Abstract: A device for moving objects about the inside of a closed container includes a grasping mechanism for grasping and releasing objects and an operating mechanism for operating the grasping mechanism and for moving the grasping mechanism about the inside of the container. The operating mechanism includes a pair of arm bodies each of which slidably move through a wall in the container along a linear pathway. As a result of the linear movement of the arm bodies, close tolerance seals can be used to seal the opening sufficiently to allow sliding movement without significantly disturbing the atomspheric and temperature conditions in the container. At least one of the arm bodies is composed of a pair of arm body portions, each portion having a surface slidable with respect to the other portion. The outer ends of the arm bodies positioned outside of the container are suitably coupled to a driver for moving the arm bodies along a linear pathway.

Abstract: A method of forming a deformable body to desired shape includes the steps(a) providing a bed of flowable particles within a contained zone,(b) relatively positioning said particles adjacent one side of said body,(c) and pressuring said bed to cause pressure transmission via said particles to said body, thereby to deform the body into desired shape.

Abstract: The method of producing a metallic, ceramic, or metal ceramic, part, employing powdered material, that includes:(a) forming two or more oversize powder material preforms respectively corresponding to two or more sections of the ultimate part to be produced,(b) placing said preforms in side-by-side relation, and(c) consolidating said preforms at elevated temperature and pressure to weld said sections together and to reduce the sections to ultimate part size.