Abstract: A device (10) for storage of hazardous material, especially heat-producing hazardous material, such as radioactive spent nuclear reactor fuel, comprises a substantially cylindrical reinforced concrete body (12) and has an axially elongate storage space (18) for the hazardous material. A prestressed reinforcement (17) having reinforcing members (28, 29) extending helically about the storage space (18) is provided in the concrete body (12) adjacent to the outer side thereof. Preferably, the reinforcing members (28, 29) are divided into two groups, one inside the other, the hand of the reinforcing members (28) of one of the groups being opposite to the hand of the reinforcing members (29) of the other group. Also preferably, the ends of the concrete body are provided with end covers (15, 16) in which the reinforcing members (28, 29) are anchored.

Abstract: Gas burner for a cooker, with a burner head provided with a frustoconical peripheral side wall and with a multiplicity of slots forming flame orifices, the burner head being topped by a cap, the side wall (2′) being inclined (&agr;) to the vertical by 10° to 20° and the bottom (8′) of each slot (3) being inclined (&bgr;) to the horizontal by 20° to 30°; the ratio of the diameter (A) of the cap to the diameter (B) of the side wall (2) at mid-height of the outlet orifices (11) of the slots (3) is from 1.4 to 1.6; the stand-off (H) of the cap above the top of the burner head is from 1 to 15 mm; and the angle of inclination (&ggr;) of the lower face (9) of the cap to the horizontal is from 3° to 15°.

Abstract: Documents (eg., bank notes, travellers checks, credit cards) (10) are authenticated by scanning the documents for one or more identifying features and/or indicia (11-19), comparing the scanned features/indicia (11-19) with stored information in a database and transmitting a signal indicating the authenticity, or otherwise, of the documents (10). In another aspect, documents that are being deposited into a receptacle are scanned for identifying features and/or indicia and the features and/or indicia are recorded in a card. Access to the documents in the receptacle is possible only by the presentation of the card to a reader associated with the receptacle.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are new forms of computer inputs particularly using TV Cameras, and providing affordable methods and apparatus for data communication with respect to people and computers using optically inputted information from specialized datum's on objects and/or natural features of objects. Particular embodiments capable of fast and reliable acquisition of features and tracking of motion are disclosed, together with numerous applications in various fields of endeavor.

Abstract: A device for colonic lavage has a tubular body (10) having a forward portion (12) and a rearward portion (14). An opening (16) is provided at the front end of the forward portion (12). A side tube (18) includes an outlet (20), thereby defining a continuous passage (22) from the opening (16) to the outlet (20). A port (24) is located at the other end of the tubular body (10) and incorporates a seal (28) having a free internal dimension (I) less than the minimum cross-sectional dimension (M) of the passage (22). The junction (17) between the forward portion and the side tube (18) is flexible. A discharge tube (32) extends from the outlet (20) to a sealable container. In use, the forward portion (12) of the tubular body (10) is inserted into the bowel of a patient. A hose (26) is inserted into the port (24) to extend through the tubular body (10) and through the opening (16) into the colon of the patient. Irrigation fluid is passed through the hose (26) to cleanse obstructed fecal matter from the colon.

Abstract: The method of managing the kinematics of a seat (10) includes at least three seat elements (16, 18, 22) able to move with respect to each other and at least two actuators (26, 27) for moving the three elements (16, 18, 22) with respect to each other. When a first actuator (27) is actuated in at least one direction, it includes a step of actuating a second actuator (26) first of all in a given direction and then in the opposite direction.

Abstract: The invention is a continuation of earlier applications aimed at providing affordable methods and apparatus for inputting position, attitude(orientation) or other object characteristic data to computers for the purpose of controlling the display thereof. Preferred embodiments utilize electro-optical sensors such as TV cameras, to input data from objects and fingers, and/or other body parts of the user, to laptop, hand held and other computers used for Computer Aided learning, Gaming, 3D graphics, internet commerce and other applications.

Abstract: In a ventilation system, such as anaesthesia machines or ventilators for intensive care, provided with a hosed directed to patient, a breathable gas supplying tube, an exhaustion tube and an antibacterial/antiviral filtering device connected at one side to the hose and at the other side to the breathable gas supplying tube and to the exhaustion tube, the filtering device including a casing, provided with an inlet conduit connected to the breathable gas supplying tube, and an outlet conduit connected to the hose; the casing having at least two chambers having parallel axes, defined by at least a common wall, and in fluid connection one with the other.

Abstract: A re-usable hygienic bed product includes an absorbing object, a sliding material layer, a pulling sheet, and a moisture blocking layer. The absorbing product is a highly soaking, inert fibrous material which at the upper surface and the bottom surface is directly integral with a soft fabric. The absorbing object at two opposite edges is formed with projecting pulling sheet parts formed as wings extending transversally from the longitudinal edges at each side, which can be folded in under the mattress. The sliding material layer at the bottom surface is a semi-smooth or smooth material which facilitates a pulling of the entire hygienic bed product with the patient to any side of the bed. A moisture blocking layer is provided between the bottom surface and the sliding material layer, and is of a liquid tight material that prevents liquid from penetrating down to the sliding material layer.

Abstract: A method and system for of monitoring a site, the method including: monitoring the site for the occurrence of predetermined alarm condition; responding to the alarm condition by capturing a packet of alarm data; and transmitting the packet of alarm data to a remote location or to a communications network for transmission to the remote location.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes at least one rotating, oscillating or reciprocating piston (20, 21) in a cylinder (11, 12). Each piston (20, 21) defines with the cylinder (11, 12) a combustion chamber (35). Each combustion chamber (35) has at least one inlet valve (36) and one exhaust valve (37), and a mechanism (40) to periodically open the inlet and exhaust valves. The valves are closed by a gas spring (80, 82) having a closing force proportional to the speed of the engine.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine comprising at least one pair of pistons (20, 21) rotating, oscillating or reciprocating in cylinder assemblies (11, 12) joined by a crankcase (13), each piston (20, 21) being driven by a crankshaft housed in the crankcase (13), the crankcase (13) including an inlet port (63) for entry of an air fuel mixture and an outlet port (65) for transfer of compressed air fuel mixture, each cylinder (11, 12) having a combustion chamber (35) and at least one inlet (36) and at least one exhaust (36) valve port communicating with the combustion chamber (35), the inlet valve port (36) being in communication with the crankcase (13) via the crankcase outlet port (65) whereby the engine is adapted to run on a four stroke cycle with the underside of the piston (20, 21) pressurising the air fuel mixture in the crankcase (13) and causing transfer of the pressurised air fuel mixture to the combustion chamber (35) via the crankcase outlet port (65) and inlet valve port (36).

Abstract: A method for determining a subsurface property value gradient of a body includes the step of generating a Rayleigh wave in the body by passing a current through a first meander coil having predetermined spaced wires determining a wavelength of the generated Rayleigh wave. A second meander coil identical to the first meander coil is spaced at a predetermined distance from the first meander coil. The Rayleigh wave is then detected with the second meander coil and the velocity of the Rayleigh wave is determined. A property value of the body is determined at a depth determined by the wavelength of the Rayleigh wave which property value is a function of the determined velocity. The above steps are then repeated with at least one other pair of first and second meander coils having different predetermined spaced wires such that at least one second property value at a second depth is determined and a subsurface property value gradient is produced.

Abstract: A micromanipulator system for precisely positioning an object in an xz plane and then grossly moving the object in the y direction into a hole z is disclosed. The micromanipulator system includes a base and a platform mounted to the base having five different degrees of movement (in the x direction, y direction, z direction, about the x axis, and about the z axis). Suitable moving mechanisms are provided for reversibly moving the platform in the five degrees of movement. Four of the degrees of movement being for fine or precise positioning of the platform and the fifth degree of movement in the y direction being a coarse positioning movement. A device for holding the obejct to the platform is then provided such that after precisely positioning the platform in the xz plane, the object is coarsely moved in the y direction toward the hole. Preferably, a device is provided for detecting an opposition force to the coarse movement of the object in the y direction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for precisely stabilizing a laser to a sub-Doppler resonance of an absorbing gas contained in a cell located external to the laser resonator. Stabilization is based on the detection of modulation transferred onto a previously unmodulated probe beam by the non-linear interactions of the absorbing gas located in a cell which is subject to a counter-running, frequency-modulated saturation beam. Alternatively, the further modulation of the saturation beam can be detected.

Abstract: An introducer sheath includes a connector body having an inlet and an outlet; a flexible tube for intravenous use at the outlet, including a helical coiled spring having a plurality of coils, each coil spaced from an adjacent coil, and a thin cylindrical wall prepared from a protective coating composition completely surrounding the spring to define an inner and an outer wall surface, the cylindrical wall surrounding said spring having a substantially constant wall thickness throughout its length, the coating composition comprising a thermoplastic polymeric material dissolved in a solvent solution, the composition having a solids content ranging from about 4% to about 18%, and said solution comprising a solvent selected from the group consisting of tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, methyl ethyl ketone, dimethylformamide, cyclohexane, and mixtures thereof, formed on a helical coiled spring by dipping the latter therein and then drying at room temperature; and a valve assembly including a first elastic membrane having a