Abstract: A timepiece with an electrodynamically controlled clockwork has a torsion ndulum intermittently coupled through a gear train with the clockwork for the maintenance of its oscillations. The gear train includes a first pinion mounted on a weighted rocker tending to hold it in mesh with a driving gear actuated by the clockwork; the torsion spring of the pendulum carries near its suspension point a horizontal spur receivable in a slot of a stationary mounting member so as to come periodically to rest on a slot edge, this spur being engageable in its arrested position by a hump on a cam disk entrained by a second pinion which meshes with the first pinion and decouples the latter from the associated gear against the countervailing force of the rocker weight as long as the spur is immobilized. When the spur-biasing force of the torsion spring changes direction, the gear train is re-established and the spur receives an impetus from the engaging hump as it moves away from the arresting slot edge.

Abstract: An externally self-aligning tapered roller bearing, which is particularly useful in pillow blocks, utilizes a conventional double row cone assembly, the rollers of which are in the direct orientation. The cup, however, is derived from a tubular slug which is roll-formed into an intermediate shape having inwardly presented raceways opening out of each end and an outwardly presented spherical surface leading up to each end. The intermediate shape is severed intermediate its ends into two single cups, each having a tapered raceway, a spherical surface, and a front face at the large diameter end of its raceway. The two single cups are thereafter reversed in position such that the front faces are opposed, and installed over the double row cone assembly, with each cup surrounding a different row of rollers on the cone assembly. The two cups are then confined within the pillow block housing with their front faces in abutment or in close proximity.

Abstract: A water-insoluble organic photographic addendum is recovered from a dispersion of a mixture thereof and an oil-former in an aqueous medium containing a hydrophilic colloid and a surface active agent by adding a selected oleophilic non-ionic surface active agent.

Abstract: A suit is provided having a flexible garment portion which mounts thereon, preferably at spaced intervals, a plurality of armor elements. The suit can be incorporated with a conventional wetsuit construction, or the armor can be imbedded in a chain mail garment worn exteriorly of a wetsuit.

Abstract: A garment having differential thermal properties for retaining heat adjacent to the arm and shoulder muscles of an athlete, while allowing the remaining body muscles to naturally cool. The garment comprises a sleeve for covering the arm and a skirt attached to the sleeve for covering the deltoid, pectoral and tarus major and minor muscles adjacent the throwing arm. A coupler is provided for removably attaching the skirt and sleeve to the uniform of the athlete. In a first preferred embodiment this coupler may be a plurality of Velcro patches.

Abstract: A medical prostheses suitable for implant use comprising a cured fiber reinforced triazine resin shaped body. The fiber reinforcement is preferably a fabric formed from two dimensionally oriented fibers. The preferred fibers are high strength carbon fibers. The prosthesis is particularly useful for the fabrication of joints, for example hip joints, as well as for support and connecting elements suitable for implantation.

Abstract: A biodegradable bone prosthesis or implant is made of a coherent material comprising calcium carbonate in crystalline form. The prosthesis or implant is in the form of a filler or replacement part for bone substance. It can also be in the form of a pin or screw.

Abstract: A breast prosthesis consists of a center part in the shape of a female breast and a border or edge part encircling the center part. The center part has a relatively thin wall in the shape of the surface of the female breast. The wall forms a cup-shaped recess containing a mixture of a silicone gel and silicone grits. The cup-shaped recess containing the mixture is closed by a thin tough cover layer forming a part of the rear surface of the prosthesis.

Abstract: A faucet assembly including pinch valves for controlling the flow of hot and cold water. A base is secured to the deck of a sink from above the deck and a body secured to the base completes the faucet housing. A spout extends over the basin and includes an outlet at its end. Two flexible tubes are connected to a mixing chamber near the outlet and extend through the spout and through the base for connection to hot and cold water conduits remote from the sink deck. The tubes are normally pinched closed adjacent the mixing chamber by springs, and operating levers at opposite sides of the spout rotate about a shaft and operate a linkage and valve mechanism for overcoming the spring forces to permit flow. Lost motion connections render the spring closing forces independent of lever position. A cross bar limits lever movement and provides a support surface against which the tubes are pinched. The tubes are located in the valve region by a block which serves as a barrier to leakage.

Abstract: A cushioned or padded kneeling appliance particularly adapted for use in association with a bathtub when it is desired to reach into the interior area of the bathtub to perform some utilitarian function, such as bathing an infant, cleaning the tub, or the like. The device includes a rigid frame having a generally horizontally disposed lower cushion or pad oriented outwardly of and alongside the lower outer surface of a bathtub wall and an upper cushion or pad overlying the top edge portion of the bathtub wall to enabling a person using the device to kneel on the lower pad and lean on the upper pad thereby reducing discomfort which would occur if a person kneeled on the tile floor of the bathroom or the like and leaned against the top edge portion of a bathtub wall.

Abstract: A flush control apparatus is adapted to be directly mounted on the front surface of a water storage tank of a commode directly beneath the flush handle of the commode. The apparatus comprises a bracket having a lever pivotally secured thereto, the end of the lever has a vertically adjustable rod which can move up or down to engage the end of the flush handle and to restrain the same from further movement in a first mode to cause a smaller selected amount of water to be flushed. In a second mode the lever is pivoted away from said bracket to unblock the path of the flush handle to cause the entire water content of the commode to flush.

Abstract: A medical bed is described in which mattresses are mounted in frames which can be rotated about a longitudinal axis and tilted about a transverse axis. The mattresses may be removable and adapted to permit enclosing a patient completely to permit 360.degree. rotation.

Abstract: A bed for use by obstetricians and their patients. The bed and the bed mattresses are made sectional such that when the sections are assembled a full bed, with mattress, is formed on which one or more persons can recline. When the sections are separated to form a delivery station, a head section provides a torso support with an adjustable back rest and an adjustable pelvis support. A foot section of the bed, when separated from the head section, has a removable mattress and a frame that serves as a seat for the attending physician, provides storage compartments for necessary equipment and provides working surfaces to receive such equipment during use.

Abstract: Disclosed are bolster type cushions for therapeutic use, such as for patients reclining in a sleeping bed, convalescents utilizing chair-like supports, etc. The bolster type cushions are provided with apt handle means thereby affording ready manipulation by nurses or other attendant personnel and further provided with water-proof jacket means whereby the cushion might be immersed or otherwise liberally cleansed without seapage of water into the porous body of the cushion. Also disclosed are treads and other means for stabilizing the cushion at the therapeutic environment. The bolster type cushions might be provided with leadwardly tapered form to facilitate insertion into sleeved therapeutic devices. Disclosed also are cushion cross-sectional shapes adapted to permit removably secure engagement within a cross-sectionally smaller and desireably firmer bolster cushion, the dual-cushions combination having advantages for specific patient needs.

Abstract: A showcase lock for sliding doors including a keeper plate attached to one door and a lock adjustable along the keeper plate to lock the doors in a closed position. The keeper plate has inwardly directed flanges along opposite side edges defining opposed grooves and a row of stops between the flanges and the lock has outwardly directed flanges along opposite side edges slidably receivable in the opposed grooves on the keeper plate. The lock has a rotary key operated plug, a cam on the inner end of the plug, and a resilient U-shaped latch member mounted for rocking movement about an axis crosswise of the plug between a locked and an unlocked position.

Abstract: A bearing assembly for structures composed of two main elements each of which forms a portion of either the supported structure or the supporting structure or foundation. One of these main elements is formed in a "U" type shape and provided with flutings on the interior sides facing each other. The other main element is formed to fit into the interior of the other "U" type main element and is provided with flutings on opposing sides of said element. As one main element is inserted into the other, the flutings of both elements can be aligned to face each other, and complementary cores inserted. Two or more of such cores inserted at opposing sides of the inserted element, would position the inserted main element securely into the other main element, the cores filling the flutings of the "U" type main element and thus providing a secure positioning to the supported structure.

Abstract: There is disclosed a brush which is suitable for installation and use on the flexible hose of a conventional pool sweep. The brush is useful as a substitute for the wear rings which are used on the hoses. Typically, the flexible hose of a pool sweep is provided with a plurality of these wear rings which are rotatably mounted on the hose and are captured between fixed collars secured on the hose. These rollers reduce the drag of the hose against the surface of the pool and minimize the wear on the hose. This function is also provided by the brushes on my invention which also serve to scrub or scour the surfaces of the pool, greatly improving the cleaning efficiency of the device.

Abstract: A liquid-operated reciprocating prime mover assembly includes upper and lower reservoirs formed of interlocking cylinders enabling relative expansion and contraction of the interior volumes thereof, and a shuttle valve disposed intermediately and connectingly between the upper and lower reservoirs for receiving a stream of operating liquid and directing the same alternatingly between the reservoirs. As the liquid is directed to each reservoir that reservoir is caused to expand, carrying the shuttle valve in a first direction along a rectilinear path, while when fed to the other reservoir the liquid causes the valve to be correspondingly carried in the opposite direction along the path. A body washing apparatus incorporating the prime mover assembly further includes an operatively rotatable brush assembly carried along the rectilinear path and supporting a brush rotatable as the shuttle valve traverses the path for cleansing contact with a user's body.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing standing water from a large surface area includes a housing capable of being moved across the surface area. An elongated rolling member is mounted on the housing with its elongated axis transverse to the direction of travel of said housing over the surface area. At least a portion of the rolling member is located on the underneath side of the housing. The rolling member has a nonwater absorbing wear resistant surface enabling that portion of it located below the housing to contact the surface area to be depleted of water. The rolling member rolls on the surface area to displace water to a position in front of the rolling member and form a moving wave of water in front of the rolling member. A wave direction changing member is located in association with the rolling member in front of the rolling member. The wave direction changing member imparts a momentum to the wave of water maintaining the wave of water on the underside of the housing.

Abstract: An improved dental appliance having an elongated handle portion including a tongue grooming region formed therein, a head portion having a plurality of discrete spaced bristle tufts extending therefrom in spaced relationship to each other, and wherein the head portion lies entirely below the longitudinal axis of the elongated handle. There is provided an offset connecting portion rigidly joining the head to the handle which is offset from the longitudinal axis of the handle and extends downwardly therefrom to a point below the level of the head and rigidly joins the handle with the head. The bristle tufts of the head are disposed in four longitudinal rows, and in a preferred embodiment the center two rows comprise stiffer bristles than those of the outer rows, are cut so as to form several wedge shaped crests when viewed from the side thereof, and extend above the level of the outer two rows.

Abstract: A sponge mop having a mop head which will accept an ordinary household sponge as a replacement sponge and which has an improved wringer. The mop head comprises front and back jaws which are slidably interengageable with one another to compressively clamp a sponge between them. The wringer is mounted on the mop head for sliding movement relative to the mop head between a retracted position in which it is disposed to permit mopping and an extended position from which it may be pivoted to a wringing position to wring out the sponge.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing brush components is disclosed wherein an array of bristles which may either be loosely arranged in which case they should be substantially aligned or may be in the form of a knitted or woven tape is overlain by a membrane e.g. a polythene or polypropylene sheet, the bristles and membrane then being bent through 180.degree. about the center line of the array into a generally U-shaped configuration and subsequently held in that position by clamping means e.g. a metal channel or an extruded plastics beading. Preferably a strengthening wire is located over the top of the membrane and within the U at the base thereof.

Abstract: A roller with a spray guard comprising a roller arm, a roller rotatably mounted on one end of the arm, a handle member connected to an opposite end of the arm, and a spray guard pivotally mounted to the arm one end, extending at least the axial length of the roller. The arm is of a length sufficient to permit the free pivoting of the guard whereby the guard pivotally hangs below the roller when in use. The guard is preferably planar in shape and, with forward movement of the roller across a surface to be painted, the guard pivots toward the surface with a trailing edge thereof so that it automatically is positioned in the best location to receive spray from the roller. A paint metering pan is also disclosed which utilizes a screen or grill structure biased upwardly and away from pain in a container which is moved downwardly by abutment with the roller to permit a selected amount of paint to come in contact with the roller.

Abstract: Refuse collecting apparatus for a road sweeper, gully emptier or the like comprises an internal combustion engine driving a fan which is connected to a refuse tank. A refuse collecting nozzle is connected to the tank by a duct whereby suction generated by the fan draws refuse into the tank. The fan is bolted to a flywheel at one end of the crankshaft of the engine whereby the fan is supported for rotation on the bearings of the crankshaft. Thrust means is provided to offset the axial thrust exerted on the crank shaft by fan, the thrust means comprising drillings in a plate of the fan whereby pressure is reduced in a chamber on the non-suction side of the fan. The engine is mounted directly above a water tank in an engine compartment and is cooled by means of a radiator. Air is drawn by another fan into the engine compartment through a radiator from a control compartment in which is located the control equipment for the refuse collecting apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved carpet cleaning system for low cost, high reliability, improved cleaning solution recovery, and reduced carpet wear. In one embodiment, an integral beater bar and solution dispensing arrangement are provided for both dispensing cleaning fluid and agitating the carpet at the same time. Close proximity between the solution dispensing devices and the vacuum recovery ports enhances fluid recovery. Use of solenoid in conjunction with a beater bar improves carpet cleaning and reduces carpet wear.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner with a housing having a hood and at least one suction connection and at least one discharge opening, as well as with a dust filter and a suction apparatus provided with a blower and an electric motor, with the suction apparatus being surrounded by the hood. A noise damping or insulating device is arranged between the inner surface of the hood and the suction apparatus. The noise damping device has a damping sleeve surrounding the suction apparatus in the manner of a mantle.

Abstract: A vehicle assist strap, and more particularly, an improved assist strap having a central metal core with formed ends which cooperate with covers for concealing fasteners utilized for fastening the assist strap to a surface of the vehicle. The covers are locked in their operative positions to prevent tampering and removal thereof during normal use. The covers may however be non-destructively removed to permit access to the fasteners as desired.

Abstract: A hinge construction comprising two members, a plate on each member, an offside out-of-the-way hinge, and a substantially recess and aperture free pivoted channel safety cover to protect the area of abutment of the two members when in such position.

Abstract: A friction hinge arrangement for the hinged connection of a cover to a base, for example a record player base, comprises a hingeable friction member, which is mounted between the limbs of a friction member whose limbs are urged towards each other with the aid of clamping members. In order to minimize the maximum moments to be exerted when the cover is opened and closed the friction hinge arrangement is provided with a spring which biases the hinge pin and partly compensates for the force of gravity acting on the cover.

Abstract: A food patty molding method and apparatus, utilizing a cyclically driven mold plate containing one or more mold cavities, in which the fill passage connecting the food pump to the mold cavity has a cross sectional area, immediately adjacent the mold plate fill position, encompassing the entire mold cavity surface area; in one embodiment the fill passage comprises a multiplicity of orifices, and in another embodiment the fill passage is open and is matched to the mold cavity in size and configuration. In both embodiments the pressure on the food product is reduced to an intermediate level, a minor fraction of the fill pressure, during the transition interval when the mold cavity is moving away from the fill passage but still communicates therewith, following which the food product pressure is essentially relieved during the balance of the mold plate cycle until full fill pressure is required.

Abstract: A spear-like fish cleaning device for attachment to a fish cleaning machine which can be inserted through a throat cut in a fish and into its belly and thereafter operated to grip the alimentary canal of the fish so as to close it off and disconnect it from the anus, the spear-like fish cleaning device including an elongated shaft, a pair of clamping elements attached to the free end of the shaft, the clamping elements being pivotable towards and away from one another, and, optionally, a knife attached to the free end of the shaft. The elongated shaft may be hollow to allow liquid or gas to be passed into the fish or else the liquid or gas may be passed into the fish via a tube attached to the outside of the elongated shaft.

Abstract: Every wire section provided with teeth of a plurality of card clothing wires is connected at both its ends by a welding to a carrier member. This carrier member is a base section of a U-shaped carrier member whereby a curvilinear extending section continues at both ends of the base section, which curvilinear sections lead into laterally extending leg sections. Every card clothing wire is welded to the curvilinear sections such that the face ends of every wire section is aligned with the outer surface of the weld beads and the outer surface with each leg section.

Abstract: Card support for carding layers, wherein the teeth are anchored in a base body made of resilient solid plastic, with reinforcing fabric layers embedded in the base body.This new type of construction is simpler to manufacture than known card supports, has better wear properties, and because of the improved recuperative capacity of the teeth leads to improved carding results.

Abstract: A one piece, plastic, flat cable clamp has a base, a pair of end walls on the base and a cover hinged on one of the end walls to fold over and extend across the base in a latched closed position to retain a plurality of flat cables between the cover and base. The cable clamp is stackable on an identical cable clamp, the base of the upper cable clamp being positioned on the cover of the lower cable clamp and being retained thereon when its cover is in the latched closed position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bag closure device designed especially to be utilized to close bags such as potato chips and cookie bags and the like. The bag closure device of the present invention comprises a torsional spring closure assembly having a mouth that is movable from an open to a closed position with the torsional spring functioning to bias said mouth towards said closed position. Secured within the mouth of said torsional spring closure assembly is a pair of elongated bag closure members that extend outwardly from said mouth in parallel relationship with respect to each other and which are adapted to directly engage an open portion of a bag and to close the same as said torsional spring closure assembly causes the elongated bag closure members to provide a clamping type closing action about the particular bag.

Abstract: Disclosed is a plastic fastener which comprises one or more protective frames having a profile suitable for substantially intimate insertion into matched openings formed in a given basal object and as many fixing legs formed within the empty spaces enclosed with the protective frames and provided with engaging claws for fast engagement with the edges of the openings in the basal objects. When the fastener is attached to the basal object by the cooperation of the fixing legs and their respective protective frames, the protective frames bring about a reinforcing effect and add greatly to the fastness of the engagement between the fastener and the basal object.

Abstract: A stretcher for tubular knitted fabric aimed at being mounted onto a calender and carrying two stretcher arms each carrying positioning rollers co-operating with supplier rollers for pulling up the knitted fabric and making it pass through said stretcher. Both arms are connected to one another in their median area by a pneumatic jack for the adjustment of the spreading of said stretcher.

Abstract: A method for introducing yarn into a pneumatic yarn texturizing means, in which the yarn is positioned across the inlet orifice of the texturizing means, a stream of fluid is forced against the yarn to introduce it into the orifice in the form of a loop and a yarn cutting device, located downstream of the orifice in the direction of movement of the yarn, is actuated, its operation being synchronized with that of the fluid stream.

Abstract: A process for introducing one or more threads into a texturizing nozzle, in which the texturizing nozzle, together with the inlet member, is first brought into a position in which the thread is led transversely past and in the immediate vicinity of the texturizing nozzle, the thread is sucked against the nozzle with the orifice of the inlet member enlarged, immediately after being sucked against the texturizing nozzle the thread is cut beyond the nozzle so that the cut end is sucked back into the nozzle, the suction supply required for the sucking-in is replaced by pressurized fluid texturizing medium, and the cross-section of the inlet orifice of the texturizing device is reduced to a value advantageous for steady state operation.

Abstract: A crankshaft with a laminated counterweight. The counterweight comprises a plurality of substantially flat plates, each of which has a first and a second shaft mounting hole therethrough, and at least one depression on one side and a boss on the other side. The plates are identical and are pressed together so that the bosses enter the depressions. Shafts are pressed into the aligned first and second holes, and an integral fully aligned torque resistant counterweight and crankshaft results.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for use in the manufacture of a color cathode ray picture tube. The tube has a glass face panel with a rearwardly extending flange with a plurality of studs extending radially inwardly from the flange. The tube includes a shadow mask suspended in precise proximity to the panel by an equal plurality of leaf springs. The rearwardly extending springs are attached to the mask in an orientation substantially parallel with the axis of said tube. The springs have an aperture at the distal end for engagement with an associated one of the studs. Engagement means for each of the springs for engaging the apertures with the studs during insertion of the mask into the panel comprise the following: Spring depressor means provide for bending the spring adjacent to the mask, and the spring depressor means include channel means parallel with the spring for accepting the distal end of the spring.

Abstract: An insulating frame is formed by an insert mold such that a portion of a stator lead member is exposed from and flush with the upper surface thereof. The exposed portion of the stator lead member is plated with a metal having a low melting temperature, and the upper surface of the insulating frame is coated with an adhesive. Then, a ceramic dielectric body, which is provided at its lower side with a stator electrode, is placed on the adhesive layer. Subsequently, heat is applied to the ceramic dielectric body and the insulating frame while pressing them to each other so that the metal of the low melting point is molten to electrically connect the stator electrode and the stator lead member. The assembly is then cooled to solidify the metal of the low melting point, as well as the adhesive. Since the ceramic dielectric body is fixed to the frame by means of the adhesive, the steps of grinding and polishing of the stator electrode is eliminated advantageously.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing layer or film capacitors is disclosed wherein a carrier is separated from an insulating material plate which is metal-coated on both sides. A cut surface of the carrier is coated with coating layers and glow polymerization layers. The capacitors are conveniently manufactured and insulated on all sides since metal-free strips which are parallel to one another are applied to the metal-coated insulating material plate before the separation. Contact surfaces are formed by means of the separation from the metal layer. The carriers are then encapsulated on all sides and subsequently are separated into individual capacitors in the area of the metal-free strips.

Abstract: A spindle keylock for stopping and locking the spindle of a machine tool at a predetermined angular orientation to align the machine tool spindle key with the toolholder key to facilitate tool exchange includes a collar fastened about the spindle for co-joint rotation therewith. The collar has a helically cammed exterior surface into which an axially extending slot or channel is inscribed. A cam follower, pivotally mounted to the machine tool spindlehead so as to lie within a plane passing through the spindle axis which is at a predetermined angular orientation with respect to a reference plane passing through the spindle axis in alignment with the spindle key, is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the spindle for engaging with the cammed collar surface.

Abstract: A catheter is disclosed for measuring the intrauterine pressure of a woman in labor. It comprises an elongated flexible tube filled with liquid and having one end apertured to permit the liquid therein to communicate with bodily fluids in the uterus; the other end is sealed by a relaxed diaphragm. The catheter tube is inserted into a curved guide tube which is scored at the end adjacent the apertured end of the catheter to permit the catheter to be extended from the guide tube. The guide tube is also scored along its length to permit a portion of the wall of the guide tube to be peeled away leaving a longitudinal slot through which the catheter can be passed after insertion into the uterus. The catheter and guide tube are disposed in a liquid-tight envelope, the open end of which is sealed about the catheter to prevent escape of the liquid within the catheter.

Abstract: An improved vapor-liquid contact grid apparatus which maximizes the generation of small drops and which is inexpensive to manufacture and easy to construct is disclosed. The grid apparatus consists of multiple layered grids, each grid being formed of upright grid members and connectors. The grid members carry vanes, formed from the member itself by a process of slitting and bending, which vanes extend out into the region between the upright grid members, thus restricting vapor passage, providing drip points and increasing the effective surface area for gas-liquid exchange. The grid members and connectors are arranged in an "egg carton"--like fashion to provide a simple, yet sturdy, grid.

Abstract: An improved forged steel structure lined with a corrosion resistant metal in which the lining and body are forged together. The improved method includes the steps of securing a bar of corrosion resistant metal within an alloy steel tube to form a billet, forging the billet to the desired shape with sufficient corrosion resistant metal to line at least one of the cavities of the desired shape and machining the forging to produce the desired lined structure. The amount of alloy steel and corrosion resistant metal in the billet being preselected to provide the desired lining without substantially weakening the structure.

Abstract: A method of forming and attaching individual key tops to the key stems of a multi-key keyboard wherein each key top is formed of contrasting colors such that the key top indicia is clearly visually recognizable while also providing each key top with a bar code indicia for enabling a bar code reader to select a desired key top from among a random group of key tops and for enabling a transfer mechanism to selectably orient the selected key top with respect to a key stem for automatic attachment thereto.

Abstract: In producing compound plates, such as compound glass panes, two individual plates are held in opposed spaced parallel relation with a frame located between them and extending along the edges of the plates so that the frame connects the plates together. In assembling the compound plates, the frame is formed by removing a flat strip from a supply source and conveying it to a bending station. While the strip is moved to the bending station or in the bending station a number of miter cuts are formed spaced apart in the long direction of the strip so that the miter cuts separate the strip into connected subsections. The miter cuts are located to correspond to the intersecting edges of the plates. The strip is bent or folded along lines extending in its long direction into a hollow section. Subsequently, the hollow section is formed into a frame by bending the connected subsections at the miter cuts.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for use in aligning and welding in end-to-end relation a pair of members such as pipe sections or a cylindrical vessel and closure wall and wherein one of the members is subjected to a clamping force adjacent the end to be welded to produce a predetermined configuration at that end. The other member is supported with that end to be welded confronting the adjacent end of the first member. A clamping force then may be applied to the second member so as to conform its configuration to one corresponding to that of the end of the first member. While maintaining the two members clamped, their positions are adjusted relatively to one another to locate their adjacent ends in a predetermined manner, following which the two members are moved relatively in a direction toward one another to a welding position in which the welding operation may be completed.