Abstract: A belt filter apparatus for treating material to separate solid and liquid components comprises an endless belt structure adapted to circulate around a path incorporating guide roller structures around which the belt structure passes. The endless belt structure comprises an elongate belt portion of water permeable material, and has two opposed longitudinal edges. A zipper releasably connects the two longitudinal edges together to form a tubular structure with a flexible sidewall. The circulating path includes an assembly zone where the longitudinal edges are brought together and connected by the zipper to form the tubular structure, and a disassembly zone at which the zipper is released to separate the longitudinal edges and open the tubular structure. Means are provided for compressing a portion of the tubular structure to express liquid from the material contained in the tubular structure. The liquid discharges from the tubular structure through the water permeable belt portion.

Abstract: An underground mining apparatus includes a mining head for moving through underground material to extract material in its path and form a passageway behind the mining head as it advances. An elongate structure extends along the passageway to the mining head and provides a path for delivering the extracted material to ground surface. A shroud is positioned about the elongate structure for supporting engagement with the periphery of the passageway and to provide a space through which the elongate structure can move. The shroud has a cross-sectional shape corresponding generally to the cross-sectional shape of the passageway formed by the mining head. A method is also disclosed.

Abstract: An elongate hollow structure and method of constructing the hollow structure is described, the hollow structure including a radially inner portion and a radially outer portion merging together to form a tubular wall structure. The method includes providing the radially inner portion, assembling the radially outer portion about the radially inner portion, and radially expanding the inner portion. The outer portion comprises an outer layer of fibre reinforced composite construction surrounded by a flexible outer casing. A space is provided between the radially inner portion and flexible outer casing. The outer layer includes reinforcement and a binder. The flexible outer casing resists radial expansion of the reinforcement, subjecting it to radial compression. The radially expanding inner portion cooperates with the flexible outer casing to cause the volume of the space to progressively decrease, causing the binder to spread through the space between the radially inner portion and flexible outer casing.

Abstract: A belt filter apparatus for treating material to separate solid and liquid components comprises an endless belt structure adapted to circulate around a path incorporating guide roller structures around which the belt structure passes. The endless belt structure comprises an elongate belt portion of water permeable material, and has two opposed longitudinal edges. A zipper releasably connects the two longitudinal edges together to form a tubular structure with a flexible sidewall. The circulating path includes an assembly zone where the longitudinal edges are brought together and connected by the zipper to form the tubular structure, and a disassembly zone at which the zipper is released to separate the longitudinal edges and open the tubular structure. Means are provided for compressing a portion of the tubular structure to express liquid from the material contained in the tubular structure. The liquid discharges from the tubular structure through the water permeable belt portion.

Abstract: A method of joining a fibre reinforced laminate layer to a surface (3), including applying a layer of melted resin on to the surface (3), the resin displacing air from the surface and solidifying upon cooling on the surface to thereby form a layer of solidifled resin (7) thereon, applying a composite lay-up (13) over the resultant layer of solidified resin, and heating and melting the resin so that the composite lay-up is submerged in the melted resin and the resin is subsequently cured to thereby form the laminate layer (19).

Abstract: A fluid reticulation system for a composite component production assembly, the production assembly including at least one pressure chamber (25) having a chamber wall (21) locatable adjacent a composite lay-up or mold, at least a portion of the chamber wall (21) being resiliently deformable, the fluid reticulation system being locatable within the inner volume of the pressure chamber (25) and including means (5) for distributing fluid towards an inner surface (22) of the chamber wall as the fluid enters the pressure chamber.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method for producing a composite component including applying a resin over a surface, the resin solidifying to form a resin layer, providing reinforcement means along an x direction generally parallel to the resin layer, providing reinforcement means along a y direction at an angle to the x direction and generally parallel to the resin layer, and providing reinforcement means in a z direction generally perpendicular to the x and y directions in a subsequent production step.

Abstract: A production system for producing a composite component including, a mold assembly including a relatively rigid mold section, an elastically deformable mold section, fluid pressure means for applying a fluid pressure due to a density and/or pressure of a fluid on said elastically deformable mold section, and a resin supply means for supplying resin to a mold chamber defined between the mold sections when brought together.

Abstract: An underground mining apparatus includes a mining head for moving through underground material to extract material in its path and form a passageway behind the mining head as it advances. An elongate structure extends along the passageway to the mining head and provides a path for delivering the extracted material to ground surface. A shroud is positioned about the elongate structure for supporting engagement with the periphery of the passageway and to provide a space through which the elongate structure can move. The shroud has a cross-sectional shape corresponding generally to the cross-sectional shape of the passageway formed by the mining head. A method is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling a liner from a plurality of longitudinal sections of flexible material having longitudinal edges adapted to be joined one to another to form the liner includes a path means along which the longitudinal sections of flexible material can be conveyed in a laterally reduced condition, an assembly zone at which the longitudinal edges can be joined together to form the liner, and a guide structure about which the flexible material can turn upon exiting from the path means to provide an inner section and an outer section turned back with respect to the inner section. The guide structure presents a guide, surface over which the longitudinal sections of flexible material can pass, the surface being configured to facilitate spreading of each longitudinal section from the laterally reduced condition.

Abstract: Apparatus for, and a method of, lining an internal surface (13) of a conduit (15). The lining typically comprises a tube structure (17) which is applied to the internal surface (13) of the pipeline (15), the tube structure being impregnated with a resin which upon curing forms, together with the tube structure, a composite structure which provides the lining. The tube structure (17) is applied to the internal surface (13) of the pipeline (15) by way of an eversion process. The apparatus (10) comprises a body (24) having a portion (63) confronting the everting tube structure (17) to in combination with an everting portion (33) of the tube structure (17) define a space (68) within the pipeline (15) for receiving the resin. The body (24) incorporates a ring structure (120) presenting a contact surface (125) against which the everting portion (33) engages as it moves towards the internal surface (13) of the conduit (15).

Abstract: A fluid reticulation system for a composite component production assembly, the production assembly including at least one pressure chamber (25) having a chamber wall (21) locatable adjacent a composite lay-up or mould, at least a portion of the chamber wall (21) being resiliently deformable, the fluid reticulation system being locatable within the inner volume of the pressure chamber (25) and including means (5) for distributing fluid towards an inner surface (22) of the chamber wall as the fluid enters the pressure chamber.

Abstract: A production system for producing a composite component including, a mould assembly (1) including a relatively rigid mould section (3), an elastically deformable mould section (5), fluid pressure means for applying a fluid pressure due to a density and/or pressure of a fluid (12) on said elastically deformable mould section, and a resin supply means (17) for supplying resin (23) to a mould chamber (8) defined between the mould sections when brought together.

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling a liner from a plurality of longitudinal sections of flexible material having longitudinal edges adapted to be joined one to another to form the liner includes a path means along which the longitudinal sections of flexible material can be conveyed in a laterally reduced condition, an assembly zone at which the longitudinal edges can be joined together to form the liner, and a guide structure about which the flexible material can turn upon exiting from the path means to provide an inner section and an outer section turned back with respect to the inner section. The guide structure presents a guide, surface over which the longitudinal sections of flexible material can pass, the surface being configured to facilitate spreading of each longitudinal section from the laterally reduced condition.

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling a liner from a plurality of longitudinal sections of flexible material having longitudinal edges adapted to be joined one to another to form the liner includes a path means along which the longitudinal sections of flexible material can be conveyed in a laterally reduced condition, an assembly zone at which the longitudinal edges can be joined together to form the liner, and a guide structure about which the flexible material can turn upon exiting from the path means to provide an inner section and an outer section turned back with respect to the inner section. The guide structure presents a guide, surface over which the longitudinal sections of flexible material can pass, the surface being configured to facilitate spreading of each longitudinal section from the laterally reduced condition.

Abstract: Apparatus for assembling a liner (25) from a plurality of longitudinal sections of flexible material (161, 162) having longitudinal edges adapted to be joined one to another to form the liner. The apparatus comprises a path means along which the longitudinal sections of flexible material can be conveyed in a laterally reduced condition, an assembly zone at which the longitudinal edges can be joined together to form the liner, and a guide structure (165) about which the flexible material (161, 162) can turn upon exiting from the path means to provide an inner section (171) and an outer section (173) turned back with respect to the inner section. The guide structure (165) presents a guide, surface (167) over which the longitudinal sections (161, 162) of flexible material can pass, the surface (167) being configured to facilitate spreading of each longitudinal section (161, 162) from the laterally reduced condition.

Abstract: A method of, and apparatus for, lining the interior surface (13) of a passageway (15) such as a pipeline, involving progressive installation of a liner (11) on the interior surface (13) of the passageway (15) or on a substrate applied to the interior surface of the passageway by adhesively bonding the liner (11) in position. The liner (11) is bonded to the inner surface (13) of the passageway (15), or onto a substrate applied to the inner surface of the passageway, using a substance which hardens and which together with the liner (11) forms a rigid structure. The apparatus (10) includes a body (23) adapted to be moved along the passageway (15) to progressively install the liner (11). The body (23) also applies the adhesive for the bonding process.

Abstract: Apparatus for assembling a liner (25) from a plurality of longitudinal sections of flexible material (161, 162) having longitudinal edges adapted to be joined one to another to form the liner. The apparatus comprises a path means along which the longitudinal sections of flexible material can be conveyed in a laterally reduced condition, an assembly zone at which the longitudinal edges can be joined together to form the liner, and a guide structure (165) about which the flexible material (161, 162) can turn upon exiting from the path means to provide an inner section (171) and an outer section (173) turned back with respect to the inner section. The guide structure (165) presents a guide, surface (167) over which the longitudinal sections (161, 162) of flexible material can pass, the surface (167) being configured to facilitate spreading of each longitudinal section (161, 162) from the laterally reduced condition.

Abstract: A connector assembly (61) comprising a male connector element (61a) having a locking shank (101) and a female connector element (61b) having a locking cavity (133) with an external opening. The locking shank (101) is receivable in the locking cavity (133) through the external opening. The male connector element (61a) presents a male contact face (111) and the female connector element (61b) presents a female contact face (123), the male and female connector elements (61a, 61b) being configured for interaction therebetween with the contact faces (111, 123) in abutting engagement when the locking shank (101) is received in the locking cavity to resist a separating force applied between the male and female connector elements. The interaction between the male and female connector elements (61a, 61b) is provided at spaced apart locations lengthwise along the shank.

Abstract: A screening device including a screen having a first side for presentation to material to be screened and a second side, a plurality of screen openings in the screen extending between the first and second side thereof, a plurality of tines mounted on a support device disposed on the second side of the screen, each tine being moveable in a first direction along a path at least part of which includes one of the screen openings whereby the tine is receivable in and moveable along the screen opening, the tine extending beyond the first side of the screen for at least part of the movement thereof along the screen opening, the tines being moveably mounted on the support device for deflection away from said first direction while continuing to move in said first direction upon encountering an obstruction.