Abstract: In an anti jack-knifing coupling arrangement between a tractor vehicle and a trailer wherein a turntable is mounted on the tractor vehicle for rotation about a vertical axis and carries a brake member for rotation therewith and having opposing horizontal parallel faces defining brake surfaces and brake callipers are mounted on the tractor vehicle for operative engagement with such brake surfaces, while themselves being restrained from movement about the vertical axis; the brake surfaces and the brake callipers are cooperatively disposed in a manner so as to be protected from exposure to rain and like elements and are kept clean and dry so that any possible slippage therebetween when the brake callipers are actuated to grip the brake surfaces is obviated.

Abstract: A method of recording information on a thin film of thermoplastics material over a generally circular recording area, comprises the steps of directing a focussed, modulated beam of electrons on the film and simultaneously moving the film so that the beam deposits a track of charge which follows a spiral path, the film being carried by a support which has a conductive part in contact with the film, wherein the film is heated by the passage of an electric current through the conductive part of the support, the current being circumferentially uniform over the recording area. Preferably the information is recorded over an annular recording area between two spaced concentric conductive annular members in contact with the conductive part of the support, between which members the current is passed.

Abstract: In a phase comparison radio navigation system in which a prime and one or more secondary transmitting stations radiate phase-locked signals of the same frequency in a time-shared sequence, phase locking at the secondary station or stations is effected by using a common phase comparator both for locking a phase memory oscillator to the received prime signals and for locking the secondary signals at the antenna with the phase memory oscillator.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a bearing for a railway vehicle axle comprising a housing enclosing a bearing liner to receive an end of the axle. One end of the housing has an end cap shaped to provide an oil reservoir and there is at least one cavity in the lower part of the housing leading from the reservoir to a port in the lower part of the bearing liner to deliver lubricant to the axle end supported in the liner. The other end of the housing has an oil seal to engage the axle.

Abstract: In a phase comparison radio navigation system in which spaced transmitters radiate phase-locked signals in a time-shared sequence, in order to enable a receiver to be operated on any selected one of a large number of different frequencies, a phase memory in the receiver for giving a continuous output representative of the phase of an intermittently received signal, comprises a controlled oscillator giving an output of a frequency much higher than the received frequency, a frequency divider providing a first sub-multiple of the oscillator frequency, a frequency synthesizer providing a heterodyne signal at a second sub-multiple and a phase comparator providing an output controlling the oscillator in accordance with the phase relation between the divider output and the output of a mixer mixing the received signal with a heterodyne signal.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a motor vehicle body having a passenger compartment with an air conditioning installation comprising a plenum chamber located externally of the compartment and having an inlet for fresh air and an outlet leading into an air heater in the passenger compartment. Air is delivered through the outlet plenum of the chamber by an air blower which is supplied by a separate duct in the plenum chamber containing an air cooler. The duct has valve controlled openings into the plenum chamber to receive fresh air and into the passenger compartment for recirculation of air from the compartment.

Abstract: A rotary piston machine comprising a housing having a bore to receive a three apexed rotor. The bore has a lining formed with a trochoidal surface. The lobes of the surface are formed on curved flexible metal elements and the re-entrant portions of the surface are formed on rigid bridging pieces between the ends of elements.

Abstract: In a phase comparison radio navigation system in which phase-locked signals are radiated from spaced stations to be compared in phase in a receiver, the receiver has a separate phase memory oscillator for each received signal, the phase memory oscillators operating at the same frequencies (apart from differences due to Doppler shifts) and being locked to their respective signals from the transmitting stations and display units are provided each with selector means enabling any display unit to effect phase comparison between any pair of outputs from the memory oscillators.

Abstract: A flanged half bearing has flanges connected to a bearing liner by lugs on the flanges which engage in slots in the liner edges to permit the liner to flex radially. The liner edges have abutments to hold the flanges on the liner and the inner circumferential edges of the flanged ends of the bearing are curved in profile as viewed in cross-section through the bearing axis.

Abstract: In a phase comparison radio navigation system using transmissions from spaced stations in a time-sequence, for synchronising the timing of the transmissions, and for synchronising switching in a receiver, the timing control means include digital counting means counting down from the output of an oscillator phase locked to one of the received signals, and a timing identification signal is transmitted from one station for initially synchronising the counter timing.

Abstract: A tube former, comprising a body and a wear insert which jointly define a preformer surface over which an elongate sheet of packaging material is to be pulled towards an edge of the preformer surface which defines an aperture through which the sheet is to be drawn at an acute angle to the preformer surface, the relative shape and positioning of the aperture and the preformer surface causing the longitudinal edges of the tube to overlap slightly, and the wear insert being detachably supported by the body and defining both said edge of the preformer surface and a continuous portion of the preformer surface lying immediately adjacent the edge.

Abstract: There is disclosed apparatus, for counting a stack of sheets, of the kind (hereinafter referred to as "the kind described") comprising a counting head which in use is traversed along a corner of the stack, the head having a suction blade provided with a suction orifice for insertion in the corner of the stack, which blade is oscillatable about a horizontal axis to separate a corner of a sheet in the stack adhered by suction to one side of the blade from the next stack, and a wiping pin movable in an elongate orbit around the blade to transfer the corner of the sheet from the said one side of the blade to the opposite side thereof, and means to count the number of transfer operations effected, wherein there are provided means to traverse the counting head downwardly past a corner of a stack to be counted and means to move said wiping pin in a generally downwardly inclined elliptical orbit around the suction blade, comprising first means to mount the wiping pin for eccentric rotation about a first axis, second

Abstract: Transducers of the resistance wire type are described, wherein strained resistance wires are adapted to function both as a sensor and load bearing member. These transducers comprise a pair of spaced apart load carrying or attaching devices which are connected by a plurality of lengths of resistance wire or filament, such as a coil, belt or rope of wire construction, in which the individual lengths of wire are mechanically parallel but are preferably connected in series electrically so as to form a continuous wire passing back and forth between and connecting the two load carrying or attaching elements.

Abstract: A technique is provided for the determination of the temperature at which thin films of, for instance plastics materials, soften. The thin film under test is disposed upon a conductive substrate and forms the dielectric of a capacitor, one electrode of which is provided by the conductive substrate, and the other electrode of which is provided by an electrically conductive indentor which rests on the surface with a preset loading. The thin film is heated, and its temperature is monitored, the capacitance between the substrate and the indentor is also monitored. When the material of the film softens, the indentor penetrates the film and this produces a sharp increase in the capacitance. By noting the temperature at which this sharp rise in capacitance occurs, an accurate value for the softening temperature of the thin film is obtained.

Abstract: This invention concerns a method of recording wide-band signals on a thermoplastic film. The signal to be recorded is converted to an intensity modulation of a beam of electrons which is directed at the surface of a thin thermoplastic film carried on a conductive substrate. The film is rotated in its own plane and simultaneously translated so that the beam scans the film in a track which follows a spiral path. The deposition of charge produces after heating of the film a spatial modulation of the film. The intensity of the beam and the beam's impingement on the film is controlled in order that the charge pattern is appropriate for the formation of a spiral groove which is substantially invariant in cross-section but varies in depth along its direction of progression in accordance with the signal that modulates the intensity of the beam of electrons. The recording thus made can be used for the production of video discs capable of mechanical playback.

Abstract: Transducers of the resistance wire type are described, wherein strained resistance wires are adapted to function both as a sensor and load bearing member. These transducers comprise a pair of spaced apart load carrying or attaching devices which are connected by a plurality of lengths of resistance wire or filament, such as a coil, belt or rope of wire construction, in which the individual lengths of wire are mechanically parallel but are preferably connected in series electrically so as to form a continuous wire passing back and forth between and connecting the two load carrying or attaching elements.

Abstract: A system for preventing unauthorized cashing of Travelers Checks or the like negotiable instruments, wherein such a check has a space for an initial comparison signature and a space for a payee signature at the time of cashing, comprises a label arrangement that is affixed over the initial signature by the seller of the check so as to sealingly overlie and completely conceal the initial signature. Such label arrangement includes a transparent plastic tape strip that has an adhesive underside protected by backing strips which are removed by the seller of the check so that the tape strip can be fixedly superimposed on the face of the check over the initial signature.

Abstract: A tube former, including a body defining a preformer surface over which an elongate sheet of packaging material is to be pulled towards an edge of the preformer surface which defines an aperture through which the sheet is to be drawn at an acute angle to the preformer surface, the relative shape and positioning of the aperture and the preformer surface being such that the resulting tube will have its longitudinal edges slightly overlapped, and the body being so shaped adjacent the aperture that the wall of the tube may locally be distorted outwardly without engaging the body.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a fan assembly including a duct in which an axial flow fan is mounted, there being a plurality of apertures formed in the duct wall around the fan and a layer of acoustic absorption material encircles the duct and projects through the apertures into the duct to have a minimum running clearance from the periphery of the fan.

Abstract: Particle fuel, such as is used in high temperature nuclear reactors, and having the fuel material coated with a pyrolytic carbon coating impermeable to gaseous fission products and embedded in a matrix of graphite, incorporates radium 226 which may be included in the binder for the grains of the fuel. During the manufacturing process, the integrity of the pyrolytic carbon coating can be checked before irradiation in a reactor by circulating an inert gas such as argon over the particles at a temperature in excess of 800.degree.C. This may be carried out in the final carbonisation step during manufacture or immediately before vacuum degassing. The inert gas after passing over the particles is checked for the presence of radon 222, for example by passing the gas into a decay chamber having a filter in its outlet to collect radio active solid daughters of radon and counting the alpha particles emitted by the material collected by the filter.