Abstract: A diluting station and a pipetting station for a machine such as a biological sample testing machine. The diluting station has a rotating shot tube that fills with diluent without the need for priming when the shot tube is in a vertically inclined orientation, and which dispenses the diluent into a receptacle when the shot tube is rotated to a downward orientation. A thimble valve is placed in the shot tube to control the flow of diluent into the valve.The pipetting station includes a cylindrical housing storing a plurality of straws and a concentric rotating drum that sweeps a straw into a straw withdrawal slot. A tubular tapered transfer pin is inserted into the straw frictional into engagement with the straw. The tubular transfer pin rotates the straw out of the slot into a generally downward orientation towards a receptacle containing a fluid. The pin and straw are lowered so as to place the end of the straw into the fluid.

Abstract: A lithium-aluminum negative electrode for an electrochemical cell is prepared by forming a sandwich comprised of lithium and aluminum such that lithium is disposed between the aluminum layers of the sandwich. The sandwich is heat soaked at a temperature below the melting point of lithium while pressure is applied to the sandwich thereby causing the lithium and aluminum to chemically react to form a lithium-aluminum alloy.

Abstract: Telescoping collective pitch stick assembly with a locking mechanism for securing extended position and permitting retraction of the stick to facilitate ingress and egress of a pilot from his seat in a helicopter. The locking mechanism has an index pin and cam arrangement having a slot with three interconnected areas.