Abstract: One end of an electrode wire is doubled back at least once forming a teardrop shaped loop around a connector with the terminal end of the wire placed adjacent the wire inwardly of the connector. A rounded conductive mass encapsules said terminal end and the wire. This mass suppresses the field generated at the terminal end of the wire, provides mass dampening inwardly of the connector and distributes the load over both sides of said teardrop shaped loop. A converging restraining means may be disposed over and in contact with both sides of said loop intermediate said mass and said connector thereby providing additional dampening and an ultimate limit on loop movement. The connector has a circular groove within which the base portion of the loop is tightly accommodated by crimping the connector thereover. Preferably, the connector should be constructed from a metal having a substantially lower modulus of elasticity than the wire to preserve the cross-sectional stress area of the wire in so crimping.

Abstract: A multi-step glass forming machine having a plurality of mechanically actuated valves adapted to initiate the various steps in the operation of the machine is disclosed herein and includes an electronically controlled valve block assembly for mechanically actuating the aforestated valves. The valve block assembly includes a plurality of piston and cylinder arrangements, the pistons of which are pneumatically movable from a retracted position to an extended position for actuating respective ones of the valves. In this regard, the pistons are moved to their respective extended positions in response to the energization of an associated electrically actuated control valve and by a common pressurized air supply which is preferably independent of the glass forming machine.