Abstract: An auto-loading firearm has a firing mechanism that selectively permits (1) conventional semi-automatic operation or (2) automatic operation that permits bursts to be fired at a rate which can be varied between 1 and about 12 rounds per second in response to the finger pressure on the trigger, without release of the trigger or adjustment to the firearm. The mechanism for accomplishing variable rate of fire includes a cam surface on the bolt carrier which causes the trigger to move forward at one point in the firing cycle, an automatic trigger disengager device pivotally mounted on the frame for coopertion with the trigger, and a trigger depressor device, the mechanism being brought into an operating mode by a manually operated selector lever which has a variable fire position and a safety position. In the event that the variable rate mechanism becomes inoperative, as by breakage of a part the firearm will be fail safe and will operate in the semi-automatic mode.

Abstract: An injection molding machine wherein the ram in the injection cylinder can be moved at several speeds and can be subjected to different fluid pressures by an apparatus having a two-way valve whose inlet is connectable to one or more pumps by way of discrete check valves and whose outlet is connected with a chamber of the injection cylinder by a conduit containing an electrically adjustable pressure relief valve. The valve member of the two-way valve is movable between a first position in which it completely seals the inlet from the outlet and several second positions in which it acts as a flow regulating means to permit the fluid to flow from the inlet to the outlet at a selected rate. The valve member is movable by a solenoid-operated pilot valve which cooperates with a stop extending into the path of movement of the valve member and being movable axially by a reversible motor which is controlled by the programming system of the injection molding machine.

Abstract: To permit dry operation of a piston within the cylinder, the cylinder is made of metal, and the piston is made of polytetrafluorethylene; the piston, preferably, is formed with an annular ring groove extending downwardly from an end face thereof to leave a circumferential lip, the groove having a spring located therein biasing the lip outwardly against the cylinder wall, to provide for sealing contact of the lip against the cylinder wall, which is additionally reinforced by pressure of the gas being compressed by movement of the piston within the cylinder, tending to expand the lip against the piston surface, at the time when the compression is highest, and sealing is the most desired.

Abstract: A pneumatic pump adapted primarily as a left ventricular heart assist device includes a flexible bladder with a rigid housing. A pneumatic driver applies rhythmical pulses between the bladder and the housing to repetitively collapse the bladder and establish a pumping action through the bladder, in conjunction with check valves in the inlet and outlet to the bladder. Between the driver and the pump there is provided a pneumatic pulse limiter which includes a flexible diaphragm isolating the driver from the pump. Pulses from the driver are transmitted to the pump only through the flexible diaphragm and the diaphragm is constrained to move only within established limits. Regardless of the magnitude of the pulse from the driver, the maximum pulse applied to the pump cannot exceed that corresponding to the maximum displacement of the diaphragm.Between successive pulses, the portion of the system between the driver and the flexible diaphragm is depressurized.

Abstract: A piston and piston rod construction for use in a double-acting reciprocating pump, and a method of flushing a piston-type pump. The piston has spaced apart rubbers mounted on a body intermediate its length. The rubbers have confronting lips. Each rubber alternately is the working rubber and the idle rubber as the pump operates. Fluid under a pressure greater than the pump discharge pressure is introduced to the space between rubbers, where it is effective to flush particles from the surface of the liner in front of the working rubber.

Abstract: A method for continuous fabrication of bags from a longitudinally advanced two-layer thermoplastic film web fed tangentially onto a rotating drum for carrying out transverse web seam welding and severing, with high speed operations facilitated by tensioning the web as it is being fed onto the drum, and with web tension release just before or as the seam welding is effected to ensure good quality seaming.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assembling a carton from a body forming blank and a pair of end forming blanks wherein the end forming blanks each include a pair of side flaps and a bottom flap.

Abstract: A laminar flow producing means is described having a blower which passes air to a distributor having a buffer zone with a ratio between its volume and cross-sectional area A being smaller than 1/2.sqroot.A and two mesh screens spaced about 0.2 to 5 cm apart and each having mesh openings measuring about 0.001 to 1mm so that the air from the blower is passed through the screen meshes seriatim to produce a clean, dust-free laminar flow of air.

Abstract: A fume hood is provided having an air intake and an air exhaust communicating with each other through the interior of a fume hood cabinet by way of a by-pass passageway and open front on said cabinet. A plurality of sashes are carried by track means which enable them to move selectively horizontally relative to each other across the open front of the fume hood cabinet to variably open and close the same selectively and relative to the open front. Means connected to the sashes provided for coincidental selective movement therewith to variably close and open the communication of air between the air intake and air exhaust through the by-pass passageway of the fume hood cabinet according to the selective movement of said sashes.

Abstract: A device for toasting bread or other toastable food items over a fire or camping stove, particularly over butane type burners, consisting of two hinged plates with a series of various size holes therethrough with the plates designed to rest over the stove or fire in the shape of a triangle, with the plates being provided with grids to support the toasted item near but away from the plates, with each plate also being provided with a flange to support the toasted item at a predetermined distance above the heat. The toaster is also provided with a heat shield on each side of the toaster consisting of a metal plate which is hingably attached to one of the toasting plates and is snapped onto the other toasting plate to maintain the toasting plates in an open position during toasting, with the heating plates diverting the heat from the stove or fire to the inside surfaces of the toasting plates.

Abstract: A device for forming a laminate of, for example, dough sheets, comprising an input conveyor and an output conveyor for the sheets, there being a transfer conveyor between said input and output conveyors, which comprises a series of groups of rollers adapted to be advanced bodily across the output conveyor whilst a sheet is being fed onto the rollers of a group and the rollers being capable of rotation to discharge a sheet therefrom onto the output conveyor, there being spaces between the groups of rollers, through which the sheets are discharged, the whole operation being continuous such that a laminate of sheets is formed on the output conveyor which is preferably advanced such that the sheets are laid thereon in overlapping relationship.

Abstract: In the dough proofing machine described a housing contains a conveyor extending in a tortuous path from one end to the other, a heater and steam injector positioned in the center of the housing. Transversely extending vertically disposed plenum walls are located on either side of the heater and extend all the way to the side walls of the apparatus. A blower is associated with the heater to direct the air flow downwardly into a distribution plenum located below the heater and openings are provided in the front and rear of the distribution plenum allowing the air to travel in two substantially balanced symmetrically arranged flow paths, one of which is directed forwardly and upwardly and the other rearwardly and upwardly thereby balancing the conditions of humidity and temperature substantially throughout the entire apparatus. An air flow controller introduces outside air and exhausts circulating air as conditions require.

Abstract: A dry peeler for fleshy fruit is formed as a rotating cage having an annular helical conveyor with axially extending, circumferentially spaced neoprene peeling cords 3/8 inch in diameter stretched between adjacent convolutions of the helical conveyor. A neoprene stabilizing cable is tied to the mid portions of the peeling cords, which cable can surround all cords or can be threaded to pass inside and outside of selected peeling cords for increasing the aggressiveness of the peeling action.

Abstract: An apparatus for husking nuts, in a continuous manner without causing damage to the shell and the kernels thereof, the apparatus having a conveyor drum which includes double-spiraled, transporting rib members radially arranged about the conveyor drum, whereby the nuts received therein are forced progressively in a twisting action against a stationary plate member and a plurality of spring-biased, husking fingers, at which time, the husk material is thereby separated from the shell of the nut and allowed to discharge between the drum and stationary plate member, while the remaining nut shell, together with the kernel therein, is transported to be discharged separately at one end of the apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus on a round bale forming machine for wrapping a strand of binding twine around a round bale of crop material prior to discharging said bale from the machine. Said apparatus includes a strand directing arm pivotally supported upon a fixed member adjacent the forward end of the machine for movement of the outer end of the arm by powered actuating mechanism between opposite sides of the machine to effect a roving of the twine feeding from said outer end of the arm around and between opposite ends of a round bale to place tension upon said twine as fed from said outer end of said arm, and including an auxiliary spring connected to said arm and operable to produce supplemental tensioning force upon said outer end of said arm as the same approaches the outer extremities of the path of movement thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a deflection compensating press roll of a rolling mill having a pair of press rolls at least one of which is a deflection compensating roll having a support core, a roll shell rotatably mounted about the core, bearing means disposed between the core and the roll shell adjacent the shell ends, a plurality of support devices engaged between the core and the roll shell to exert forces therebetween and pressure means for pressing the rolls against each other, the control apparatus comprises a frame, a movable member mounted in the frame, means coupled with the support devices and the pressure means and responsive to the forces exerted thereby for exerting a force on the movable member which simulates the forces exerted by the support devices and the pressure means so that the movable member is maintained in an equilibrium position when the forces exerted by the support devices and the pressure means are substantially in equilibrium, means for sensing displacement of the movable member

Abstract: A double facer platen is constructed so as to utilize a liquid heating medium which flows through a chamber containing a labyrinth defining a flow passage whose cross-sectional area decreases in the direction of flow from an inlet toward an outlet. The platen is adapted for use with liquids which have a temperature in excess of 400.degree. F. and a pump pressure of about 50 psi.

Abstract: Hot printing of hard copy i.e., human readable, characters to meet the strict, high quality dimensional and other standards required for automatic optical or other means of reading such characters. The printing is effected by a heat responsive ink means. In the present embodiment, the ink means is heated by the printing members.Documents, especially tags or labels, marked with such hot printed automatically readable characters. The documents may also contain punched encoded information; and may further have printed thereon conventional, human but not automatically readable characters.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved design of removable type carrying fingers used in belt printer applications wherein a shoulder is provided on the fingers to fix the fingers with respect to the edge surface of the belt and the shoulder is located where the concentration of stresses developed at the shoulder during printing are compressive and not tensile.

Abstract: A baling press especially for fibrous materials comprises a press box with a filler box located above it, a plunger for moving the material to be baled out of the filler box into the press box, and retaining fingers which prevent material moved by the plunger from returning. The filler box has two opposite fixed walls and two hinged opposite walls which are located between the fixed walls and which are capable of pivoting through a small angle relative to the axis of the press box when the plunger is withdrawn. The axes of the hinges of the hinged walls are fixed and extend transversely to the axis of the press box, so that, in use, material to be baled is fed through the filler box with its hinged walls inclined to the axis of the press box, and then with the hinged walls of the filler box aligned with the press box the plunger moves the material from the filler box into the press box.

Abstract: There is disclosed a printing, feeding and severing method and apparatus for carrying out the method. The apparatus includes a print head assembly and a platen assembly movable relatively toward and away from each other into and out of printing cooperation, mechanism for inking the print head assembly, mechanism for feeding a web of record members to between the print head assembly and the platen assembly, the web being in roll form and there being means to assist the gradual unwinding of the roll with gradual paying out of web material from the roll to the feeding mechanism, an idler contacting the web and disposed at a slight angle to the direction of feed of the web to cause the web to follow a feed edge, record severing means disposed downstream of the print head assembly and the platen assembly, and a modular support assembly of a print head of the print head assembly.

Abstract: Improved squeegee apparatus for screen printing of carpets and other materials. A reservoir for receiving printing liquid is supported in spaced apart relation with a printing screen having a perforated pattern design therein. A squeegee head having screen-contacting sealing members is suspended from the reservoir with a flexible interconnection allowing the squeegee to ride along the screen surface, as the screen and the squeegee head undergo relative movement during printing. The squeegee head is provided with pressure reactive surfaces which adjust the screen-engaging force of the squeegee head, and also the sealing of the sealing surfaces, in response to pressure of the printing liquid in the reservoir. The present squeegee apparatus is especially useful for rotary screen printing of carpets.

Abstract: An enclosed receptacle has a plurality of outlet nozzles, and is subdivided into two compartments one of which communicates with the outlet nozzles and which are separated by a flexible diaphragm. A cushion of compressed gas is maintained in the other compartment, and an arrangement is provided for admitting printing ink into the compartment communicating with the outlet nozzles.

Abstract: An apertured rectangular foil of substantially inextensible sheet metal, e.g. nickel or steel, has a hole at each corner engaged by a resiliently biased gripper exerting on it a diagonally outward force to hold the foil stretched in a surrounding tenter frame supporting these grippers. The frame is provided with marginal ledges, underlying the foil at least along the major sides of the rectangle, onto which the foil edges are releasably pressed by toggle clamps.

Abstract: Electrical control circuitry for driving a rotational print head to initiate an endorsement on a single side of paper checks traveling past the print head at a relatively constant velocity, including a bistable device operatively connected to control a ramp generator for accelerating the print head at a relatively constant rate from a stopped position to a present printing velocity and then decelerating the print head to a rest state at the same relatively constant rate after completion of document endorsement. The circuitry responds to closely-spaced documents entering the endorser by interrupting the head during its deceleration mode and maintaining the head at its interrupted velocity for a certain time delay in order to reaccelerate the head back to printing velocity at the same relatively constant rate in time for proper endorsement.

Abstract: A moving web is marked at spaced locations by a rotatable print head that is intermittently displaced into contact with the web during angular displacement between two rest positions by means of a signal controlled clutch drivingly connecting the print head to a driver driven by the movement of the web. In the rest positions of the print head, a print face is momentarily engaged by an ink storing device that is displaced from a retracted position.

Abstract: A printing plate is mounted on a driven print cylinder, and ink is applied to the face of the plate by an ink applying roll which forms a nip with an ink distributing roll positioned below and horizontally offset from the ink applying roll. The rolls are driven in timed relation by a set of connecting gears and are adjustable as a unit independently on opposite ends for selecting precision uniform contact of the ink applying roll with the printing plate. In addition, the ink distributing roll is adjustable on opposite ends independently relative to the ink applying roll for precisely adjusting the nip between the rolls without changing the drive relationship. The ink is supplied to the rolls by an ink recirculating pump actuated by a cam driven by the same motor which drives the print cylinder, the ink rolls and an optional web cut-off unit.

Abstract: A warhead which upon detonation imparts such high velocities to particles magnesium that they expand outwardly faster than the gas from the explosion. The particles are positioned so that they are propelled in predetermined directions. The burning particles precondition the air thus allowing the gaseous explosion products to expand in the particle paths at a much more rapid rate than normal. Larger aluminum particles are also positioned to travel in predetermined directions upon detonation. As the magnesium particles travel outward they lose their effect on the gas cloud because of the distance between them and the expanding gas cloud. The aluminum particles then emerge from the slowing gas cloud and precondition the air to promote more rapid and further expansion of the gas cloud in the paths of the aluminum particles.

Abstract: A compact, reliable, nonincendiary fireline cord detonator is disclosed which attaches without tools to a length of explosive fireline cord utilized to clear a path through a wooded or brush covered area. The detonator uses an exploding bridgewire squib to protect against a premature explosion caused by static electricity or electric current induced by spurious electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: A container capable of withstanding pressures having a longitudinal cord-receiving groove and a detonator-receiving groove formed as integral parts of the container. Radially projecting, substantially deformable, grooves are formed on the container at its upper and lower portions to retain a substantially non-deformable tubular sleeve positioned on the container, thereby covering the cord-receiving groove and the detonator-receiving groove. The threaded cap for the container has a projecting member which forms with the interior side walls of the cap, an annular slot for maintaining a resilient, deformable gasket. Upon threadedly engaging the cap with the threaded neck of the container the projecting member protrudes into and is adjacent the interior surface of the neck and the gasket cooperates with the edge portion of the neck to form the improved seal for the container.

Abstract: An improved twist brake for the separable payload of a twist or spin-stabilized flare or smoke projectile is described. A pair of pivotable wings, secured at one end to a portion of a central shaft of the payload, is normally engaged by the inner surface of a guide shoe which prevents contact of the wing with the separable housing of the payload. Cooperable projections and slots on the guide shoe and the central support shaft prevent substantial axial and circumferential movement of the shoe, while permitting outward movement of the wings and the guide shoes when the payload separates from the housing. During such separation, the guide shoe is also separated from the wings so that the latter can pivot to their maximum extent to provide an optimum rotational braking action on the payload.

Abstract: A two stage separable missile adapted to be expelled from a launch tube by separable ejector motor and propelled along its trajectory by a flight motor ignited after the missile leaves the launch tube. The first stage includes a warhead, flight rocket motor and foldable tail fins. The second stage mounts on the rear of the first stage and encloses the folded tail fins. The second stage includes an ejector rocket motor for ejecting the missile from its tube and a braking motor for separating the first and second stages and decelerating the second stage to a zero velocity by the time it has traveled the length of the launch tube.

Abstract: An igniter for a rocket motor consisting of a cylindrical tube having an open end and a closed end, a reduced section at the closed end, a plurality of segments extending outwardly from near the closed end, a squib secured in the reduced section, a charge in the tube and a polyurethane foam plug in the open end of the tube.

Abstract: An optical switch, which may be a part of a fuze for an explosive project, comprises a housing made up of a hollow cylindrical part with two end plates welded thereto and having a pair of aligned glass windows sealed through opposite sides for transmitting light transversely therethrough, a gas piston with O-ring seals slidable in the housing to define an end wall of a variable volume gas chamber therein and adapted to be moved by inertia during projectile launch to decrease the volume of the chamber and thereby increase the gas pressure, means for locking the piston in the new position, a valve in the housing for admitting a light attenuating gas to the chamber, an adjustable pressure relief valve in the housing adapted to open when the internal gas pressure exceeds the external pressure by a given amount, a light source positioned adjacent to the outside of one of the windows to project light through the windows and the attenuating gas, and a light-sensitive device positioned on the other side of the housin

Abstract: A fuse of the type disclosed in U.S. patent application 476,194 has a rod passing through a supporting disc and is axially shifted for releasing a rotor mechanism, it is provided with a head having a diameter larger than that of the said rod and which is in blocking relation to the rotor, said disc being blocked by a stationary disc forming a stop in fixed position and being locally deformed by the axial shifting of the said rod when the fuse is armed.

Abstract: A high-speed ground transportation system wherein a vehicle rides on a film of air and is propelled as a free piston through a tunnel by pneumatic pressure. Seals on the vehicle create fluid communication between a high pressure area behind the vehicle and the area beneath the vehicle while preventing fluid communication between that high pressure area and an evacuated area located in front of the vehicle, to create an air film beneath the vehicle upon which it rides. Cargo handling means are located near the tunnel and shunting means enable the vehicle to be shunted into those cargo handling areas when desired. Booster stations located at selected points serve to increase a pressure differential across a vehicle to assist that vehicle when necessary, and magnetic means are used to maintain the vehicle in a upright orientation as it is propelled through a tunnel.

Abstract: A speed control device for controlling the speed of a transport vehicle rolling on a rail track, especially for use in a shelf storage system in which a pair of spaced apart rails form part of the structure of a warehouse shelf and constitutes the supporting and guiding track for the vehicle, the transport vehicle being supported on the rails and wherein a rotating braking and accelerating member is provided for the vehicle. The speed control device for driving the braking and accelerating member drives at a predetermined speed. The braking and accelerating member consists essentially of a spring-tensioned endless belt, a fixed subframe, bracket support member, and a spring member. The belt is resiliently supported on the fixed subframe and is able to move from a rest position which is out of engagement with the driving member but in the path of said vehicle to a working position which is in engagement with the driving member and in frictional engagement with the vehicle.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for assisting skiers up ski slopes by means of an endless loop rope, comprising a first portable frame assembly having a rope drive wheel and drive sprocket, a motor drive source which is attachable to the first frame assembly, and a second portable frame assembly having a rotatable rope return pulley, where both frame assemblies have provision for anchoring to the ground and the second frame assembly has provision for spooling and carrying the endless loop rope.

Abstract: A conveying system for placement adjacent to the surface of an object for inspecting that surface is disclosed. The system comprises a parallel rail track formed from cylindrical rails and an inspection trolley riding on that track having two pairs of wheels arranged about the tracks. The first pair of wheels are axially undisplaceable relative to the rail and are formed of trough-shaped surfaces with a circumference of the same radius of the rail. The second set of wheels is displaceable relative to a second rail and engage that rail. The first set of wheels is driven by gears interposed between the wheels and a drive motor and utilize compression generating members to urge the wheels toward each other and toward the rail.

Abstract: The locking apparatus on a flatbed vehicle, etc., for engaging the corner fitting on a container carried thereby includes a shank with a crosshead which is moved into the corner fitting and is rotated 90.degree. to engage the locking device. The shank has an annular rack thereon. A gear segment engages this rack and is rotated manually to push the rack one way or the other to establish the desired axial position of the shank. On the distal end of the shank is a gear which engages a gear on a rotatable locking member. The locking member has teeth which engage the teeth of the rack to prevent axial movement of the rack and shank when the crosshead on the shank is in the locked position in the container corner fitting. The locking member is rotatable to move its teeth away from the rack and that rotation correspondingly rotates the shank.

Abstract: A shelving framework system for making up shelving units, desks, display units and the like for fitting out shops, stores and so on. The system uses sleeve units which can be partially telescoped into one another, and means for limiting the resulting interpenetration to form gaps between the units. Clips for the support of shelves or other accessories are attached to the sleeve units in the gaps.

Abstract: A system and process is disclosed for providing a durability enhanced area that is particularly well suited for use as an athletic playing field. A vegetative crop has one or more layers of netting associated therewith so that each layer of netting has portions of the vegetative crop extending therethrough. With grass utilized as the vegetative crop and the growing points of the grass within a rooting medium, the blades of the grass extend upwardly through a top layer of netting contiguous to and above the rooting medium to protect the growing points of the grass and to prevent excessive divoting when the area is used as an athletic playing field. A second layer of netting is positioned below the rooting medium so that the roots of the grass extend therethrough to give the turf the support strength that is particularly required where the area is used as an athletic playing field for playing a game such as football. Additional layers of netting may be utilized where needed or desired.

Abstract: An implement, preferrably a harrow having a row of soil working members mounted on upwardly extending shafts, has spraying nozzles for dispensing material on the ground adjacent the rear of the soil working members. The nozzles communicate with liquid material under pressure. The implement is coupled to a tractor and the operator of the tractor can monitor the material being sprayed by various devices in an electrical circuit that leads to the tractor. Wires are positioned to be bridged by the spray and indicator lights on the tractor dash board provide a visual signal when material is sprayed by each nozzle. Similarly, a micro switch or camera, or other actuation means can be located adjacent each nozzle to provide a signal for each nozzle spray. The nozzles communicate with an elongated pipe and the pipe is supported on the implement frame with adjusting means to change the direction of spray by the nozzles.

Abstract: Apparatus for burning waste polymers of selected combustion characteristics. A vertical or horizontal combustion assembly includes a base cylindrical portion having water-cooled walls to maintain a selected temperature by removal of the heat of combustion, a plurality of pipes for injecting combustion air tangentially into the interior space, a loading port in the wall of the base section and a burner for igniting the waste matter injected through the loading port. Downstream of the base section is a ceramic choke which has an axial opening therethrough of lesser diameter than an internal diameter of the base section followed by an afterburning chamber, which like the base section, has a plurality of air inlet pipes tangential to the chamber and a burner port for igniting vapors in the upper chamber. Combustion air is controlled so that less than stoichiometric air is injected into the lower chamber to provide a reducing atmosphere, with excess combustion air in the afterburning section.

Abstract: An improved seed planter having a seed conveyor which, in combination with a means for placing seeds on the seed conveyor as they are dispensed from a seed hopper, transports the seeds from the seed hopper to a seed release point in close proximity to the desired seed planting site in the tilled soil.

Abstract: A depth control and protective apparatus is disclosed as particularly useful in a tillage assembly for sod seeding purposes. The apparatus includes a pair of skids mounted upon a pivoted arm, which arm has also mounted thereon a pair of cutter wheels for cutting a furrow in ground to be seeded, each skid including a ground engaging portion to determine the maximum depth of furrow cut by the cutter wheel. Each skid is mounted for essentially vertical movement with respect to the associated arm and cutter wheel mounted thereon to thereby determine and control the depth of furrow cut by the associated cutter wheel. A substantially circular plate has an oval aperture in the central portion through which the axle and drive for the cutter wheel extends, and an inwardly directed cylindrical flange extends to the periphery of the circular plate to protect the axle and to provide for movement of the skid relative to the cutter wheel and axle.

Abstract: An improved seed planting roller for planting seeds in individual holes in the ground, and having means for reclosing the hole over the planted seed. Also, means are shown for altering the circumference of the roller for adjustment of planted seed spacing.

Abstract: A thread feeder for sewing machines is disclosed which feeds the thread from one of the bobbins to an automatic threading machine. It includes a movable table over the sewing machine, bobbins mounted thereon, thread tension regulators for adjusting tension to the thread from the bobbin, and feed rollers for feeding the thread from the thread tension regulator to the automatic threading device on a sewing machine. By such an arrangement, threads of different color or material can be fed conveniently one after another in a desired order.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for transferring cylindrical articles in a synchronous manner from a forming ram to a work station for further forming of the articles, the transfer being accomplished by interposing between the forming ram and work station a constantly rotating wheel structure having a plurality of pockets defined therein, each of the pockets being formed of at least two independently programmable and movable sections, the wheel and pockets therein being positioned with the axis of wheel structure parallel to the forming ram with the pockets arranged in a circular configuration which substantially coincides at at least one position with the axis of the ram with a pocket adjacent the ram upon each extension of the ram, displacing newly formed articles axially from the ram into a pocket adjacent thereto with the sections of the pocket in an open configuration, initiating closing of the leading pocket section prior to closing of the trailing pocket section and after the leading pocket section passes the ram

Abstract: A float for the intermediate storage at sea of crude oil, liquefied gas and the like, is formed of a toroidal body of revolution having a vertical axis. The toroidal body consists of a bottom plate in a form of a shallow annular shaped dish closed across its top by a circular cover plate. Partitions divide the interior of the body into individual compartments. Extensions projecting radially outwardly from the circumferential pheriphery of the body form docking surfaces and can house driving engines for propelling or positioning the float.