Abstract: Method and apparatus for transferring heat. A pair of closed loop heat transfer loops each includes a refrigerant, a condenser to remove heat from the refrigerant, and an evaporator which adds heat to the refrigerant from its associated heat source. Each loop also includes a chamber of a compressor which has a free piston common to both chambers. One of the chambers is located above the other so that in one of the two cycles of operation, thermal energy from a heat source of the loop including the upper chamber evaporates liquified refrigerant collected in a collector of the loop in the previous cycle of operation which vapor together with gravity acting on the free piston cause the piston to compress vaporized refrigerant of the other loop in the lower chamber. This compressed refrigerant is condensed by loss of heat to an associated heat sink and is collected in the collector of its loop.

Abstract: A frost detecting device for a refrigeration unit of the type having refrigeration coils and fins. The device is adapted to be mounted on the side of the unit with frost accumulating means projecting from the unit to contact at least one fin in a manner to accumulate frost thereon at about the same rate as the fin. The device carries means for detecting a predetermined amount of frost on the accumulating means, in order to activate a defrosting cycle.

Abstract: An apparatus for making frozen food products, particularly ice cream or the like, wherein the apparatus is interchangeable with the existing ice dispenser unit in the freezer compartment of a domestic refrigerator provided with an automatic ice maker unit, which apparatus includes a housing for containing the frozen food product mix, an auger blade disposed within the housing for stirring the mix during convection heat exchange between the mix and the interior of the freezer compartment, a drive assembly for detachably connecting either the auger blade or mix housing to the existing ice dispenser unit drive motor, and a user operated timer assembly for actuating the drive motor to operate same for a predetermined period of time in accordance with the desired consistency of the final product.

Abstract: A thermal coupler assembly mounted to the coldfinger of a cryogenic cooler which provides improved thermal transfer between the coldfinger and the detector assembly mounted on the dewar endwell. The thermal coupler design comprises a stud and spring-loaded cap mounted on the coldfinger assembly. Thermal transfer is made primarily through the air space between the cap and coldwell walls along the radial surfaces. The cap is spring loaded to provide thermal contact between the cap and endwell end surfaces.

Abstract: A warp-knit stringer tape for a slide fastener comprises an elongate first web for supporting along one longitudinal edge thereof a row of fastener coupling elements, an elongate second web spaced transversely from the first web with a wale-free coarse region therebetween which is remote from the coupling-element-supporting side of the first web, and a connector thread interconnecting the first and second webs across the wale-free coarse region. The second web is double knit as a round braid-like structure which is compact and rigid.

Abstract: An anti-theft device for preventing the unauthorized removal of T-tops from an automobile including an enclosure for enclosing and preventing access to the T-top handle. A key actuated latch plate secures a separable cover to base plate forming the enclosure and is operative to hold the cover nested on the base plate until locked.

Abstract: A control system for a washing machine having an aspirator connected to the discharge side of the inlet valve. The aspirator vacuum port provides a vacuum signal through a one-way valve to a vacuum reservoir which supplies a vacuum signal via a control valve to one or more vacuum responsive diaphragm actuators. The force output of the actuators is employed for auxiliary machine functions such as direct mechanical actuation of the drain valve or operating the recirculation pump motor start switch.

Abstract: A security device for a rotatable member of a machine element, such as the spindle or nut of a fluid-flow control valve, to prevent the unauthorized operation thereof. A turning member having a cylindrical surface is fitted to the valve spindle and a shroud is rotatably mounted on the member, the shroud having lugs which engage parts of the valve to prevent rotation of the shroud when the device is fitted to the valve. Projections upstand from the cylindrical surface and the turning member can be operated only by a key able to fit within the shroud and over the cylindrical surface, with recesses appropriately positioned to accommodate the projections, such that torque can be imparted to the turning member through the interengagement of at least one projection with a wall of the key defining the associated recess.A locking device including a pin spring-urged out of a bore in the base of the shroud may engage an appropriate recess in the turning member, further to enhance security.

Abstract: Combination locks employ dial-driven rotary elements for controlling the position of a locking member between locking and unlocking positions by peripheral cooperating of the respective elements with the locking member. Each rotary element is formed in a manner whereby no audible sound or difference in feel is produced during rotation of the element when the on-combination setting of the element is reached. This reduces the possibility that the lock may be picked.

Abstract: A tumbler lock including a housing that defines a keyway and a plurality of tumblerways communicating therewith. Disposed for both reciprocating and rotational movement in each of the tumblerways is a pin tumbler movable from locked positions into at least one shear position comprising predetermined longitudinal and angular positions. Biasing each of said tumblers into other than the predetermined shear angular positions are spring members each extending between the housing and one of the tumblers. A release mechanism is movable from a closed position into an open position with all the tumblers in their shear positions and is restrained in its closed position with any of the tumblers in one of its locked positions. Cooperating with the lock is a key having a plurality of alignment portions, each one adapted to engage an alignment surface on one of the pins and to move the pin into its shear position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for necking and flanging container bodies are disclosed. One or more free-wheeling dies are rotated within a stationary outer die and are journeled for radial movement within the outer die. The open edge portion of a metallic can body is positioned between the dies, with the action of the dies forming a neck on the can body. Subsequently, the necked end of the can body may be contacted with a flanging surface of the free-wheeling die or dies, forming a flange on the outer edge of the container body.

Abstract: A method of forming slats for venetian blinds and the like is disclosed. An elongated baked enameled metallic strip is subjected to a plurality of gradual bending increments through the use of sequential pairs of forming rollers that form a central longitudinal body section of upwardly arched configuration, longitudinal ribs which extend downwardly and outwardly from the body section and longitudinal edge sections which extend outwardly from the ribs but are curled inwardly to provide marginal edges on the strip. By bending the strip in gradual increments in a preferred sequence with a plurality of pairs of sequential rollers, slats can be formed in a continuous operation wherein bending stresses on the strip are minimized to avoid stress cracks in both the baked enamel and in the metal.

Abstract: A tubular cobbler suppressing device for a rolling mill producing rod product of diameter D, wherein there is a preferred relationship among rod product (D), the internal diameter (D.sub.1) of tubular guide members of a pouring reel and internal diameter (D.sub.2) of the cobble suppressing device, such thatD.sub.1 .gtoreq.2.5 D.sub.2 andD.sub.2 >D but .ltoreq.3 D.

Abstract: A cold header or a screw machine preforms a rod end blank from rod stock. A female blank has a drilled and tapped rod portion and an undersized spherical head portion. A male blank has an unthreaded straight shank and an undersized spherical head portion. The rod portion is necked adjacent the head portion. The blank is placed on an indexing table which advances the blank through a series of processing stations. The head portion is heated for three seconds with an induction coil, rested for one second, and heated again for three seconds with an induction coil. The head portion is then flattened, shaped and enlarged in a closed die press. The head portion is quenched to room temperature. The head portion is punched in a die punch to remove the slug and flash.

Abstract: A method of producing a metal sleeve having at least one recess open at the nd face extending over a portion of the axial length of the sleeve from a cylindrical pipe section comprising (a) inserting a cylindrical pipe section into the annular cavity of a die which cavity is radially greater than the wall thickness of the pipe section, (b) subjecting the pipe section to axial ram pressure whereby a bulge in the central portion of the pipe section occurs with the central portion bearing against the outer limiting wall of the die cavity and the end portions bearing against the inner limiting wall of the die cavity, (c) applying further pressure on the pipe section whereby it fills the die cavity except for a circular depression in the center of the pipe section bore and (d) acting on the resulting pipe section with a second ram with an end face with contours corresponding to the recesses whereby the displaced material from the contours enter into the circular depression of the pipe section to partially fill the

Abstract: A heat exchanger plate (2, 4, 6, 8) having undulatory pleats (12) for forming fluid flow passages (18, 20) on opposite sides of the plate (2, 4, 6 8) is disclosed. The heat exchanger plate (2, 4 6, 8) is improved by providing the side walls (38, 42, 44) of each pleat (12) with a uniform slope. By this arrangement, the plate is provided with improved distortion resistance and fluid flow capacity. Method and apparatus for forming the pleated plates are also disclosed for using a pair of non-uniform donative fluid passage forming blades (34" and 36") mounted for relative oscillatory movement with respect to a recipient fluid passage forming blade (40") wherein the clearance between each blade is uniform throughout the entire length of each blade. By making the blade clearance constant the slope of pleat sidewalls may be constant even though each pleat follows a curvilinear path in plan view.

Abstract: The apparatus forms a profilated collimator strip out of a band of deformable material. It contains a first and a second forming tool, both of which contain a row of forming teeth. The teeth may be hexagonal to form corresponding deformations having sidewalls greater in width than the top or bottom walls. In operation, the teeth are disposed oppositely and staggered with respect to each other. The apparatus also contains a device for performing a relative movement between the two tools, whereby the tools approach each other. The apparatus also includes a device for moving one of the tools parallel to the other one in an indexing step by step motion. In the method for forming a profilated collimator strip, a band is placed on one tool, whereby a portion of the band is located in the space between the two tools which are positioned oppositely to each other. Then the tools are approached to each other, the teeth thereby pressing the band into the predetermined shape.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for straightening the curvature of a hardened metal workpiece. A relatively sharp chisel point peen is driven by an air hammer to repeatedly strike the surface of the workpiece held on a rigid support table until the workpiece is straightened. The force or frequency of the peen chisel strikes can be infinitely varied by controlling the amount of air pressure delivered to the air hammer. Measurement of the workpiece is accomplished on the worktable by extending the workpiece between a pair of V-blocks and beneath a plurality of dial indicators.

Abstract: An adjustable flexible form for shaping electrical windings is attached between two end supports. The flexible form can be arched by moving the end supports closest to one another. A twist can be imparted into the arched flexible form by rotation of one or both end supports. Intermediate supports can be adjusted against the form to provide rigidity. Both the selected arch and twist of the form are imparted into an object pulled down and across the form.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine comprises a cylinder head having a cylinder wall section defining therein a cylinder bore, and an outer wall section, forming therebetween an engine coolant passage. The cylinder wall section is formed with a boss section to which an engine knock sensor is rigidly connected. The cylinder block outer wall section is formed with an opening at a location generally corresponding to the boss section to separate the boss section from the cylinder block outer wall section. Additionally, a resilient seal member is disposed between the cylinder block outer wall section and the engine knock sensor to prevent engine coolant from leaking through the outer wall section opening. Accordingly, the engine knock sensor is directly subjected to engine knock vibration, thereby greatly improving engine knock sensing accuracy without being affected by noise vibrations.

Abstract: A device for hydrodynamic, in vitro testing of heart valve prostheses. The device has a flow channel in which a flow of desired characteristics is induced. The flow channel includes a test fixture for supporting a prosthesis to be tested in a desired orientation within the flow. In a preferred embodiment, the test fixture includes first and second chambers spaced from each other along the flow channel and a shuttle intermediate the chambers which is movable between at least first and second positions. The shuttle includes at least one support for a heart valve prosthesis and selectively positions that prosthesis in the desired orientation within the flow by movement between the first and second positions. The shuttle may carry two or more heart valve prostheses to alternatively positioned one of them within the flow by movement of the shuttle.

Abstract: A pipe-line for conveying a fluid submerged in an ambient fluid medium has an inner conveying tube surrounded by an outer tube radially spaced from the inner tube and defining a continuous annular space therebetween. A leak conductor communicating with a leak collector and surrounding the inner conveying tube conducts leaks of conveyed fluid to the leak collector. The leak collector has a reduced cross-section and is divided into adjacent sections isolated in a fluid-tight manner relative to each other and extending throughout the length of the tube. Each of the sections has at least a single valve automatically opened by predetermined pressure of the conveyed fluid leaks for providing communication with the annular space surrounding the inner tube.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for measuring the concentration of particulate or fibrous material in a fluid flow in part of a flow line. The concentration is measured by detecting the recovery pressure downstream of a pressure reducing unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for measuring the hardness of rubber, plastics, etc. and a hardness tester for use therein, characterized in that a feeler of the hardness tester is brought into contact with the surface of a test material, the amount of displacement of the feeler is converted into electric signals, the variation of hardness from the maximum value directly after the testing to the stabilized value after the lapse of a preset space of time is measured, and the temperature of the test material is taken synchronously with the hardness testing.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the mass of a flowing medium, in particular for measuring the aspirated air mass of an internal combustion engine. The apparatus has a hot wire disposed in the flow of the medium, the temperature of which is regulated in accordance with the mass of the medium; and its resistance is regulated by an adjustment variable which is a standard for the mass of the medium. The hot wire is guided on a sensor ring, which is of plastic, via support points. The support points are each fastened with a fastening section in a fastening slit of the sensor ring extending in the axial direction, and they each have a guide section protruding into the interior of the sensor ring through a radial slit. A guide wire extending in the flow direction is fastened to each guide section. The terminal support points in like manner, have attachment sections by way of which an electrical connection is made with the hot wire.

Abstract: A method is proposed for the measurement of a medium, in particular of the air aspirated by an internal combustion engine, in a flow cross section and for correcting the flow rate value (q) furnished by a flow rate meter in the event of a pulsating flow. To this end, by measuring the pressure of the medium (p.sub.m) at a restriction and by comparing it with a pressure value (p.sub.s) for steady flow associated with the measured flow rate value (q), the pulsation amplitude (a) is determined and is multiplied via characteristic value memories for the flow rate values (q), in order to correct an average-value error and/or to correct the error in the event of reversed flow, with a correction value (k) in order to form a corrected flow rate value (Q).

Abstract: A device for measuring the pressure of tires, particularly for aircraft, comprising a passive sensor adapted linearly to convert a variation in pressure into an electrical information variation, in situ, means adapted to convey the electrical information from the sensor to the cockpit of said aircraft, a self-oscillator whose oscillation frequency is controlled by the value of said electrical information from the sensor and means adapted to convert the signal issuing from said self-oscillator into a D.C.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for taking core samples from the side of a borehole which comprises a gun body having a transverse shooting bore, a projectile adapted to be shot from the bore, a tether for tethering the projectile to the gun body, and a permanent magnet for holding the projectile to the gun body at the end of the tether.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a flow meter having an improved flow restrictor for creating laminar flow in the flow meter. The improved flow restrictor is an adjustable bypass or flow restrictor which comprises a stack of alternate slotted discs and non-slotted, smaller diameter, washers with a diameter of 80% of the slotted discs, to form a plurality of micro-channels 0.09 mm square and 3 mm long which is a length to area ratio sufficient to assure laminar fluid flow through the flow meter.

Abstract: In a thermal type air flow meter, a temperature-dependent resistor for sensing the flow rate of air is placed in the flow of air to be measured, and another resistor for detecting a current flowing through the above resistor is connected in series therewith. The current is controlled so that the temperature-dependent resistor is kept at a predetermined temperature which is higher than surrounding temperature by, for example, 150.degree. C. The resistance of the temperature-dependent resistor varies in accordance with the flow rate of air. However, since the current is controlled so that the temperature-dependent resistor is maintained at the predetermined temperature, the current varies with the flow rate of air. Accordingly, the speed of air can be obtained by measuring the current.

Abstract: A flowmeter connecting rod assembly for use with a positive displacement radial piston flowmeter. The flowmeter includes pistons mounted radially about the central axis of an indicator shaft. The indicator shaft has an eccentric crank pin extending from its lower end parallel to the central axis. Each piston has a wrist pin for connection to the crank pin by a connecting rod. The ends of the connecting rod have enlarged holes sized for mounting ball bearings therein. The connecting rod is connected to the crank pin and the wrist pin by the bearings. The wrist pin ball bearing is secured to the connecting rod by a rivet assembly which clamps onto its outer race. The crank pin ends of the connecting rods are positioned along the axis of the crank pin by spacers and are kept in place by a spring clip.

Abstract: Apparatus for indicating quantity of liquified gas contained in a storage container for supplying gas to a consuming appliance, the apparatus including a pressure sensor for sensing gas pressure within the container and being arranged to operate an indicator which gives a desired indication, the indicator being calibrated to indicate the quantity by weight or volume of liquified gas contained in the container.

Abstract: A water level gauge with fault detector comprises a column for containing a level of water with a plurality of light sources on one side of the column and a plurality of detector assemblies on an opposite side of the column. Filters are utilized to project red and green light through the column. Each detector assembly includes a red detector and a green detector with red and green filters respectively. Due to the difference in offset of light beams transversing the column at an oblique angle through water and through air, the green detector is activated by green light when the green and red light passes through the water in the column and the red detector is activated when the light passes through air in the column, that is, above the water level in the column. By a circuit connected to each detector assembly, it is possible to discover the level of water in the column.

Abstract: The surface area of a plurality of samples is measured in an apparatus in which these samples are all included in a housing, subjected to adsorption of the adsorbing fluid and seriatim moved into a desorption zone in which one sample at a time is subjected to a desorption step. In another embodiment, a plurality of individual sample holders are each provided with an individual heating element to allow seriatim desorption by switching the heating of the samples from one heating element to the next. No movement of the sample holders is required in this embodiment. The apparatus and operation lends itself to automation.

Abstract: In a method for determining the grain size of a cemented carbide for a given quantity and composition of the metal binder, the grain size is determined as a function of the coercive force and quantity of metal binder.

Abstract: An electromagnetic-acoustic measuring apparatus is disclosed in which an exciting coil is wound around a body to be inspected in order to generate a magnetic field within the body in the direction parallel to a surface of the body, a transmitting coil is used to generate mechanical strain in the surface of the body by utilizing the magnetic field, a receiving coil detects the mechanical strain at the surface of the body after the mechanical strain has been propagated in the body, the exciting coil is enclosed with a separable core, the transmitting and receiving coils are supported by respective head portions of pole pieces fixed to the core, and the transmitting and receiving coils and pole pieces are water-cooled by means of cooling pipes.

Abstract: A measuring apparatus is disclosed which is operated by the flowing of a medium. The apparatus comprises a rotor fitted coaxially within a flow pipe, a tachometer of the rotor and a flow guide member comprising a director and a controller. By means of these members the flow can be divided, according to the message received from a sensing element, into two components, of which at least one is screw-shaped or spiralling. By employing such a guide member the rotor is easily started, and its rotating speed is directly comparable to the quantity to be measured, as well as to volume flow. The sensing element can be for example a spiral-shaped bimetallic member reacting to changes in the flow temperature, the member being attached at its one end to the flow pipe and at its other end to the director.

Abstract: A microcomputer based system is designed to accurately detect the amount of previously applied torque to a fastener by way of a retorque test in which torque is subsequently applied to the fastener in the tightening direction until breakaway occurs. As torque is subsequently applied to the fastener a microprocessor operates to sample an analog torque input signal and convert it into discrete digital samples. These digital samples are stored in sequential memory locations during the tightening process. The microprocessor stops generating any further samples once a window containing the values of interest has been defined in memory. Then, the microprocessor examines the stored window samples in more detail to detect the sample value associated with the amount of torque previously applied to the fastener.

Abstract: A vehicle force measurement system for determining the force output of a vehicle independent of the radius dimensions of the driving wheels of the vehicle. A fifth wheel is utilized to provide an accurate vehicle speed reading. Torque and RPM sensors mounted to the driving wheels of the vehicle are used to determine the total power output of the vehicle and the total force output of the vehicle is determined by dividing the total power output by the speed signal from the fifth wheel.

Abstract: A device capable of monitoring the drive shaft line of an agricultural implement which may be subjected to a high degree of irregularity in a manner whereby either instantaneous loads are transmitted to a tractor operator by analog or quasi-digital indications and adapted for inclusion of adjusting and control functions having a measuring shaft with a pair of toothed wheels arranged at opposite ends thereof with differential sensors provided in cooperative relationship with the toothed wheels to sense phase displacement between the toothed wheels proportional to torque occurring at the measuring shaft. Each of the toothed wheels is supported axially outwardly thereof by a pair of journals mounted in bearings of a housing which includes a resilient member for accommodating the device to bending forces.

Abstract: Apparatus for drawing a sample of liquid from a body thereof into a sample bottle that has a pierceable resilient sealing closure at one of its ends comprises a support that holds the sample bottle with that end lowermost and at an elevation above the body. Two hollow needles project up from the support to pierce the closure and have their pointed upper ends in the interior of the sample bottle. A shorter one of the two needles is connected with a first duct that extends down to below the surface of liquid in the body; the other needle is communicated with the interior of a sealed wash bottle, near its bottom, which is a little below the support. Another duct, opening from the interior of the wash bottle, near its top, is connectable to a suction source, for drawing liquid through the first duct and the sample bottle into the wash bottle, thus ensuring that liquid remaining in the sample bottle is representative.

Abstract: A traversing unit comprises a shaft 42 rotatably mounted in plain bearings 46 and 47 in a housing 41. The housing 41 houses three rings 43, 44 and 45 in contact with the shaft 42 and respectively rotationally supported in ball races 51, 52 and 53 through balls 54, 55 and 56. The rings 43 to 45 may be loaded via a mounted plate 69 comprising bearings 66 to 68 which receive corresponding pins 58, 60 and 62 integrally formed with respective races 51 to 53. This plate 69 is located axially of the shaft 42 by dowels 72 and 73 which are free to move at right angles to the shaft 42. Excess loads caused by reversal torques on the housing 41 when the direction of traverse of the rings is reversed during operation of the unit with the shaft 42 rotating and the rings 43 to 45 loaded are reduced and transferred to bearings 46 and 47 permitting higher loads to be used on the rings 43 to 45 and maintenance problems to be reduced as compared with known traversing units.

Abstract: This invention relates to the device for imposing a linear movement to the valve stem of the free-disc butterfly valves or the free-ball-plug valves in one direction before imposing a rotating movement to open the valve and another linear movement to the valve stem in the other direction after imposing another rotating movement to close the valve.

Abstract: An adjustable pedal extension device for the demountable attachment to a pedal of a machine, such as a piano, and which permits a user to manipulate an otherwise unreachable or difficult to reach foot pedal. The device includes a body frame having a supporting structure with an open end for receiving a pedal and an adjustable clamping member for securing the supporting structure to a pedal. A horizontal extension means is adjustably attached by a first securement means to the body frame, and a vertical extension means is adjustably secured to the horizontal extension means by a second securement means. The vertical extension means has a generally horizontal portion extending outward at its upper end to receive the foot of a user. The horizontal and vertical extension means are generally interchangeable L-shaped members having leg portions of varying lengths to effectuate a wide range of pedal extension distances.

Abstract: A transmission apparatus for a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine transversely disposed in the vehicle at an end portion thereof, a transmission transversely disposed and connected to the crankshaft of the engine at one end portion of the transmission, a final reduction gear engaged with an output gear of the transmission, the output gear being mounted on an output shaft of the transmission adjacent an end of the engine, a differential secured to a side of the final reduction gear, and an axle connected to the differential for one pair of the vehicle wheels. A transfer device is connected to another portion of the output shaft of the transmission. The transfer device comprises a transfer shaft, a gear train provided at the other end portion of the transmission, and a clutch device for engaging the gear train with the output shaft of the transmission.

Abstract: A planetary transmission has a fluid applied brake for a low speed ratio and a fluid release spring applied clutch for a high speed ratio. The clutch apply springs respond to a centrifugally actuated member such that below a predetermined output speed, the springs are not compressed sufficiently to cause engagement of the clutch. The clutch is maintained disengaged by the fluid pressure which engages the brake regardless of output speed. The interchange of the brake and clutch are selectively controlled by controlling the fluid pressure source.

Abstract: An impact-actuated tool for gripping and unscrewing an atomizing air tube which is screwed into the internal structure of a burner assembly. The tool includes an elongated bar member having slidable hammer means thereon and a gripping head mounted on one end thereof, said gripping head being radially expandable and torsionally deformable.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a lathe tool for use with a conventional lathe having a generally horizontal bed and a workpiece mounted above the bed and rotatable about an axis generally parallel to the bed. The lathe tool of the present invention includes mounting means for supporting a lever which is pivotally attached to both the mounting means and a reciprocable shaft which has cutting tool holding means on one end thereof. The lever is used to move a cutting tool into engagement with a workpiece to perform such lathe operations as taper turning, taper boring, or the like.

Abstract: A tire splitting apparatus including a frame, a powered drive roll mounted on the frame for rotating a tire, a pressure roll for engaging the tire with the drive roll, and a knife for insertion into the casing while it is rotating for cutting it into halves. A guide is clampable for contact with both side walls of the tire to align and steady the tire so that the knife will cut repeatedly in the same track. A bead support carries substantially all of the weight of the tire during the splitting operation to allow repeated revolutions of the tire as necessary to complete the splitting process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a brick handling system for conveying brick slugs to and through a slug cutting device such as a wire bank cutter. More particularly, the system comprises an off bearing belt that conveys slugs to a discharge point where an over-hanging pusher-puller assembly acts to pull one slugs off said off bearing belt onto a slug support. After this a second slug is transferred to the discharge point such that said first and second slugs are horizontally aligned and disposed in side-by-side relationship. At this point, the same pusher-puller assembly is operative to engage said first slug on said slug support and push the same towards said second slug, engaging said second slug and continuing to transfer both first and second slugs across said conveyor towards the wire bank cutter.