Abstract: The vented port-cap includes a check-valve, which admits air into the barrel of the hydrant when the pressure inside is lower than the pressure outside. After an inspection of the hydrant, the hydrant can be left to drain by itself, even though the port-cap has been replaced and tightened.

Abstract: The plant roots are embedded in a fibrous matrix material, which is oriented vertically. The matrix material is fixed to a support structure using a grid of fasteners. The support structure may be standard corrugated plastic sheeting, or a moulded plastic sheet. If biodegradable materials are used, they must be protected from humidity etc. The fibrous material is strong enough to support itself, and the embedded plants, between the fasteners, so long as the grid spacing of the fasteners is less than ¼-meter.

Abstract: For use in drawing samples of e.g water from a well. The sampling pipe is formed as an extrusion in polyethylene. The profile includes three equi-spaced channels. The profile, being triangulated, is rigid and resistant to buckling, which allows the sampling pipe to be coiled for transport to the site. Sample-tubes, pumps, etc, can be inserted into the channels. The channels can be plugged for isolation of sampling ports at different depths.

Abstract: Headrest-mounting-tubes are attached into the seatframe of an automotive seat. Headrest-posts engage the mounting-tubes, and support the headrest. The headrest-posts need to be orientated correctly, and so have a key that engages a keyway in the mounting-tube. The keyway is formed as a keyway-pocket, being punched from the open end of the tube. Preferably, the keyway-pocket is punched after the mounting-tube has been attached into the seatframe.

Abstract: In a sewage treatment plant, dissolved ammonium is extracted from the waste-water stream, and is transferred to a body of secondary water. The secondary water is passed through an electrolysis station, where the ammonium is transformed to nitrogen gas. The capture and transfer can be done by ion-exchange, the electrolysis then being done on the regenerant water. Or the capture and transfer can be done by first transforming the dissolved ammonium to ammonia gas by raising the pH of the waste-water, then passing the ammonia gas through acidic secondary-water, in which the ammonia dissolves, the electrolysis then being done on the acid-water. The electrolysed, ammonium-diminished, secondary-water can be re-used in further capture/transfer episodes. The secondary-water does not mix with the waste-water stream.

Abstract: The puck-deflector is a one-piece moulding in polyurethane, having a sloping apron for deflecting the puck up and into the net. The puck-deflector fits around the bottom pipe of the goalframe, and prevents incoming pucks from striking the bottom pipe, and rebounding back out over the goal-line.

Abstract: The envelope comprises layers of plain un-coated kraft paper and of bubble-wrap polyethylene. A stack of the layers is joined at the marginal edges of the envelope by squeezing the stack between a pair of points-dies, which are formed with points that puncture the kraft paper but do not puncture the polyethylene. The points push crowns of un-punctured polyethylene through the punctured boles in the paper. Then, the marginal edges are squeezed flat between flat-dies, the flat-dies being heated enough to cause fuse-bonding. The margins of the finished envelope are held together not only by fuse-bonding, but by the presence of the crowns, which, penetrating right through the holes in the paper, serve as mechanical rivets.

Abstract: In place of a conventional septic tank, wastewater undergoes anaerobic treatment and settlement in a treatment-pipe. The treatment-pipe has a long/narrow configuration. End chambers provide inlet and outlet ports, a sump for collecting settled-out solids, and sealing attachments for the treatment-pipe itself.

Abstract: The device comprises a sheet of paper or card, having a slit formed therein. The slit makes an inverted U-shape, having left and right leg portions, and a cross-bar. The slit divides the sheet into a front panel, on which a greetings message can be written or printed, and a fixing-loop, which slips over the neck of the bottle. The vertical length of the legs of the slit is shorter than the width between the legs, whereby the device comes to rest on the bottle, with the neck of the bottle touching the inside of the front panel and the back of the fixing-loop. The bottle does not touch the legs of the slit. An envelope for the device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A standard 20 ft or 40 ft sea-freight shipping container is configured as a septic tank, or as an aerobic trickle filter station. The shipping-container is lined with a watertight shell or liner. The liner may be a prefabricated separate structure inserted into the container, and supported from the container walls. Or, the liner may be actually constructed inside the container, again taking mechanical support from the container walls. The openable doors at the end of the standard container are retained, a wall being added to the shipping-container a foot or two inside the doors to form the tank, leaving a utility room for pipework, valves, pumps, etc.

Abstract: In the game, missiles are pitched by hand at a target. The target is in the form of an enlarged bottle-cap, which resides on top of a bottle. The bottle is secured in the center of a bowl. The missiles are identical to the enlarged cap.

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 roadway at a road-rail crossing comprises rows of extruded rubber strips. The strips have a tongue-and-groove type of edge connection, which constrain the strips such that if one strip bounces the adjacent strips bounce too. Locking-strips fit between primary-strips, and have latches, which snap into place upon the locking-strips being driven downwards, from above.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for monitoring a well and for obtaining fluid samples from below the ground. The apparatus includes a single-piece, extruded plastic well stock that extends from the surface of the ground to the lowest sampling depth. Plural sampling intervals are defined between the surface and the lowest sampling depth. Sampling intervals are defined by isolating sections of the borehole by using packers that seal the annular space between the well stock and the borehole. The well stock includes plural longitudinal chambers. Inlet holes are put into the well stock so that inlets for each interval admit fluid to only one longitudinal chamber. Inert sealant is injected below inlets to prevent fluid from spreading below a desired level. Instructions are placed into the longitudinal chambers to monitor fluids in the chambers or to retrieve samples, or alternatively, the well stock can be removed to obtain samples.

Abstract: Acidity in water leaching from a mass of sulphide tailings is prevented by de-oxygenating the water prior to entering the mass. A cover comprising an electrolytic cell, either galvanic or impressed-current, gives rise to a cathode reaction in which the redox voltage of the water drops to 003 volts or less. The cover can be thinner, and much less expensive, than an equally-effective non-reactive cover. The electrolyte is water contained in water-retaining soil, or a depth of water, lying over the cathode. The cathode is steel mesh, or a layer of graphite, spread over the whole mass of tailings.

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: 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 localised squeezed-flat areas, flanked by flanges.

Abstract: A method for reducing sludge viscosity of a sewage sludge having a solids concentration of at least 10% (w/w). The method comprises the steps of increasing the pH of the sludge to 9.5-12.5%, at least one step selected from subjecting the sludge to a holding step of at least one day and adding inorganic or organic chemicals to facilitate viscosity reduction, followed by incubating the sludge at temperature up to 100° C., and subjecting the sludge to a shearing or disintegration step. The method provides sludge, especially concentrated sludge, that is more readily pumped or transported.

Abstract: The device comprises a sheet of paper or card, having a slit formed therein. The slit makes an inverted U-shape, having left and right leg portions, and a cross-bar. The slit divides the sheet into a front panel, on which a greetings message can be written or printed, and a fixing-loop, which slips over the neck of the bottle. The vertical length of the legs of the slit is shorter than the width between the legs, whereby the device comes to rest on the bottle, with the neck of the bottle touching the inside of the front panel and the back of the fixing-loop. The bottle does not touch the legs of the slit. An envelope for the device is also disclosed.

Abstract: The use of extruded plastic continuous-multi-channel (CMC) tubing for conveying water samples from different depths up out of boreholes is enhanced by the compressed-grommet sealing system as described. The rubber grommet is placed inside one of the many conduits of the tubing, and squeezed lengthwise, whereby the grommet expands laterally and seals and plugs the conduit. When forming a port in the conduit, an aperture is cut in the wall of the conduit, and plug-assemblies having the grommets are placed above and below the port. Ledges on the plug-assemblies engage the ends of the aperture, and operate in conjunction with spacer bars in the aperture to prevent the plug-assemblies being moved along the conduit by pressure in the conduit. Some of the conduits in the CMC tubing are left unplugged, for admitting probes, sensors, etc.