Abstract: A ladder truck, e.g. for use in stores for transporting goods from central storage to display shelves and for facilitating the loading of such goods on display shelves, comprises a wheeled truck having attached to one end a stepladder. The stepladder is pivotally secured to one end, and has a first position in which it is wholly supported by the truck, clear of the ground, so that the truck can be wheeled around without interference from the stepladder and a second position in which the lowermost extremities of the stepladder engage the ground or floor surface, and take a portion of the weight of the truck, so that the adjacent wheels of the truck are raised clear of the supporting ground surface. Then, with the truck resting on a single wheel or pair of wheels and on the base of the stepladder, the truck is effectively locked against accidental rolling movement across the surface, and the stepladder can be safely mounted. The stepladder is easily moved from one position to another by simple manual operation.

Abstract: Metal discs such as brake disc rotors have their planar surfaces finished to the correct thickness and polish, within fine tolerances, in a single operation, by rotating the disc in a plane about an axis of rotation passing through its center, applying to its opposed planar surfaces a pair of cutting or machining tools, directly opposed to one another and one on each surface, moving the pair of tools, at a predetermined separation, radially inwardly towards the axis of rotation, and then increasing their separation and returning them to their starting position, ready for operation upon another disc. Such a process finishes brake disc rotors to the required polish and tolerance in a single step, rapidly and efficiently. Limit switches and appropriate power means are provided to stop the radially inward movement of the cutters and separate them, when the desired inner position has been reached and machined.

Abstract: A specially modified and adapted fluidized bed is used for heat transfer between gas streams, which have a substantial temperature differential. The fluidized bed is provided with first and second inlet ports for the gases and first and second upper zones, in respective substantial vertical alignment with one another, with outlet ports in the upper zones. The hot gas is led in through the first inlet port and out through the first outlet port, whilst the cooler gas is led in through the second inlet port and out through the second outlet port. Particles of the fluidized bed are permitted to flow between the hot zone and the cooler zone of the fluidized bed, but no significant mixing of the two gas streams takes place in the fluidized bed. Efficient heat transfer is effected through the bed.

Abstract: An animal platform that will permit a tetherable domestic animal such as a dog to be comfortably and conveniently housed in a room consists of a flat sheet member having means for tethering the animal thereto to move only within the boundary of the platform. The platform also provides on its upper surface a sleeping station and a toilet station. The sleeping station has for example a plurality of reinforced apertures through which a sleeping blanket can be laced to the upper surface. The toilet station includes a frame by which a sheet of absorbent material, such as newspaper, can be removably fastened to the platform. The platform preferably is formed in parts which are pivoted or hinged together in overlapping relationship and movable between an open operative position and a closed, fully-overlapping stored position. In a pivotally-connected version the pivot member may also serve to attach the animal tether to the platform.

Abstract: Condensation polymers such as polyamides, polyesters, polyurethanes, polyepoxides, polyamide esters, polyureas and polyamino-acids which are photodegradable on exposure to U.V. light, due to the presence in the copolymer backbone of units of structure ##STR1## in small amounts.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing an operation upon the end of a cylindrical workpiece consists of one or more tools mounted by a frame for rotation about a mounting axis along which the workpiece is moved. Each tool is mounted for longitudinal movement along a respective tool axis inclined inwardly toward the mounting axis in the engaging direction of movement of the workpiece and is engaged by the workpiece and pushed by it along the inclined axis. The longitudinal movement of the tool is thereby accompanied automatically by movement radially inward toward the mounting axis to perform the desired operation. Preferably a plurality of tools are provided each spring urged for movement in the direction opposite to that of the workpiece, and each freely rotatable about their tools axes, so that they gyrate about the workpiece. The tools can each be provided with a radial flange that is engaged by the workpiece in its movement to move the tool.

Abstract: In a process for producing a chromium protective coating on a zinc/iron alloy surface the surface has applied thereto an aqueous composition including chromium, perchlorate and fluoride ions with the chromium ion being the only metal ion present before application to the surface.

Abstract: Gases or gas mixtures are analyzed by a device and process involving laser-induced vibrational excitation of the gases or mixtures, followed by mass spectrometry. A sample of the gas is subjected to radiation, preferably infrared radiation, from a tunable laser, so as to casue vibrational-excitation of the sample by absorption of the radiation. The sample so treated is then subjected to mass spectrometry, which detects changes in the vibrational-excitation of the sample. Detection of such changes indicates infrared absorption by the sample at the wavelength at which the tunable laser is set. The wavelength of infrared absorption so determined is a characterizing property of the sample.

Abstract: The invention provides a new air ring for use with a die in a blown film process line to apply cooling air to the exterior surface of an extruded tube of film-forming material passing through the air ring. Air is discharged from a first downstream gap in the air ring radially outward from the path of movement of a tube in unexpanded state so as to create a vacuum force that urges the tube outward and causes the cooling air to flow along the surface, permitting the use of much higher velocities than hitherto, the increased cooling permitting increased output for a given size of die. A second upstream gap delivers a tubular stream that precools the tube and prevents it from sticking to the structure between the upstream and downstream gaps.

Abstract: A framing unit is provided for holding together a plurality of rectangular structures placed side by side, such as vending machines, so that they form a monolithic unit. At the same time the unit provides a decorative surround and conceals the fact that the units are not of uniform height. The unit consists of two end panels which are big enough to cover the ends, a top cross member to which the end panels are fastened, an intervening spacer member between each two adjacent structures also fastened to the top cross member, and a depending front member that conceals the top edges and presents a uniform top edge. The front member is hinged to the top cross member so that it can be lifted from the depending position to one in which it is clear of the structure fronts and will not block opening of the front doors of the structures when these reach to the top edges thereof.

Abstract: Fibre reinforced composites of cementitious materials or gypsum are reinforced with pre-combined mixtures of strong reinforcing fibres e.g., glass or steel, and water absorbent fibres, e.g., cotton. Examples of composites are cement pipes, wall boards, etc.

Abstract: An oil burner which operates on all grades of fuel oil, even dirty oil, has a rotating burner element spinning in a hollow container, with the fuel oil being fed to the burner element. Air is fed in from below. The burner element is of fan-like form with radially extending vanes, and causes forcible recirculation of the burning gases through the fire zone repeatedly, so as to ensure complete combustion.

Abstract: A split wheel assembly for reception of pneumatic tires is provided with a safety feature to ensure that the two halves of the wheel cannot be dismantled when the tire thereon is pressurized. The assembly flanges of the two wheel portions have series of assembling apertures which register in pairs. The aperture on one of the flanges is circumferentially extending, and has a narrow end and a broad end. The narrow end of the aperture extends to an axially extending depression on the surface presented towards the flange of the other rim section. A bolt passes through the apertures, for assembling purposes, the bolt having a washer which fits into the depression, and having a securing nut which is sized so as to pass through the broad end of the aperture but not through the narrow end.

Abstract: A machine for detopping fruits and vegetables, specially suited for the decapping of strawberries by severing the top therefrom, comprises an endless upwardly-inclined loop type conveyor mounted on a sub-frame which is in turn mounted on a main frame for horizontal orbital motion relative thereto. The conveyor consists of a receiving station section inclined to the horizontal so that already decapped product discharges against the travel of the conveyor, and a severing station section at a higher level than the receiving station section, a downwardly-extending discharge section and a return section. The conveyor consists of parallel rollers alternate ones of which are positively driven by pinion gears engaging rack members at the side, so that co-operating pairs will grip the tops. Only product that has been so gripped can be conveyed upwards by the conveyor and presented to a transversly moving endless band severing knife at the severing station.

Abstract: An expansion joint for mounting in the gap left between roadway sections, e.g. sections of a roadway bridge structure, to accommodate thermal expansion of the sections, is provided with at least one intermediate beam member extending in the gap across the width of the roadway and sealing strips of elastomeric material fitted between the roadway section edge structures and the intermediate beam. The joint has a plurality of units spaced apart across the width of the roadway, each unit comprising a lazy tong link arrangement pivotally mounted to the edge structures of the two roadway sections and to the intermediate beam members and extending across the gap, so as to ensure that any expansion or contraction of the gap between the roadway sections is equally distributed among the various parts of the gap on each side of and between the intermediate beam or beams.

Abstract: An air cleaner assembly of the flow through type has a central element of open cell foam rubber, such as foam polyurethane, two series of rigid thermoplastic rods sandwiching the central element, the rods being capable of developing and holding a positive electrostatic charge, and first and second air permeable outer sheet elements of synthetic fibers, such as polypropylers, overlying each of the series of rods. The assembly has enhanced air cleaning abilities, is readily washable, and produces an atmosphere containing increased concentration of negative ions.

Abstract: The invention provides an advancing member for use in a system for the so-called "cube" storage and retrieval of a large number of items, such as loaded pallets. Such a system employs a frame providing a plurality of parallel storage paths arranged in one-upon-the-other rows and side-by-side tiers. Each path provides a plurality of stations each able to store an item, and is provided with a respective advancing member which is motor-operated and extends substantially the full length of the path, the motor reciprocating the member back-and-forth. The advancing member carries for each station a pendulous lockable driving advancing means engagable with the item therein to move it to the next successive station as the member moves; it also carries a similar detector means, which may be constituted by the respective driving means, to detect the presence of an item at a station and unlock the preceding driving means so as to prevent the feeding of an item to an already occupied station.

Abstract: A nut retaining formation is made in the wall of a thermoplastic (metal or plastic) article, such as the flange of a floor drain fitting, by a one step die forming operation. The formation has a cavity in the intermediate thickness of the flange, the height of the cavity being such that a screw threaded apertured nut is a close sliding fit therein. A runway formation provides access to the cavity from the top surface of the flange at one side thereof, the nut being slidable down the runway into the cavity. An aperture through the top surface provides access for a screw to be inserted into the cavity to engage a nut positioned therein. The top and bottom walls of the cavity are formed by discontinuous nut retaining formations in the top part and bottom part of the wall thickness, surrounding the screw receiving aperture.

Abstract: A rotary separator, specially adapted for extraction of bituminous materials from tar sands or shale, comprises an inclined vessel having a helical conveyor attached to it, provided with apertures at the radially outer portion of the helical flights. Material introduced at the bottom is conveyed upwardly, and solvent washes downwardly to dissolve out the bituminous material. The apertures in the helix permit downward passage of liquid but prevent substantial downward passage of solids. A solvent recovery vessel is provided for recovering residual solvent from the separated solids.

Abstract: Immunoglobulins for new-born piglets to provide them with antibodies effective against disease are administered as a dried particulate serum obtained from animal blood and having a reduced sodium chloride content. Such a serum is palatable to piglets and can be orally administered along with feed-stuffs.