Abstract: A cartridge-carrier is disclosed for maintaining at least one filled and sealed, plastic container within at least two segments which are joined together to define a tubular cartridge having at least one container supporting plate therein for receiving a body of said at least one sealed container and thereafter closing at least the two segments for encompassing at least one container within a tubular cartridge which is then moved into a cylindrical carrier that enables the containers to be processed within a reel and spiral sterilization system.

Abstract: Composite armor comprising a corrugated metal spoiler plate in front of and spaced from high alumina ceramic tiles backed by an aluminum anvil.

Abstract: An asymmetrically arranged hydrofoil and propeller system is disclosed for improving the speed and lift of watercraft such as amphibious vehicles. When the vehicle is propelled through water by propellers, a downwash of water from the upper surface of the asymmetrically arranged hydrofoils is intercepted by upwardly moving propeller blades which improve the speed, lift and efficiency of the watercraft.

Abstract: A process is provided for sterlizing a web of packaging materials which is to be formed into containers for aseptic packaging. The process comprises contacting the web with aqueous solution of ozone and hydrogen peroxide and subsequently irradiating the surface with ultra-violet radiation.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method of conveying, queuing and transferring articles laterally in a direction different from the original direction of conveyance utilizing a cam means to harness the movement of an indexing conveyor system.

Abstract: A method for rapidly forming composites by rotating an alterable male mold to wrap a plurality of continuous and intermittent layers of uncured laminate around the male mold when in a closed position and allowing the male mold to be moved into a female mold and to thereafter sever all layers on the male mold into an open position which thereafter transfers the resin matrix composite to a female mold which shapes the composite in a desired configuration and thereafter heat cures the composite lay-up material while being subjected to a vacuum. A second embodiment of the invention uses a non-rotatable male mold.

Abstract: A common base for a plurality of fillers is disclosed for supporting a plurality of type of container fillers. A common drive system for the plurality of fillers is supported by a single plate, and drives a star wheel for moving containers below a plurality of filler valves for receiving a predetermined volume of flowable product. The power means rotates a plurality of selected types of filling valves, and means are provided for raising and lowering pistons in said cylinders for filling containers of variable sizes.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for rapidly laying up and curing thick complex shaped resin matrix composites connected to a rotatable and alterable male mold to wrap a plurality of continuous and intermittent layers of uncured laminate around the male mold when said mold is in a closed position; moving the male mold into a female mold and thereafter severing all layers on the male mold and articulate the male mold to an open position which shapes the upper regions of the composite and thereafter transferring the resin matrix composite to a female mold which shapes the composite in a desired configuration and thereafter heat cures the composite lay-up while being subjected to a vacuum. A second embodiment of the invention uses a non-rotatable male mold.

Abstract: A multi-drop container discharge system receives frangible containers from carriers of an articulating hydrostatic cooker and discharges the containers into carriers of an intermittently driven indexing conveyor. Free fall of the frangible containers is minimized by first delaying free-fall from the hydrostatic cooker carriers and thereafter preventing free-fall to the bottom of the truncated V-shaped carriers of an indexing conveyor.

Abstract: A batch sterilization system is disclosed having a plurality of retorts mounted on at least one indexable turret which sequentially and simultaneously indexes one retort with a loader for receiving containers to be sterilized, while a second retort with sterilized containers therein is indexed with an unloader for unloading. A second embodiment includes a pair of loader/unloaders for loading and unloading a first product in first retorts and a second product in the other retorts.

Abstract: A self-aligning quick connect coupling is disclosed for coupling two rods together having large diameter end portions with end surfaces in the form of spherical sectors. The coupling is formed in two halves threaded together and provides ample clearance for allowing the rods to be coupled together even though not axially aligned. The coupling halves are slotted to permit easy removal of the coupling halves from the rods when being uncoupled.

Abstract: A volume adjustment device for a filler is disclosed which simultaneously permits rough adjustment of a plurality of pistons within product cylinder and also permits fine volumetric tuning of each piston for precisely measuring predetermined volume of flowable product being discharged into containers or the like thus providing more accurate fill volumes and also minimizing fill volume differences between stations.

Abstract: A dual ammunition transfer mechanism includes a pair of ammunition round feed conveyors for selectively conveying the same size but different types of rounds toward a pivotal round selector finger. One conveyor is stopped while the other conveyor is driven causing the rounds therein to move past a round deflector finger which guides the rounds between driven star wheels and a Z-shaped feeder. A round kicker drives rounds one at a time into a slot in a disc rotating at high speeds and having camming surfaces therein which cooperates with a round lifting finger which momentarily enters the slot and stops the round while the disc continues to rotate while camming the round out of the slot at a rate of up the 400 rounds per minute.

Abstract: A filler spool valve is disclosed having an open ended housing with an elongated cylindrical passage therethrough. A valve core having a plurality of evenly spaced arcuate and inline passages is reciprocated by a pneumatic cylinder connected thereto by a quick connect coupling to alternately cause a flowable product to flow along generally C-shaped passages, and thereafter linear passages, in the spool valve in response to reciprocation of the valve core. The valve core is easily removed from its housing for cleaning by opening a quick release coupling and manually pulling the core from the cylindrical housing.

Abstract: A batch sterilization system is disclosed for first loading containers to be sterilized into cars, transferring the loaded cars into one of a plurality of retorts arranged in horizontal rows and vertical columns, sterilizing the containers while in the retorts and discharging the containers from the cars, discharging the cars from the retort, unloading the cars and thereafter repeating the cycle. The system includes a plurality of single or double door retorts in horizontal and vertical rows thereby minimizing floor spaced. Different horizontally and vertically spaced retorts may process products requiring different sterilization times in the retorts. A programmable computer is preferably used for performing the several functions of the sterilization system and for keeping track of the location of the containers during and after processing.

Abstract: A process is provided for sterilizing or pasturizing aqueous fluids by contacting the aqueous fluid with a permeable membrane to separate the fluid into a serum and a residue, separating the serum into two portions, the pH of the first portion is increased and the pH of the second is decreased. The second portion of serum is combined with the residue, maintained at an elevated temperature to reduce the concentration of microbial cells, and combined with the first portion of serum to reconstitute the flowable fluid with a reduced concentration of viable cells.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for transferring cylindrical articles such as glass or metal containers from a position supported on their cylindrical surfaces to a position supported on one of their flat ends. The apparatus includes an intermittently driven feed conveyor for feeding containers between stationary guides which positions the flat ends of containers upon a pair of narrow flat belts trained around annuluses secured to a driven starwheel having equally spaced carriers thereon which move between the guides and push the containers onto a linear upper run of the belts which are driven at a higher arcuate speed than the annuluses for assuring the upper ends of the carriers do not contact and cause the containers to be dislodged from their flat surfaces.

Abstract: A power driven tracked amphibious vehicle is disclosed for moving troops from ships to shore at speeds in excess of 25 miles per hour. The vehicle includes a pair of hydrofoil assemblies each pivoted to the vehicle for movement between an operative water mode position with the hydrofoils and inline water jet propulsion units submerged in water for propelling the vehicle while in water, and a land mode with the hydrofoils and water jet propulsion units raised above the tracks for propelling the vehicle on land. When in the water mode the tracks are raised a short distance, and the track covers and bow flaps are positioned below the tracks for minimizing drag on the vehicle.

Abstract: A water jet propulsion module is generated about a central axis and has an inlet opening and a discharge opening concentric with said axis. The module includes a stator having an inner wall and an outer wall with curved stator vanes connected between said inner and outer walls. An impeller shroud is adjustably connected to the outer stator wall. A motor secured to the stator drives a planetary gear drive attached to an impeller by a parabolic impeller cone. The impeller draws water into the inlet opening and drives the water past the stator vanes out of the discharge opening along a substantially linear path at high speed and pressure.

Abstract: A pair of integrated water propulsion and hydrofoil systems capable of moving through water at speeds of at least 20 miles per hour are disclosed, each hydrofoil system having a hydrofoil and a mounting leg removably secured to a water propulsion system. The mounting legs are supported on opposite sides of the watercraft for moving the hydrofoils between a water mode and a land mode. The water propulsion system may be an inline water jet, and the hydrofoils may be formed from interconnected lightweight hollow beams with power operated flaps on the trailing portions of the hydrofoils for adding more lift when moving at slow speeds through water. The watercraft may be a military amphibious vehicle weighing about 30 tons.