Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for induction heating weldable surfaces and moving the heated surfaces together with sufficient force to upset the surfaces while in a substantially inert atmosphere for thereby welding the surfaces together. The apparatus includes a rotary bus bar joint for moving the induction coil between the weldable surfaces, and also includes a clamping mechanism for handling members having weldable surfaces of different sizes and shapes. A pair of separately controlled induction coils may be used with or without laminations for heating tubular or solid members to an upsetting temperature.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for testing the integrity and acceptability of the seal of a package before or after it has been sterilized by any chosen conventional process which may include heat sterilization of a sealed package, aseptic packaging or irradiation. Testing is accomplished by subjecting the package or container to a controlled external pressure, preferably a linear actuator, sufficient to create a selected level of internal pressure. Any suitable means may be used to determine the rate of pressure change within a selected time interval. Upper and lower limits of pressure change determine whether the seal is acceptable.

Abstract: An autoloading method and apparatus is disclosed for a turret mounted gun that is pivoted horizontally relative to the turret and must be lowered to a substantially horizontal 0.degree. position for loading selected cartridges from a magazine conveyor, ejecting empty cartridge cases and misfired cartridges from the gun and turret, assisting in replenishing cartridges from outside the turret into the magazine, and off-loading cartridges from the magazine. A partition divides the turret into two compartments with a gunner and a commander located in one compartment and the mechanical components of the autoloader and breech of the gun located in the other compartment. When the gun is returned to the 0.degree. position for ejecting an empty case, the site of the director system remains on target. The turret is preferably mounted on a military land vehicle.

Abstract: A submarine weapon handling system and method includes a storage tray, ramming tray, and transfer tray. Each tray has a plurality of rotatable bands received in grooves in the trays and are movable between an open weapon receiving position and a closed weapon clamping position. The storage tray and ramming tray are stationary and the transfer tray is movable. The transfer tray is moved into contact with a weapon secured in the storage tray, the bands of the transfer tray are rotated around the weapon, and the bands in the storage tray are rotated from closed to open position permitting the transfer tray to move a selected weapon into the bands of the ramming tray which are then rotated into weapon clamping position while the bands of the transfer tray are opened permitting the transfer tray to be moved away from the ramming tray.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for purging air from multiple surfaces of members to be welded together. The apparatus includes a hood with the inert gas entering the hood at about 150 cubic feet per minute at between 2-5 pounds per square inch gauge when handling approximately 21/2 inch diameter tubes. The gas is first evenly spread in the hood to fill the entire cross sectional area thereof and is then moved through a straightening section to provide laminar flow of the gas across the multiple surfaces. An induction coil is moved between hood closure means into the hood to heat the weldable surfaces to a bonding temperature and after the coils have been removed from the hood, the members are urged together to upset the heated surfaces to weld the two members together.

Abstract: A weapon dolly is disclosed for use in a submarine to handle weapons such as torpedos or the like. The dolly includes a base section having an arcuate weapon supporting surface formed from light composite material having a recess formed therein. A composite arcuate band is movable between a weapon clamping position above the base section and a stowed position slidably received within the base section below the weapon supporting surface. Arcuate links and clamp means with an associated positive locking mechanism are provided for clamping the weapon between the band and the base and for quickly releasing the weapon for movement into a launching tube or the like.

Abstract: A hand held cutting tool is disclosed for use in cutting articles, especially when the tool is to be used in confined quarters while protecting the operator from being cut by the tool. The tool includes a motor which drives the cutter only when one hand of the operator grasps the motor housing and closes a trigger. Portions of a cutter and cutter guard project out of a small housing, and the guard normally encompasses the projecting portion of the cutter. When it is desired to expose the projecting portion of the cutter to perform a cutting operation, the other hand of the operator must grip a portion of the tool remote from the exposed portion of the cutter and must actuate a valve or handle to expose and maintain the guard in the exposed cutting position.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sterilizing apparatus adapted to practice methods of sterile cooling of packaged food products or fluids. Following sterilization a variety of procedures to effect sterile cooling are presented. Sterile cooling is accomplished by sterile fluids, such as water, a solution of selected chemicals and water or sterile air which also may be combined with sterilizing gases.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for forming up-standing expanded metal from high carbon steels or high carbon alloy steels. The steel is induction heated to a hot forging temperature prior to being formed into expanded metal, and the expanded metal may thereafter be hardened to a hardness greater than that of the base metal from which it was made.

Abstract: The disclosed sterilizing apparatus makes use of mobile cars containing a quantity of packages. The cars are continuously intermittently advanced to a package loading position, to an inlet lock where pressurizing and preheating of the car and its contents occur, to a sterilizing chamber for a sufficient period of time to effect sterilization, to a discharge lock that depressurizes and partially cools the car and its contents, to an atmospheric cooling station, to a water discharge station and then to a package unloading station.

Abstract: A work set up method and apparatus is disclosed for use with tape controlled machine tools including quick connect ball locks which accurately lock one or more fixtures and workpieces to a work table. The tape is indexed with one ball lock and controls the machining of the workpiece. The fixture and workpiece may be locked to the table of other tape controlled machines for performing other machining functions on the workpiece. A second embodiment includes a work set up apparatus in combination with a drill holding mechanism and at least one multiple spindle drilling head secured to the vertically movable head of a multiple drilling head machine. Depending upon the complexity and size of the workpiece and the number of drills in the second embodiments, set up time is reduced from a prior art time of between about 4-16 hours to between about 5-20 minutes in accordance with the present invention.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for repeatedly testing wire rope and sheaves under simulated operating conditions is disclosed. The testing apparatus is capable of simulating many conditions under which wire ropes and sheaves are used in actual practice with cranes or the like including adjustments for varying rope tension, rope speed, sheave speed, sheave off-lead angles relative to the rope and to allow reverse bending of the rope. Sheaves of different diameter and different rope size and materials may be tested.

Abstract: A quick connect diagnostic system is disclosed for detecting the pressure and temperature of fluid streams flowing in fluid flow passages in engines or the like. A plurality of female portions of the quick connect mechanisms, which include foot valves, are permanently connected to different fluid flow passages in the engine. During normal operation of the engine dust caps are locked in the female portions and include at least one O-ring seal to cooperate with the foot valve to assist in preventing leakage. When testing for temperature or pressure of the fluids, temperature probes or pressure probes with transducers thereon, are inserted into the associated female portions causing O-ring seals to seal the quick connect coupling prior to contacting and opening the foot valves which subject the pressure probes to the fluid pressure in the associated passages, and which project the ends of the temperature probes into the flow streams being tested.

Abstract: A coupling and latching mechanism for a multi-section extensible boom that includes a manual section and is operable from a remote location such as the cab of a crane. The mechanism includes pairs of spaced jaw type couplings secured to adjacent boom sections and adapted to be selectively coupled to the piston rod or the like of an extensible ram for operating the boom either with the manual section extended or retracted. Remotely controlled latch locking blocks are provided to latch the manual section in a plurality of extended positons, or in a retracted position.

Abstract: A multi-section telescopic boom is disclosed having a base section supported for pivotal movement, a manual section telescopically received in said base section, a mid section, and a tip section which sections are progressively lighter from the base section to the tip section when excluding the weight of head machinery connected to the tip section. The heavy manual section is stored in the base section when a load to be transferred between two locations can be reached with the mid and tip sections extended thereby substantially decreasing the turning moment about the pivot axis due to the weight of the boom sections resulting in an increased load carrying capacity of the boom. The boom is preferably supported by a pendant line operatively connected to the outer end of the tip and base sections and trained within the boom to aid a single hydraulic ram to extend and retract selected sections of the boom.

Abstract: A hydraulic system for the components of a street sweeper or the like is disclosed which includes a hydraulic pump and tank connected in series with the motor of an elevator, the motor of a pick-up broom, the motor of a right gutter broom, and the motor of a left gutter broom with each broom motor being driven in response to closing a by-pass valve. The system also includes a control circuit for raising and lowering the several vertically movable components and hydraulics locking them in selected positions. The hydraulic system further includes a hydrostatic drive system including a two-speed shift control assembly.

Abstract: The multiple sheave mechanism is primarily intended for use on the outer end of a long boom of a crane. The mechanism includes a plurality of sheaves that have hubs supported for rotation on a shaft by anti-friction bearings. Each of the hubs have a cylindrical inner flange on one side and a cylindrical outer flange on the other side, and the hubs are axially spaced from each other with the outer flanges overlapping the inner flanges. The outer flange on one end sheave overlaps an annular retainer, and a second retainer overlaps the inner flange on the other end sheave. The cooperating flanges and retainers define circuitous passages which are filled with lubricant for providing a mechanical seal and a fluid seal which minimizes entry of dirt, dust and other debris into the bearings and maximizes the interval between required relubrication.

Abstract: Apparatus for detecting changes in inclination or acceleration is disclosed. In its preferred environment the apparatus is used to determine the position of the sucker-rod of a sucker-rod pump. The preferred embodiment of the apparatus includes a magnetic-field sensor such as a linear output transducer which provides a linear output signal, and a cantilever spring having a counterweight and magnet on its free end disposed adjacent the linear transducer. Oscillation of the walking beam of the pump causes the spring supported magnet to move relative to the sensor producing linear output signals which are processed by other means to determine the position of the sucker-rod at all times. The apparatus may be used in other environments to determine either changes in inclination or changes in acceleration.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for packaging articles in two portions of film which are fed between outer and inner annular film clamping mechanisms with the outer clamping mechanism firmly clamping the film portions while stretching the film over the article. The inner annular clamping mechanism then clamps the periphery of the film portions together immediately inward of the seal area, and the outer clamps release the film allowing an annular hot knife to seal and sever the film portions in a relaxed area. A low inertia film drive system is also provided with the film supply rolls on one side of the clamping mechanisms being continuously driven while brush rolls on the other side of the clamping mechanisms are intermittently driven. The low inertia film drive system also includes components for assuring that the film is stressed longitudinally and transversely to remove wrinkles therefrom, and to assure that the film portions are sealed and severed in a completely relaxed area.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for counterbalancing a load carried by a crane by a counterweight suspended from the mast of the crane. A counterweight height control system is provided for maintaining the counterweight a few inches above the ground during operation, which system may be manually overridden by operator actuated controls. A pair of spaced counterweight positioning winches on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the crane's upper works move the counterweight toward or away from the vertical axis of rotation of the upper works in response to operator actuated controls and also provides side forces on the counterweight for minimizing swinging of the counterweight.