Winding apparatus and method for constructing steel ribbon wound layered pressure vessels

An apparatus for winding steel ribbon around a vessel inner shell having forward and rearward ends to construct a pressure vessel includes a vessel support and rotation mechanism, a vessel elevation adjusting mechanism, tracks for supporting and guiding the vessel support and rotation mechanism, a carriage having rail track engaging mechanism for traveling along the track on at least one side of the vessel inner shell, and a ribbon pulling mechanism mounted on the carriage for delivering the ribbon to the vessel inner shell under ribbon tensile loading to pre-stress the vessel. The apparatus preferably additionally includes a locking mechanism for locking the vessel support and rotation mechanism to the track, after the vessel support and rotation mechanism is positioned at forward and rearward ends of a given vessel inner shell. The vessel support and rotation mechanism preferably includes several vessel support roller sets in the form of annular members rotatably mounted on tracks. A method for winding steel ribbon around a vessel inner shell using the above described apparatus, includes the steps of mounting the vessel inner shell on the vessel support and rotation mechanism, securing an end of the ribbon to the vessel inner shell, rotating the vessel inner shell, delivering the ribbon from the ribbon pulling mechanism to the vessel inner shell for winding around the inner shell, and advancing the ribbon pulling mechanism along the track on the carriage to wind the ribbon along the inner shell in a helical path.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates generally to the field of devices for winding 
steel ribbon around a vessel inner shell to construct a pressure vessel. 
More specifically the present invention relates to a vessel winding 
apparatus to be used in conjunction with a portable grinder and a portable 
welder, and to a method of using the apparatus to construct steel ribbon 
wound layered pressure vessels. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
There have long been steel ribbon winding devices for constructing layered 
pressure vessels, these vessels generally taking the form of elongate 
tubular cylinders which are closed at both ends. Conventional winding 
devices for ribbon wound layered pressure vessels typically include a 
rotary setup platform to support the vessel inner shell and a pulling 
assembly for winding the ribbon around the shell under tensile loading. 
Existing winding technologies have several deficiencies. One problem is 
that during the winding operation only a single ribbon, one end of which 
has been welded to the shell, may be wound on the inner shell at a time. 
As a result, the pulling force from one side may cause the vessel inner 
shell to bend and otherwise deform. The unbalanced force can even pull the 
vessel off the setup platform. Therefore, these devices are not practical 
for winding large or long vessels. Another problem is that no means are 
provided on these prior devices to measure and control the tensile force 
applied to the ribbon during winding. An uneven or unbalanced tensile 
force on the ribbon significantly compromises the quality and mechanical 
properties of each steel ribbon and of the final layered shell. Still 
another problem is that no device or method exists to control the lateral 
clearance between edges of two adjacent ribbons on each layer. When 
ribbons overlap, manual adjustments are required to resolve the problem, 
product quality and production efficiency are low, and automation of the 
winding operation is thus desirable. 
German Patent Application Number 262977, published on Sep. 29, 1977, 
teaches a vessel secured on an engine lathe-like machine and supported 
between a spindle on the headstock and a center on the tailstock. A 
problem with this design is that setting up the vessel inner shell on the 
machine is difficult and inefficient. Another problem is that this design 
cannot support very heavy and/or large vessels, such as those weighing a 
few to several thousand tons during ribbon winding. 
The device disclosed in Sehierenbeck, J., Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 2,326,176, 
issued in August of 1943, makes no provision for pre-bending of the steel 
ribbon. A problem with omitting the pre-bending step is that it can 
compromise vessel quality and result in operational problems, because the 
ribbon may not be laid evenly on the inner shell. Thus typical winding 
operations require hot winding, rather than cold working, the steel 
ribbon, making the process more costly. For example, Wickelofen specifies 
a complex winding method which requires heating shaped ribbons to about 
900 degrees Celsius. 
Other devices and methods having one or more of the above-identified 
problems include Enderlein, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 2,822,825, issued on 
Feb. 11, 1958. Enderlein, et al. discloses an improvement to a metallic 
hollow body for high pressure service of the type having a core tube with 
several profiled metal bands spirally wrapped and shrink-stressed on the 
core tube. The improvement includes at least two adjoining profiled metal 
bands having a direction of spiral wrapping transverse to each other to 
provide an opposite torsional stress, each of the adjoining metal bands 
having their contacting sides profiled for inter-engagement in the 
direction of spiral wrapping of the outer-most metal band. 
Pimshtein, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,010,864, issued on Mar. 8, 1977, teaches 
a multi-layer pressure vessel including a cylindrical portion formed by a 
pipe with roll strips wound on the pipe and welded to the bottom of the 
vessel and to its flange for the cover. The roll strips are wound in 
layers along a helical line so that each subsequent layer is wound in a 
direction opposite to the preceding layer at a pitch of 0.2 to 2.2 of the 
inside diameter of the pipe: each layer is constructed with a single 
strip. The adjacent coils are welded to each other on a helical line only 
in the roll strip forming the external layer. 
Cobb, U.S. Pat. No. 5,346,149, issued on Sep. 13, 1994, reveals an 
adjustable pipe wrap machine. The Cobb machine is capable of dispensing 
one or more continuous strips of pipe wrapping material in a constant 
spiral path around a pipe. The strips overlap one another. Cobb includes 
mechanisms for simultaneously setting and calibrating the pitch of the 
spiral path of the machine. The shafts of longitudinally aligned pairs of 
wheels are interconnected so that each pair of wheels can be 
simultaneously rotated to a selected angular alignment. Each connecting 
rod is provided with an indicator and a scale, so that each pair of wheels 
may be easily rotated to a pre-calibrated position to provide the desired 
amount of pitch. Each of the wheel shafts extends through a collar mounted 
on the machine frame. 
Koster, U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,558, issued on Sep. 10, 1991, discloses a 
method and apparatus for repairing casings. Koster includes an improved 
device and method for creating a lining in a bore, in which a strip 
wrapped in overlapping spiral fashion about a mandrel is inserted into the 
bore snugly against the bore wall so that the edge-to-edge relation of the 
spirally wrapped strip is maintained from the mandrel to the bore wall. 
Adhesive is applied to the strip surface during wrapping of the strip on 
the mandrel to secure the lining to the bore wall. 
Smith, Sr., U.S. Pat. No. 4,429,654, issued on Feb. 7, 1984, teaches a 
helical seam structural vessel and construction method and an apparatus 
for forming the helical seam. Smith, Sr. provides a structural vessel 
which is double walled, helically wound with a single strip, rib stiffened 
between walls along helical turns and seam welded along contiguous edges. 
Smith, Sr. also provides a method of fabrication, including the steps of 
helically winding one strip of material to form an inner tubular liner, 
helically winding another strip of material and surrounding the liner in 
spaced relation to form an outer tubular shell, disposing continuous, 
helically curved, separate spacers between the liner and the shell, the 
spacers spanning contiguous edges at successive turns of the liner and 
spanning contiguous edges at successive turns of the shell, securing the 
liner edges together and to the spacers, and securing the shell edges 
together and to the spacers. A floatable work housing is disclosed for 
vessel fabrication, the housing having a sealed opening through which the 
completed portion of the vessel progressively extends and is floated on a 
body of water to avoid a need for external supports and bearings. 
Nyssen, U.S. Pat. No. 4,160,312, issued Jul. 10, 1979, discloses a method 
and apparatus for making multi-layer spiral pipe. Nyssen includes a roll 
forming device for positioning of two or more sheets in contiguous layers 
and driving the sheets into a pipe forming device which accepts the sheets 
and spirals the layers sheets into successive, adjacent helical 
convolutions having a central axis formed at an oblique angle to the 
longitudinal axis of the layered sheets. A seaming device in the pipe 
forming device joins adjacent pipe convolutions. 
Denoor, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,058,278, issued on Nov. 15, 1977, teaches 
an apparatus for continuously winding multiple strips under tension onto a 
conduit. Denoor, et al., includes an apparatus for producing relative 
rotation of a strip spool around the cylindrical body, a main drive unit 
for driving the rotation producing means, and means for driving the 
unwinding of the spool, where the main motor unit simultaneously controls 
the unwinding of the spool by means of a differential driven by a 
secondary drive unit constituting the means for braking the spool. 
West, U.S. Pat. No. 4,162,771, issued on Jul. 31, 1979, discloses a 
tensioning device for maintaining proper tension on wire as it is wrapped 
on concrete pipe. The device is mounted on a carriage which moves 
horizontally in a direction parallel to the axis of the pipe being 
wrapped, and feeds wire onto the outer surface of the pipe as the pipe is 
rotated. At the same time the tensioning device moves parallel to the pipe 
so as to produce a helical wrap of the pipe. The tensioner includes a 
frame mounted on the moving carriage. 
Lungstrom, U.S. Pat. No. 2,657,866, issued on Nov. 3, 1953, teaches a 
uniform tension maintaining device for wrapping flexible strip material 
which is fed from a single reel or simultaneously from two reels, on an 
elongated object, such as an elongated pipe line. During the spiral 
wrapping of the strip the device maintains a uniform tension on the 
unwound portion of the strip, using a ring type power-driven sprocket. 
Perrault, U.S. Pat. No. 2,405,446, issued on Aug. 6, 1946, reveals a roll 
supporting device. Perrault includes a frame member on which is mounted a 
supply tank above a pipe line to be wrapped, an auxiliary or overflow tank 
below the pipe line, and a resiliently mounted collar or wiper disposed to 
move along with the machine beneath the pipe line. Coating material is 
deposited on the top of the pipe from the supply tank through a discharge 
nozzle. An excess coating material wiped from the pipe is flowed into the 
auxiliary tank. Wrapping material is applied by a wrapping device 
including generally a gear ring rotatably mounted upon radially disposed 
rollers and carrying stubs. The gear ring is driven by a gear mounted on a 
shaft which is connected by suitable driving connection to a motor on the 
frame. 
Deregibus, U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,720, issued on Aug. 15, 1989, reveals a 
helical winding apparatus and method. The method of fabricating as a 
continuous whole an extremely elongated hose includes the following steps: 
rotating a correspondingly elongated cylindrical core by independently 
driving each of the core ends at a fixed speed with a separate motive 
mechanism and maintaining the separate motive mechanism in synchronism 
with each other while supporting the core simultaneously externally at 
several positions intermediate its ends and applying force axially to the 
core to tension it. The method further includes the steps of moving, at a 
constant speed along a path parallel to the core a carrier having a bobbin 
with a length of rubber tape wound on the bobbin, and feeding the length 
of tape from the bobbin onto the core, as the core rotates, thereby to 
form a helix building a hose on the core. 
Lapp, U.S. Pat. No. 4,809,918, issued on Mar. 7, 1989, discloses an 
apparatus for winding wire onto an arbor. Lapp includes a frame having two 
parallel spaced apart triangular shaped ends, a back plate a bottom plate; 
a spool holder disposed between the frame ends for holding a spool of 
wire; a wire straightening device disposed between the frame ends for 
straightening the wire as it comes off a spool of wire placed on the spool 
holder; a wire laying apparatus disposed between the frame ends and the 
three wheels with flanges for helically laying wire from the spool onto 
the arbor so that the turns of wire are nearly perpendicular to the center 
line of the arbor; and an arbor engagement device causing the wire winding 
apparatus to remain in intimate rotational contact with the arbor. 
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and 
method for winding a plurality of steel ribbon in each layer around a 
pressure vessel inner shell at an angle varying from 15 to 30 degrees, the 
apparatus being able to reliably support light to very heavy inner shells, 
weighing on the order of a few to several thousand tons. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide such an apparatus 
and method which improve the ribbon layering quality, balance the pulling 
forces on the ribbon, and increase operational efficiency, thereby 
overcoming many of the problems associated with the prior art for winding 
flat steel ribbons on pressure vessels. 
It is additionally an object of the present invention to provide such an 
apparatus which supports the vessel with support roller sets, the number 
and locations of roller sets being changeable to accommodate vessels of 
various sizes and weights. 
It is further an object of the present invention to provide such an 
apparatus and method by which the vessel is wound concurrently from both 
sides of the vessel, so that two opposing ribbon pulling forces nullify 
each other and subject the vessel only to radial forces about the vessel 
rotational axis and axial forces along the axis of rotation. 
It is still another object of the present invention to provide such an 
apparatus which includes a ribbon pulling assembly mounted on a rotary 
table having two degrees of rotational freedom, so that the pulling 
assembly can lay steel ribbons on the vessel evenly and at a fixed angle, 
while controlling the ribbon pulling force and the ribbon pre-bending 
operation, to significantly improve the quality of the ribbon wound 
layers. 
It is still another object of the present invention to provide such an 
apparatus which includes an adjacency control mechanism for ensuring a 
constant lateral clearance between edges of immediately adjacent ribbons 
on a given layer and thus eliminates ribbon overlapping and the need for 
manual adjustment of the ribbons, and thereby enables automation of the 
winding process for increased efficiency. 
It is finally an object of the present invention to provide such an 
apparatus which is relatively simple, reliable, economical, and easy to 
fabricate, and a method of apparatus use which is easy to understand and 
perform. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention accomplishes the above-stated objectives, as well as 
others, as may be determined by a fair reading and interpretation of the 
entire specification. 
An apparatus is provided for winding flat steel ribbon around a vessel 
inner shell having forward and rearward ends to construct a pressure 
vessel, including a vessel support and rotation mechanism, a vessel 
elevation adjusting mechanism, a track for supporting and guiding the 
vessel support and rotation mechanism, a carriage having rail track 
engaging mechanism for traveling along the track on at least one side of 
the vessel inner shell, and a ribbon pulling mechanism mounted on the 
carriage for delivering the ribbon to the vessel inner shell under ribbon 
tensile loading to pre-stress the vessel. 
The apparatus preferably additionally includes a locking mechanism for 
locking the vessel support and rotation mechanism to the track, after the 
vessel support and rotation mechanism is positioned at forward and 
rearward ends of a given vessel inner shell. The vessel support and 
rotation mechanism preferably includes several vessel support roller sets 
in the form of annular members rotatably mounted on a track. The number of 
the vessel support roller sets is preferably alterable to support the 
particular weight and length of a given vessel. The apparatus preferably 
additionally includes a vessel support roller set fastening mechanism for 
locking each vessel support roller set to the track after each vessel 
support roller set is positioned to support a given vessel. A pair of 
rails supporting one carriage is preferably provided on each side of the 
vessel, so that each carriage carries one ribbon for winding the vessel 
simultaneously from opposing sides of the vessel to balance and thereby 
neutralize laterally linear force on the vessel from tensile loading of 
the ribbons. The carriage preferably additionally includes several annular 
roller members rotatably mounted on a roller support structure and 
positioned to prevent toppling of the carriage during winding with the 
ribbon. The carriage is preferably controlled by an electric speed 
adjustment device and actuated by a driving means such as a sprocket and 
chain mechanism to accommodate the winding requirements of each given 
vessel. The carriage speed along the track is regulated by the speed 
adjustment device. The carriage preferably includes a carriage base 
portion and a rotary table rotatably mounted on the base portion, and a 
ribbon pre-bending mechanism mounted on the rotary table which rotates up 
to 30 degrees to meet the requirements of ribbon wound layered vessel 
design. The ribbon pre-bending mechanism preferably includes a conical 
roller for bearing against one face of the ribbon, and a spherical roller 
for bearing against the opposing face of the ribbon to cross-sectionally 
pre-bend the ribbon into an arch shape. Where the carriage includes a 
carriage base portion and a rotary table rotatably mounted on the base 
portion, a ribbon guiding device is preferably mounted on the rotary table 
and driven by a guiding device drive mechanism, for adjusting and 
controlling the clearance between two adjacent ribbon edges on a given 
ribbon wound layer. Where the carriage includes a carriage base portion 
and a rotary table rotatably mounted on the base portion, a force 
measurement device is preferably mounted on the rotary table for measuring 
the tensile force applied to the ribbon as the ribbon passes through a 
hydraulically controlled ribbon pulling mechanism. Where the carriage 
includes a carriage base portion and a rotary table rotatably mounted on 
the base portion, the rotary table is preferably mounted to the carriage 
with a hinge mounting structure so that the rotary table is free to yaw 
and pitch relative to the carriage. The vessel support mechanism 
preferably includes a hydraulic power-driven support platform for 
adjusting to the elevation of the vessel inner shell, and the support 
platform preferably includes the track engaging mechanism for traveling 
along the track. The ribbon pulling mechanism preferably includes several 
rollers rotatably secured to the rotary table in at least two rows. 
A method is also provided for winding flat steel ribbon around a vessel 
inner shell having forward and rearward ends to construct a pressure 
vessel, using the above described apparatus, including the steps of 
mounting the vessel inner shell on the vessel support and rotation 
mechanism, securing an end of the ribbon to the vessel inner shell, 
rotating the vessel inner shell, delivering the ribbon from the ribbon 
pulling mechanism at an angle of 15 to 30 degrees to the vessel inner 
shell for winding around the inner shell, and advancing the ribbon pulling 
mechanism along the track on the carriage to wind the ribbon along the 
inner shell in a helical path. The method preferably includes the 
additional steps of delivering first and second ribbons from the ribbon 
pulling mechanism located on each side of the vessel to the vessel inner 
shell for winding around the inner shell simultaneously to balance lateral 
forces on the inner shell exerted by the ribbons, and advancing a ribbon 
pulling mechanism on each side of the inner shell along the track on 
opposing carriages on each side of the inner shell to wind first and 
second ribbons along the inner shell in a helical path. The method 
preferably includes mounting auxiliary devices on the apparatus such that 
supportive operations including welding, grinding and cleaning at both 
ends of the vessel can be conveniently applied.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed 
herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are 
merely exemplary of the invention which may be embodied in various forms. 
Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are 
not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims 
and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to 
variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately 
detailed structure. 
Reference is now made to the drawings, wherein like characteristics and 
features of the present invention shown in the various FIGURES are 
designated by the same reference numerals. 
Preferred Embodiment 
Referring to FIGS. 1-6, a pressure vessel winding apparatus 10 is 
disclosed. Apparatus 10 is adapted for use with a grinder 12 and a welder 
14 for construction of ribbon wound layered pressure vessels 20. 
As shown in FIG. 1, vessel 20 can be of any vessel design with a thin 
vessel inner shell 22 and a layered ribbon outer shell 24 of any number of 
layers. The preferred embodiment of apparatus 10 can wind vessels 20 with 
an inner diameter at least including those between 1 foot and 13 feet and 
a length at least including those between 4 and 130 feet. The inner shell 
22 thickness may vary at least from 1 to 12 inches. Inner shell 22 of the 
vessel 20 is rotatably held for winding by support roller sets 30 provided 
at both ends of vessel 20 and by a speed control mechanism 40. The weight 
of the vessel 20 is carried by a movable support platform 32. 
Vessel 20 is spun about its longitudinal axis L during the winding 
operation. The spinning of the vessel 20 is actuated by speed control 
mechanism 40. When a given vessel 20 is very large or very heavy, 
intermediate roller sets (not shown) in addition to the support roller 
sets 30 are installed between sets 30. Roller sets 30 extend across and 
travel along two parallel rails 44 forming a track 46, and are adjustable 
to give different vessel 20 elevations. Roller sets 30 are fastened to 
rail track 46 after being suitably positioned along track 46 to support a 
given vessel 20. The solid support provided by rail track 46 overcomes the 
traditional limitations on vessel 20 size and weight. Locating roller sets 
50 are installed on support roller sets 30 at the rearward end of 
apparatus 10 and are fastened by a locking means such as an eccentric 
lever to rail track 46 as well, to confine and balance the radial and 
axial pulling forces on vessel 20. These structures eliminate the need for 
a large scale tail stock. 
Roller sets 30 are provided on track 46 to constrain and support the vessel 
20. Support platform 32 is a wheeled cart which closely fits and rides 
between rails 44. An electro-magnetic controlled clutch 60 controls the 
rotation of the vessel 20 and the movement of carriage 54. When clutch 60 
is disengaged, the vessel 20 and carriage 54 operate independently. 
Carriage 54 is operated by an electric speed control mechanism 60, which 
also serves as a brake mechanism to slow and stop vessel 20 rotation. One 
to three movable support platforms 32 are used to support a vessel 20 
during the winding operation and to transport the vessel 20 after winding. 
Platforms 32 include means for adjusting the vessel 20 elevation, and move 
along track 46 to positions required to support a given vessel 20. 
Platforms 32, actuated by a hydraulic means, eliminate the need for heavy 
duty plant and bridge cranes, which are typically required for fabricating 
vessels weighing several hundred or thousand tons. A carriage 54 is 
preferably located on both sides of the vessels. Roller sets are installed 
on carriages 54, including anti-toppling roller sets 126 on track 44. 
Carriages 54 each include a base portion 72 on which a rotary table 74 is 
mounted. Located on rotary table 74 are a ribbon pulling mechanism 76 for 
layering the steel ribbon 70 at an angle varying from 15 to 30 degrees, a 
ribbon pre-bending device 78, a ribbon guiding device 82, a ribbon storage 
reel 84, and a ribbon tensile force measurement device 86. This structure 
is shown generally in the FIG. 3 illustration of the second embodiment, 
and is substantially the same for the first embodiment illustrated in 
FIGS. 1 and 2 as well. The longitudinal movement of carriage 54 is 
actuated by a sprocket and chain assembly 112 or pinion and rack assembly 
(not shown), thereby avoiding the high friction losses associated with 
lead screw and feed rod mechanisms. 
Pulling mechanism 76 for layering a steel ribbon 70 includes seven to nine 
rollers 94, preferably each about 2.36 inches in diameter, and preferably 
three of which are for ribbon 70 pre-bending. The tensile force on ribbon 
70 is adjusted by adjusting the pressure between the upper and lower 
rollers 94 on pulling mechanism 76. The adjustment of tensile force on 
ribbon 70 is preformed in real time during the winding operation. The 
ribbon 70 pulling force is measured with force measurement device 86, 
which preferably takes the form of either a chain and lever assembly or a 
hydraulic gauge, located on pulling mechanism 76. Pre-bending device 78 is 
installed at the forward end of pulling mechanism 76. As shown in FIG. 
4-6, a pre-bending adjustment device 78 is provided including a 
cylindrical roller set 104, a pre-bending conic roller 106 and a spherical 
roller 108. The pre-bending pressure is adjusted to assure a tight fit of 
ribbon 70 on each vessel 20 layer without causing ribbon 70 distortion, 
such as a bump and a bulge. 
As shown in FIG. 6, a hydraulic or lead screw actuated ribbon guiding 
device 82 is provided on rotary table 74 for adjusting the winding angle 
and the clearance between edges of two adjacent ribbons 70. This is a 
simple but effective technique which makes automation of the winding 
operation possible. FIGURE 3 shows that rotary table 74 is installed with 
a chain 112 on the top of carriage 54. A number of auxiliary devices are 
shown in FIG. 1. At both ends of apparatus 10 are an arc welder 14, a 
portable grinder 12, a microprocessor and control box 122, and a lifting 
device 124 for handling the ribbon reel 84. 
Method 
A method is provided of winding steel ribbon 70 around a vessel inner shell 
22 having forward and rearward ends to construct a high pressure vessel 20 
using apparatus 10. The method includes the steps of mounting vessel 20 
inner shell 22 on vessel support and speed control mechanism 40, securing 
an end of ribbon 70 to vessel inner shell 22, rotating vessel inner shell 
22, delivering ribbon 70 from ribbon pulling mechanism 76 on rotary table 
74 to vessel inner shell 22 for winding around inner shell 22, and 
advancing ribbon pulling mechanism 76 along track 44 on carriage 54 to 
wind ribbon 70 in along inner shell 22 in a helical path. The method 
preferably includes the additional steps of delivering first and second 
ribbons 70 from ribbon pulling mechanism 76 located on each side of vessel 
inner shell 22 to inner shell 22 for winding around inner shell 22 
simultaneously to balance lateral forces on inner shell 22 exerted by 
ribbons 70, and advancing ribbon pulling mechanism on each side of inner 
shell 22 along track 44 on opposing carriages 54 on each side of inner 
shell 22 to wind ribbons 70 along inner shell 22 in a helical path. 
While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in 
various terms or certain embodiments or modifications which it has assumed 
in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should 
it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or 
embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly 
reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the 
claims here appended.