Abstract: A flotation or buoyancy aid comprises an elongate substantially straight flexible strip of closed cell foam material (12) bent into a U-configuration so as to define a pair of arm portions (12A, 12B) extending from a bight portion (34). The bight portion (34) is arranged to rest behind the neck of the user and the arm portions (12A, 12B) are arranged to extend downwardly over the shoulders and chest of the user. A pair of securing straps (16, 24) are passed through reinforced apertures (18, 20, 26, 28) in the arm portions (12A, 12B) so as to hold the arm portions in position against the chest of the user. The invention extends to a method of manufacturing a flotation aid, which includes, inter alia, the steps of cutting the strip from a block of foam material and spraying a conformal coating on the strip so as to form an integral skin.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for inhibiting enzymatic browning in raw, peeled potatoes comprising dipping the potatoes in a solution of heated organic acids (45-65.degree. C.), followed by treatment in a weakly basic solution to neutralize the potato surface and treatment with reducing agents, followed by storage in modified atmosphere packaging. The process may comprise two stages, in which sodium erythorbate in solution (approximate pH 7.8) is used both as the neutralizing agent and the reducing agent. Alternatively, the process may comprise three stages, in which a solution of the salt of an organic acid (such as sodium citrate) is used to neutralize the potato surface following the heated acid dip, and a third stage containing the reducing agents sodium erythorbate and erythorbic acid are combined at a final pH of greater than 4.3. Chelating agents or sequestrants may be added to the solutions.

Abstract: A saw blade (10), in particular for band saws, is moved through a measuring path and a rolling path in a direction of travel (A) which essentially corresponds to its longitudinal direction, with two marginal regions of the saw blade (10) being supported on the measuring path-and held down in a start portion and an end portion of same and thus being held in a common reference plane which contains the direction of travel (A) and the saw blade (10) being lifted above the reference plane by a supporting force which is exerted only in the central area of the measuring path.

Abstract: An installation for melting of snow or ice, e.g. at roof downpipes on flat roofs, in gutters and the like, comprising a heating means (11), a temperature sensor means (4,6) and a control unit (1) for connecting and disconnecting the heating means (11) in dependence on sensed temperature. The temperature sensor means comprises a first temperature sensor (4) for sensing the surface temperature at the place of snow or ice melting, and a second temperature sensor (6) for sensing the air temperature at the topical place.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a saw blade holder (24), a grinding slide (30) which carries a profiled grinding wheel (38) and is movable to and fro in a strokewise manner with respect to the saw blade holder (24), and a feed slide (40). At the feed slide (40) a feed finger (48) can be moved from an inoperative position into a driving position in which it engages after a return motion of the feed slide (40) behind a tooth (12) of a saw blade (10) driving same during the next feed motion. The feed finger (48) can be rendered stationary in its inoperative position during dressing intervals. A dressing tool (50) is arranged at the feed slide (40) in such a manner that it can be moved in the dressing intervals from an inoperative position into a dressing position.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus for cutting veneer sheets from a tapered flitch (one-half of a veneer log which has been sawn in half longitudinally) that places the veneer producing face of a tapered flitch in a stable, parallel relationship with the veneer slicing knife, thereby allowing full utilization of the natural taper of a veneer log.

Abstract: A serrated cutting strip (26) for a carton comprises paper or board impregnated with a mix of acrylic resin and urea formaldehyde. The strip is 0.2 to 0.5 mm in thickness and can bend without cracking over a bar of 20 mm diameter. The strip has adhesive on one side and a release sheet (28) on the adhesive. The strip is applied to a carton by apparatus (10) which comprises rollers (44,45) for advancing a substrate sheet (24), a cutter (12) and means (44,45) for drawing a release sheet (28) away from the edge (46).

Abstract: A seed inoculant applicator comprising an inoculant container into which dry or semi-dry material is placed; an applicator spout extending from the bottom center of the inoculant container; an agitator mixing assembly comprising a mounting framework and a shaft component, the assembly attached to the inoculant container and holding the shaft component in place to the center of the mounting framework and to the inoculant container, the shaft component extending down from the top center of the inoculant container through the inoculant container and through the applicator spout to the end of the applicator spout, to which is attached a mixing paddle which rotates within the inoculant container and an auger which rotates within the applicator spout and carries the agitated dry or semi-dry material down through the inoculant container and through the applicator spout. The agitator mixing assembly is mechanically driven.

Abstract: A wideband assisted reverberation system has multiple microphones (M1-M3) to pick up reverberant sound in a room, multiple loudspeakers (L1-L3) to broadcast sound into the room, and a reverberation matrix connecting a similar bandwidth signal from the microphones (m) through reverberators to the loudspeakers (L). Preferably the reverberation matrix connects each microphone (m) through one or more reverberators to at least two loudspeakers (L) with cross-linking so that each loudspeaker (L) receives a signal comprising a sum of at least two reverberated microphone signals. Most preferably there is full cross-linking so that every microphone (m) through reverberators to every loudspeaker (L), so that each loudspeaker (L) receives a signal comprising a sum of reverberated microphone signals from every microphone (m).

Abstract: Solid oxide fuel cell structures which are capable of relatively rapid temperature changes without cracking and which are simple to seal. In one arrangement, a tubular SOFC structure comprises a self-supporting extruded tube of zirconium oxide with inner and outer electrodes. The tube may have an outside diameter of from, for example, 1 to 5 mm and a wall thickness of from, for example, 50 to 200 microns. In an alternative arrangement, a simple gas type planar interconnect for a planar SOFC is provided in the form of a sheet of ceramic material having electrically conducting bodies of ceramic material embedded in it so as to provide an electrical path through the sheet. To avoid edge sealing problems, fuel gas and air may be delivered to a stacked SOFC structure through tubes extending between adjacent cell sub-assemblies such that the gas is delivered to a central portion of each anode of the cell stack and flows outwards towards the edges of the stack.

Abstract: Hydrogen peroxide rinse aid solutions of the present invention added to hydrochloric acid rinse baths for acid pickled stainless steel enables hydrochloric acid rinse baths to easily remove stainless steel oxides and smutt from the surfaces of acid pickled stainless steel to produce a bright and clean finish that is comparable to the finish produced by nitric/hydrofluoric acid rinse systems.

Abstract: A therapeutic composition for the treatment of virus-induced cutaneous infections comprises a first material for blocking viral DNA replication and a second finely divided material which absorbs exudated fluid from vesicles. Preferred compositions comprise a lithium compound (as the material for blocking viral DNA replication) and silica (as the material for absorbing exudated fluid from vesicles). An example of composition in accordance with the invention comprises a lithium compound dissolved or suspended in an aqueous silica salt.