Caterpillar Tractor Co.

Donald P Diemer

Gerald P Simmons

Charles R Miller

Joseph C Hafele

Robert H Hawkins

Martin C Gunton

Gearing is normally used to obtain reverse operation from an output turbine. An improvement is provided herein in a torque converter (10) which comprises a stator (12), an impeller (14) and an output turbine (16). The improvement comprises a plurality of self-cambering blades (42) carried by the output turbine (16) with the angle at which fluid impelled by the impeller (14) attacks the self-cambering blades (42) being adjusted to select the direction of rotation of the output turbine (16). In this manner, the output shaft (36), which is driven by the output turbine (16), can be rotated in either a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction thereby driving a vehicle or other machinery in either a forward or reverse direction without the necessity for gearing.

Torque converter with internally reversible turbine shaft

A laser system includes a nozzle assembly for use in directing a shielding gas around a laser beam and thereby protecting the point of focus from contamination by the atmosphere as is useful in welding and cutting applications. The nozzle includes a manifold section for admitting a shielding gas such as inert gas through a diffuser formed therein which exits from an outlet aperture through a nozzle tip section. The geometry of the nozzle is such that a certain amount of the shielding gas is flowed backward through an inlet aperture in the manifold section and thence into a housing container reflecting mirrors for directing and focusing the laser beam through the nozzle assembly. The remaining shielding gas, which is the bulk of the gas admitted, passes out through the outlet aperture in column fashion around the laser beam. By producing a back flow of shielding gas, aspiration of air through the housing and onto the workpiece is avoided. In addition, the necessity of having alternative means for preventing such aspiration in the form of windows or lenses closing off access to the housing is also prevented. The nozzle assembly is in two parts to facilitate interchanging of nozzle tips with the manifold, thereby providing a range of outlet opening sizes.

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Peoria, IL, United States of America

Donald P Diemer