Abstract: An aerial optical fibre cable for installation alongside a power distribution system is made with a surface-slotted core acting as strength member and armouring and housing a ribbon optical element. The slot is filled with a soft thixotropic water blocking gel. The slot is closed and sealed with a close-fitting cap which is bound in position with a yarn and the core then driven several times around a capstan with the cap facing outward to induce an excess length of ribbon element in the core when it leaves the capstan. Plastics material is then extruded over the core to provide a tight-fitting sheath.

Abstract: A dilution valve dilutes a liquid feed concentrate with water, to give a dilute feed for feeding to piglets. The valve has a plunger (20) which reciprocates within a mixing chamber (66), to which the water and liquid feed concentrate are admitted through separate valves (48,70). Water pressure drives the plunger (20) in a charging stroke, during which water and liquid feed concentrate are admitted to the mixing chamber (66). A change-over spring (60) causes the plunger (20) to change from a charging stroke to a delivery stroke, during which dilute feed is delivered, the plunger (20) undergoing alternate charging and delivery strokes driven by the pressure of the incoming water.

Abstract: For observation of structures, for example of welding seams, within a cavity body, an optical system is provided, which is adapted to be introduced into the cavity body through an opening of reduced diameter. This optical system comprises two boroscopes having parallel shafts and bent off heads for illumination and observation. In a first position the heads are located antiparallel side-by-side and permit the introduction of the optical system through the opening. In a second position the heads are spread and form a base distance in the hollow body to illuminated the structure to be examined at an angle essentially different from the angle at which this structure is observed.

Abstract: A cable grip device, known as a "stopper", suitable for holding submarine cables during laying and recovery operations on board a ship, comprises a conventional helically wound stopper modified to have a low coefficient of friction over an internal surface portion (1A) and a higher coefficient of friction portion over a surface (1B), which it is found enhances the tensile load which the stopper can bear particularly when used for smooth surfaced deep water submarine cables.

Abstract: An inertial sensor arrangement comprises two electrically restrained gyros with three mutually orthogonal input axes. After A/D-conversion pick-off signals are supplied to a digital computer which forms part of the restraining loop of the gyros and provides digital output signals. The output signals are applied to a D/A-converter which supplies corresponding currents to the torquer of the gyros. Thereby integrating quantization errors are avoided. The cross-coupling behavior and gyro errors can be compensated in the computer. The inertial sensor arrangement can be measured as an entirety. The gyro parameters measured thereby are memorized in an EEPROM and are taken into account in the computer.

Abstract: A tamper evident closure for a can such as a spray can is provided with a frangible pull-tab which extends upwardly into the cover from the base and has an outwardly extending grip member which extends along the pull-tab for a sufficient distance to permit initial outward pulling and tearing of the pull-tab along the frangible lines as the grip member is pivoted upwardly. The pull-tab is tapered at its upper end to facilitate removal.

Abstract: A device for inhibiting parking or travel on pavement, comprising an elongated barrier member that is hingedly affixed to a support bolted or otherwise securely attached to the pavement. The barrier member can be oriented in two positions, one which the barrier member is prone to allow traffic to pass thereover, and a second which the barrier member is essentially upright to inhibit travel. A brace extends between the barrier member and the support and resiliently retains the barrier member in the upright orientation to absorb the impact of a vehicle.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved valve for the fuel intake and exhaust ports of an internal combustion engine. There is formed between each port and its associated cylinder an enlarged chamber within which is rotatably mounted a rotary valve member, preferably spheroidal in shape, which controls the flow of fluid through the chamber and thus thru the port. The valve member is not only rotatable but it is transversely movable relative to its axis of rotation so that it will sweep into sealingly engagement with the portions of the chamber surrounding the juncture with the associated port. The valve members are rotated by means of a segmented shaft and the connection between the shaft and drive members is such that tranverse movement of the valve member relative to the shaft will be permitted only when the rotary valve members in both the intake port and the exhaust port are not aligned to permit fluid movement through either of the ports i.e. during the compression and power strokes.

Abstract: A device constructed as simple as possible shall be provided for simulating, in laboratory tests of radar seekers, the conditions of free space with a moving target emitting radar radiation. To this end, a radar anechoic chamber is formed as hollow body pivotable about the radar seeker and serving as ray trap. A radar transmitter is arranged in this hollow body.

Abstract: An anti-splatter screen safety apparatus in which a screen of rubber-like material adapted to self-closing when penetrated by bullets is secured to the front face of a deflector plate for a bullet trap and spaced forwardly of the front face to form a space between the screen and the plate. When penetrated by a bullet which then strikes the plate, the material of the screen immediately closes behind the bullet to block passage of the spent bullet, fragments and particulate. The space between the screen and the plate allows bullets to completely penetrate the screen and allows all spent bullets and all fragments and particulate from spent bullets to move through the space without restriction to a well of the bullet trap. The screen provides total protection against splattering of bullets, fragments and particulate, prevents ricochet of all spent bullets, and contains all spent bullets, fragments and particulate.

Abstract: In a cryostatic device for cooling an infrared detector, based on the Joule-Thomson effect, a countercurrent heat exchanger is located with a forward flow conduit in a Dewar vessel. The forward flow conduit ends in an expansion nozzle. The infrared detector is located on the front side of the inner wall of the Dewar vessel. To reduce the heat load, a heat insulating layer is arranged between the Dewar vessel and a base. To improve the cooling power of the Joule-Thomson process achievable with a predetermined pressurized gas mass flow, an inlet end of the forward flow conduit is cooled by Peltier elements. Thus the required pressurized gas flow is reduced.

Abstract: Test apparatus is described for testing a printed circuit board (PCB). The apparatus includes two test heads, one for each side of the board. Each test head carries an array of spring loaded probes for making electrical contact with the pads on the PCB. Each head also includes two optical fiber image guides for viewing alignment marks at diagonally opposite corners of the PCB, so as to indicate the degree of misalignment between the head and the PCB. The alignment can be adjusted by means of linear drive mechanisms which allow the position of the head to be adjusted in two dimensions relative to the PCB.

Abstract: A security system for monitoring and detecting security breaches in a home comprises a central monitor and a plurality of remote sensors for one or more of fire, smoke, intrusion, appliance operation and the like. Each of the sensors has a transmitter for transmitting an electronic message when the sensor goes into an alarm condition. The central monitor has a receiver to receive the electronic messages. An electronic microprocessor system decodes the received electronic message and takes the necessary course of action in accordance with a programmable scheme retained in electronic memory of the microprocessor system. The central monitor has a speech synthesizer responding to inputs from the microprocessor system. A keyboard is provided on the central monitor for allowing a user to interact with the security system. The microprocessor system is programmable via the keyboard to permit the user to customize the programmable scheme to render it unique to the user.

Abstract: Image display apparatus reads data from an image memory to produce an image on a interlaced raster-scanned display. The image can be zoomed by producing X and Y magnifications. X magnification is produced by repeating each pixel a predetermined number of times. Y magnification is produced by repeating each display line a predetermined number of times. The number of repetitions of each display line can be varied from line to line and can be different in the two frames, so as to cope with odd-number Y magnification factors. This is achieved by using a register file which holds the required line repetition counts.

Abstract: A data processing arrangement intended for use, inter alia, in a multi-processing system for use in association with a systolic array is implemented on a single semiconductor chip. The arrangement includes processing means (AU, MU) and storage means (ACC), interconnectable via an electronic equivalent (MM) of a cross-bar switch.

Abstract: A closure for containers of various sizes and configurations. The closure comprises of a cover member, a flange or similar structure for attaching the cover member to a container, and a slideway formed in the cover member with a slide disposed therewithin, slideable to cover and uncover a hole formed in the cover member in the slideway. The slide is mounted in the slideway such that it normally is firmly retained within the slideway. Detents may be formed in the side of the slideway with corresponding protrusions on the other member to temporarily position the slide in one of several locations long the slideway.

Abstract: A method of forming a metal mold or die from a model of the mold contours. A workpiece for the mold is coated with a material which is resistant to an acidic etchant and which has a melting temperature sufficiently elevated such that the coating is generally solid. The coated workpiece is then immersed in an etchant, and a heated template is pressed against the coated workpiece, melting any portions of the coating contacted by the template. The melted portions of the coating are displaced until the template contacts the surface of the workpiece. The template is then withdrawn to permit solidification of the coating, the etchant etches any portions of the workpiece exposed by displacement of the coating, and the process is repeated until the surface of the workpiece conforms to any contouring of the surface of the template.

Abstract: A test device for a thermally-activated instrument so that the accuracy of the instrument can be determined. In a first form of the invention, a cylindrical enclosure is provided for retaining the instrument and is connected to a power supply via terminals attached to the enclosure. The enclosure is slotted along its length to permit enlargement of the enclosure when necessary. A second enclosure, also slotted along its length and with a temperature sensing thermocouple attached thereto, is provided for retaining the thermally-activated instrument and is shaped to fit within the first enclosure. In a second form, a series of clustered enclosures are provided, with the enclosures being of varying sizes to accommodate thermally-activated instruments of various sizes. In a third form, enclosures are grouped into at least two separate groups, with the groups being capable of being electrically interconnected.

Abstract: An aluminum foil oven pan having a holding frame therefor is disclosed. The holding frame comprises wire and has generally co-planar pan support members extending beneath the bottom wall of the pan. The pan support members terminate in upwardly extending lateral portions for restraining the side wall of the pan. At least two of the lateral restraining portions are provided with handle means whereby a retained pan may be easily lifted with the holding frame so that the user need not touch the pan during cooking procedures and risk buckling the pan and spilling the food contents therefrom.

Abstract: A low current, high voltage power supply for gas discharge devices, such as neon tubes. The power supply has a free-running oscillator which generates a high frequency voltage signal which drives a light-weight, compact transformer. The oscillator has a power transistor drive, and a second transistor is used to remove the base drive of the power transistor to render it non-conductive. The second transistor also provides a path for rapid evacuation of the charge carriers stored in the base-emitter junction of the power transistor to rapidly render it non-conductive when the second transistor is energized. A safety bypass circuit is provided should a fault occur with the gas discharge device.