One steering column assembly includes a jacket, a bearing, and a steering spindle rotatably supported by the bearing and at least partially extending inside the jacket. The spindle includes a hollow outer tube and a hollow inner tube. The outer tube has lengthening and attachment sections, and the attachment section has transition and connection portions. The lengthening section adjoins the attachment section at an end of the transition portion, and the transition portion is between the lengthening section and the connection portion. The lengthening section has first and second portions, with the second portion being between the first and transition portions, and the outer tube terminates at an end of the connection portion. The inner tube is press-fit into the outer tube, and an end of the inner tube is adjacent the transition portion end. The inner tube does not extend into either the attachment section or the first portion.

An apparatus for forming a nacelle leading edge includes an actuation assembly, a punch, and a die. The punch is in communication with the actuation assembly and annularly disposed about a first axis. The punch is configured to mate with an interior surface of a preform. The die is in communication with the actuation assembly and disposed within the first axis. The die is configured to retain an exterior surface of the preform. The actuation assembly is configured to effect relative motion between the punch and the preform. The actuation assembly is configured to offset the punch so that the punch is annularly disposed about a second axis, different than the first axis.

An apparatus for forming a nacelle leading edge includes an actuation assembly, a punch, and a die. The punch is in communication with the actuation assembly and annularly disposed about a first axis. The punch is configured to mate with an interior surface of a preform. The die is in communication with the actuation assembly and disposed within the first axis. The die is configured to retain an exterior surface of the preform. The actuation assembly is configured to effect relative motion between the punch and the preform. The actuation assembly is configured to offset the punch so that the punch is annularly disposed about a second axis, different than the first axis.

A radial compression mechanism utilizes a string wrapped around a plurality of compression dies to move the dies inward and close a central cylindrical cavity defined by the working surfaces of the dies. The string may be coupled to a string tension mechanism that enables a user to applied a desired tension to the string and thereby compress an article within the central cylindrical cavity. The compression dies may be coupled to a base and move along die-guiding slots from an open position to a closed position. A spring may be configured to force the compression dies open and provide some back-tension to the string. The string may extend around a pully on an opposing side of the compression mechanism and both ends of the string may be coupled to the string tension mechanism.

Techniques for implementing and/or operating a system that includes a pipe fitting to be secured to a pipe segment, in which the pipe fitting includes a grab ring having a grab notch and a fitting jacket to be conformally deformed around tubing of the pipe segment to facilitate securing the pipe fitting to the pipe segment. The system includes a swage machine, which includes a grab plate having a grab tab that matingly interlocks with the grab notch to facilitate securing the pipe fitting to the swage machine, a die plate including a die that opens away from the grab plate, and a swaging actuator secured to the die plate. The swage machine operates the swaging actuator to move the die plate over the fitting jacket in an outwardly axial direction away from the grab plate to facilitate conformally deforming the fitting jacket around the tubing of the pipe segment.

Techniques for implementing and/or operating a system that includes a pipe fitting to be secured to a pipe segment, in which the pipe fitting includes a grab ring having a grab notch and a fitting jacket to be conformally deformed around tubing of the pipe segment to facilitate securing the pipe fitting to the pipe segment. Additionally, the system includes a swage machine, which includes a grab plate having a grab tab that matingly interlocks with the grab notch on the grab ring to facilitate securing the pipe fitting to the swage machine, a die plate in which a die is loaded, and a swaging actuator secured to the die plate. The swage machine operates the swaging actuator to push the die plate over the fitting jacket of the pipe fitting to facilitate conformally deforming the fitting jacket around the tubing of the pipe segment via a forward stroke.

Techniques for implementing and/or operating a system that includes a pipe fitting and a swage machine. The swage machine includes a grab plate having a grab tab that matingly interlocks with a grab notch on the pipe fitting to facilitate securing the swage machine to the pipe fitting and a die plate having a die seat that enables a set of die segments to be used to conformally deform the pipe fitting around the tubing of the pipe segment to be loaded in the swage machine. The die plate and the grab plate include a base plate section, a hinge plate secured to the base plate section via a hinge fastener such that the hinge plate directly abuts the base plate section, and a pivotable plate section secured to the hinge plate via a hinge fastener such that the hinge plate directly abuts the pivotable plate section.

Techniques for implementing and/or operating a system that includes a swage machine and a pipe fitting to be secured to a pipe segment. The pipe fitting includes a fitting jacket to be conformally deformed around tubing of the pipe segment. The swage machine includes a grab plate that interlocks with the pipe fitting; a die seat implemented in a die plate of the swage machine; a die set loaded in the die seat, in which the die set is to be passed over the fitting jacket of the pipe fitting to facilitate conformally deforming the fitting jacket; another die seat implemented farther from the grab plate than the die seat; and another die set loaded in the other die seat, in which the other die set is to be passed over the fitting jacket of the pipe fitting to facilitate conformally deforming the fitting jacket.

Techniques for implementing and/or operating a system that includes a swage machine and a pipe fitting to be secured to a pipe segment. The pipe fitting includes a fitting jacket to be conformally deformed around tubing of the pipe segment. The swage machine includes a grab plate that interlocks with the pipe fitting; a die seat implemented in a die plate of the swage machine; a die set loaded in the die seat, in which the die set is to be passed over the fitting jacket of the pipe fitting to facilitate conformally deforming the fitting jacket; another die seat implemented farther from the grab plate than the die seat; and another die set loaded in the other die seat, in which the other die set is to be passed over the fitting jacket of the pipe fitting to facilitate conformally deforming the fitting jacket.

A method and apparatus for an improved rotatable safety cam lock fitting having ergonomically designed double cam levers having outer and inner portions so that when the outer cam levers are opened and the inner cam lever remain closed, the male and female portions of the cam lock fitting only slightly separate from each other allowing the operator to quickly reclose the cam lock fitting if the operator observes that the cam lock fitting still contains pressurized material. This is accomplished by providing a larger cam lobe on the outer cam lever and a smaller cam lobe on the inner cam lever so that when the smaller cam lobe is in a closed position and protrudes into a peripheral groove on the male portion the male and female ends have a small space therein between. Various configurations of the cam portions relative to each other are provided. Various lever locking assemblies may be used to prevent the cam levers from being inadvertently opened.