Abstract: An operational method is disclosed for the display of images by an electro-optical device comprising a liquid-crystal cell inserted between two polarizing devices, means being provided for impressing on the liquid crystal electric pulses, the improved method comprising the step of applying a pulsed energization, each pulse being any voltage waveform having a duration and an RMS amplitude such as to originate, at each pulse, a cell luminous response and not exceeding 1.3 times those which are required to produce a flash of light with a peak amplitude which cannot be further increased without causing more than one peak to appear. In the case of repetitive energization, the pulse repetition period, under steady conditions, shall be such that at the end of the period, the luminous response of the cell falls irreversibly to a value which is not more than one half of that peak value corresponding to "white level".

Abstract: A self-contained data acquisition device or probe capable of monitoring any physical function that can be translated into an analog or digital signal. The data acquisition probe is coupled to a separate translator whereat the stored analog or digital voltage signals are transferred to the translator to be coupled to a display device for displaying the voltage signals.

Abstract: The invention provides a combustible gas detector in which a heatable wire filament embedded in a pellet comprising oxidation catalyst material exhibits a change in resistance occasioned by the change in its temperature which occurs due to the oxidation of a combustible gas passing over it.The pellet is provided with an outer layer of inert non-catalytic material which tends to prevent non-volatile residues from reaching catalytically active regions of the detector.

Abstract: A thyratron is provided with a baffled structure between its cathode and first control electrode. The baffled structure consists of a series (e.g. three) annular baffle plates, each having a central aperture aligned with the axis of the cathode, mounted on the end of a cylindrical heat shield surrounding the cathode. The final annular baffle plate, adjacent the first control electrode includes a solid disc within its central aperture.

Abstract: An electronic valve includes a shell electrode which is mounted on a support in such a way as to provide a good continuous electrical contact therewith. The base of the shell electrode is flared and mates with a tapered portion of the support, and is held in contact therewith by means of a clamp.

Abstract: Coherent strands are made from a dispersion of asbestos fibres in an aqueous soap solution containing up to 100 percent molar excess of fatty acid, by a process including the steps of forming a stream of dispersion and chilling the newly formed stream sufficiently to gel the dispersion.

Abstract: Organic compounds having active hydrogen are separated from heterogeneous mixtures of organic compounds, such as tar, which also contain organic compounds which do not have active hydrogen. The method involves preferential conversion of the active hydrogen compounds to soluble compounds by reaction with a reagent which is an alkene oxide or ethyleneimine, introducing a solvent for the soluble compounds whereby two phases are formed, and then separating the phases.

Abstract: An olefin resin-metal bonded structure having a desirable combination of high corrosion resistance and peel strength, which comprises a metal substrate and an olefin resin layer bonded together through a primer layer, said primer layer containing (A) an oxidized polyethylene having an oxygen content of 0.1 to 10% by weight, a saponification value of 2 to 200, a density of 0.90 to 1.2 and an average molecular weight of 1000 to 50000 and (B) a coating-forming base resin having a density higher by at least 0.1 than the oxidized polyethylene and containing a functional group selected from hydroxyl and carbonyl groups at a concentration of at least 1 meq/g, the mixing weight ratio of the oxidized polyethylene (A) and the base resin (B) being within the following range:(A) : (B) = from 0.2 : 99.

Abstract: An induction heater system for fusing substrates having charged powder particles deposited thereon, the system comprising a conveyor means for conveying the substrates along a predetermined path and a fusing means disposed along and adjacent to the predetermined path for fusing the substrates. There is provided a means for creating an electric field in a given direction so as to provide a counter force in a direction opposite to the direction of tear-away forces acting on the particles, the latter being created by the electromagnetic influence of the fusing means on the particles.

Abstract: A microwave band branching arrangement for successively coupling frequency sub-bands of a broad frequency band of energy has a coupler for coupling the highest sub-band of frequencies at one end of the arrangement and a series of successive couplers which are each arranged to sequentially couple frequency sub-bands of energy in an ascending order of frequency from the coupler which couples the highest frequency sub-band. By arranging that the highest frequency sub-band is coupled first, it is subjected to a lower attenuation. In further embodiments of the invention, where the arrangement is used, for example, in a repeater station, sub-bands of energy are coupled out, regenerated and amplified, and reinserted by a further coupler into the arrangement for further transmission.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with the provision of a dipole radiator for feeding a parabolic reflector and provides a half wave dipole arranged at the mouth of a shallow cavity. The cavity is preferably circular with a diameter approximately three times its depth. In an example of linearly polarised radiator a cylindrical cavity is provided having a diameter of 0.72.lambda. and a height of 0.26.lambda. and the half wave dipole element is positioned 0.26.lambda. above the base of the cavity so that the dipole element extends beyond the cavity. In an example of circularly polarised radiator two crossed half wave dipole elements are provided, one of which is arranged to be inductive and the other of which is arranged to be capacitive. The cylindrical cavity has a diameter of 0.66.lambda. and a height of 0.28.lambda. and the crossed dipole elements are positioned 0.22.lambda. above the base of the cavity so as to lie flush with the mouth of the cavity.

Abstract: An asbestos-free composition suitable for the manufacture of shaped articles comprising (a) a water-settable inorganic binder which is one or more of a calcium silicate binder (or compounds necessary for the formation thereof), Portland cement, aluminous cement and blast furnace slag cement, (b) organic reinforcing fibres and (c) mica and/or vermiculite. The composition may be shaped on conventional shaping, e.g. boardmaking, machinery and the products have superior fire and shrinkage resistance.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a reusable, collapsible shipping container which includes a plurality of end and side panels and a plurality of top and bottom flaps joined to the end and side panels by hinge lines, each bottom flap being divided by a longitudinal hinge line into first and second portions, adhesive means for securing the first and second portions of a first of the bottom flaps to respective second and first portions of a second of the bottom flaps thereby generally aligning their respective longitudinal hinge lines, and a transverse hinge line generally centrally located along each of first and second of the end panels and their respective top and bottom flaps whereby the container is movable between collapsed and set-up conditions.

Abstract: This mechanism relates to an electrically controlled rearview mirror assembly comprising a housing, a moveable mirror mounted within the housing, and a control system within the housing for imparting movement of the mirror along a first and second axes of rotation. The control system includes a reversible electrical motor driving through a reduction gear to impart rotational movement of first and second driven means which effect movement of the mirror along the first and second axes respectively, and selector means selectively coupling the reduction gear to the first and second driven means.

Abstract: This invention relates to an electronic apparatus for automatic positioning and distance measurement of mobile members. The apparatus according to the invention comprises a rotary electromagnetic transducer with two pairs of windings, in which the primary circuits receive electrical voltages representative of the controlled angular distance values and the secondary circuits deliver accordingly an electrical response voltage, whose shape and amplitude depend on the difference between said controlled distance and the mechanical angle between rotar and stator portions containing said secondary and, respectively, primary circuits. The electrical voltages representative of the controlled angular distance values are generated by electronic circuits comprising a first binary counter which translates the controlled distance into binary code, a second binary counter which generates a binary ramp, two adders, a combining network, four sequential networks and two analogue amplification and sign circuits.

Abstract: A first inductive coil in the form of a bifilar winding is wound on a ferrite ring core with the two sections of the bifilar winding connected in series, the junction of the two sections forming the center tap of the coil. A capacitor is connected across the first coil to form a parallel resonant circuit therewith. The two ends of the first coil are respectively connected to a predetermined capacitance and to an electrode adapted to form a capacitative element whose dielectric includes a fluid under test. The center tap of the first coil is connected to the output of an amplifier whose input is connected to a second, detector coil comprising a separate winding on the ferrite ring core located substantially at the mid-point between the ends of the bifilar winding. The second coil is arranged to be inductively coupled to said first coil such that the mutual inductance between the first coil and the detector coil completes a feedback loop for the amplifier.

Abstract: A monitoring device for monitoring the outputs of a plurality of sensors and displaying appropriate information. The device has a plurality of input circuits for connection to the plurality of sensors. A scanning means is arranged to sequentially scan the input circuits to detect the presence of any activated sensor or sensors. A plurality of display devices sequentially display information corresponding to any activated sensor or sensors. The device also includes an integrity circuit which inhibits the actuation of the display devices for a predetermined period following detection of an activated sensor, whereby transient or random noise signals received by the input circuits are ineffective to activate the display devices.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to an ash tray particularly adpated for utilization on the dashboard of a vehicle and includes a base and a tray having cooperative means therebetween for slidable assembly and disassembly with clamp means for releasably securing the base and tray together in the assembled condition thereof, the base including first and second end portions, the first end portion of which is formed of flexible material carrying a coating of adhesive from which can be peeled a layer of sheet material for adhering the base to the cowl of a dashboard once the first end portion of the base has been conformed to the contour of the dashboard, and the cooperative coupling means being a tongue and groove sliding connection with the base also including stabilizing tabs for reducing vibrations and laterally disposed upright walls upon which the tray rests.

Abstract: A knife sharpener including a scabbard for receiving and protecting a knife blade, and a sharpening device mounted on the scabbard for engagement by the blade cutting edge during movement into and out of the scabbard. The sharpening device is supported by a carrier member which is pivotally mounted within the scabbard so that the sharpening device can be moved towards and away from a top wall of the scabbard. A pivoted reaction member is located between the scabbard top wall and the carrier member, and has front and rear reaction zones which are engageable with a knife blade and/or the adjacent surface of the carrier member, at opposite sides respectively of the carrier member pivot. The reaction member pivot is located rearward of both reaction zones and is parallel to the carrier member pivot. A U-shaped biasing spring engages both the carrier member and the reaction member to resist separation of their front end portions.

Abstract: A collapsible container side wall for use with a material support pallet. The container side wall has a front panel, a rear panel and two side panels, the latter panels being interconnected between opposed end edges of the front and rear panels by a respective hinge connection. Each of the side panels has two panel sections interconnected to each other by a transverse hinge located intermediate the front and rear panels and extending parallel to the hinge connections at the end edges of the front and rear panels. The transverse hinge of one of the two side panels is offset laterally from the transverse hinge of the other side panel whereby the panel sections can fold inwardly with one side panel on top of the other between the front and rear panels with these latter panels collapsing towards each other. Retention means is provided in the lower edge of the container side wall to prevent lateral displacement of the container side wall when positioned about a peripheral area of the pallet.