Billets and methods for manufacturing them are disclosed. The billets include a cladding member including an alloy selected from the group including stainless steel, nickel-chrome, nickel-copper, and copper-nickel alloys, and a steel body that is positioned so that it has an interface with the cladding member, the steel body having a formation in which the scavenging metal is located and elements being provided for separating the scavenging metal from the cladding member at the interface.

A loader and method for loading a transcatheter heart valve into a delivery sheath or catheter is described that is also configured to facilitate retrieval of the heart valve back through the delivery sheath while protecting the delivery sheath from damage. Another loader provides for easier crimping and loading of a THV into a delivery sheath or catheter from a storage jar or container. A method for crimping a THV facilitates easier end user preparation of the valve for implantation and reduces the likelihood of tissue deformation in the valve during storage. These devices and methods for deploying THVs simplify the valve replacement procedure.

A spacer formation cell usable in configuration of a window assembly, wherein the cell includes a plurality of stages through which a spacer work piece is routed, and the stages include a holding stage, a cutting stage, a bending stage, and a connecting stage. The stages can be arranged in interlinked configuration, enabling spacers to be fabricated in a direct and time-efficient manner. The stages can be interlinked to form a framework, forming an exterior enclosure for the stages of the cell, and enabling at least of the majority of the cell's operations to be readily overseen by an operator from single vantage points around the cell. The configuration of the formation cell enables a wide variety of spacer types and/or sizes to be readily processed, with such processing to be readily alternated.

Method and apparatus for an improved cam lock fitting having cooperating 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 a fork shaped 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 thereinbetween.

A crimp tool includes a frame, a lead screw and a nut assembly connected to the lead screw. A spring member is connected to the frame and movable with rotation of the lead screw. A first transducer is connected to the nut assembly to measure a first force applied on the nut assembly. A second transducer is connected to the spring member to measure a second force applied thereon by the spring member.

A spherical decoupler conduit for connecting misaligned components, and a method for making the same, where the spherical decoupler includes an inlet connection with a first spherical portion; an outer slider with a second spherical portion for pivotably mating with the first spherical portion and a tubular portion; an inner slider having a tubular portion in a telescoping relationship with the tubular portion of the outer slider and a third spherical portion; and an outlet connection with a fourth spherical portion for pivotably mating with the third spherical portion.

A method for forming a conduit with a radial flange for forming part of a beaded coupling by: positioning a conduit blank in a forming die, wherein the forming die defines a radially extending recess; inserting a forming post in the conduit blank to define an annular space therebetween; inserting a flexible material in the annular space between the post and the conduit; placing a sleeve in a bearing relationship with the flexible material; compressing the flexible material between the post and the sleeve to force the flexible material against the conduit to expand the conduit outward into engagement with the radially extending recess in the forming die to form an annular flange; and releasing compression on the flexible material.

Methods and apparatus for evaluating characteristics of components of a mechanically attached connection are disclosed. Characteristics that may be evaluated include, but are not limited to, the position of a conduit gripping device on a conduit, an amount of axial compression or stroke of the conduit gripping device, and an amount of clamping force applied to the conduit gripping device as the conduit gripping device is axially compressed or stroked.

A hydraulic accumulator, comprising a base body (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f, 2g, 2h, 2i) having a first component (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g, 3h, 3i) and a second component (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f, 4g, 4h, 4i) which are connected to one another by a form fit and/or a material join, is, with the aim of specifying a hydraulic accumulator which, after fabrication without difficulty, exhibits a very reliable seal, a high level of strength, an as far as possible undamaged surface and an as far as possible rotationally symmetrical design in the joining region of the components, characterized in that at least one component (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g, 3h, 3i, 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f, 4g, 4h, 4i) is deformed by a contactless shaping method in such a way that it enters into the form fit and/or material join with the other component (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g, 3h, 3i, 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f, 4g, 4h, 4i).

A press tool for joining workpieces by forming, has at least two pressing jaws that can be moved relative to one another, with which pressing jaws the workpieces to be joined can be encompassed, at least partially, and which form a matrix for at least one of the workpieces to be joined, and has a closing point formed by mutually dedicated end faces of two of the pressing jaws. In an area adjacent to at least one of the end faces of the closing point, the surface of the associated pressing jaw may be retracted by an offset.