Did You Know...
...that several people are credited with the invention of the flush toilet? Most people have heard of Thomas Crapper (1837-1910), the sanitary engineer who invented the valve-and-siphon arrangement that made the modern toilet possible. Another claimant to "the throne" was British inventor Alexander Cumming who patented a toilet in 1775. Then there's a nameless Minoan (a native of ancient Crete) who lived 4,000 years ago who supposedly was ahead of his time and created the first flush toilet!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7340935 | Equipment for producing corrugate fin The equipment for producing a corrugate fin is capable of forming corrugated sections by one closing action. The equipment comprises: a plurality of punches respectively having projections, each of which is upwardly projected from an upper face of the punch and has ... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7237427 | Pressing tool for the pressing-together of workpieces A pressing tool includes at least two pressing jaws hinged together to enclose a workpiece having an inserted pipe end. The pressing tool also includes an opening area located between the at least two pressing jaws and at least one hinge pin arranged opposite the op... | 07/03/2007 |
| 7159832 | Surgical table top and accessory clamp used thereon A medical accessory clamping system includes a table and an accessory clamp. The table has an upper surface and a lower surface, a first ridge positioned on the upper surface and a second ridge positioned on the lower surface of the table. The accessory clamp has a ... | 01/09/2007 |
| 7143625 | Stent crimper An apparatus for reducing the size of a medical device, the apparatus including at least one independently operable discrete section which can reduce the diameter of the medical device, the independently operable discrete section including a plurality of coupled mov... | 12/05/2006 |
| 7065856 | Machine tool method A machine tool apparatus is provided employing a plurality of tool heads which may be sequentially or simultaneously automatically controlled to perform preprogrammed operations on either the same or different workpieces. In one form, a plurality of tool heads are s... | 06/27/2006 |
| 7021114 | Stent crimper An apparatus for applying an inward force to a medical device may include at least two independently operable sections. Each section may include a plurality of movable blades arranged to form an aperture or chamber whose size may be varied. Each blade may be pivotal... | 04/04/2006 |
| 6923261 | Apparatus and method for expanding a tubular A method of isolating a section of downhole tubing comprises: running a length of expandable tubing (20) into a tubing-lined borehole (12, 14) and positioning the expandable tubing (20) across a section of tubing to be isolated; deforming at lea... | 08/02/2005 |
| 6877350 | Hub member and shaft journal assembly and method A production method involving forming an inner joint part of a constant velocity universal ball joint in the form of a hub member (11) which comprises a central through-aperture (14) with inner toothing (16) for receiving a shaft journal (12 | 04/12/2005 |
| 6167740 | Method and apparatus for forming bends in a selected sequence The present invention relates generally to bending a workpiece to form a desired configuration and, in particular, to a method and apparatus for forming bends "out of sequence," i.e., in a time sequence different from the spatial sequence of the bends on ... | 01/02/2001 |
| 6119501 | Method of deforming an initial pipe having a circular cross-section into a U-shaped section and device for carrying out the method A method of deforming an initial pipe having a circular cross-section into an U-shaped section and a device for carrying out the method wherein the inner surface of one half of the initial pipe rests in a positively engaging manner against the inner surfa... | 09/19/2000 |
| 6044684 | Forging apparatus for inner race of constant velocity universal joint A plurality of grooves, which are defined in a reinforcing ring, comprise respective end walls which are formed as inclined surfaces. The grooves further comprise walls on which engaging projections are disposed in parallel to the inclined surfaces respec... | 04/04/2000 |
| 6035521 | Multi-directional crimp plate A crimping apparatus for crimping a workpiece such as a terminal or eyelet around a core such as a wire or a fiber optic cable. The apparatus includes upper and lower identical plates supported for opposing reciprocal motion on respective upper and lower ... | 03/14/2000 |
| 5644944 | Pressing instrument for pressing on bushings, cable lug presses, or similar items A pressing instrument for pressing bushings, cable lugs, or similar items upon a work piece reveals two tools that can be brought together with the help of a drive mechanism, forming a pressing chamber, with each tool revealing two opposite pressing cheek... | 07/08/1997 |
| 5462543 | Apparatus for attaching surgical suture components The present invention relates to an apparatus for attaching surgical sutures to eyeless surgical needles. The apparatus includes a frame for positioning and maintaining the needle while the suture is being attached and a rotating die system which selectiv... | 10/31/1995 |
| 5411521 | Medical suturing device, a single-strike die mechanism, and a method of using said die mechanism for forming the medical suturing device A single-strike die mechanism includes a rotatable cam drive ring driven to impart through a cam mechanism linear motion to at least three crimping dies. The crimping dies are symmetrically arranged within a die guide and simultaneously actuated to move i... | 05/02/1995 |
| 5410903 | Clamp gun crimp head A crimp head for crimping a clamp has a pair of jaws for plastically deforming the clamp in a first direction and a plunger for plastically deforming the clamp in a second direction. The plastic deformation in the first direction reduces the circumference... | 05/02/1995 |
| 5350373 | Apparatus for attaching surgical suture components The present invention relates to an apparatus for attaching surgical sutures to eyeless surgical needles. The apparatus includes a frame for positioning and maintaining the needle while the suture is being attached and a rotating die system which selectiv... | 09/27/1994 |
| 5150599 | Treatment of metal slabs A pressing machine for reducing the width of a hot metal slab has a pair of platens which are caused to engage with opposite edges of the slab to apply forces which reduce the width of the slab. This pressing action may cause buckling of the slab and to p... | 09/29/1992 |
| 4942756 | Multi-jaw forming press especially suited for details of variable sections The invention solves the problem of working the details of complicated forms and of direct extrusion of material. A press is provided with movable, profiled jaws, a rigid system of guides for the jaws, and, connectors embedded in the jaws and coupled to a... | 07/24/1990 |
| 4848131 | Crimping apparatus A crimping apparatus has, at each crimp location, a pair of opposing crimping jaws, which, when driven closed, crimp a pin located between the jaws. The jaws are driven open and closed by a sliding drive member having two grooves therein, one on each side... | 07/18/1989 |
| 4813262 | Method for forming loop-shaped starting pieces such as metallic binding bands into prescribed final shapes A method and apparatus are disclosed for reforming the initial shape of an approximately loop-shaped starting piece into a final prescribed loop-shape. A plurality of elongated materials such as wire rods are arranged in parallel at prescribed intervals t... | 03/21/1989 |
| 4745793 | Hydraulically driven forging machine A hydraulically driven forging machine with four radially arranged working cylinders has piston pumps disposed as individual pumps about the forging machine with all pump-end pipe connections located on the horizontal center plane of the forging machine, ... | 05/24/1988 |
| 4716756 | Clutch drum A press-formed clutch drum of an automatic transmission of which inner and outer cylindrical surfaces are respectively formed with a first series of splines and a second series of inverted splines. The first and second series of splines are alternatively ... | 01/05/1988 |
| 4708009 | Bending device for the production of formed parts consisting of wire or strip sections The apparatus of this invention, for bending wire and metal strip, comprises a stationary working plate, a drive shaft rotatable in bearings spaced along its length and fixed relative to the working plate, and a tool guide unit confined to adjustment rela... | 11/24/1987 |
| 4667500 | Flaring device for pipe ends A flaring device for pipe ends including an insert member centrally insertable into a pipe end, the insert member having mounted thereon synchronously operable pressure plungers arranged at the outer circumference thereof and bringable into engagement wit... | 05/26/1987 |
| 4602495 | Device and method for removing irregularities in or enlarging an underground duct A device for removing irregularities in or enlarging a buried duct comprises a cylindrical housing (10) corresponding approximately in diameter to the required diameter of the duct, a plurality of tapered leaf members (14) pivotally attached at their rear... | 07/29/1986 |
| 4583389 | Method for removing certain of the corrugations in a helically corrugated pipe Corrugations are removed from the end of a helically corrugated pipe by compressing the end of the pipe between a plurality of radially movable die segments. By choosing appropriately-shaped die segments and die-actuating cams, the end of the pipe can be ... | 04/22/1986 |
| 4583390 | Apparatus for squeezing off and rerounding pipe Apparatus for squeezing off pipe and then for rerounding the squeezed off pipe includes a frame having a fixed portion and a movable portion which utilize a pair of pins for squeezing off the pipe. A pair of rerounding fixtures are placed on the pins for ... | 04/22/1986 |
| 4576031 | Quick disconnect arbor and die head for tube stock sizing apparatus A quick disconnect arbor and die head for a tube stock sizing apparatus. A plurality of arbors and die heads are slidably mounted to a tube stock sizing apparatus and are respectively urged into engagement with the inwardly facing and outwardly facing sur... | 03/18/1986 |
| 4515006 | Hose coupling crimper and method of crimping A hose coupling crimper and method of crimping in which a pair of die plate halves are hingedly mounted on a base plate for swinging movement toward and away from a closed position with the crimping segments surrounding an opening in the base plate in whi... | 05/07/1985 |
| 4488423 | Straightening machine A machine for straightening an elongated workpiece has a plurality of coacting tools which include first and second sets of tools arranged in alternate series along a fixed longitudinal axis to engage successive longitudinally spaced portions of a workpie... | 12/18/1984 |
| 4445357 | Pipe press A pipe press having a main press section and at least one end press section aligned with the main section for movement with and independently of the main section. The press is designed to accommodate elongate heavy gauge steel pipe blanks having lengths v... | 05/01/1984 |
| 4416142 | Apparatus for simultaneously forming a cap member with internal threads An apparatus and process is disclosed for forming a cap-like member from a blank of material. The apparatus comprises a die for shaping the cap-like member. A device is provided to co-act with the die for simultaneously forming both the member and interna... | 11/22/1983 |
| 4369558 | Outer race working method and apparatus therefor Herein disclosed are outer race working method and apparatus of the type, in which such a roughly shaped outer race workpiece of a Birfield type constant-velocity ball joint as is formed with a groove made axially straight at its portion above the joint c... | 01/25/1983 |
| 4367643 | Method and apparatus for cold forming metal articles having irregular cross-section A method and apparatus are provided for cold forming a metal article having varying lateral cross-sections. A hydraulically operated, longitudinally movable force applying member is adapted to apply force to a slug during formation. A die cavity is define... | 01/11/1983 |
| 4331017 | High reduction process and apparatus A method for the high reduction of metal during a forming operation includes placing the metal blank being formed under compression by applying pressure to its peripheral edge surfaces and simultaneously engaging it with a drawing horn. The apparatus empl... | 05/25/1982 |
| 4309891 | Double action, self-contained swages for joining two small tubes A double acting, self-contained small diameter (31/2 inch) combination hydraulic-mechanical swage is disclosed using an arcuate guide having sliding contact with pivotal arms over a majority of the length thereof, the arms being pivotable with identation ... | 01/12/1982 |
| 4304116 | Multi-part die assembly for forming a closed clip An improved multi-part die assembly for forming a closed clip comprises a mounting structure, punch means, first and second gate-die members and simultaneous driving means. The punch means reciprocates toward and away from a clip-forming station on the mo... | 12/08/1981 |
| 4253324 | Drill pipe reforming method and apparatus A method and apparatus is provided for reforming crushed or otherwise damaged drill pipe and the like. A plurality of expandable shoe elements are inserted into the large diameter portion of the drill pipe adjacent the crushed section. A ram or plunger is... | 03/03/1981 |
| 4220034 | Double action, self-contained swage Three methods for forming three different, double acting, self-contained swages for joining two small diameter tubes are disclosed. Likewise three double acting small diameter (31/2 inch) combination hydraulic-mechanical swages assembled by the methods ar... | 09/02/1980 |
