The invention provides a pneumatic conveying system having a series of supply lines with at least portions of the lines being wear resistant to extend the useful lifespan of an agricultural product delivery applicator. The wear resistant supply line(s) may be made from a hard material and have a curve(s) defined by angled or mitered segments that are welded or otherwise joined to collectively provide the curve(s) The wear resistant supply lines may be at least partially reinforced by way of, for example, welded or other build up wear resistant material(s) at high wear zones of the supply lines.

A tube assembly includes at least first and second tubes configured for coupling at respective ends. The first and second tubes each include a base material, and a weld interface at the respective end. The weld interface is proximate to an inner diameter and an outer diameter of the first and second tubes, and includes a weld interface segment extending therebetween. A work hardened weld assembly couples the base material of each of the first and second tubes. The work hardened weld assembly includes a weld fusion zone between the weld interfaces of the first and second tubes and the weld interface segments of the first and second tubes. The weld fusion zone is work hardened and at least the weld interface segments of the first and second tubes are work hardened between the work hardened weld fusion zone and the base material of the first and second tubes.

A suspension arm includes a ball stud including a spherical ball; a bearing in which the spherical ball is accommodated; a housing having an inner peripheral portion and an outer peripheral portion; an arm body coupled to the outer peripheral portion of the housing; and an insert molding part which is injected to a lower portion of the bearing and the outer peripheral portion of the housing to be coupled to the bearing, the housing, and the arm body. The housing includes a matching portion having a matching surface formed to protrude in a radially outward direction from an upper portion of the outer peripheral portion and to be brought into contact with a mold. By forming the matching portion, it is possible to reduce the volume of the housing and to reduce the weight of the suspension arm while providing the matching surface with the mold.

An automated system for manipulating a workpiece includes a machining device, a locating device configured to determine a position of a workpiece, and a positioning system operatively connected to the machining device and being configured to adjust a position of the machining device to align a centerline of the machining device with a longitudinal axis of the workpiece, based upon the determined position of the workpiece. The machining device includes a stabilizing mechanism to engage the workpiece to maintain the workpiece in the determined position, and a cutting element for performing a machining operation on the workpiece.

An automated system for manipulating a workpiece includes a machining device, a locating device configured to determine a position of a workpiece, and a positioning system operatively connected to the machining device and being configured to adjust a position of the machining device to align a centerline of the machining device with a longitudinal axis of the workpiece, based upon the determined position of the workpiece. The machining device includes a stabilizing mechanism to engage the workpiece to maintain the workpiece in the determined position, and a cutting element for performing a machining operation on the workpiece.

A robotic welding system comprises a supporting arm for attaching to a repositionable support structure, the supporting arm comprising a first mounting portion connectable to the repositionable support structure, and a second mounting portion rotatably coupled to the first mounting portion. A yaw rotary actuator rotates the second mounting portion about a yaw axis. A welding arm comprises a third mounting portion rotatably coupled to the second mounting portion of the supporting arm. A pitch rotary actuator rotates the third mounting portion about a pitch axis generally perpendicular to the yaw axis. A roll rotary actuator rotates a torch holder shaft about a roll axis generally perpendicular to the pitch axis. The shaft has a torch mounting portion for mounting a welding torch at an end thereof. A controller is operably coupled to the actuators to cause the welding torch to execute a welding pattern.

A method of preparing a pipe-section for welding to another pipe-section to form a pipeline comprising a plurality of said pipe-sections, the method comprising at least the steps of: (i) providing a pipe-section having first and second pipe-ends; (ii) defining a first portion L1 of the longitudinal length of the pipe-section from the first pipe-end being in the range 3% to 40% of the overall length of the pipe-section; (iii) defining a second portion L2 of the longitudinal length of the pipe-section from the end of the first portion L1 towards the second pipe-end; (iv) heating at least the first portion L1 to at least a first temperature T1 of at least 500 C. for at least 2 minutes; (v) maintaining a second temperature T2 of the second portion L2 during step (iv) below the first temperature T1. The invention is able to reduce the strain capacity during reel-laying of a pipeline formed from a plurality of pipe sections formed by the invention.

A vibration drive device that suppresses an increase in the number of component parts and can be easily downsized. Vibration is excited in a vibration element in pressure contact with a driven element to thereby rotationally move the driven element relative to the vibration element. A bearing rotatably supports the driven element. A first and a second bearing portions are joined to the driven element. The second and a third bearing portions are pressed against each other via rolling elements in a direction along the axis of the bearing. The rolling elements are brought into pressure contact with the first raceway surface of the first bearing portion, the second raceway surface of the second bearing portion, and the third raceway surface of the third bearing portion. One of the second and third bearing portions is integrally formed with the driven element from the same material.

A vibration drive device that suppresses an increase in the number of component parts and can be easily downsized. Vibration is excited in a vibration element in pressure contact with a driven element to thereby rotationally move the driven element relative to the vibration element. A bearing rotatably supports the driven element. A first and a second bearing portions are joined to the driven element. The second and a third bearing portions are pressed against each other via rolling elements in a direction along the axis of the bearing. The rolling elements are brought into pressure contact with the first raceway surface of the first bearing portion, the second raceway surface of the second bearing portion, and the third raceway surface of the third bearing portion. One of the second and third bearing portions is integrally formed with the driven element from the same material.

A technique for sensing a weld seam geometry of a plastic butt weld seam, preferably plastic pipes, including: manual positioning of an optical sensor in relation to a butt weld seam between pipeline components, preferably plastic pipes, wherein the sensor is aligned approximately perpendicularly to the pipe centre axis, automatic approaching of the sensor of measurement positions along or around a sensor axis, acquiring the visible weld seam geometry and/or the data by means of the sensor in each approached measurement position, determining the optimum measurement position by way of the acquired data, preferably by means of an algorithm, automatic approaching of the sensor of the optimum measurement position along or around the sensor axis, acquiring the weld seam geometry to determine the quality of the weld seam, analyzing and judging the measurement of the acquired weld seam geometry at the optimized measurement position.