Abstract: A modular barrier includes a plurality of substantially identical barrier sections each section having a base portion surmounted by an upright portion. The upright portion has projections with substantially semi-cylindrical outer surfaces at its ends. Correspondingly shaped recesses are also provided. At a femal end, the base portion includes a nose. The surface of the nose is a surface of rotation of the profile of the base portion. At the male end, the base portion includes a correspondingly shaped cavity. The first and second projections and the nose are provided with bores. When the female end of the barrier section is brought up to a male end of a similar, adjacent barrier section, the projections mate with one another and the nose is received in the cavity of the adjacent barrier section.

Abstract: A valve particularly intended to act as a water key for a musical wind instrument comprises a ball 17 captively mounted inside a housing 15 and a spring 18 which biases the ball 17 into an inlet aperture 12 of the valve. An annular actuator 20 extends around the housing 15 and comprises a plurality of projections 21 which extend radially inwardly through the housing 15, the inner ends of the projections 21 surrounding the ball 17. In use, when the actuator 20 is pushed in any radial direction, the projections 21 dislodge the ball 17 from the inlet aperture 12 to open the valve and to allow fluid to pass into the valve through the inlet aperture 12 and out an aperture 16 in the valve, When the actuator 20 is released, the ball 17 returns to its normal position under the spring bias to close the aperture 12. The valve is simple in construction and provides a reliable seal when closed, which is not prone to wear.

Abstract: A marine plough includes twin, complementary steering mechanisms, one or more soil-engaging fins, which are able to be steered, and a tow rope attachment mechanism that enables adjustment of the position of the tow rope retention point relative to the plough. This alters the position at which the line of a tow rope crosses the longitudinal axis of the plough, so that the plough can operate at offset tow positions. The tow rope attachment mechanism includes a bridle having two bridle limbs terminating at respective bridle limb retention points. The adjustment of the position of the tow rope retention point relative to the plough is done by moving the bridle rope retention points or adjusting the relative length of the bridle limbs. The bridle limb retention points can be moved, using cylinders, from towing positions to lifting positions at which the tow bridle can be used to lift plough in a substantially level attitude.

Abstract: An electrostatic corrector with a rectilinear optical axis has two corrective parts, which are arranged one behind the other along the optical axis and which have respective quadrupole fields and superimposed circular lens fields. The astigmatic intermediate image of one cross-section that is created by an axis point lies in one corrective part and the astigmatic intermediate image of the other cross-section, which is perpendicular to the first cross-section, lies in the other corrective part. An object of the invention is to eliminate the chromatic aberration of particle lenses. To achieve this, an electrostatic corrector is used, which includes two corrector units having similar instrumental construction, with each of the two corrector units having input and output sides on which two additional electrostatic quadrupoles are located. The two corrector units represent the axial paths in a telescopic manner in a 1:1 representation.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a space frame structure, such as a dome, for covering an open space, with the space frame structure being assembled from beam members, which intersect at rigid mode joints. The beam members and other structural components used in the skeleton of the space frame are made from pre-cast concrete, which has not been subjected to pre-tensioning and the rigid node joints are formed in situ, for example, by casting concrete joints incorporating the ends of the beam members. The loads imposed by the weight of the beam members on the beams and the node joints effectively simulate pre-stressing of the components which act within the assembled structure as pre-stressed concrete.

Abstract: A system for feeding direct current into an alternating current network includes a plurality of active inverters with each of the active inverters having an optimum input power and being connected at a respective input side to at least one direct current generator of fluctuating output power. A switching device is included for the one or more direct current generators from a first active inverter to a second active inverter, or vice-versa, for effecting a switchover operation, with a control device initiating the switchover operation upon fulfillment of a condition; the control device including a device for determining when the condictionis fulfilled.

Abstract: An electrostatic corrector for eliminating the chromatic aberration of particle lenses, includes a corrector having a straight optical axis and an electrostatic quadrupole for allocating to the objective lens. Two corrector pieces are positioned behind the quadrupole, along the optical axis in the direction of radiation. Each corrector piece has three electrical quadrupole fields with an overlying circular lens field. The quadrupole fields, however, are rotated 90° about the optical axis in relation to each other. This arrangement is adjusted so that the astigmatic first image of one sectional view lies in one corrector piece and the astigmatic first image perpendicular thereto, of the other sectional view, lies in the other corrector piece, with another electrostatic quadrupole being located on the output side.

Abstract: A fluid treatment apparatus comprises a duct portion (10) having an elongated tubular duct (12), inlet and outlet ports at or adjacent opposite ends of the duct (12), a separate vane portion (11), mounted internally of the duct (12) and carrying a helical guide vane (17), which extends longitudinally of the duct (12) between said inlet and outlet ports (13,14) to promote a helical fluid flow therebetween, and an elongated ultra-violet light source (22) extending longitudinally of the duct (12). The helical guide vane (17) is formed on the separate vane portion (11) f the apparatus and thus the apparatus is simple to construct, since the helical guide vane (17) is formed prior to insertion into duct (12).

Abstract: A surfboard made of a high-density ethyl vinyl acetate contained within a polyethylene shell is preferably produced by cutting to the shape of a conventional surfboard, a sufficient quantity of high-density ethyl vinyl acetate, which is then wrapped in a protective polyethylene shell. Thereafter, the combined high-density ethyl vinyl acetate with its polyethylene shell is heated for approximately fifteen minutes at a temperature sufficient for bonding the polyethylene shell to the high-density ethyl vinyl acetate. Once bonding is complete, the surfboard is then cooled and, if necessary, sculptured to its final shape. The final shape of the surfboard may be that of any conventional surfboard and may, preferably, include a “kick tail.

Abstract: An electron-optical lens arrangement with an axis that can be substantially displaced, and useful for electron lithography, includes a cylinder lens and a quadrupole field. The plane of symmetry of the quadrupole field extends in the mid-plane of the gap pertaining to the cylinder lens. The focussing level of the quadrupole is oriented in the direction of the gap. The amount of the focussing refractive power belonging to the cylinder lens is twice as high as the amount of the quadrupole. A deflection system for the charged particles is connected upstream in the level of the gap pertaining to the cylinder lens and several electrodes or pole shoes, which generate a quadrupole field are provided in the direction of the gap pertaining to the cylinder lens. The electrodes or pole shoes can be individually and, preferably, successively excited and the quadrupole field can be displaced according to the deflection of the particle beam, so that the particle beam impinges upon the area of the quadrupole field.

Abstract: A stairlift includes a rail cross-section and mounting rollers which, in combination, allow a stairlift assembly to be achieved which occupies little space and has a reduced visual impact. The rollers engage rolling surfaces arranged about the outer periphery of a tubular rail. The surfaces are preferably defined by structural components of the rail and are preferably non-parallel and non-perpendicular to the stair surfaces upon which the stairlift is mounted.

Abstract: In a gambling game a collateral gambling game which can be won by players on at least one specific event occurring in the principal game, the collateral game being separate from the principal game but one when any of the possible winning events occur in the principal game, the payment to the player being calculated from the total value available for the game divided by the total number of players who bet on the specific winning event. The game gives a possibility for a large number of players to share in the success of a single player who has successfully won the main game. It may be used with various types of games including those using electronic gaming machines.

Abstract: A method of providing a substrate with a decorative coating simulating the appearance of grained wood. A continuous layer comprising an aqueous medium which contains a polymeric binder and a particulate, non film-forming material is applied to an opaque surface of the substrate (the particulate material and the resulting layer both being lighter in color than the opaque surface. While the layer remains in the liquid state, a tool having a longitudinal extending face which has a convex section transverse to the longitudinal direction thereof, is drawn along the layer, the face of the tool having a series of spaced ridges along the longitudinal direction. The tool is rocked about the face as the tool is drawn along the layer, so as to discontinuously remove parts of the layer and selectively expose part of the underlying surface and to produce a decorative appearance resembling heart grains of cut timber.

Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting the rollers of a stairlift carriage, for ensuring that the carriage is firmly located on a stairlift rail, includes rollers for engaging one side of the stairlift rail, as well as rollers located on an opposite side of the rail, such that the stairlift rail is located between opposed sets of rollers. To achieve adjustment, the rollers on one side of the rail are located on a common member, which can be displaced toward and away from the stairlift rail.

Abstract: A dispenser drain attachment includes a threaded cap having a tapered drain socket and an associated drain tube. The interior of the drain tube has a double diaphragm which seals the drain tube, as well as an elastic gas bellows for dispensing liquid portions by alternating deformation of the diaphragm disks of the double diaphragm, which acts as a one-way valve. Such deformation is the result of pressure conditions which change when the gas bellows is compressed and then again released. The dispenser drain attachment is assembled from only two one-piece structural parts, each of which is produced by a two-component injection molding procedure.

Abstract: A hand held, portable and multipurpose medical device for biological signals acquisition, display and storage. The device includes a multipurpose computerized apparatus (2) which is primarily used for computer games as well as a biological signals acquisition module (1) which uses a plurality of biological sensors (6). A cartridge (4) used in conjunction with the computerized apparatus is pre-programmed and includes a read only memory (ROM) for storage of the program and a random access memory (RAM) for storage of acquired data. The acquired data in one form is an ECG and the apparatus simultaneously acquires and displays the ECG waveform in “real time”. Multiple memories in the apparatus are used for storage of the acquired ECG and to enable output to a printer (8) for hard copy or to a PC for analysis and reporting.

Abstract: A trimaran vessel having a central hull (10) and two outer hulls (11) each small and of less draft compared to the central hull (10), the arrangement of the vessel being such that the draft of the vessel lessens when moving at speed due to dynamic lift developed by the movement and whereby because of the change in draft, the outer hulls (11) have little if any effect on buoyancy of the vessel when moving at speed. The increase in lift can be achieved by the use of foils (20) and/or other lifting surfaces and/or by the use of a planning hull design of at least the central hull (10). The vessel is particularly suitable for a load carrying vessel such as a ferry.

Abstract: A hub assembly includes a core 10 of prior art construction held together between a pair of end plates 16, 18 by a cylindrical sleeve 14, the end plates 16, 18 being braced by flange 20 and nut 42 tightened on threaded end 22 of the sleeve 14. The end plates 16, 18 have an outer ring 34 with apertures 36 for hollow pins 38 to support the core 10 and a cavity 39 with flowable material 40 for balancing the hub. The pins 38 are held in place by plugs 58 which are inserted into the interior of the pin 38 and the pin expanded outwardly by compressing the plug 58 within the interior of said pin 38 to wedge the exterior of the pin 38 within an aperture 34 of the end plate 16, 18 . Each end plate 16, 18 may be ribbed having radially extending apertures 60 to reduce weight and to aid ventilation of the hub.

Abstract: A sewing accessories box includes a bottom part, as a set-up base, a back wall, a front wall, which is designed as a door, two side walls, a deck and interior shelves, which serve as receiving shelves for receiving accessories, such as bobbins or presser feet for a sewing machine. Each individual accessory is able to be retained in a holding and transport position on the receiving shelf so that, by way of actuation by a release key or by a swivelling movement of an individual accessory, the accessory can be moved from its holding and transport position into a removal position.