Abstract: A rotatable portable saw has a saw blade 2 which is pivotally mounted with respect to plate 15 so that the position of the blade relative to the plate 15 can be altered to alter the depth of cut. In a modified form the saw blade can be angled slightly to the direction of traverse of the saw so that the width of the cut can be made slightly greater than the width of the blade. In use the saw is traversed across a workpiece with the blade positioned to produce a scribing cut in the surface of the workpiece and then traversed back across the workpiece, after lowering the blade position relative to the workpiece, so that the workpiece is cut right through. In this way, for a given directional rotation of the blade, the blade can be made always to approach the surface being cut so that splintering of the workpiece is substantially reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: An articulated vehicle including a front member having at least two axles, the forwardmost one of which is steerable, and a rear member, connected to the front member by a pivotal joint, having at least one axle and an engine for driving that axle. A first transducer produces a signal representative of the angle between the steerable axle and another axle of the front member, and a second transducer produces a signal representative of the buckling angle between the vehicle members. A comparator receives the transducer signals and produces a signal in the event that the actual buckling angle is less or greater than a theoretical buckling angle, the latter being determined by the signal from the first transducer. A device, such as a piston and cylinder device, responds to the comparator signal by producing a torque about the pivotal joint to increase or decrease, as the case may be, the actual buckling angle so that it approaches the theoretical buckling angle.

Abstract: In a motor vehicle headlamp or the like, the required distribution of the light rays is achieved entirely by selecting an appropriate configuration for the reflector; the front glass is a plain glass having smooth front and rear surfaces. The reflector surface is, as far as possible, a plain paraboloidal surface, but is provided with elongate ribs in selected zones, to produce a spreading of the light rays reflected from these ribs; the light is spread transversely to the length of the ribs. The reflector surface also has offset portions which, like the basic reflector shape, are paraboloidal, but have their focus or foci displaced from the focus of the basic reflector shape.

Abstract: Self steering apparatus for a boat comprising a motion transfer apparatus for converting pivotal movement of a wind vane into rotational movement of a rudder. The latter is located in a support which is pivotable about the fore and aft axis of the boat. A rotatable connection is provided between a control arm arranged for movement with the vane and a rudder arm arranged for movement with the rudder, such that, when movement of the vane is initiated, there is resultant movement of the rudder arm about the fore and aft axis with movement of the rudder about its axis, and subsequent movement by the water of the rudder support about the fore and aft axis, and movement of the control arm is effected on initial movement of the rudder about its axis but does not result from movement of the rudder support about the fore and aft axis. Lines transmit movement of the rudder support about the fore and aft axis to the main rudder or tiller of the boat.

Abstract: A vapor cycle power system in which the low level heat source is furnished by water or air via the medium of a compression cycle heat pump, and subsequent higher temperature level heat energies are provided by direct combustion, solar energy, geothermal energy or waste heat, singularly or in combinations thereof, in either or both gaseous or liquid forms. In certain embodiments of the invention, the system has the capability to provide heating and cooling in addition to the function of producing useful shaft work.

Abstract: A vehicle headlamp is constructed with its reflector and front lens adapted to be fixedly mounted in the bodywork of the vehicle, but incorporates a beam deflecting system, in order that the direction of the beam may nonetheless be adjusted. In one form, the beam deflecting system comprises two Fresnel lenses, mounted face to face in a position to intercept the whole of the headlamp beam, one being equivalent to a diverging lens with cylindrical surfaces, and one being equivalent to a converging lens with cylindrical surfaces. In a neutral position, the effects of the two lenses cancel out, so that no deflection of the beam occurs. One of the lenses is movable in translation away from the neutral position, so that a deflection of the beam occurs, without any other change in the beam pattern. In modified embodiments, the stationary Fresnel lens is not used; instead, its effect is produced by using a reflector of modified shape.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for use in the finishing of sleeves (23) made by needle felting thermoplastics fibres. The sleeves (23) are placed over cylindrical supports (13) mounted for rotation about their axes and movable with a base such as a table (11) in a treatment path past heating means (17) where the outer fibres are heated to above their softening temperature to undergo at least partial melting. Simultaneously the sleeves (23) shrink generally onto the supports (13) which are identical, thus ensuring that all sleeves (23) treated have the same final inside diameter. If desired, the sleeves (23) after heating can be moved past and in pressure-loaded contact with a smooth surface (20) to give them a glazed or calendered outer surface.

Abstract: A vehicle headlamp has a sealed optical unit comprising a front lens, a reflector having a rear opening, and a transparent cup-shaped pocket fitted in the rear opening of the reflector. The cup-shaped pocket projects forwards into the space between the reflector and the front lens, so that light rays from a light bulb mounted within the pocket can reach the reflecting surface of the reflector, but the reflecting surface of the reflector is nonetheless inaccessible to contaminants from outside the headlamp. The lower part of the reflector should not reflect light rays from the light bulb, or at least from a dipped-beam filament of the light bulb, in order to avoid unwanted upwardly-directed rays being produced by the headlamp.

Abstract: A protective headgear comprising a helmet and a face mask of flexible material secured to the helmet. When a force capable of causing injury to the headgear wearer is applied to the face mask, the mask deflects to a significant degree, without fracturing, with respect to the helmet. The deflection may take place entirely within the material of the face mask, or the deflection may in part take place within the attachments resiliently securing the face mask to the helmet. The face mask is preferably fabricated of an elastomeric material.

Abstract: An article support arrangement including a grid, adapted to be mounted on a wall, having a plurality of non-circular openings, and a plurality of article support elements adapted to be mounted on the grid. Each support element has a non-circular base and a projection extending from the base for engaging an article to be supported. The base fits into any selected grid opening in such a way that it cannot be pulled directly out of the plane of the grid; preferably, the base also cannot rotate with respect to the grid opening. The grid is preferably fabricated of metal wire, and the openings are square. Two grooves in the base open in opposite directions and accommodate two opposite edges of a grid opening. A bracket fits through one of the openings to mount the grid on a wall.

Abstract: A windscreen wiper comprises a carrier adapted for mounting on a windscreen wiper arm and for supporting a pair of spaced parallel wiping lips which, in use, together with the windscreen surface bound a space into which cleaning fluid can be introduced and a brush or plastics material step device in said space, the cross-sectional area of the carrier being constant throughout its length.

Abstract: A rotor wheel, particularly for compressors, including a rotor disc and a plurality of radially-projecting metal blades arranged along the periphery of the disc. A plurality of locating rings, formed predominantly of directionalized fibers, are provided, each locating ring being adjacent to all the blade roots and serving to resist centrifugal loads on the blades. An attachment ring formed predominantly of undirectionalized fibers surrounds the periphery of the rotor disc, and all the blade roots and locating rings are embedded in the attachment ring. The attachment ring serves to attach the blades to the rotor disc. Each blade root may have a T-shape and each locating ring engages over the cross bar of the T of each root. Alternatively, each blade root may have a hole accommodating a pin, and each locating ring engages over the pin of each blade root. Each blade root may have a plurality of sections, a single pin passing through holes in all of the sections of each root.

Abstract: A filter for a pulse form of signal which substantially reduces sidebands, yet provides an output signal which is substantially free of jitter and at the same time has no inter-symbol interference. The filter comprises means for detecting the pulse type of signal and for substituting .pi. radians of a sine wave signal with a positive slope upon detection of a positive going leading edge of the pulse type signal and .pi. radians of a sine wave signal with a negative slope upon detection of a negative going trailing edge of the pulse type signal, at an output terminal.

Abstract: A solar energy device comprising a member adapted to contain a liquid and a lens for concentrating rays from the sun on a surface of the member. Cold liquid enters the member and heated liquid is extracted from it. A device produces relative movement between the lens and member surface in response to variations in temperature of the liquid in the member so as to move the member surface into and out of coincidence with the focal point of the lens. The device producing movement may include an element which expands and contracts in response to temperature variations.

Abstract: A deck of playing cards including 104 individual cards divided into four suits of 26 cards each. Each card of each suit bears a suit marking, e.g., hearts, diamonds, clubs, or spades, and a different one of the 26 letters of the English alphabet. Each card of each suit also bears a number representative of the frequency with which the letter borne by that card occurs in words in the English language; the lower numbers correspond to more frequently used letters and the higher numbers correspond to less frequently used letters. The numbers one to thirteen, inclusive, in a consecutive series appear on at least thirteen cards of each suit, and preferably each number between one and thirteen appears on two cards of each suit. If desired, tiles or any other suitable medium for carrying the letters, numbers, and suit markings may be used in place of cards.

Abstract: A hygienic product for cleaning parts of the body comprising a moistened napkin and a quantity of powder capable of absorbing moisture. The napkin is contained in a first air-tight envelope-like compartment of a packet, and the powder is contained in a second air-tight compartment of the packet. The two compartments may have a common wall between them, in which case each compartment has an outer wall opposite the common wall, whereby all three walls are tearable along a "tear-open" line simultaneously to open both compartments at the same time. The powder may be loose or, alternatively, may be carried by a soft pad or applicator contained within the second compartment.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electron emission aperture of an electron beam generator using the associated electron beam generator and the cathode of the generator which emits electrons at a plurality of points, as well as aperture lenses, and employing electron projection lithography. The associated electron beams are used to burn the emission spot pattern of the associated cathode into an electron-sensitive layer of a blank of a perforated mask, through holes in the mask are produced by etching at the burn spots, individual aperture spots corresponding to the emission spot pattern are burned into an electron-sensitive layer of a blank of the aperture through the through holes using the perforated mask and the associated electron beams, and the blind holes near the spots are etched allowing their individual apertures and a supporting grid to remain.

Abstract: A Diesel engine piston conventionally has an annular conduit, at the level of the uppermost piston ring, through which lubricating oil circulates. The oil enters and leaves the annular conduit through two longitudinal holes in the piston. According to this invention, a branch conduit extends radially inwardly from the annular conduit to bring oil flow beneath the central part of the piston crown, thereby cooling the latter. The branch conduit is especially useful with a piston having a combustion chamber in its head. The usual discharge hole from the annular conduit is blocked, and a substitute discharge hole, at the end of the branch conduit, opens into the interior of the piston.

Abstract: A solar energy device comprising a body having a plurality of spaced focusing lenses to concentrate direct and reflected rays from the sun. A heat receiving member is inside of the body. One of the body and the member is expansible and contractible so that there is a relative movement between the surface of member and the focal points of the lenses, the member surface thereby being alternately in and out of coincidence with the lens focal points. The member is supported within the body and fed fluid to be heated. The heated fluid is then removed from the member. The heat receiving member or body that is expansible and contractible may be used as a prime mover.