Abstract: A solar collector device for mounting on the outside of a support structure and including a fluid circuit for receiving a fluid for heating by solar radiation, the device further comprising a length of connection piping connected to the fluid circuit and moveable relative to the fluid circuit while thus connected thereto from a protected position to an installation position where the distal end thereof extends to the inside of said support structure.

Abstract: A method of, and a system for promoting the flow of air from a lower location to an upper location, the method comprising: using heat from a heat source to provide a first heat store; and making a secondary use of heat from said heat source to power a heating device for heating an air conduit connecting said lower and upper locations; wherein said secondary use of heat from said heat source is controlled on the basis of an indicator of whether or not there is an excess of heat in the heat store.

Abstract: A roof-penetrating structure for incorporating into a roof, the structure including a portion extending along one or more sides of the roof-penetrating structure for receiving an edge section of one or more sheets of flashing to provide a weather-proof connection therebetween; said portion including one or more resilient members such that, in use, the insertion of flashing into said portion automatically forces at least one of said one or more resilient members into a configuration in which they are biased against the flashing.

Abstract: A solar collector device for mounting on the outside of a support structure and including a fluid circuit for receiving a fluid for heating by solar radiation, the device further comprising a length of connection piping connected to the fluid circuit and moveable relative to the fluid circuit while thus connected thereto from a protected position to an installation position where the distal end thereof extends to the inside of said support structure.

Abstract: A liquid transfer pin is disclosed for transferring controlled volumes of a liquid from a distal end thereof to a substrate. The liquid transfer pin may be a ceramic, capillary pin. The pin of this invention may be used in micro-array printing. The capillary has a diameter which is at a minimum at the tip of the pin, but may be of uniform diameter along the whole length of the pin. A distal portion of the capillary may be selectively open in at least one radial direction to overcome problems associated with blocking. A robotic device for automatically filling the capillary pin of a liquid transfer tool is also disclosed. The robotic device fills the pin by lowering it into a source of liquid. The robotic device may include means for detecting the depth to which the capillary pin is dipped into the source of liquid. The robotic device also may be programmed to determine the length of time which the tip of the pin is to be held in the source of liquid.