Abstract: A porous body is formed and joined to the component by sintering a metal powder to the component. The porous body and component are placed into a piston casting die. Molten metal is poured into the die such that the porous body becomes infiltrated with the molten metal and the molten metal is allowed to solidify. The porous body may be formed by sintering loose metal powder to the component, or by forming a separate body by die pressing of metal powder and which body may be subsequently sintered and joined to the component.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for removing organic material from a gas. The method comprises the operation of subjecting the gas to pulses of circularly polarised microwave radiation and the apparatus comprises a reaction chamber through which the gas can be passed, means for generating circularly polarised microwave radiation and means for applying the circularly polarised microwave radiation to the gas in the reaction chamber.

Abstract: Cast components having reduced porosity levels are produced by pouring a molten metal into a mould which is in a first chamber, and withdrawing the filled mould into a second chamber. The second chamber is then isolated from the first chamber with regard to pressure, and the second chamber is then pressurized with a fluid up to a maximum pressure of 7 MPa for at least part of the time required for solidification of the metal in the mould. The pressure is preferably applied within forty seconds from the finish of pouring of the molten metal, and more preferably within twenty seconds. The still molten state of the metal permits the use of a relatively low pressure to reduce the porosity levels.

Abstract: An aerosol sampler comprises at least one U-tube whose ends are fixed to a support, and through which the aerosol is caused to flow. Means are provided to set the tube vibrating, and to measure its resonant frequency. The bend of the U-tube acts as an impactor so aerosol particles larger than a cut-off size are trapped, causing a change in the measured frequency. A sampler may include a number of such U-tubes in series, with steadily decreasing cut-off sizes, so the aerosol particulate size distribution can be determined.

Abstract: An air lock system for the transfer of large containers into a containment comprises a set of horizontally and vertically slidable doors adapted to define a variable opening for the passage of containers. The set of doors cooperate with a further preceding set, which can be a single slidable door, to form an airlock. Ventilation means in the containment provide an inward air flow through the opening into the containment.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus comprises a base, and a robot device on the base having opposing jaw members. A number of stations locate on the base, and cooperate with the robot device in a sequence of operations such as to produce a measured pharmaceutical dose from a supply of a pharmaceutically acceptable substance. One of the stations locates several hypodermic syringes in parallel and a container, and produces relative movement of the appropriate syringe and the container towards and away from each other to arrange that the syringe penetrates and withdraws from the container.

Abstract: A source of seismic waves operable within a borehole filled with liquid crises a module supported by a cable. The module includes means to generate a high voltage and to charge a bank of capacitors, and means to connect the capacitors across a pair of electrodes forming a spark gap. The electrodes are immersed in liquid at the same pressure as the borehole liquid and acoustically continuous with it, and are separated by a gap of width between 0.5 and 20 mm. If the gap is greater than about 5 mm, both the electrodes should be covered with insulation except at the positions where the spark is to be formed. The module can operate automatically at considerable depths and at high pressures.

Abstract: A tandem accelerator for producing a beam of positively charged particles in which the positive ion producing and accelerating region of the apparatus is operated under vacuum conditions.

Abstract: Where a concrete structure (12) has been contaminated with tritium (whether as gas or as water) the tritium atoms take the place of ordinary hydrogen atoms in water and in hydroxyl groups in the concrete, rendering it radioactive. The degree of contamination may be reduced by irradiating the surface with microwaves to vaporize water, while extracting water vapor from the surface region through a dust filter (28) and a water trap (30). This can considerably reduce the radioactivity, and hence the cost of disposal of the concrete.

Abstract: An actuator assembly (14) suitable for use in a hand controller (10) with six degrees of freedom of movement consists of a pair of arms (20) each secured at one end to a respective rotary actuator (26), and at the other end secured to a common universal joint (21). The arms (20) are coupled directly to the drive shafts (25) of the rotary actuators (26) and their movement is restricted.

Abstract: An open topped container (1) for liquids such as paint, which container is provided with a pivotally mounted carrying handle(5), wherein the handle is pivotally mounted substantially off-center with respect to the container body (2), whereby when a user holds the container suspended by the handle (5), at least a major part of the open top of the container (1) is unobstructed by the presence of the handle (5) and the user's hand. A wide pouring channel (9) is provided located so that any paint left on the channel (9) after pouring drains back into the container (1) as the container (1) is subsequently held by the handle (5) in readiness for painting.

Abstract: The operating temperature of a laser can be assessed by determining the ratio of light of different wavelengths emitted by the laser. A copper vapor laser emits green and yellow light having two distinct wavelengths and the ratio of said wavelengths is temperature dependant. Preferably the ratio of green to yellow light is in the region of 2 to 1 for optimum operating conditions. The ratio is determined using green and yellow light filters (3, 4) having associated light dependant resistors (6, 7) forming input and feedback resistors in an operational amplifier circuit (9).

Abstract: A mixing device for use in a duct (12), particularly for use when testing the efficiency of a filter (10) in the duct by aerosol injection, consists of a pipe (24) with a closed end arranged near the middle of the duct (12). The other end of the pipe is connected to a source (26) of compressed air. Near the closed end are one or more narrow holes (28) so that narrow air jets are created across the width of the duct. The air jets create large-scale turbulence in air flowing in the duct, even where that air flow was already turbulent, such that thorough mixing is achieved within as little as two duct diameters or less, while producing negligible pressure drop. The mixing device may be combined with an aerosol injector (20, 22).

Abstract: A mixing method uses, and a colloidal grout mixing apparatus comprises, an upright cylindrical vessel in which a mixer is located. The mixer comprises a shaft extending substantially co-axially with the longitudinal axis of the vessel, and a paddle assembly mounted on the shaft. The paddle assembly produces a vortex in liquid in the vessel, and also provides a high shear region near the base of the vessel. A non-shear pump is connected to the base to discharge grout from the vessel. The grout may be discharged to a drum containing radioactive waste and mounted on a vibratory platform.

Abstract: Apparatus for locating a floatable platform, comprises upstanding support members arranged to be adjacent to an article submerged in a liquid, and extendible members depending from the platform. The extendible members on initial extension are arranged to locate on the support members, and further extension of the extendible members raises the platform from a buoyant to a partially-buoyant state. A laser device on the platform is arranged to scan a stationary coded target so as to determine the position of the platform.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for conveying products, in particular fruit, adapted to sort automatically these products. This device comprises a plurality of chassis (3) distributed along a conveyor (1) and each supporting a carriage (8) bearing two rollers (19) mounted on an axis (6) of this chassis so as to be able to oscillate vertically and tilt laterally. This device further comprises weighing means comprising slideways disposed in the alignment of support shoes (16, 18) with which each carriage (8) is provided, these slideways being provided with end ramps arranged such that the carriages are driven in a floating manner along the slideways. This device further comprises separation means adapted to carry out, at the loading zone of the conveyor, an ordered arrangement of the products allowing each of them to be disposed on a carriage.

Abstract: A first metal, for example a transition metal such as cobalt, having an insoluble hydroxide is separated from a second metal such as lithium having a soluble hydroxide in an aqueous liquid containing dissolved cations of the metals. The cations are firstly absorbed onto a cation exchange material by electrochemical ion exchange and the second metal then selectively eluted by electrochemical ion exchange under sufficiently high pH conditions, e.g. to 10-13, in a closed loop. Finally, the transition metal is eluted by electrochemical ion exchange under sufficiently low pH conditions, e.g. acidic such as 1-2. The method is applicable to separating trace quantities of Co (e.g. as Co-60) from larger quantities of Li in aqueous solution.

Abstract: An electrode used in electrochemical deionization comprises a current feeder disposed asymmetrically in an ion exchange material bonded into a coherant structure i.e. more of the ion exchange material adheres to one side of the current feeder than to the other side. The ion exchange material may be bonded by being provided in intimate admixture with a binder. Such an electrode offers manufacturing ease and the ability to be scaled up in multi-modular form.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ejection nozzle with a variable outlet section for a jet engine. An axially moving annular skirt (4) is disposed about the fixed nozzle wall (2) so that it can be displaced axially between an upstream position in which the skirt is disposed retracted about the fixed wall (2) and a downstream position in which it projects to the rear of the outlet section of this wall. A semiflexible crown (8) is provided to ensure the connection between the moving skirt (4) and the fixed wall (2), this crown bearing elastically about the wall (2). The invention makes it possible in particular to increase the outlet section of a central hot gas nozzle so as to ensure a reduction of the hot jet thrust when the thrust reversers are applied on the cold jet. It also makes it possible in certain flight conditions, especially during take-off in hot weather, to reduce the temperature of the hot outlet gases and thus to increase the speed of the gas generator and increase the direct jet thrust.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing sintered uranium dioxide in which a mixture is formed of single crystals of uranium dioxide and uranium dioxide powder. Compacts are formed from granules of the mixture, the compacts are sintered in carbon dioxide, and then reduced in a hydrogen environment at a substantially lower temperature than the sintering temperature. The quantity of the single crystals is selected so as to inhibit excessive grain growth in the compacts during sintering.