Abstract: A promotional gaming device for beverage cans which includes ink jet printed indicia of winning status on an exterior surface of the can and an opaque removable material covering the printing. The opaque material may be scratched off or peeled off the reveal the prize indicia.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for scoring a metallic container wall, which facilitates scoring thin gauge, hard temper metal such as coated or uncoated aluminum to reduced score residuals wherein the scoring tool has a secondary antifracture score indenter on one or both sides of a primary indenter and in which the outboard secondary indenter has an outboard face angled about 30 to 40 degrees to vertical.

Abstract: A convenience easy opening end having a removable panel portion which includes a narrow U-shaped stem portion extending from a larger rounded bulbous portion and with a pull tab attached to the stem portion.

Abstract: A system for manufacturing metal matrix composites, each including a porous preform infiltrated with molten metal, includes a programmable, automated arrangement for handling preforms for sequential introduction into a die caster of the system. A preform loader includes a reciprocable loading head which receives each preform from an associated stack, and delivers each preform to a horizontally reciprocable carrier of a preform shuttle. The preform shuttle effects indexed movement of each preform along a substantially horizontal path, through a preheating furnace, and into the die caster. Efficient operation of the system is promoted, while undesirable damage to the relatively brittle porous preforms is avoided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for extrusion coating both sides of a metal strip. A metal strip, such as aluminum alloy strip, is moved through a pre-conditioner, two extrusion dies, a post-heater and a cooling system. Both sides of the strip are coated with thin coatings of thermoplastic polymers. The coated metal strip is useful for containers, such as cans and can ends, as well as for automobiles, appliances, aerospace, construction and electrical devices.

Abstract: A stretch wrapped and roped package for heavy loads such as cylindrical coils of metal, paper or the like that includes a skid supporting the load. A friction layer on the top of the skid and another friction layer on the bottom of the load which is covered by an overwrap of protective material such as plastic or paper. The skid is especially designed to reduce risk of damage to the stretch wrap roping that holds the skid onto the bottom of the load.

Abstract: A method for impressing holographic images or holograms in the surface of metal objects such as aluminum cans. The surfaces of metal shims and print rolls bearing holograms are hardened as by coating them with thin amorphous diamond coatings or diamond like coatings so the holograms can be embossed into many thousands of metal cans with clarity and consistency.

Abstract: A battery terminal connector for connection to a battery post, particularly useful in automotive application. The connector includes a plate having an aperture which is shaped and sized to fit about the battery post. A slot extends from the aperture to one end of the plate so as to form two spines in the plate which are separated by the slot. With the plate positioned in a horizontal orientation, one spine has an extender element, such as a bolt, extending upwardly from the spine. The other spine has a receiving element such as an upwardly extending clasp. A camming band seats about the bolt and about the clasp, and extends across the slot. A nut is rotatable on the bolt and can be moved downwardly to forcibly contact the camming band. The nut and camming band have cooperating surfaces such that downward movement of the nut on the bolt forces the camming band to move laterally relative to the bolt. This lateral motion of the camming band pulls the clasp so that the bolt and clasp move toward each other.

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 for necking an end of a metal container include effecting initial deformation, generally radially inwardly, of an axial portion to establish a necked-in generally convex transition portion and an adjacent portion disposed between the transition portion and the container end which is initially generally cylindrical. Both portions are of reduced diameter with respect to the original can body diameter. Sequentially, through the series of formation steps, the portion to be necked-in is further reduced in diameter to produce an outwardly generally convex portion disposed in underlying relationship with respect to an outwardly concave portion. A generally, radially, outwardly directed flange may be established within the end section of the necked-in portion. Apparatus to perform the foregoing forming steps consists of a plurality of die means which are subjected to relative axial movement and contact and reshape the exterior of the container portion that is to be necked-in.

Abstract: A method of fabricating MMCs having high thermal conductivity coupled with coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) values which approximates the CTE of ceramics and semi-conductor materials typically used in electronic packaging. The method comprises preparing a formed agglomeration of powder particles (preform); partially sintering the preform; placing the partially sintered preform into a forming chamber; infiltrating the preform with liquid-phase metal; and allowing the liquid-phase metal to solidify and form an MMC around and through the preform. In a preferred embodiment, the preform is constructed from silicon carbide, and the metal matrix is an aluminum-silicon alloy.

Abstract: A method of cleaning an aluminum surface includes treating the surface by cold plasma process employing a mixture of about 30 to 70 percent oxygen by volume and about 30 to 70 percent freon by volume and preferably about 40 to 60 percent by volume of each constituent gas. Performance is enhanced by employing particular wattage and flow rates. The process also produces a water wettable surface and a hydration resistant surface. The process will effect such conversions without substantial etching of the aluminum surface.

Abstract: A battery system for a vehicle includes a main battery for energizing the vehicle SLI circuits and an auxiliary battery for energizing the vehicle EHC system, the battery system providing back-up of the auxiliary battery by the main battery under certain conditions and back-up of the main battery by the auxiliary battery under certain other conditions, and the battery system providing opportunity charging of the auxiliary battery once the vehicle engine is running whereby the auxiliary battery shares the charging current with the main battery with the auxiliary battery being gradually connected to the source of charging current for the main battery by increasing the duty cycle of the drive circuit that connects the auxiliary battery to the source of charging current while monitoring the state of charge of the main battery and decreasing the duty cycle of the drive circuit to protect the main battery state of charge.

Abstract: A wall-mounted enclosure for mounting electrical and electronic equipment and the like, in modular form. The enclosure body takes the form of a mounting assembly, including mounting modules, with each module including a backbone element and a cover element. The backbone element has a horizontally extending backplane bordered by two upstanding side portions, with an interassembly connecting mechanism for joining one backbone element to an adjacent backbone element. The backplane includes a flat mounting surface, with a pattern of preformed pilot holes, and two recessed wiring channels. Interconnection is provided by interlocks and screw anchor points. The cover element includes a horizontally extending cover plate with coverwalls and a cover assembly connecting mechanism for joining one cover element to another cover element. Adjacent cover elements are joined by mutual engagement of a mating tab and slot, and by screw anchor points.

Abstract: In general and in one preferred method, a diaphragm plate may be formed by providing a vessel containing a quantity of a light-transmittive first photopolymer compound which includes, as mixed constituents, a reactive oligomer resin, a reactive monomer diluent and a photoinitiator. A first unmasked surface of the compound is irradiated with ultraviolet (UV) light for solidifying the surface to a depth equal to the relief thickness, i.e., the desired diaphragm thickness. A second surface of the compound is irradiated with UV light subsequent to being covered with a opaque mask which defines the shape of the diaphragm. This irradiation completes the formation of the diaphragm plate by solidifying the remaining, unmasked quantity of compound. The unsolidified compound is then removed from the masked area of the plate. Other preferred methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A microprocessor-based controller with synchronous reset operates in synchrony with a recurring signal coupled to its reset terminal and executes a predetermined linear program during each acive portion of the recurring signal. The controller remains in an inactive state until the recurring signal again triggers a successive active state. The controller is applicable to control applications requiring high reliability, while retaining the flexibility afforded by a microprocessor-based system. The preferred embodiments of the microprocessor-based controller are applied to combustible fuel burners employing various operating strategies.