Abstract: A method of manufacturing an embossed metal gasket includes the steps of supplying a metal gasket preform having opposed first and second planar surfaces and at least one sealing port defined therein, laminating the opposed planar surfaces with a chemical resist material, masking the chemical resist material on the first planar surface in such a manner so as to delineate a raised surface area of a bead circumscribing the sealing port, masking the chemical resist material on the second planar surface in such a manner so as to delineate a recessed surface area of the bead circumscribing the sealing port, curing the unmasked chemical resist material on the opposed planar surfaces of the preform, removing the uncured chemical resist material from the opposed planar surfaces, and exposing the gasket preform to a chemical etching agent to reduce the thickness of the gasket preform in areas which are absent cured chemical resist material.

Abstract: A metal gasket assembly includes first and second gasket layers each having at least one sealing port defined therein. Each sealing port has an embossed bead formed about the periphery thereof which extends from a planar surface of the gasket layer. A stopper layer is disposed between the respective planar surfaces of the gasket layers and it has at least one bore extending therethrough which circumscribes the embossed beads. The stopper layer is of a sufficient thickness to prevent over-compression of the embossed beads during installation of the gasket assembly. A method is also disclosed for constructing a gasket assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the subject invention.

Abstract: A burial service system (10), which is provided for both lowering a casket into a burial vault and lowering the casket-containing burial vault into a grave, comprises a first burial service unit (12) and a separate and distinct second burial service unit (14). When in use, the units are longitudinally spaced from one another across a grave and are interconnected by a flexible casket support (16) extending longitudinally over a burial vault opening and a flexible vault support (18) extending longitudinally across the grave. Referring to the first unit (12), each burial service unit includes a housing (12a), a first shaft (68) journaled in the housing, a first automatic drive system operatively connected to the first shaft, a flexible casket support member (20) carried by the first shaft, a second shaft (96) journaled in the housing, a second automatic drive system operatively connected to the second shaft, and a flexible vault support member (28) carried by the second shaft.

Abstract: A latex balloon neck is pretreated by refreshing a region (18) of the inner surface (16) of the neck. The refreshed region extends substantially entirely around the inner circumference of the neck. The refreshing consists of cleaning the latex surface with a solvent e.g. isopropanol. The balloon neck is sealed by pressing (e.g. pinching and/or stretching) opposed areas of the refreshed surface (18) into direct contact with each other to form a latex-latex bond without requiring any additional adhesive coating. A removable protective tape (20) is placed over the refreshed region (18) to prevent the refreshed region from losing its bonding quality. An apparatus/method for preparing such balloons, and an apparatus/method for inflating and sealing the balloons (automatically) are also described.

Abstract: A panel to be applied to a building comprises a structural support and a concrete wythe located on one side of the support. Brackets are used to attach the wythe to the support, at least one of which permits relative sliding movement between the wythe and support. The one bracket is formed from a pair of overlapping members, one of secured to the wythe and the other of which is secured to the support. The overlapping members are dimensioned to allow relative sliding movement in the plane of the support.

Abstract: A system for safe transmission of a message with positive identification of the sender includes on the transmitter side telefax-type message-transmitting apparatus (10) and encryption means (22) for encrypting transmission signals from the telefax apparatus prior to transmission, and includes on the receiver side decryption means (25) for decrypting incoming signals prior to their receipt in telefax-type apparatus (20), and message enveloping and message gathering means (21) for safe storage of messages received by the telefax apparatus (20) in an enveloped form within a closed casing (11). Activating means (23) on the transmitter side includes a card reader (231) and keyboard (232) and is intended to activate the encryption means (22) in response to signals from the card reader (231) and the keyboard (232). Control means (24) on the receiver side function are adapted to activate the decryption means (25) in response to signals emanating from the card reader (231) and the keyboard (232).

Abstract: An arrangement for welding foil webs includes two coacting cog wheels, between which the foil webs are advanced, and a heat source. The heat source is comprised of a heating wire which is placed in the close proximity of the coacting parts of the cog wheels and the ends of which are connected to a current source which functions to heat the wire to a temperature above the softening temperature of the foil webs. The cog wheels will therewith function as a web-advancing mechanism and also as part of a web-welding mechanism.

Abstract: An arrangement for enveloping an object located between two heat weldable webs of enveloping material includes two coacting welding jaws for joining the webs together in their transversal direction on mutually opposite sides of the object. The welding jaws extend in the transverse direction of the webs, across the whole width thereof. One of the jaws is a wire-carrying jaw which supports a freely extending heating wire, and the other jaw is forked and has two legs. The jaws are moveable between a starting position on opposite sides of the webs, and a web welding position in which the webs are held together with the free ends of the fork legs in abutment with one side of the webs and with the heating wire located at the mouth region of the fork gap and in abutment with the other side of the webs. The wire functions to weld said material webs together and to melt-off the webs within the weld region.