A tool for repair and maintenance of a rail extending about the perimeter of a bed, the rail separated from the bed by a predetermined distance. The tool comprises a shaft with first and second sides. The first side has a curved surface, and the shaft has a cross-section normal to the curved surface with a maximum width that is less than the predetermined distance. A flange extends from the second side, the combined shaft and flange having a cross-section normal to the curved surface with a maximum width that is at least the predetermined distance.

A tool for reforming printed circuit board backplane connector pins on a rod control system. The pin reforming tool of this invention is aligned into a card cage using existing card guides and locates itself around the backplane connector. The tool uses a uniquely designed die (that can be set up for one or multiple pin applications) that precisely engages into the connector and around the pin or pins to be reformed, with the assistance of a zig zag alignment guide matched specifically for the pin spacing. A consistent reforming force is applied via a force applicator structured to provide a force of a preselected magnitude.

A tool for reforming printed circuit board backplane connector pins on a rod control system. The pin reforming tool of this invention is aligned into a card cage using existing card guides and locates itself around the backplane connector. The tool uses a uniquely designed die (that can be set up for one or multiple pin applications) that precisely engages into the connector and around the pin or pins to be reformed, with the assistance of a zig zag alignment guide matched specifically for the pin spacing. A consistent reforming force is applied via a force applicator structured to provide a force of a preselected magnitude.

A bending device for forming a corrugation in a metal sheet, the bending device having a frame, a die having two die elements, each having a concave half-impression, mounted able to slide on the frame; a punch having a head able to engage inside the impression of the die so as to press the metal sheet; and two side clamps mounted sliding and able to move vertically with respect to the lower frame so as to clamp the metal sheet against the bearing surfaces of the die elements. During the displacement of the punch into its bending position, the metal sheet transmits a traction force to the die elements and to the side clamps so as to displace them into their near position.

A bending device for forming a corrugation in a metal sheet, the bending device having a frame, a die having two die elements, each having a concave half-impression, mounted able to slide on the frame; a punch having a head able to engage inside the impression of the die so as to press the metal sheet; and two side clamps mounted sliding and able to move vertically with respect to the lower frame so as to clamp the metal sheet against the bearing surfaces of the die elements. During the displacement of the punch into its bending position, the metal sheet transmits a traction force to the die elements and to the side clamps so as to displace them into their near position.

An automated method for straightening/correcting deformations made to panels when welded to metallic structural components is disclosed. In the train industry, when an aluminum component, such as a vehicle's exterior shell, is welded to hidden structural parts, deformations thereon may occur. Such deformations need to be subsequently corrected, and the present method uses robots and optical measuring of the deformed surfaces to conduct a straightening thereof. The method includes four main steps. First, the deformed surface is scanned with an optical sensor to make physical measures/characterizations thereof. Second, the gathered data are compared with the desired resultant by a software. Third, once the comparison is done, the software performs an analysis to select the proper parameters to be used in the straightening method that will be applied at each area requiring straightening. Finally, a robot executes the operations specified by the software to perform the straightening process.

A system configured to automatically straighten a drill bit to within acceptable specifications is described herein. The drill bit straightening system described herein may include a drill bit holding assembly configured to hold a drill bit, one or more sensors configured to measure edge eccentricity of a shaft associated with the drill bit, a control unit configured to automatically control a straightening operation of the drill bit straightening system, and a drill bit pressing arm configured to straighten the drill bit by applying a force calculated based on one or more predictive models. The control unit may be configured to calculate force(s) to be applied to the drill bit using one or more predictive models.

A tool for repair and maintenance of a rail extending about the perimeter of a bed, the rail separated from the bed by a predetermined distance. The tool comprises a shaft with first and second sides. The first side has a curved surface, and the shaft has a cross-section normal to the curved surface with a maximum width that is less than the predetermined distance. A flange extends from the second side, the combined shaft and flange having a cross-section normal to the curved surface with a maximum width that is at least the predetermined distance.

A tool for repair and maintenance of a rail extending about the perimeter of a bed, the rail separated from the bed by a predetermined distance. The tool comprises a shaft with first and second sides. The first side has a curved surface, and the shaft has a cross-section normal to the curved surface with a maximum width that is less than the predetermined distance. A flange extends from the second side, the combined shaft and flange having a cross-section normal to the curved surface with a maximum width that is at least the predetermined distance.

A structured three-phase composite which include a metal phase, a ceramic phase, and a gas phase that are arranged to create a composite having low thermal conductivity, having controlled stiffness, and a CTE to reduce thermal stresses in the composite when exposed to cyclic thermal loads. The structured three-phase composite is useful for use in structures such as, but not limited to, heat shields, cryotanks, high speed engine ducts, exhaust-impinged structures, and high speed and reentry aeroshells.