Abstract: A furnace for shaping glass sheets for aircraft transparencies using the cut-to-size method includes a preheat and cooling furnace defined as a first furnace, and a shaping furnace. A conveyor geared for reciprocating movement moves a bending iron supporting a glass sheet through the first furnace set to a preheat temperature. The glass sheet supported on the bending iron is heated in the shaping furnace by microwave beams from a gyrotron to heat portions of the glass sheet to be shaped to a complex shape. After the sheet is shaped, the conveyor moves the bending iron supporting the shaped glass sheet from the shaping furnace through the first furnace set to a cooling cycle.

Abstract: A furnace for shaping glass sheets for aircraft transparencies using the cut-to-size method includes a preheat and cooling furnace defined as a first furnace, and a shaping furnace. A conveyor geared for reciprocating movement moves a bending iron supporting a glass sheet through the first furnace set to a preheat temperature. The glass sheet supported on the bending iron is heated in the shaping furnace by microwave beams from a gyrotron to heat portions of the glass sheet to be shaped to a complex shape. After the sheet is shaped, the conveyor moves the bending iron supporting the shaped glass sheet from the shaping furnace through the first furnace set to a cooling cycle.

Abstract: A tamper conversion method includes providing a tamper including a ramming apparatus having a tamper foot and a gasoline-powered engine system to drive the ramming apparatus to reciprocate the tamper foot for tamping, removing the gasoline-powered engine system from the tamper exposing an engine mount, coupling a mounting plate to the engine mount, coupling an adapter plate to the mounting plate, coupling a pneumatic engine to the adapter plate operatively coupling the pneumatic engine to the ramming apparatus to drive the ramming apparatus to reciprocate the tamper foot for tamping, and coupling a conduit, formed with a pneumatic throttle, to the pneumatic engine, the conduit for applying pressurized air to the pneumatic engine to activate the pneumatic engine, and the pneumatic throttle operable for controlling the flow of pressurized air to the pneumatic engine to drive the ramming apparatus to reciprocate the tamper foot.

Abstract: A laminated wood piece is disclosed comprising a solid hardwood component having an upper surface and a lower surface that are substantially parallel to each other and a wood composite component having layers oriented substantially parallel to the lower surface of the solid hardwood component. The ratio of a thickness of the solid hardwood component to a thickness of the wood composite component being from about 1:1 to about 1:10. The laminated wood piece is suitable for use a door stile.

Abstract: Electrical resistance welding with low heat input in conjunction with applied forces effecting compressive forces in the weld are utilized to weld materials sensitive to hot cracking. An electrode coupled with a force applicator performs a low heat input resistance-type weld with triaxial compressive forces introduced in the weld to prevent or inhibit the formation of tensile induced cracks in the weld. This enables subsequent fusion welding overlying the initial weld without risk of hot cracking in the final weld.

Abstract: The apparatus of the invention forms a sealed pocket area which excludes water or other liquid fluent directly over a portion of an angled configuration that is to be welded, where the angled configuration is created by teeing two pieces of material together at an angle and joining them by fillet welding.