positioned tubular sections nested one within another. Each of the sections except the innermost section has three guide bars triangularly spaced on the inner surface. Each section except the outermost section has rollers on the outer surface cooperating with the adjacent guide bars of the surrounding section. The guide bars cooperate with the rollers in a generally circumferential direction rather than radially of the tubular members. Mounting plugs held in apertures of the telescopic sections by an interference fit locate the guide bars and rollers and provide mounting surfaces therefor. The plugs are initially insertable into the apertures with a clearance fit, when an appropriate temperature differential is established between the plugs and sections.

Abstract: A method for making a glass-to-metal seal. A domed metal enclosure having a machined seal ring is fitted to a glass post machined to a slight taper and to a desired surface finish. The metal part is then heated by induction in a vacuum. As the metal part heats and expands relative to the glass post, the metal seal ring, possessing a higher coefficient of expansion than the glass post, slides down the tapered post. Upon cooling, the seal ring crushes against the glass post forming the seal. The method results in a glass-to-metal seal possessing extremely good leak resistance, while the parts are kept clean and free of contaminants.