Abstract: A spray dampening system for use in a printing operation including solenoid-operated spray dampening fluid nozzles operated at particular frequencies in relation to the speed of the press. The nozzles are operated in pairs, such that only one of the nozzles of each pair is activated at any one time. The frequency of alternation of activation of the nozzles of each pair is dependent upon the speed of the printing operation.

Abstract: A coupled waveguide injection laser is provided with two waveguiding ridges (36,37 or 60,61) that are configured such that the coupling between them produces a first order supermode for which a signal current modulation produces optical amplitude modulation with substantially no attendant frequency modulation. In a related structure the configuration affords the facility of providing for the zero order supermode optical frequency modulation with substantially no attendant amplitude modulation.

Abstract: A blowing mould has a mould with a terminal part which can be adjusted in axial direction relative to the mould by means of a threaded spindle and an adjustment nut. The terminal part is guided in a pressure sealed manner in the mould and is provided with a projecting rim which effects a seamless transition between the terminal part and the inner wall of the mould.

Abstract: A liquid dispenser has a cylinder in which a piston may move in an intake stroke and a discharge stroke. A pulse generator responds to any movement of the piston in the discharge direction, whereby a counting and readout device provides a dispensing measurement readout even for inadvertent discharge movements of the piston. Movement of the piston in the discharge direction rotates a wheel in the pulse generator. A ratchet system may be provided to prevent rotation of the wheel in reverse during intake movements of the piston. Alternatively the wheel rotates in both directions, and a discriminator is provided to discriminate between the two directions of movement.

Abstract: A collapsible segment for a drive train, preferably a collapsible actuator arm for a vertical door opening mechanism, such as that for a garage door. The actuator arm comprises two primary components, first and second arms which are aligned with one end of one arm pivotally engaging one end of the other arm. A spring under tension extends between the arms on one side of the pivotal connection of the arms in order to normally retain the arms in alignment. The arms are formed such that they cannot pivot toward the spring. The arms are attached to the garage door mechanism at appropriate locations at opposite ends of the arms, with at least one of the attachment locations being offset from the arms on the other side of the pivotal connection such that when compressive force is applied to the arms, and when the force of the spring has been overcome, the arms are urged to pivot about the pivotal connection away from the spring, thus collapsing the actuator mechanism.

Abstract: A computer network is described, consisting of a number of computers connected by a bus. Each computer in turn becomes master, and can send messages to the other computers. When it is finished its turn as master, it passes control on to the next computer by means of a relinquish message. Each computer, when it is not master, monitors the bus for messages destined for it. If it does not detect any messages within a predetermined time interval, it enters a contention mode in which it repeatedly sends a message until either (a) it receives a response to the message in which case it becomes master or (b) it receives another message, in which case it becomes a slave. Each computer sends the contention messages at a different repetition rate, chosen such that, whatever the initial phasing of the contention messages, one message from one computer will always get through within a predetermined number of transmission attempts.

Abstract: A strain or pressure responsive transducer comprises a pair of elongate beam resonators arranged end to end and provided with a flexible coupling therebetween. The arrangement oscillates e.g. in a double see-saw or butterfly mode. The transducer is disposed on a diaphragm whereby strain may be transmitted to the oscillatory system. The frequency of oscillation is a function of this strain.

Abstract: A multichannel automatic remote line testing system enables telephone lines connected to a common highway to be individually tested from the exchange. Pulse code modulation of an audio tone provides address codes which are checked by the remote line testers and responded by the tester whose programmed address corresponds to the particular code sent. Validation circuits check the frequency, encoding and duration of the command.Pulse Code modulation echoes are used to confirm interactive operation.

Abstract: A winding (12) is wound around a core (10) having a circular cross-section. The wound core (10) is then deformed by pressure between flat surfaces (14, 16) until a flat contact surface is created which allows the use of sliding brushes, for example.

Abstract: A distributed feedback (DFB) laser having a divided electrode structure on one surface by means of which the injected current distribution in the laser may be modified so as to enable independent control of laser output amplitude and wavelength.

Abstract: A telephone exchange, now often called a switch, includes a switching network of the space division type which switches PCM highways, and includes a number of sub-networks (SEG1, SEG2 . . . SEGN) each of which is a plural (e.g. three) stage array. When a call is to be set up it is set up via one of these sub-networks, and a reserve path chosen for it through a different sub-network. The identity of this reserve path is noted in memory for use if the path via which the connection is actually set up fails. If that happens the call switched to the reserve path. This facility can also be used for "block transfers" of all calls in a sub-network, e.g. when the latter is taken out of service for maintenance. In one embodiment in which three stages are used, part at least of the middle stage is common to all sub-networks. Such an apparently large amount of switching corss-points is not too "cost ineffective" since the switching sub-networks are made up of relatively cheap VLSI units. Since the physical paths are e.g.

Abstract: A multi-stand hot strip rolling mill has a pinch roll assembly downstream of the last stand and before the coiler and a shapemeter roll is located between the last stand and the pinch roll assembly so as to engage with the strip.

Abstract: A foundation unit having a top bearing grid structure secured to a bottom substructure by intermediate support elements. The grid structure comprises a series of spaced longitudinal and transverse spring elements, each spring element being formed to permit elastic elongation thereof. Elastic elongation is accomplished by a series of V-shaped segments in each of the spring elements, the segments being located at the intersections of the spring elements and being joined by a clip. The support elements comprise wire elements which are L-shaped and which are composed of two planar portions connected at right angles to one another. The wire elements are located in transverse rows with the orientation of the wire elements in each row being opposite to the orientation of the wire elements in the adjacent row so that loads applied to the foundation unit are balanced.

Abstract: A tea brewer which automatically inlets a proportion of dilute water and brewing water to a siphon system to brew an extract for blending with the diluting water. The tea brewer includes a hot water tank having a volume of heated water therein and a fill tube for receiving a volume of cold water at the bottom of the hot water tank commensurate with the amount of hot water required to be siphoned therefrom to brew the tea leaves and make the extract. A vent for the hot water tank is provided to ensure that the full amount of hot water is siphoned. A cold water inlet line to the hot water tank is vented whereby to prevent cold water from being siphoned back along the cold water inlet line during the end of the cycle. The tea brewer further includes a line restrictor for creating a venturi effect along the dilute water inlet line. A needle valve is maintained at a slight back pressure in order to prevent starving the cold water inlet line carrying the displacement volume of cold water to the hot water tank.

Abstract: An automatic telephone exchange, such as a PABX, includes a number of group control units (GCU1 to GCU4) each of which is a simplified version of the system of U.S. Pat. No. 4581733. These are connected via respective PCM highways to a central switch, which is an electronic time space switch, and a central controller. The central controller does the major part of the call setting and control, all calls being set up via the central switch.

Abstract: The north direction shall be determined by a carrier fixed two-axis rate gyro having a substantially vertical spin axis from the two components of the horizontal component of the rotary speed of the earth. Deviations of the position of the rate gyro from an exact vertical alignment of the spin axis are detected by two accelerometers which provide acceleration signals. The ratio of acceleration signals and acceleration due to gravity provide values of the angles of inclination. Correction signals are formed out of the accelerometer signals and are subtracted from the signals obtained by the rate gyro. One of the correction signals compensates for the component of the vertical component of the rotary speed of the earth falling into the direction of the input axes of the rate gyro. Another signal compensates the rotary speed of the carrier relative to the earth and thus rotatory interferences. The tangent of the true azimuth angle is obtained by forming quotients of the rate gyro signals corrected in this way.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for effecting phase rotation of a digital signal by applying said digital signal as partial address signals for a look-up table in a memory together with rotation control signals forming additional address signals whereby the memory output represents the phase rotated signal, characterized in that each input vector is modified so that points representing digitized input vector values plotted on a rectangular coordinate grid are transformed to lie on an alternative coordinate system and the rotated vectors are retransformed and requantized to a digital output.

Abstract: A urine collector of the type having a flexible collection bag and an adhesively-faced attachment member joined to the bag and which is adapted for attachment to the uro-genital area of an infant or small child. The attachment member is fabricated from a flexible, preformed material such as a foamed plastic and has a barrier formed therein having a raised, curved bulge which is shaped to span the perineum of an infant. A rear recess is formed in the attachment member behind the bulge in order to aid application of the collector to an infant. A removable carrier is secured to the adhesive face of the attachment member to protect the adhesive coating and retain the shape of the attachment member. The carrier is removed before use of the urine collector.

Abstract: A cavity backed crossed slot antenna wherein the cavity depth d is less than one eighth of the operating wavelength .lambda. at the lowest frequency of operation, the major dimension a of the cavity in the plane of the slots is less than one half of the wavelength .lambda. at the lowest operating frequency, and the slots are excited by four symmetrically located capacitive coupled feed probes.

Abstract: A telephone instrument has a rectangular recess (3) along one side of the body which receives the handset. The handset has a recess which fits over a locating member (2) when on-hook. The hook switch contacts (6) are controlled by a pivoted member (4), which acts on the end of a plunger (7) to control the hook-switch contacts. The plunger (7) is spring-urged to its off-hook condition, i.e. when the handset is not in the recess.