Abstract: A method of forming a metallic container includes the steps of providing body and lid portions, placing the body and lid portions together, keeping portions of the body and lid portions in contact with one another, and reciprocally rotating the lid portion with respect to the body portion, thereby generating frictional heat and forming a friction weld therebetween. An apparatus for attaching the lid and body portions of a metallic container includes a base to support the body, a support assembly to support a flange of the body, and a sonitrode for contacting a flange of the lid, wherein the flanges of the lid and body are held together between the support assembly and the sonitrode. A motor reciprocally rotates the sonitrode relative to the support assembly, thereby moving the flanges relative one another to generate frictional heat and create a friction weld therebetween.

Abstract: A sonotrode specially adapted for defoaming liquids during container filing operations, has an upper body portion having a first diameter and having an upper face adapted to be mounted to a driving transducer, a middle body portion having a second diameter larger than the first diameter situated below the upper body portion, a generally conical portion situated between the upper body portion the middle body portion, and a transition portion situated between the middle body portion and a lower face adapted to be directed toward a liquid upper surface within a container, the lower face being generally rectangular.

Abstract: A method of forming a metallic container by placing body and lid portions together, keeping parts of the body and lid portions in contact with one another, and vibrating the lid with respect to the body, thereby generating frictional heat to form a friction metallic weld therebetween. Apparatus for attaching the lid and body portions of the metallic container includes a body supporting base, an assembly to support a flange of the body, a sonotrode to contact a flange of the lid so that wherein the flanges of the lid and body are held together between the support assembly and the sonotrode. A motor vibrates the sonotrode relative to the support assembly to thereby move the flanges relative to one another generating sufficient frictional heat to create a friction metallic weld therebetween.

Abstract: An apparatus for attaching the lid and body portions of a metallic container includes a base to support the body, a support assembly to support a flange of the body, and a sonotrode for contacting a flange of the lid, wherein the flanges of the lid and body are held together between the support assembly and the sonotrode. A motor reciprocally rotates the sonotrode relative to the support assembly, thereby moving the flanges relative one another to generate frictional heat and create a friction weld therebetween.

Abstract: A method of forming a metallic container by placing body and lid portions together, keeping parts of the body and lid portions in contact with one another, and vibrating the lid with respect to the body, thereby generating frictional heat to form a friction metallic weld therebetween. Apparatus for attaching the lid and body portions of the metallic container includes a body supporting base, an assembly to support a flange of the body, a sonotrode to contact a flange of the lid so that wherein the flanges of the lid and body are held together between the support assembly and the sonotrode. A motor vibrates the sonotrode relative to the support assembly to thereby move the flanges relative to one another generating sufficient frictional heat to create a friction metallic weld therebetween.

Abstract: A method of forming a metallic container includes the steps of providing body and lid portions, placing the body and lid portions together, keeping portions of the body and lid portions in contact with one another, and reciprocally rotating the lid portion with respect to the body portion, thereby generating frictional heat and forming a friction weld therebetween. An apparatus for attaching the lid and body portions of a metallic container includes a base to support the body, a support assembly to support a flange of the body, and a sonitrode for contacting a flange of the lid, wherein the flanges of the lid and body are held together between the support assembly and the sonitrode. A motor reciprocally rotates the sonitrode relative to the support assembly, thereby moving the flanges relative one another to generate frictional heat and create a friction weld therebetween.

Abstract: A method of forming a metallic container includes the steps of providing body and lid portions, placing the body and lid portions together, keeping portions of the body and lid portions in contact with one another, and reciprocally rotating the lid portion with respect to the body portion, thereby generating frictional heat and forming a friction weld therebetween. An apparatus for attaching the lid and body portions of a metallic container includes a base to support the body, a support assembly to support a flange of the body, and a sonitrode for contacting a flange of the lid, wherein the flanges of the lid and body are held together between the support assembly and the sonitrode. A motor reciprocally rotates the sonitrode relative to the support assembly, thereby moving the flanges relative one another to generate frictional heat and create a friction weld therebetween.

Abstract: A method of forming a metallic container includes the steps of providing body and lid portions, placing the body and lid portions together, keeping portions of the body and lid portions in contact with one another, and reciprocally rotating the lid portion with respect to the body portion, thereby generating frictional heat and forming a friction weld therebetween. An apparatus for attaching the lid and body portions of a metallic container includes a base to support the body, a support assembly to support a flange of the body, and a sonitrode for contacting a flange of the lid, wherein the flanges of the lid and body are held together between the support assembly and the sonitrode. A motor reciprocally rotates the sonitrode relative to the support assembly, thereby moving the flanges relative one another to generate frictional heat and create a friction weld therebetween.

Abstract: A sonotrode specially adapted for defoaming liquids during container filing operations, has an upper body portion having a first diameter and having an upper face adapted to be mounted to a driving transducer, a middle body portion having a second diameter larger than the first diameter situated below the upper body portion, a generally conical portion situated between the upper body portion the middle body portion, and a transition portion situated between the middle body portion and a lower face adapted to be directed toward a liquid upper surface within a container, the lower face being generally rectangular.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for forming a metal bellows includes a dispenser containing a supply of ring shaped metal foil sheets feeding a jig situated adjacent to the dispenser that coaxially positions the metal rings. A mandrel applies a pressure normal to the surface of the foil sheets, and a laser is focused on a locus of points a top surface of the top pair of the rings, the locus of points being positioned adjacent to one of the outer perimeters and inner edges of the rings. A regulator coupled to the laser forms energy pulses suitable to weld the pair of metal rings proximal to the laser together, the energy pulse being insufficient to penetrate the second metal ring of the pair.

Abstract: A hemming and in-situ laser welding method and apparatus for hemming peripheral flanges of an outer steel panel over peripheral edges of an inner steel panel and laser welding the resulting hemmed joints. A lower die supports an outer metal panel in a position to be hemmed over an edge of an inner panel. An upper die is mounted on a movable support for reciprocal motion and hems the outer panel by folding a flange of the outer panel over onto an edge region of the inner panel when the upper die moves from a raised position to a down position. A laser unit welds the flange of the outer panel to the edge region of the inner panel with the upper die in its down position holding the two panels together.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for connecting a metal lid to a metal body of a container to seal any product held by the container. The container is formed from a generally cylindrical metal body having an upper edge and a metal lid having a peripheral edge. The metal lid is held in position on the metal body so that the upper edge portion of the metal body and the peripheral edge of the metal lid form a contiguous junction. A beam of laser energy is directed toward the contiguous junction for sufficient time to hermetically seal the lid to the body. A single roll-formed lip provides a smooth finish to the combined body and lid. The lid includes a circumferentially continuous recess surrounding a central planar portion of the lid. The recess is located adjacent the peripheral edge while the peripheral edge is situated at or below the plane defined by the central planar portion, thereby reducing the material required to form a sealed container of any given volume.

Abstract: A hemming and in-situ laser welding method and apparatus for hemming peripheral flanges of an outer steel panel over peripheral edges of an inner steel panel and laser welding the resulting hemmed joints. A lower die supports an outer metal panel in a position to be hemmed over an edge of an inner panel. An upper die is mounted on a movable support for reciprocal motion and hems the outer panel by folding a flange of the outer panel over onto an edge region of the inner panel when the upper die moves from a raised position to a down position. A laser unit welds the flange of the outer panel to the edge region of the inner panel with the upper die in its down position holding the two panels together.

Abstract: Rapid cooling of molded workpieces such as PET parisons formed in an injection molding machine is provided by a receiver receiving molded workpieces upon ejection from the molding machine, the receiver being transported out of the molding machine to an adjacent position where a cooling head coupled to a source of cooling fluid such as liquid nitrogen directs the fluid toward the surfaces of each workpiece. The cooling head engages and is sealed to the receiver to inhibit the escape of cooling fluid into the atmosphere thereby reducing cost, environmental impact, etc. A cooling program control coupled to the cooling fluid source supplies a discontinuous flow cooling fluid from said source to contact the workpieces only when the cooling head is engaged with and sealed to the receiver. A vacuum unit withdraws cooling fluid from the receiver subsequent to contact between the workpieces and the cooling fluid. The cooling fluid can then recooled and recycled for reuse.

Abstract: Rapid cooling of molded workpieces such as PET parisons formed in an injection molding machine is provided by a receiver receiving molded workpieces upon ejection from the molding machine, the receiver being transported out of the molding machine to an adjacent position where a cooling head coupled to a source of cooling fluid such as liquid nitrogen directs the fluid toward the surfaces of each workpiece. The cooling head engages and is sealed to the receiver to inhibit the escape of cooling fluid into the atmosphere thereby reducing cost, environmental impact, etc. A cooling program control coupled to the cooling fluid source supplies a discontinuous flow cooling fluid from said source to contact the workpieces only when the cooling head is engaged with and sealed to the receiver. A vacuum unit withdraws cooling fluid from the receiver subsequent to contact between the workpieces and the cooling fluid. The cooling fluid can then recooled and recycled for reuse.

Abstract: Rapid cooling of molded workpieces formed in an injection molding machine such as PET parisons is provided by a receiver receiving molded workpieces upon ejection from the molding machine, the receiver being transported out of the molding machine to an adjacent position where a cooling head coupled to a source of cooling fluid such as liquid CO.sub.2 directs the fluid toward the surfaces of each workpiece. The cooling head engages and is sealed to the receiver to inhibit the escape of cooling fluid into the atmosphere thereby reducing cost, environmental impact, etc. A sensor coupled to a control of the cooling fluid source permits the release of cooling fluid from said source to contact the workpieces only when the cooling head is engaged with and sealed to the receiver. A vacuum unit withdraws cooling fluid from the receiver subsequent to contact between the workpieces and the cooling fluid. The cooling fluid is then recooled and recycled for reuse.

Abstract: Rapid cooling of molded workpieces formed in an injection molding machine such as PET parisons is provided by a receiver receiving molded workpieces upon ejection from the molding machine, the receiver being transported out of the molding machine to an adjacent position where a cooling head coupled to a source of cooling fluid such as liquid CO.sub.2 directs the fluid toward the surfaces of each workpiece. The cooling head engages and is sealed to the receiver to inhibit the escape of cooling fluid into the atmosphere thereby reducing cost, environmental impact, etc. A sensor coupled to a control of the cooling fluid source permits the release of cooling fluid from said source to contact the workpieces only when the cooling head is engaged with and sealed to the receiver. A vacuum unit withdraws cooling fluid from the receiver subsequent to contact between the workpieces and the cooling fluid. The cooling fluid is then recooled and recycled for reuse.

Abstract: A system and method for destroying waste including garbage, organic trash and sewage in which the waste products are initially combined in an emulsifier, grinder, or shredder at the source such as a residential dwelling or business establishment and pumped through present sewage lines to a slurry tank. The basic system can also be utilized on marine, land and air vehicles. The enriched slurry mixture of waste is pumped into a reactor chamber where through an electrolitic reaction it causes the slurry to produce its own pressure achieving the by-products of high pressure steam to drive a turbine-driven electrical generator and sterilized water with only a residue of ash being produced. The by-product of electricity may be utilized for heating the slurry mixture in the reactor while providing electrical power for other uses. Excess condensate from the steam may then be collected and utilized as sterilized water.