A continuous strip of T-Nuts formed on a common strip of metal. Each T-Nut of the strip of T-Nuts is integrally connected to the next adjacent T-Nut by carry tabs. The carry tabs can be frangible themselves or contain a frangible portion. Each T-Nut includes a cylindrical bore therein and a threaded interior. A mechanism feeds and severs the endmost T-Nut in endwise fashion. The mechanism to feed and sever the endmost T-Nut includes a cutting blade positioned vertically below the frangible portion of the carry tab. A shearing ram having a guide positioned axially in line with the cylindrical bore in the endmost T-Nut is adapted to move vertically from an upper to a lower position to engage the cutting blade with the frangible portion and sever the endmost T-Nut.

The present invention includes systems, assemblies, and methodologies for inhibiting combustion within fluid containers, enhancing the safety of such containers. One aspect includes a novel base module from which assemblies of varying shape and size, suitable for disposing within a variety of different fluid containers, are created. In one embodiment, the base module is made from an expanded mesh which is rolled in a novel cylindrical configuration according to a novel methodology. In another embodiment, the base module may be combined with other base modules to form an assembly. The present invention is also directed to an apparatus and method for creating base modules which allows for varying density of the base modules and therefore varying flexural strength and rigidity of the assemblies. As such, the packing density of assemblies within containers may be optimized to produce the desired effect of inhibiting combustion within the container.

A terminal manufacturing apparatus includes a pressing device adapted to form a chained terminal including a crimp portion by bending a continuously supplied plate-shaped workpiece into a hollow shape, the crimp portion being crimpable with a conductor part of a coated conductor accommodated therein, a welding device adapted to bring two edge portions of the crimp portion in proximity to each other and join the two edge portions by welding, a conveying/positioning time calculating unit adapted to determine a conveying/positioning time of the welding device on the basis of a machining time required by the pressing device and the welding device, and a conveying/positioning mechanism adapted to position the chained terminal in a welding machining position within the welding device in accordance with the conveying/positioning time.