In one aspect, a fan assembly is provided that can be manufactured while producing a significantly reduced amount of scrap material. More specifically, the fan assembly utilizes a hub ring and one or more hub strips to support a plurality of blades rather than a solid center disc or end disc used by some prior approaches. In another aspect, a method is provided that includes bending a member into an annular configuration and joining end portions of the member together to rigidly fix the member in the annular configuration. The rigid annular member may be used as an end ring, a hub ring, an orifice, or other component, while producing significantly less scrap material than traditional approaches.

A tube fitting for sealing an end of a tube uses a notch formed in the exterior surface of the tube as a sealing seat. An internally threaded body is configured to receive an externally threaded end of a nut, while the body and the nut are mounted in a surrounding relationship to the tube end. A ferrule mounted between the nut and the tube is forced to plastically deform and move into the notch to thereby seal the tube end.

A fastener for improved electrical contact with a composite structure and improved distribution of electric current to the composite structure. The fastener includes an elongated shaft having a first end with a head portion, a second end with a threaded portion, and a shaft body therebetween. At least one feed channel extends from an opening at the threaded portion, through the shaft body, and terminates proximal to the head portion. The shaft body radially expands upon pressure injection of a resin filler into the feed channel, when the fastener is installed in a corresponding fastener hole formed in the composite structure. Upon radially expanding, the outer surface of the shaft body makes contact with an inner hole surface of the corresponding fastener hole, resulting in the fastener providing electrical contact with the composite structure and providing distribution of electric current.

An improved fastener comprising a fastener body orientated about a central axis and having a tool-engaging portion, a threaded fastening portion and a shroud-receiving portion having an inwardly facing annular groove orientated transverse to the central axis; a shroud concentrically mounted on the shroud-receiving portion to rotate relative to the fastener body under an applied external torque and having an axially-buckled radially-extending annular protrusion extending outwardly transverse to the central axis and disposed in the inwardly facing annular groove of the shroud-receiving portion of the body; the axially-buckled radially-extending annular protrusion of the shroud and the annular groove of the shroud-receiving portion of the body forming a shroud-retaining element restraining the shroud from movement in at least a first axial direction along the central axis.

A vessel for cooking food on induction or conventional surfaces, including a shaped body defining a surface that delimits a volume for containing a food, and a metal element, preferably ferromagnetic, arranged on the bottom of the vessel, the bottom having a plurality of first surfaces which define a support surface and a plurality of second surfaces recessed with respect to the support surface, the first and the second surfaces being interconnected by third surfaces tilted with respect to the support surface or perpendicular thereto, the ferritic plate/disc element having a plurality of holes filled with material constituting the body for the mutual fixing of the body to the plate/disc; at least one part of the holes is provided on at least one part of the third surfaces tilted with respect to the support surface.

A method including bending an elongate portion of a flat strip of metallic material into a ring about an axis extending parallel to a thickness of the elongate portion of the strip of metallic material. The method includes fixing end portions of the ring together to form a flat ring, the flat ring having opposite flat side surfaces, a radially inner surface, a radially outer surface, a pair of radially inner edges, and a pair of radially outer edges, wherein the pair of radially inner edges connect the radially inner surface and the opposite flat side surfaces and the pair of radially outer edges connect the radially outer surface and the opposite flat side surfaces. The method includes connecting a plurality of curved blades to the flat ring and connecting a hub support to the curved blades at a position spaced from the flat ring along the curved blades.

In one aspect, a fan assembly is provided that can be manufactured while producing a significantly reduced amount of scrap material. More specifically, the fan assembly utilizes a hub ring and one or more hub strips to support a plurality of blades rather than a solid center disc or end disc used by some prior approaches. In another aspect, a method is provided that includes bending a member into an annular configuration and joining end portions of the member together to rigidly fix the member in the annular configuration. The rigid annular member may be used as an end ring, a hub ring, an orifice, or other component, while producing significantly less scrap material than traditional approaches.

An improved fastener comprising a fastener body orientated about a central axis and having a tool-engaging portion, a threaded fastening portion and a shroud-receiving portion; a shroud concentrically mounted in the shroud-receiving portion to rotate relative to the fastener body under an applied external torque and having an outwardly extending annular shoulder; the shroud-receiving portion comprising an inwardly deformed stop radially overlapping the outwardly extending annular shoulder of the shroud; and the deformed stop of the shroud-receiving portion and the annular shoulder of the shroud forming a shroud-retaining element restraining the shroud from movement in at least a first axial direction along the central axis.

A bumper spring assembly having a one piece mandrel including an integral head piece is further configured with a cage assembly retained on the mandrel with a cage nut locked to the mandrel to obviate the need for pins, set screws, and the like, to provide a more robust assembly. In two embodiments the cage nut is locked to the mandrel in a swaging operation. Improved flow of fluids through and around the bumper spring assembly are also provided.

A bumper spring assembly having a one piece mandrel including an integral head piece is further configured with a cage assembly retained on the mandrel with a cage nut locked to the mandrel to obviate the need for pins, set screws, and the like, to provide a more robust assembly. In two embodiments the cage nut is locked to the mandrel in a swaging operation. Improved flow of fluids through and around the bumper spring assembly are also provided.