Abstract: A whipped cream making machine comprising a fixed whipping barrel, having a substantially labyrinth passage defined therein, to which a liquid milk product is supplied under pressure after having been sucked by and mixed with a gas in a suction pump. The liquid milk product mixed with air is emulsified as it flows through the labyrinth passage in the fixed whipping barrel and then is supplied towards a rotary whipping barrel having therein a stirring rod rotatable about its longitudinal axis. The emulsified milk product is stirred so that it can further be emulsified during its flow through the rotary whipping barrel. The machine further comprises a platform arrangement for the support of an article to be decorated with the whipped cream discharged from a dispensing nozzle of the whipping machine.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in dispensing fluid into individual containers is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a dispensing head and a transport mechanism comprising an endless conveyor, the dispensing head being attached to the conveyor, which conveyor provides means for moving the dispensing head in a predetermined path above an array of sample containers. A drive arrangement is provided for the transport mechanism, there being a detector incorporated in the drive arrangement for indicating when the drive arrangement has driven the transport mechanism so that the conveyor has moved the dispensing head a predetermined distance along the predetermined path.

Abstract: A self-gripping scissors-type shear cutting device for pile cutting. The ar blades of this cutting device have spikes located on the blades which automatically grip and hold the wood pile being cut, thus preventing slipping or squeeze-off of the work to be severed. This device avoids the use or need for additional clamping or gripping arrangements to hold the cutting blades against the pile to prevent slipping.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tool set for forming dovetail joints including elongated dovetail and pin template plates and dovetail and pin bits. The dovetail plate has a plurality of laterally-extending slots opening through a long edge of the plate, the slots having opposed parallel edges. The dovetail and pin bits are each provided with a bearing about their respective shanks. The elongated pin template plate has a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings each having opposed edges angled to converge toward one another at the same angle as the angle of the cutter of the dovetail bit. To form a dovetail joint using the kit, the dovetail template is disposed over the end edge of a joint member and the dovetail bit is passed through each slot with its bearing engaging the opposed edges of the slot to guide the bit whereby through dovetails are cut in the end of the joint member. The dovetailed member is then disposed over the end edge of the adjoining member and the pin locations are scribed onto its end edge.

Abstract: Disclosed is a nut having an internally threaded cylindrical inner wall portion joined at one end by a connecting portion to an outer wall portion and separated by an annular volume. The outer wall portion possesses resilient reentrant fingers located opposite the connecting portion and having terminations that project beyond the inner periphery of the inner wall portion. A bolt has external threads that mate with the internal threads of the inner wall portion and also engage and deform outwardly the terminations of the resilient fingers. Discontinuous locking recesses are disposed at spaced apart locations in the grooves of the external bolt threads. During engagement of the nut, the terminations of the resilient fingers spring into locking position within the locking recesses upon circumferential alignment therebetween and prevent reverse rotation of the nut.

Abstract: An improved tire and wheel for road vehicles, the tire being either of tubeless or inflatable tube arrangement and of the radial and belted type and includes flexurally deformable tire side walls. The improvement comprises side wall restraining annular members for localizing a side wall flexural deformation to an annular portion of the sidewall to provide a material decrease of the tire flattening amplitude under load. The tire tread may include apex-shaped extensions on either side thereof which are integral with the belt and tread containing perimetrical portions of the tire carcass to laterally widen the road/tire contact interface area and structure for improving the load carrying and handling characteristic of the tire.

Abstract: A tire changing apparatus of the type having a base, a table mounted on the base for receiving and supporting a wheel, a rotatable tool driving post extending through the table, an upper bead loosener assembly engageable with the upper side wall of a tire received on the table, a lower loosening assembly engageable with the lower side wall of a tire on the table and a motor for driving the bead looseners and the post. Included is an extendable connection between the lower bead loosener and the drive which may be utilized to facilitate loosening beads on small diameter wheels and which automatically restores itself to a normal configuration. Also included is a guide for the upper bead loosener which is movably mounted to guide the upper bead loosener generally radially of a wheel for positioning purposes.

Abstract: A roller blind cassette has two holders displaceable along the cassette to its ends when the cassette has been placed between two opposing elements of a window frame or the like, said elements having fixtures with projecting members engaging the holders at their end positions for holding the cassette in position.

Abstract: A venetian blind construction for use in a building having a recess adjacent a window, comprises, a drive gear for driving the blinds which has a hub portion with a receiving socket for a drive shaft which is contained in a separate venetian blind top box or housing. The drive shaft is supported on spaced apart bearing sleeves contained in the venetian blind housing, and the shaft may be slid axially in the support sleeve bearings after it is first supported on fixed brackets arranged alongside the drive gear so as to cause the shaft to engage in the socket recess to be driven by the drive gear. The shaft is of polygonal section, and it engages in a sleeve of a similar polygonal bore, and the sleeve is rotatably supported in the venetian blind top box housing. Individual slats of the blind are supported on a pull chain which is engaged over a sprocket affixed to a sleeve so that rotation of the drive shaft causes a rotation of the sprocket and movement of the pull chain supporting the blinds.

Abstract: It is known to fill errosion holes in ingot mould bottoms, and other holes in ferrous metal bodies, with metal produced in situ by exothermic reaction. By the present invention, the exothermic composition is used in conjunction with a particulate refractory material. The refractory is bound by a matrix of solidified slag, produced by the reaction, to form a non-metallic filling having a working surface providing a high resistance to thermal shock. A metal phase is produced by the reaction but is merely incidental.

Abstract: A heat exchange recuperator comprising a box-like housing having inlets and outlets for heating gases and gases to be heated, respectively, connecting plates mounted on a lower and an upper walls of said housing, and a plurality of hollow metallic plates disposed in spaced relation sandwiched by said connecting plates. The heating gases are adapted to pass through the spaces between said hollow plates and the gases to be heated are adapted to pass through said hollow plates. A plurality of generally U-shaped heat-resisting cover plates are detachably mounted on the upstream ends, with respect to the heating gases, of said each hollow plates, respectively, with defining spaces between the upstream ends of said hollow plates and inner walls of said cover plates.

Abstract: Apparatus and method of metal casting utilize a die having at least one helical rib or channel surrounded by a cooler which cooperates with a means for imparting a relative screwing motion, such as a pair of rollers at an angle to the longitudinal member which is being cast, to screw a helically shaped metal member continuously from the die.

Abstract: A plurality of carriages, each containing a pouring ladle, are provided for pouring molten metal into moving molds of a conveyor. The carriages are essentially driven from a single motor and move in a closed loop containing a loading zone and a pouring zone. Each carriage contains a clutch pump and a brake pump to control movement along the loop. Rotation of ladles to a pour position is attained by use of a parallelogram linkage on the carriage and remotely located variable pour rate controls.

Abstract: This invention is a heating and cooling wall panel that accomplishes heating by radiating to bodies in a space thermal energy from a source of warmed water delivered to the panel at low pressure, and cools bodies in a space by absorbing thermal energy radiated to the panel from those bodies and passing the heat thus gained to a cooled fluid also delivered at low pressure. The heat transfer by this panel is accomplished when only small temperature differentials exist between the fluid and the space owing to the extreme thinness of the radiating-cum-absorbing panel face.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improvement in an apparatus for ammonia feed in copying equipment with a cold trap, for freezing out ammonia and water from air extracted from the immediate vicinity of a developing chamber, in particular from pre-chambers, together with a rectifying column for releasing ammonia from the frozen-out ammonia-water mixture and recycling the gaseous ammonia into the developing chamber, the improvement comprising heat exchanger means,With two heat-conducting channels adjacent each other through which the extracted air flows counter-currently, a cold source inSaid heat exchanger means, said source being at a transition position between said channels and surrounded thereby, heat source meansAdapted to heat said heat exchanger means, outlet means on said heat exchanger means, means connecting said outlet means on said heat exchanger means to said rectifying column, and means connecting said rectifying column to said developing chamber.

Abstract: There is disclosed apparatus for condensing steam, or other vapors containing non-condensibles such as air, which includes bundles each made up of a single row of parallel, side-by-side and spaced-apart tubes over which air is passed in a direction transverse to the row. Each tube has substantially parallel side walls which are generally parallel to the side walls of adjacent tubes, with the side walls being substantially longer in the direction of air flow than the width of the tube.

Abstract: A heat exchanging wall including a base member made of a material comprising graphite as its principal component and a resin as a binder, and a thin outer coat member made of similar material as the material for the base member and applied to one surface of the base member. The material for the base member is cast in a mold having a finely ribbed inner wall surface so that the base member may be formed in such one surface thereof with fine linear grooves. Portions of the thin outer coat member corresponding in position to the grooves in such one surface of the base member are formed with a multitude of small apertures. The heat exchanging wall constructed as aforementioned has high corrosion-resistant characteristics and high heat transfer capabilities, so that the wall is resistant to all corrosive fluids.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes banks of double-pipe elements connected to oval headers, the opposite ends of which are connected by round transition elements to main headers. Each oval header and the respective transition elements are formed from a single, integral member, initially a cylindrical pipe, without connecting welds. The outer ends of the transition elements are reduced to form nipple elements for attachment to the main headers. The nipple elements have a greater wall thickness than the transition elements.

Abstract: A heat exchanger comprising a refrigerant tube in coil form leading from the output side of a compressor and a water tube in coil form tapped from a source of water to be heated, the tubes being coiled together so that each coil of the water tube is interposed between a coil of said refrigerant tube, and vice-versa. Inner and outer cylindrical sleeves are disposed within and around the coiled tubes thereby defining an annulus which enhances the heat transfer from said refrigerant tube to the water tube. A housing surrounds said coiled tubes and said sleeves, and sealed end caps are provided at each end of the exchanger.

Abstract: Data useful for evaluating the effectiveness of or designing an enhanced recovery process said process involving mobilizing and moving hydrocarbons through a hydrocarbon bearing subterranean formation from an injection well to a production well by injecting a mobilizing fluid into the injection well, comprising(a) determining hydrocarbon saturation in a volume in the formation near a well bore penetrating formation,(b) injecting sufficient mobilizing fluid to mobilize and move hydrocarbons from a volume in the formation near the well bore, and(c) determining the hydrocarbon saturation in a volume including at least a part of the volume of (b) by an improved single well surfactant method comprising injecting 2 or more slugs of water containing the primary tracer separated by water slugs containing no primary tracer.

Abstract: After drilling an earth borehole, the drill pipe and drill bit are removed from the borehole and the drill pipe is reinserted into the borehole. A flexible hose such as a fire hose, and having a retro-nozzle at its lower end, is then pumped down through the interior of the drill pipe and a portion of the hose is pumped out through the end of the drill pipe for a desired distance. A well logging instrument is pumped through the flexible hose which extends down past the bottom of the drill pipe and well logging operations are performed through the flexible hose. In very hot wells, the drilling mud or other circulating fluid can continue to be pumped through the flexible hose to provide cooling of the well logging instrument.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for instantaneous response, evacuation and control of a fire in a conventional multi-story building, having substantial side wall portions formed of glass or brick. A suspendable and/or connectable personnel platform is provided with telescoping fire suppressant nozzles adapted for coupling to a fire suppressant supply system constructed in the corners and/or side walls of a building. A computerized control network facilitates fire detection and remote actuation of the system and positioning of the platform at the necessary building level. The platform includes a cage for the protection of the evacuees of the particular floor of the building being serviced. In addition, the platform includes a horizontal supply line which couples to the building fire suppressant supply system for permitting the telescoping nozzles to spray the subject combustion.

Abstract: A hand-propelled cultivator implement having a frame with a wheel journaled on the front of the frame for rollingly supporting the implement as it is moved over the ground. A cage is provided on the frame for rigidly mounting a selected cultivating tool on the frame in a cultivating position for cultivating the soil as the cultivator is moved over the ground and for permitting quick change of one cultivating tool for another. The cultivating tool mounting arrangement further includes a locking member manually movable from a retracted position in which a cultivating tool may be removed from its cage and replaced by another tool and a locking position in which the locking member positively retains the cultivating tool within the cage. In another embodiment, a plurality of tools are rigidly mounted on a rotatable turret, the latter being positively retained in any selected one of a plurality of positions by a movable locking member.

Abstract: Disclosed is an agricultural roller useful, for example, in closing and packing furrows after they have been sowed by a seed drill. The roller includes a generally rectangular frame equipped with several roller mounting stations for mounting the desired number of pairs of rollers for a particular use in side-by-side alignment. The frame is also equipped with alternate towbar mounting stations and means for positioning the towbar appropiately for the number of roller pairs employed, and with mounting stations for outrigger frames carrying additional roller pairs when desired. The roller pairs are so mounted on the frame (and outriggers) that they are pivotable in a vertical plane transverse to the rolling direction to closely follow the land contour.

Abstract: A driver tool of the power hammer type is equipped with a compression spring acting on the anvil of the tool and loaded by the weight of the tool and by downcrowding to store energy from the load and from attempted rebound of the anvil which is released to the anvil in a driving direction adding to the driving force of the hammer. The spring has a stiffness and a length effective to maintain a free stroke length for the hammer before impacting the anvil when the tool is loaded or downcrowded sufficiently to maintain the anvil thrusting against the workpiece and to develop and build up vibrations from the hammer blows. The hammer blows are divided into impulses by the vibrations allowing the workpiece to recover from blows of magnitudes beyond the elastic limit of the workpiece material which would otherwise damage the workpiece.

Abstract: There is provided in accordance with the invention apparatus and a method for boring holes through carbonaceous deposits.The method involves the step of introducing combustion-supporting gases such as air under pressure through the apparatus installed in a well hole opposite the area to be bored. The apparatus comprises inner and outer flexible tubes with flexible, jointed armour and a directional nozzle which permits it to be bent and change attitude as necessary. The adjacent carbonaceous interface after being ignited is maintained in this condition by the combustion-supporting gas which is supplied under pressure. As the combustion proceeds, the pressure expels the combustion products and the gas injector is advanced along the channel it has previously formed.

Abstract: A tool for introducing self-tapping dowels in a structure by a drilling process which is accompanied by the generation of large-size drillings, has a shaft connectable with a drive, a dowel holder connectable with the shaft and having a receiving bore which includes a first section adapted to receive a dowel shank and a second section adapted to receive the large-size drillings, and a suction arrangement movable relative to the dowel holder to and from an operative position in which it communicates with the second portion of the dowel holder and draws air therethrough to thereby suck the large-size drillings into the second section of the dowel holder bore wherein they are retained during the drilling process.

Abstract: A vibration damper for an impact tool comprises a damping material which at least partly surrounds the working part of the tool, a heat shrinkable sleeve for holding the damping material in place on the working part of the tool.

Abstract: A nutating earth drilling bit which is adapted for use in drilling systems in which the drilling fluid and cuttings are transported from bit to surface through the interior of the drill string. The nutating bit is provided with a toroidal cutting member and a longitudinally extending annular shank, both of which have longitudinally extending passageways aligned with one another and in flow communication with the central return conduit of the drill string. The cutting member of one embodiment has a segmented cutting web at its lower end which divides the central passageway into three separate fluid return channels. Another embodiment drills an annular hole face around an uncut earth core, the core being permitted to rise into the shank member where it is broken into short segments by a core breaker.

Abstract: A balancing scale or electromagnetically compensated weighing apparatus has an independently actuatable and temperature-sensitive magnetic device for balancing a load member; the magnetic device forms a magnetic circuit, and includes a temperature-sensitive corrective device affecting the circuit in at least two locations, so as to substantially temperature-compensate the magnetic circuit over a predetermined temperature range.

Abstract: A skid steer loader having an improved hydrostatic drive means. A skid steer loader comprises a main frame having a center compartment partially defined by a pair of longitudinally extending, laterally spaced side beams. The engine for the vehicle is mounted at the rear of the center compartment. An elongated transmission case is provided at a forward end of the center compartment and encloses the chain and sprocket drives for the vehicle. Side walls of the transmission case are displaced from the side walls of the main frame, with the drive means for the vehicle mounted on the outside of the case at a mid-portion thereof. The present improvement in the skid steer loader redesigns a drive system used with vehicles of substantially greater load capacity to provide a pair of independent hydrostatic drive means, each incorporating a hydrostatic transmission and having a gear reduction unit mounted on the outside of an elongated transmission case.

Abstract: An electrically assisted pedal power vehicle includes a rotation sensing arrangement sensing the direction of rotation of a rotary drive member in the pedal propulsion mechanism of the vehicle. The rotation sensing arrangement includes a pair of switches actuable by means on the drive member. The switches control a monostable circuit such that the circuit produces an output pulse only when the switches are actuated in the correct order. A frequency to voltage converter may be driven by the monostable circuit with a Schmidt trigger sensitive to the output of the converter controlling the electric drive motor.

Abstract: An automobile including a body provided with a passenger compartment and a uniquely shaped front end section whereby the forward motion of the automobile will result in a highly effective channeling of oncoming air to the roof of the passenger compartment. An opening is provided at the forefront of the roof contiguous with the downstream end of the front air scoop, and communicating with a chamber arranged above the passenger compartment of the automobile. The chamber includes a rear exit vent. Within the chamber there is an angularly oriented impeller positioned in the direct path of the air forced through the chamber by the front air scoop whereby the impeller is driven by the forced air. The impeller is connected by a suitable mechanical coupling to a generator to provide auxiliary power for the automobile.

Abstract: Routing decisions for vehicles following current-carrying guidewires and carrying destination addresses are made at intersections of a guidewire system without the need for storing large amounts of data at the intersections by making inequality and equality comparisons of destination addresses with one or a few numbers stored at each intersection and basing routing on the results of one or a combination of two such comparisons.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns itself with labyrinth speakers systems which are provided with a plurality of internal partitions which are generally spaced from each other and are provided with apertures therein to form at least one tortuous path for a backwave generated by a loudspeaker. In one embodiment, the partitions are substantially cylindrical walls concentrically aligned with each other. The cylindrical walls have different diameters to form annular intermediate chambers. Other embodiments described include partitions which are planar and are substantially rectangular in shape. These partitions are spaced from each other along an axis of symmetry and are alternately provided with peripheral and central openings so that the backwave, while propagating between an initial and a final chamber of the enclosure, are successively broken up into a substantially annular shape and subsequently reconstituted.

Abstract: A loudspeaker enclosure comprises a shell having an opening therein and a loudspeaker mounting baffle disposed over the opening. The shell is formed entirely from one or more diaphragm members or passive radiators which oscillate in response to selected low frequency sound waves emanating from a loudspeaker mounted within the enclosure. The diaphragms forming the shell reinforce the forward acoustic radiation from the loudspeaker and militate against the formation of standing waves within the enclosure.

Abstract: A ring of tubes extends inwardly from a noise suppressor housing wall sufficiently far to impinge upon the periphery of the high velocity core of a supersonic jet exhaust to disrupt the core and reduce the sound power generated. A large volume of outside cooling air is induced by jet pump action into the suppressor; and a portion of this cooling air is ducted through the tubes and into the exhaust stream to maintain the temperature of the tubes below an acceptable level to prevent their premature destruction.

Abstract: Self adjusting stair walkway with double side handrailing keyed and hinged to opposed side bar hinge linkage configurations that have steps hinge supported in a manner that upon the main side bars being swung in an arc about its support hinge the steps remain level for practical use as a safe self supporting stairway suitable for pedestrian traffic from seventy-five degrees below the horizontal to sixty degrees above the horizontal then folds to an essentially vertical compactness upon reaching ninety degrees above the horizontal to a standby position. Opposed side gears hydraulically driven are provided for safely swinging the level step stairs that will hydraulically lock the stairs in a desired inclination whereupon controllable opposed ratchet and pawl configurations can safely and additionally lock the stairs in the position.

Abstract: A hand climber for use with a foot actuated tree climbing platform embodying an elongated bar slidably connected to the forward ends of a first pair of links which extend along opposite sides of the tree. A second pair of links extend forwardly along opposite sides of the tree with the forward ends thereof being pivotally connected to the rearwardly extending ends of the first pair of links. The rear ends of the second pair of links are pivotally connected to each other whereby all of the links are movable to adjust themselves to the contour of the tree and are movable to extended and collapsed positions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for greasing an article such as a wheel bearing in a common vice including a housing defining an internal grease chamber including a first open end; a dished piston slideably insertable into said chamber, including a threaded aperture; a stem threadably mounted in the piston aperture; and a tapered spool compression application member disposed over the stem for forcing the piston against the grease to cause grease to pass through the piston and into the bearing.

Abstract: A C-shaped caliper member straddles the hollow cylindrical braking member, a hydraulic actuator and brake shoes on the respective sides of the braking member. To axially retain the caliper member two circumferential, laterally projecting shoulders are provided on the end of the backing plate of at least one of the brake shoe remote from but facing the intermediate portion of the caliper member abutting against flats on the fixed support of the brake, an axial bearing surface extending from the opposite end of the backing plate, and an axial bearing surface on the caliper member or a part associated therewith axially beyond the first mentioned axially bearing surface, the axial bearing surfaces being cooperable with a removable retaining pin.

Abstract: A hydraulic back-up system for use in combination with an equalizer beam of a drawworks brake system during the drilling of an oil and/or gas well bore for reducing the hazards in the event of failure of the drawworks braking system by automatically locking the equalizer beam in order that a single brake band of a two-brake band system will function for holding the load in an emergency situation.

Abstract: An electric current collection system comprises a continuously live conductor, a shield enclosing the continuously live conductor, and contact segments extending through the shield in a row extending along the length of the continuously live conductor and resiliently mounted so as normally to be electrically isolated from the continuously live conductor and from each other but adapted to co-operate with a current collecting device running along the row to make electrical contact with an external contact surface of each segment in succession and displace the segment to bring an internal contact surface afforded by it into electrical connection with an internal contact surface afforded by the continuous live conductor. Each segment includes a bar portion affording an internal contact surface and extending through the shield in a direction substantially perpendicular to the length of the live conductor and to the direction of displacement of the segment.

Abstract: A power collection apparatus is disclosed for the purpose of power distribution from a central power supply to the propulsion motors of at least one mass transit vehicle operative with a predetermined roadway track, including one or more rail gaps and/or crossover switches, to permit the vehicle to transfer from one section to a second section of that roadway track. The power collection apparatus includes collector support apparatus carried by each vehicle and designed to be operative with a rail support member for three individual phase power rails, a ground rail and a signal rail, permitting high speed vehicle passage through a rail gap and a crossover switch.

Abstract: A free wheeling tire having the ability to resist increased rotational speed under load is comprised of a hub portion, rim portion, and a multiplicity of flexure members defining voids extending continuously from one side of the tire to another. Deleterious heat generated during operation is successfully dissipated through the increased surface area provided by the voids and by the nature of geometrical element configuration. The tires are placed in a gravity roller conveyor in arrays where each array may have different speed control characteristics permitting variations in speeds of objects as they move from one array to another.

Abstract: Battery plate elements and separator elements are maintained in racks along opposite sides of a conveyor. Pivotally swingable vacuum pickup heads serve to withdraw plates and separators from their racks and deposit them onto the conveyor. A plurality of plates or separators are withdrawn simultaneously, and the conveyor is indexed from withdrawal station to withdrawal station for stacking the plates and separators one upon the other, alternately, whereby at any given time a plurality of plate and separator sandwiches are being formed, in different progressive stages. Capability is provided for adjustments for handling different sized plates and separators as well as the number of elements in a given stack. Synchronous drive means and adjustable vacuum means are disclosed.

Abstract: A bottle labeling apparatus is provided in known manner with a turntable for picking up bottles at one location and delivering them elsewhere. The turntable has a plurality of rotary heads at its perimeter, the heads rotating regularly during a part of their cycle but being accelerated or retarded during the pickup and delivery operations by means of a cam and follower. Each rotary head carries a clamp comprising a pair of resiliently urged jaws for picking up and releasing a bottle when the axis of the bottle at the pickup and discharge stations, respectively, lies within the plane of symmetry of the clamp jaws.

Abstract: This invention relates to a variable speed vibratory conveyor or feeder which comprises a material-carrying member mounted on isolation springs, and an exciter connected to the member by a spring system. The exciter carries a rotatably mounted eccentric weight for imparting vibrations to the material-carrying member, and a hydraulic control system is provided for varying the position of the eccentric weight relative to its axis of rotation in order to vary the amplitude of the vibrations imparted to the material-carrying member.

Abstract: A toothed sprocket wheel provides an idler for driving test tube holders into and out of sharp turns which occur in the track of an automatic sample changer employed in radiopharmaceuticals. The sprocket is provided with a selected number of well-defined teeth and is rotatably mounted at the center of a relatively sharp turn so as to transfer the linear motion from the test tube holder at its point of entry into the turn to the test tube holder at the point of exit from the turn. Also disclosed is a tensioner or positioner in a substantially linear alignment of the test tube holders such that, upon varying the degree of insertion of the sprocket teeth between successive test tube holders, the relative spacing between successive test tube holders, and the overall test tube holder train length may be adjusted to compensate for expansion/contraction of the holders due to environmental conditions.

Abstract: Accumulator apparatus including spaced frame members with an accumulator space therebetween. Alternate pairs of fixed axis sprockets and slidable take up sprockets are mounted on opposite sides of the frame. A pair of endless chain members are reeved over the sprockets and have a plurality of gondola assemblies mounted therebetween. Separate drive units are provided to drive the chains at the infeed and outfeed ends thereof.