Abstract: A pressurized can for beverage having a small opening in its lid which is sealed with a patch on the inside of the lid and which is adapted to receive a drink straw removably attached to the outside of the can.

Abstract: Thin wall metal cans are described having threaded necks for receiving threaded closure to seal contents in the cans. Techniques for forming such threaded cans are also provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for necking an open end of a metal container in which annular grooves are provided on the inner surface of the necking dies to abate sticking of cans in the dies during the necking process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method of producing aluminum alloy can body stock and can end stock which are particularly suitable for use in manufacturing aluminum alloy can bodies and ends for can bodies. The method for can body stock includes roll casting an aluminum alloy strip having a thickness of less than about 1 to 5 mm and, subsequently, batch annealing the strip, followed by cold rolling, continuous annealing, quenching and cold rolling to desired gauge. The aluminum alloy sheets may then be employed in manufacturing aluminum alloy can bodies. The process produces aluminum alloy sheet having an improved combination strength and caring properties with acceptable surface characteristics. Unique aluminum alloys usable in the claimed processes are also disclosed. In another embodiment, can ends are made by roll casting, followed by cold rolling preferably without prior thermal treatment, continuous annealing, quenching and cold rolling to the desired gauge.

Abstract: A methods for forming threads in the neck portion of a can made of thin gauge, hard temper metal which minimizes stretching of the metal in the neck portion. The method employs a grooved arbor and roller having a single thread lead around less than 360.degree. of the roller's perimeter.

Abstract: A composite metallurgical product includes a roll cast aluminum alloy core and a filler material bonded on the core. Assemblies joined by filler material are formed from this product by heating to flow the filler material into joints and subsequent solidification of the filler material in the joints. The composite product is made in several ways, including lamination at roll caster rolls, and lamination or thermal spraying at the exit side of a roll caster. The invention additionally provides for an angulation rolling method for varying percent of cladding on the composite, and a high-manganese aluminum alloy useful as core material in brazing sheet clad with aluminum-silicon brazing alloy.

Abstract: A container used for transporting dry bulk product which can be loaded and unloaded using a pneumatic mechanism and without need for tipping the container, comprising a plurality of hoppers, an external frame, a unique method of connecting the hoppers to the frame using skirt rings at the ends of the frame and side panels secured to the hoppers and to the end pieces of the external frame and extending the length of the container to provide sufficient strength to the container.

Abstract: A wheel chair system including a pair of levers mounted to each side of an operator seated in the wheelchair, each lever having a handle which the operator can articulate between a position aligned with the levers and a position normal to the levers. The levers are each connected to a planetary gear system and a double ratchet assembly and are movable by the operator forwardly and rearwardly through an arc. Each double ratchet assembly is connected to two chains, one of which is driven when the lever is rotated in one direction and the other of which is driven when the ratchet is rotated in the opposite direction. The handles, levers, ratchets and gears are configured and interconnected such that when the operator moves the handles and levers through a rowing motion, the wheel chair is powered in a forward direction. The gear set can be chosen, and modified, to be compatible with the strength characteristics of the upper body musculature of the operator.

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes a fixed seat portion which is adapted to be mounted on the floor of a vehicle and a movable seat portion which is mounted on the fixed seat portion and adapted to be moved between a normal use or drive position and an access position where the front edge of the movable seat portion overlies the sill of the vehicle to facilitate egress from the vehicle, the movable seat portion providing substantial support for the occupant at the drive position and during its movement to the access position, the vehicle seat assembly including mechanisms for pivoting and/or sliding movement of the movable seat portion relative to the fixed seat portion and for locking the movable seat portion to the fixed seat portion to prevent unwanted movement of the movable seat portion.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing flash from a flexible molded part includes a support for supporting the part being deflashed in underlying relation with first and second pinch rollers which are located at opposite ends of the part, and first and second conveyor assemblies associated with the first and second pinch rollers, respectively, are adapted to move the flash at both ends of the part into engagement with the pinch rollers which are driven in opposite directions and have knurled surfaces, causing the flash to be pinched between the pinch rollers and the associated conveyor assemblies, pulling the flash from said part, the conveyor assemblies conveying the flash away from part.

Abstract: A sitting section of a vehicle seat which provides comfort for an occupant of the seat and affords protection against the occupant sliding forwards in the event of a crash, the sitting section having a frame with a seat shell having a selected natural vibration and a forward arched section and a section rearward of the arched section which is adapted to oscillate freely and is reinforced with corrugations, the seat shell sloping downwards towards the rear at an angle of about 15.degree., and the seat shell having relatively thin upholstery fitted thereover.

Abstract: A method for producing a prototype of an article includes generating a data file utilizing a computer aided design apparatus to provide data representing all of the geometry and contours for the inner cavity of the mold required to mold the article, using the data file to create the mold as a physical object directly from photosensitive resin utilizing a stereolithographic apparatus whereby the mold which is created utilizing the stereolithographic apparatus has a mold cavity having the geometry and contours required to blow mold the prototype of the article, positioning the mold in the blow molding apparatus, introducing a preform into the mold; and expanding the preform against the surface of the inner cavity of the mold to produce the prototype of the article.

Abstract: A damper assembly gear system for interchangeably carrying either airfoil damper blades or single-ply damper blades. A first embodiment, in which the damper blades rotate in opposition to one another, includes a group of gear bodies, each of which includes a tab structure, including both airfoil tabs and single-ply tabs, for mounting both types of damper blades. The airfoil tabs are shaped to match an airfoil damper and are spaced apart such that an airfoil damper can be inserted between and gripped by the airfoil tabs. Single-ply tabs are located between the airfoil tabs, shaped to match a single-ply damper and spaced apart such that a single-ply damper can be inserted between the single-ply tabs and gripped thereby. An alternative embodiment allows the system to be used in conjunction with both opposed and parallel damper assemblies. First, this embodiment includes two types of gears, blade gears and idler gears.

Abstract: An arrangement for mounting a battery monitoring circuit on the cover of the battery and for connecting the terminal ends of first and second lead wires of a battery monitoring circuit to the positive and negative terminals of the battery, the arrangement including a cavity formed in the battery cover for mounting the battery monitoring circuit, first and second battery terminal bushings which are molded integrally with the cover and are adapted to be mounted on and connected to the positive and negative battery terminals when the battery cover is installed on the battery, each of the battery terminal bushings including a pad having an upwardly directed mounting post that is adapted to receive and secure the terminal end of one of the lead wires of the battery monitoring circuit, the battery cover having first and second lead wire slots in its surface which extend from the cavity in which the battery monitoring circuit is mounted, to the locations of the battery terminal bushings for directing the lead wires

Abstract: A vehicle seat back frame including two bracing members, one being linearly extended from the lower end of the outboard upright member to the upper end of the inboard upright member and the other being extended linearly from the lower end of the inboard upright member to the upper end of the outboard upright member, the bracing members being connected together at a point intermediate their ends so that a side impact load applied to the seat back frame will place one of the bracing members fully, and the upper half of the other member, in tension substantially instantaneously upon the application of the load to the seat back frame, enabling the seat back frame to resist lateral deformation due to side impact forces applied to the seat back frame.

Abstract: An instrumentation interface circuit controlled by a microprocessor of a data acquisition system enables identification of the type of input/output devices that are connected to its inputs through a systematic analysis of the characteristics of the connected devices, the systematic analysis including monitoring the current through and the voltage across the devices as different drive signals are applied to the connected devices, the interface circuit including a conditioning circuit having a drive circuit which is controlled by the microprocessor for providing the drive signals, a current sensing circuit for sensing the load current flowing through the connected device, a voltage sensing circuit for sensing the voltage across the connected device, and a switchable feedback circuit which is controlled by the microprocessor to selectively feed back the load current or the sensed voltage to the input of the drive circuit to establish the drive signals for the connected device.

Abstract: A battery cell includes at a plurality of composite separator/electrode structures, each composite structure including a support member having a plurality of parallel, closely spaced ribs defining a plurality of grooves which extend longitudinally of the support member, alternating ones of the grooves having a positive paste of an active material therein, and the remaining grooves having a negative paste of an active material therein, and a current collector lead wire in each groove embedded in the paste and centrally located in the groove with the terminal ends of the lead wires of the positive electrodes extending out of one end of the composite structure and being interconnected to form a positive termination, and the terminal ends of the lead wires of the negative electrodes extending out of the opposite end of the composite structure and being interconnected to form a negative termination, a plurality of the battery cells being stacked together to form a battery having a desired amp hour capacity.

Abstract: A hydraulically controlled seat adjuster mechanism for providing fore-and-aft adjustment in the position of a vehicle seat includes first and second hydraulic cylinders, which support the seat on the floor of the vehicle, the hydraulic cylinders being connected in a series hydraulic circuit with a control valve in a manually driven embodiment, and with a control valve and a pump and motor assembly in a power driven embodiment, the control valve being manually operable between a flow preventing condition to interrupt the hydraulic circuit in which the hydraulic cylinders are prevented from operating so that the seat is locked in position, and a flow permitting condition to complete the hydraulic circuit, permitting the hydraulic cylinders to operate and move the seat to an adjusted position. The hydraulic mechanism is also described with reference to an application for controlling the adjustment of the angle of inclination of the seat back relative to the seat cushion.