Abstract: A replaceable ink reservoir for an inkjet printer includes a bag of flexible plastic film. The film is stretched over a plastic plug formed as a thick disc, and an annular ring is pressed over the plug, trapping the film therebetween. The grip achieved by this mode of fastening is secure enough for mechanical strength, and tight enough to seal the ink contained in the bag. No adhesives etc are needed. A needle-pierceable membrane is housed in the plug.

Abstract: For holding solid wood trim in place, around door/window frames. The trim has grooves in its undersurface. Corresponding splines are attached to the face of the wall around the frame. The splines enter the grooves, and the frictional force exerted by the tight fit is enough to hold the trim. At least one of the grooves/splines may be angled, so the trim becomes wedged tightly against the face of the wall and frame.

Abstract: For collecting data from a water well, down-hole sensors are housed in modules. The modules are arranged to be screwed together in-line to form a vertical string. Mechanically, the modules are secured to each other only by the screw connection. Data is transmitted to the surface on a 2-wire cable, there being no other electrical connection between the modules and the surface. The modules are connected in multi-drop configuration to the 2-wire cable. Data is transmitted using time-division multiplexing.

Abstract: The fuselage or airframe is a solid, characterised as two-dimensional, plastic moulding. The flapping wings pivot at the inner ends both to a pin on the airframe. Connecting-rods go from the crankshaft to intermediate points on the wings. The various pivot connections are made by snapping resilient split sockets onto respective pins, so no tools or fasteners are needed. Designed thus, the aircraft can be manufactured in kit form, wherein all the required plastic components are formed together in a single injection, the components being detached for final assembly.

Abstract: An impeller pump with thermostatically adjustable guide vanes is suitable for use as an automotive coolant pump. The pump is driven by a constant speed electric motor, and flow variation is controlled by varying the orientation of the vanes. Orientation of the vanes is effected by a wax-type thermostat, which senses coolant temperature: flow is increased when the coolant is hot, and decreased as the coolant cools. The variable guide vanes are mounted for pivoting about radial axes, and are located just upstream from the pump impeller.

Abstract: The adapter comprises an ice-blade mounted in a blade-chassis. The blade-chassis is a plastic molding, which fits between the support rails of an in-line roller skate, and is clamped therebetween by the spindle-rods that serve as the spindles of the rollers. The ice-blade resides in a channel in the blade-chassis, the roof of the channel, and of the blade, being clear of, and below, the spindle rods.

Abstract: The ATV transmission includes an epicyclic arrangement, which serves as a drive-differential. One road wheel is geared to the planet-carrier or spider, and the other to the ring gear, while the engine drives the sun. An idler-gear between the ring and its road wheel means that the ring and the spider rotate in opposite senses, whereby a large gear ratio between the sun and the road wheels can be provided. Steering of the vehicle is provided, by driving the road wheels at different speeds. This is accomplished using a steer-differential, which is identical to the drive-differential; rotating the sun of the steer-differential imposes a corresponding differential speed on the road wheels.

Abstract: For extracting a liquid (such as oil) from a porous medium, the liquid is subjected to pulses that propagate through the liquid flowing through the pores of the medium. The pulses cause momentary surges in the velocity of the liquid, which keeps the pores open. The pulses can be generated in the production well, or in a separate excitation well. If the pulses travel with the liquid, the velocity of travel of the liquid through the pores can be increased. The solid matrix is kept stationary, and the pulses move through the liquid. The pulses in the liquid can be generated directly in the liquid, or indirectly in the liquid via a localized area of the solid matrix.

Abstract: At a crossing, rubber interface strips are positioned between the rails and the asphalt or concrete. A U-shaped spring-clip fits underneath the rail, and has upstanding arms that carry tappets, which engage the strips. One of the arms is threaded, and carries a screwed tappet-rod. Turning the tappet-rod closes the distance between the tappets, clamping the strips onto the sides of the rail, and forcing the springy arms apart. The spring-clips are manipulated into position while in an unstressed condition. The spring-clip is only brought up to force when finally assembled. Assembly can be done without tools, and with little danger of mis-assembly, or of injury to workers.

Abstract: The news-stand body comprises a rotation-moulded plastic shell. The walls of the shell are arranged in folds, and the hinge-pin mounting holes are provided therein. The hinge pin straddles the folds, which provides for a secure and rigid mounting. The edges of the (transparent) door are bent to form flanges, and the hinge pin passes through holes in the flanges.

Abstract: A pair of door-sections make up a mine ventilation door. The door-sections are hinged to the side-walls of the passage. One of the door-sections opens upstream and the other downstream, so one is blown open, and the other blown closed, by winds passing through the passage. A linkage couples the door-sections, and harnesses the blow-open force and balances it against the blow-closed force, whereby only a small actuation force is needed to open and close the doors. The linkage ensures that the arcuate travels of the two door-sections are equal, or otherwise correspond.

Abstract: The headrest support tubes are secured to the seat frame member not by the usual welding, but by gripping the web of the member between two rings or lock-beads swaged into the metal of the tube. The first ring is swaged-out by compressing the tube. The tube, with the one ring, is then assembled into a through-hole in the web of the frame member. Then, the second ring is swaged into the metal of the tube, on the other side of the web, and the web lies gripped between the rings. The seat frame member may be an I-section extrusion, or a round tube with localized squeezed-flat areas, flanked by flanges.

Abstract: End and side panels, welded together to form a frusto-pyramid, are surmounted by a dished wheel-receiving platform, for supporting a truck etc wheel. The units are wide open underneath, for stacking. Hand holes in the end panels allow the units to be manhandled and stacked. A cross-brace under the platform strengthens the structure, and holds the stacked units apart.

Abstract: An impeller pump with thermostatically adjustable guide vanes is suitable for use as an automotive coolant pump. The pump is driven by a constant speed electric motor, and flow variation is controlled by varying the orientation of the vanes. Orientation of the vanes is effected by a wax-type thermostat, which senses coolant temperature: flow is increased when the coolant is hot, and decreased as the coolant cools. The variable guide vanes are mounted for pivoting about radial axes, and are located just upstream from the pump impeller.

Abstract: For alleviating acid mine drainage arising from oxygenated water passing through pyrite, the water is de-oxygenated in an intercepting protective layer, which comprises a mixture of grains of pyrite and grains of iron. The grain sizes, concentrations, etc are selected to create an ensemble of galvanic cells at the points of contact between the iron grains and the pyrite grains. The pyrite cathode material becomes cathode-protected, and the water becomes de-oxygenated, by the electrolytic action.

Abstract: The packer includes the usual outer bladder, which is inflated against the sides of the borehole, to seal around a work-pipe. But the packer also includes an inner bladder. The packer is mechanically secured to the work-pipe by the grip of the inner bladder around the work-pipe. The inner bladder is sucked outwards by a vacuum pump, to enable the packer to be moved along the work-pipe. The same port through which vacuum was admitted to the inner bladder can then be used to admit pressurized fluid to the outer bladder.

Abstract: Groundwater, or other water contaminated with chlorinated organic contaminants, is passed through a permeable body of iron particles. The particles are coated with nickel, but the coating is incomplete, in that, in patches, the iron is directly exposed. The contaminants break down under prolonged proximity to the iron, the nickel enhancing the catalytic effect. The rate of breakdown is much faster than when bare iron particles were used. When the nickel is alloyed with phosphorus, or boron, even more rapid breakdown rates are achieved.

Abstract: Lenses of DNAPL suspended on clay strata in a sandy aquifer are treated with potassium permanganate. The solution is injected out into the aquifer from a port, and forms a horizontal disc of treatment liquid. The (heavy) liquid then gradually percolates down onto the DNAPL lens.

Abstract: Water from a septic tank is aerated, at an above-ground aeration station. The aerated water is infiltrated onto the floor of a trench in the ground through drainage holes in a pipe. The pipe is pressurized with water during dosing. The pipe is arranged to sag down between support posts, whereby water drains completely out of the pipe between dosings, evenly along the length of the pipe.

Abstract: Pre-cast concrete panels are commonly provided at road-rail crossings, to serve as the roadway, but such panels have been liable to premature failure. Rubber caps are placed over the cross-ties, between the panel and the ties, to isolate the panel from the stresses that arise when the panel contacts the ties directly. The caps are ribbed. Two kinds of ribs are provided, some solid and rectangular, others triangular and hollow. The ribbed panels provide resilience and hysteresis over a range of conditions, to prevent fretting and cracking of the panel.