Abstract: A food container made of thin plastic sheet material comprises a bowl and a lid, each having a peripheral sealing region with a downwardly facing channel generally shaped like an inverted “U”. The outward edges of the channels are lockingly engaged. The channels mate and engage to form a primary seal at a conical interface and a secondary seal at a rib. The rib may be on either the base, the lid, or both. Leverage provided by elastic forces in the lid's channel tightens the seals.

Abstract: A package water tube boiler has offset upper and lower steam and water drums located adjacent its opposite side walls, with a generally square combustion chamber between the drums. Connecting the drums are generally L-shaped riser and downcomer tubes including convection tubes and radiant tubes extending in vertical and horizontal runs along the sides, top, and bottom of the combustion chamber. The tubes, especially the inboard radiant tubes, are configured, and their entrances and exits to and from the drums are located, so as to permit increased efficiency and steam generation capacity without increasing the package boiler's outside dimensions, to shield the drums from thermal radiation emanating from the combustion chamber, to locate the boiler's center of gravity equidistant from its side walls, and to fix the upper drum to and support it by the boiler's end walls.

Abstract: A system for servicing a racing car or other car at a track, other race course, or similar destination employs an open platform for supporting the car by its tires in a horizontal position. The platform supports the car, and is itself supported by a crawler, in a carrier vehicle, for example a truck or trailer, when the carrier vehicle is transporting the car. The crawler and platform are also used to unload and load the car from and into the carrier vehicle. To unload the car at the destination, the crawler, with the platform and car on it, is driven out of the carrier vehicle and onto the ground. Next, the platform is elevated by extending its legs so that it rises off, is spaced from, and straddles the crawler. Then the crawler is driven out from under the platform. Then the platform is lowered to the ground., where it is used as a lift to elevate the car so that its undercarriage may be accessed. The platform may also be used to tune the chassis of the car.

Abstract: A system for servicing a racing car or other car at a track, other race course, or similar destination employs an open platform for supporting the car by its tires in a horizontal position. The platform supports the car, and is itself supported by a crawler, in a carrier vehicle, for example a truck or trailer, when the carrier vehicle is transporting the car. The crawler and platform are also used to unload and load the car from and into the carrier vehicle. To unload the car at the destination, the crawler, with the platform and car on it, is driven out of the carrier vehicle and onto the ground. Next, the platform is elevated by extending its legs so that it rises off, is spaced from, and straddles the crawler. Then the crawler is driven out from under the platform. Then the platform is lowered to the ground, where it is used as a lift to elevate the car so that its undercarriage may be accessed. The platform may also be used to tune the chassis of the car.

Abstract: A system for handling and servicing a racing car at a track or other race course employs an open platform for supporting the car by its tires in a horizontal position. The platform supports the car in a carrier vehicle, for example a truck or trailer, when the carrier vehicle is transporting the car to the race course. The platform is also used to unload the car from the carrier vehicle onto the ground and to load the car from the ground into the carrier vehicle. In addition, the platform is used at the race course to elevate the car so that its undercarriage may be conveniently and comfortably accessed through an opening in the platform and thus may be worked on or inspected to prepare or improve the car for racing, by a person who, since he or she is not required to lie on the ground, has full use of both hands and ergonomically favorable body position and leverage.

Abstract: An inspection apparatus for measuring the flange of a can prior to forming the flange into a radially outward directed flange includes a light generating element for generating generally parallel light rays of a light beam along an axis and a refractor for receiving the parallel light rays and separating the light rays into a first light beam and a second light beam. The first light beam propagates generally along the axis into the can and is reflected within the can to produce a lighted image of the inside edge of the flange. The second light beam propagates at an angle relative to the axis to illuminate and produce a lighted image of the outside edge of the flange. A video camera generates image data from the lighted images, and a data processor interprets the image data. The refractor includes an outer cylindrical member and an inner cylindrical member disposed in a cavity extending through the outer cylindrical member.

Abstract: An easy open construction for a can end wherein a tear panel principally defined by a rupturable score line in a central panel of a wall is opened by operating a tab having one end adapted to press against the tear panel at a position spaced from the score line and overlying only a small portion of the opening left by the tear panel in its open position. The other end of the tab constitutes a finger gripping portion which is manually liftable to open the tear panel and may be returnable directly to its original position next to the wall. The tab and tear panel remain secured to the wall after the tear panel has been moved to its open position. The central panel is defined by a coined area and a downwardly recessed area located immediately radially inwardly adjacent the coined area. The finger gripping portion elevation relative to the top of the end seaming panel is relocated away from the seam as a result of this downward recessed area.

Abstract: A method of die-necking the open end of a can body to form a reduced diameter neck having a smooth profile comprising forming a reduced neck at the open end of the cylindrical sidewall of the can body by engaging the open end of the sidewall with a die having a multi-radius forming profile, with each successive radius from the entrance to the exit of the die being smaller than the previous radius and with the angle through which each successive radius extends being equal to or smaller than the angle of the previous radius. Then at subsequent die-forming stations, forming progressively smaller reduced diameter necks by a series of dies, all of which preferably have the same multi-radiused forming surface profile which virtually eliminates the undesirable formation of pleats in the final neck configuration.

Abstract: The system provides a lubricating fluid between a wall which defines a cavity and a member which passes through the cavity. The system includes a passageway for supplying lubricating fluid to the cavity at a velocity and a fluid outlet for introducing the fluid from the passageway to the cavity such that a centrifugal force, corresponding to the velocity of the fluid supplied from the passageway, acts on the fluid flowing from the fluid outlet to cause the fluid to have a laminar flow over the cavity wall.

Abstract: An easy-open, stay-on-tab can end has a circular end wall with a large, substantially oval tear panel defined by a score line and a hinge. A rivet adjacent the tear panel connects a tab to the end wall. The width of the tear panel, as measured perpendicular to the diameter of the end wall, is substantially greater than its length. The opening formed by lifting the rear of the tab and displacing the tear panel downwardly about its hinge provides improved pourability and drinkability of the liquid contents of the can. The area of the tear panel is at least 0.50 in.sup.2. The tear panel extends substantially to the center of the end wall and may include an upwardly projecting, closed, predominantly oval bead having a portion generally following the outline of the bight of the score line. The front end of the tab extends over the bead and cooperates with it during opening.

Abstract: Apparatus for trimming cylindrical cans wherein each can is orbited about a central turret axis while being rotated about its longitudinal can axis is disclosed. The cans are successively mounted with vacuum onto a support mandrel located on a support shaft within each of plural cartridge assemblies mounted at circumferentially spaced intervals on a turret disk. The can is firmly secured to the mandrel by vacuum so that the open end portion of the can body projects between an outside circular cutting knife and an inside trimming edge disposed within the open end. As the cartridge orbits about the turret axis on the shaft axis, the inside trimming edge is radially displaced by camming action into contact with the open end portion of the can body and the outside cutting edge to generate cutting forces for trimming the portion.

Abstract: Apparatus for trimming cylindrical cans wherein each can is orbited about a central turret axis while being rotated about its longitudinal can axis is disclosed. The cans are successively mounted with vacuum onto a support mandrel located on a support shaft within each of plural cartridge assemblies mounted at circumferentially spaced intervals on a turret disk. The can is firmly secured to the mandrel by vacuum so that the open end portion of the can body projects between an outside circular cutting knife and an inside trimming edge disposed within the open end. As the cartridge orbits about the turret axis while rotating on the shaft axis, the inside trimming edge is radially displaced by camming action into contact with the open end portion of the can body and the outside cutting edge to generate cutting forces for trimming the portion.

Abstract: A can is formed including a body having a bottom wall with an electromagnetically formed contoured sidewall extending therefrom and a necked end. The open end of the sidewall is first pre-necking to form a reduced diameter section. Thereupon, the sidewall is electromagnetically formed to form an outwardly expanding contoured sidewall. The can is then subjected to a necking process proximate the reduced diameter section to achieve a further reduced diameter conical necked end. The necking process may be performed by radially inwardly advancing an external forming member into contact with the sidewall against counterpressure provided by a pair of relatively axially displaceable inner members disposed within the can interior. Alternatively, the necking process may be spin flow necking.

Abstract: A flanging head assembly having a cluster of freely rotatable spin flanging rollers includes a stop ring against which the flange hits during the final flange forming stages to limit the flange to a specific diameter. To prevent the flange from entering the crack formed between the rotating roller and the stationary stop ring, there is provided a step spacing the stop ring surface from the roller forming surface. In a preferred embodiment, the step is axially forwardly spaced from the trailing end of the flange forming surfaces and intersects a conical surface extending radially inwardly beneath the flange forming surface. This conical surface contacts unsupported flange portions between the flanging rollers to limit the degree of elastic sagging of these portions. The intersection between this conical surface with the step also supports the sagging flange portions without inducing permanent flange deformation.

Abstract: An expandable, segmented coil is disclosed for use in electromagnetic can forming. The segmented coil comprises a central camshaft and a plurality of coil segments equally spaced about the central camshaft. Each of the plurality of coil segments comprises a coil core and a conductive tubing. The coil core including a central longitudinal bore and a profiled plate cooperating with the camshaft and movable between a collapsed position and an expanded position upon rotation of the camshaft. The tubing being routed through the central bore, wrapped around the coil core to form coil windings, and terminating in a conductor terminal for connection to a power supply for energization of the coil. The central camshaft includes an elongated shaft with a profiled cam plate on one end thereof. Each profiled plate of the coil core includes a cam follower cooperating with the profiled cam plate to cause movement of the coil segments between the collapsed position and the expanded position.

Abstract: A lubrication ring, for use in a fabrication press having an assembly with a main cavity and a die nib disposed on a surface of the cavity for ironing a workpiece passing through the cavity, includes a groove surrounding a periphery of and opening into the main cavity of the assembly. At least one passage is provided for introducing a fluid into the groove so as to flow within the groove. The fluid is introduced into the groove at a velocity which causes a centrifugal force exceeding the force of gravity to act on the fluid flowing in the groove.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for spin flowing necking-in a D&I can is disclosed wherein an externally located free-spinning form roll is moved radially inward and axially against the outside wall of the open end of a trimmed can. A spring loaded interior support slide roll moves under the forming force of the form roll preferably through a cam control surface which controls the forming force acting thereon as the form roll advances radially inward as it slides along a sloped forming surface of a second free roll mounted axially inwardly adjacent the slide roll. To minimize the plug diameter variation between successively necked cans, the radially inward movement of the form roll is halted at a predetermined radial location via contact between the form roll support bracket with a form roll stop bracket.

Abstract: A turret type liner machine for applying sealing compound to can ends, the machine including a novel mist spray system for delivering cleaning fluid against the sealant injector nozzles located at each turret station.

Abstract: A thin walled metal container is formed with a bottom wall having a substantially flat central panel connected to a container side wall through an annular rest radius defining an annular support surface for the container. The annular rest radius includes an outer connecting web portion leading into the container side wall and an inner connecting web portion leading into the central panel. In the preferred embodiment, these connecting web portions are permanently joined to each other by welding or adhesive bonding to resist column loading forces acting through the side wall and internal pressure forces acting through the central panel which have the effect of unrolling the annular rest radius. Since these curved opposing portions of the rest radius are immobilized to resist column and internal pressurization, a thinner gauge metal can be used to satisfy design parameters and achieve cost and metal reduction savings.