Abstract: An end seal assembly is mounted in a conduit or feedthrough body with a through bore of stepped diameter between its ends into which a fiber or wire-carrying metal cable extends. An inner end of the cable is stopped against a shoulder in the through bore, with at least one fiber or wire extending from the cable end out through the second end of the seal body. An end seal is seated at the outlet end of the seal body and has a through bore through which the or each fiber extends. The through bore is filled with epoxy material. The end seal is of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion approximately equal to that of the epoxy material.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing exercises has a support frame and a seat mounted on the support frame. An exercise arm is pivoted adjacent the forward end of the seat for swinging back and forth in front of the apparatus. A load bearing cable is linked at the forward end of the arm. A leg engaging device is adjustably or rigidly attached to the arm for engagement by an exerciser's legs while performing different exercises. A handle can be releasably attached to the cable or to the exercise arm for performing upper body exercises.

Abstract: A water entry alarm system has at least one harness to be worn about the body of an individual to be protected and carrying a transmitter for transmitting a predetermined signal and a water sensor for turning off the transmitter on detection of water. The harness has a strap for extending about the individual's waist, a first fastener unit at one end of the strap containing a power supply and a second fastener unit at the other end of the strap for releasable connection to the first fastener unit. The transmitter and water sensor are mounted in the second fastener unit, and are connected to the power supply when the first and second fastener units are connected, so that the signal from the transmitter is automatically turned off if the first fastener unit is disconnected from the second fastener unit.

Abstract: An underwater connector has mateable plug and receptacle units each containing a member having an internal chamber enclosing a contact element when the units are unmated. The members each have a resilient forward end portion with an opening communicating with the chamber, and a forward end face in sealing engagement with the corresponding end face of the other member to provide a seal when the units are mated. An actuator in each unit compresses the forward end portion of each member to close and seal the opening, and the arrangement is such that the forward end portions move away from the actuators and open as the units are mated, to permit one contact element to pass into the member of the other unit for connection to the other contact element. The forward end portions of the members are self-sealing in both the mated and unmated condition, requiring no additional seal elements.

Abstract: A method of producing a silicon based alloy is described which comprises melting a silicon alloy containing greater than 50 wt. % silicon and preferably including aluminium. The melted alloy is then inert gas atomized to produce powder or a spray formed deposit in which the silicon forms a substantially continuous phase made up of fine, randomly oriented crystals in the microstructure. The alloy produced by the method has particularly useful application in electronics packaging materials and a typical example comprises an alloy of 70 wt. % silicon and 30 wt. % aluminium. Such an alloy is an engineering material which, for example, is machinable.

Abstract: A spreader for use in spreading a bed of predetermined thickness of adhesive material on a prepared floor surface prior to the laying of tiles. The spreader comprises a rectangular planar portion (2) having a serrated lower longitudinal edge (4) and flanges (6 and 8) extending substantially at right angles from the transverse edges of the rectangular planar portion (2). The flanges provide a barrier allowing a mass of adhesive to lie in front of the serrated edge (4) and between the flanges (6 and 8) as the spreader is drawn over the surface of the surface to be tiled. As the spreader is drawn over the surface the adhesive flows under the serrated edge thereby providing an even application of adhesive across the full width of the spreader. A height adjuster comprising an adjustable gauge (28) is provided as is a handle (10) or elongate handle (50) for convenient use by the tiler.

Abstract: A user interface with guide lights for a communications device, such as a mobile telephone, is provided to assist a user in the correct and efficient operation of the device having a display, and a keypad which contains a numerical 10-key and other control keys. The user interface includes a means for identifying the appropriate keys on the keypad which correspond to the step or steps required to activate a desired operation to be performed within the device. In the preferred embodiment, identification of the appropriate keys is achieved using a light source which is mounted beneath each translucent key so that when the light source is illuminated, the key associated with that light source will be identified to the user. The intensity of the light sources is variable and may be controlled to provide sufficient contrast to read all keys in low ambient light while highlighting the keys to be pressed for operation of the desired function.

Abstract: A system for detecting and tracking movement within a building has a plurality of portable microwave detector units for deploying outside the walls of the building. Each detector unit has a microwave module for transmitting microwaves through the building walls into a monitored area and for detecting radiation reflected back to the unit from the monitored area, and an output device for transmitting an alarm signal from the unit if a shift is detected in the reflected radiation frequency, indicating movement within the area. A receiver unit receives alarm signals from the detector units and produces an output signal for each detector unit currently detecting movement to provide the user with information on the location of any movement within the building.

Abstract: A device for communicating data with a contactless smart card in which a user initiates such communication by at least partially inserting the smart card through an entrance to a cavity of the device. The electromagnetic field produced by the device is largely confined to the cavity and largely oriented in a vertical direction. This structure prevents unintended communication with a smart card carried in a person's shirt pocket and minimizes potential health risks from exposure to the field. It also discourages users from moving the card too quickly into and out of the field for a transaction to complete.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and devices for the electrochemical generation of nitrogen from organic nitrogen compounds, such as hydrazides (RCONHNH2), the corresponding organic hydrazino-carboxylates (RCO2NHNH2) and amino-guanidine salts (e.g. aminoguanide bicarbonate H2NNHC(NH)NH2.H2CO3). In the hydrazides and hydrazino-carboxylates, “R” may be an alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl or aryl group, in some embodiments methyl, ethyl, or benzyl. The alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl groups may be branched or unbranched, substituted or unsubstituted.

Abstract: A dental attachment assembly has an abutment member for attachment to a tooth root, implant, or adjacent tooth, and a retention member for engagement in a dental appliance. The retention and abutment members are designed for releasable snap engagement to secure the members together. A skirt projects from the upper end of the retention member and snap engages over an outer locating surface of the abutment member as the members are secured together, acting to align the retention member with the abutment members.

Abstract: A portable security housing is formed from a framework defining an interior space for enclosing items to be secured, such as vending machines. The framework has a rear wall, opposite side walls, an upper wall, and a front access opening. Opaque panels are secured over at least the side and upper walls to cover the housing, with the rear wall placed against a building wall or the like. A roll-up, sectional door is rotatably mounted at the upper end of the front access opening for movement between a rolled up, storage position above the front opening and an unrolled, downwardly extended deployed position covering and closing the front opening. The housing has floor mounting pads at its base for releasably mounting the housing on a floor or ground surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a press-wheel assembly of the kind used with seed planting machines and which includes a press-wheel (11) formed by a pair of mating wheel halves (11′, 11″), the inner wheel half (11′) being provided with an integrally formed hub (13) which projects through a central bore formed in the outer wheel half (11″), the projecting hub portion being constructed and arranged so as to permit the fitment of a protective end cap (14) within its open outer end. The cap (14) when fitted to the hub (13) has its skirt surrounded and thereby protected by the walls of the projecting hub portion. Openings (28) in the projecting hub portion are provided to allow the insertion of a hand tool for manually removing the end cap from the wheel hub. Desirably the cap (14) is secured to the inside of the hub by means of an interference fit.

Abstract: A quick-release mounting system for a motorcycle saddlebag and a method for retrofitting a motorcycle with the system. The system includes two or more couplings with which one can retrofit a motorcycle by replacing each bolt of the original mounting system with one of the couplings. Each coupling includes a first coupling portion and a second coupling portion that can be removably coupled and uncoupled with one another in a quick-release manner.

Abstract: A fluid mixing device has an inlet passageway for connection to a primary fluid supply, an outlet passageway; and at least two separate venturi passageways each connected between the inlet and outlet passageways. Each venturi passageway has a throat portion, a first venturi inlet connected to the throat portion of the first venturi passageway and a second venturi inlet connected to the throat portion of the second venturi passageway. The first and second venturi inlets are connected to supplies of two different secondary fluids for mixing into the primary fluid, a first one of the secondary fluids being of lower viscosity than the second. The outlet passageway is spaced a predetermined distance downstream of the venturi inlets to prevent substantial backflow of the first secondary fluid mixture into the second venturi passageway prior to mixing together of the two streams in the outlet passageway.

Abstract: Phase errors and gain errors are reduced in a receiver to increase the dynamic range of the receiver. An input signal is shifted to an intermediate frequency (IF) and divided into a first channel and a second channel. The first and second channels are multiplied by a complex intermediate frequency signal having a frequency equal to the negative of the IF and by the complex conjugate of the intermediate frequency signal to produce a complex normal signal and a complex conjugate signal. A gain correction factor and a phase correction factor are adjusted based on a correlation signal produced by multiplying the complex normal signal by the complex correlation signal.