Abstract: The invention provides structure consisting of tracks carrying a transporter which moves horizontally on the tracks. A hoist is suspended from the transporter and the hoist includes an elevator for picking up containers at engagement points above the points of suspension of the elevator. Pairs of uprights guide the elevator to maintain stability and the transporter includes guides for alignment with the uprights so that the elevator can move out of the uprights and between the guides for movement horizontally with the transporter with the guides maintaining stability.

Abstract: The invention provides a new method and apparatus for the detection of non-conductive particulates in molten metals, such as aluminum, gallium, zinc and lead, that can be liquified and drawn into a suitable refractory container. The passage into the container is of very small diameter (about 300 micrometers for aluminum) and it forms part of a current path between two electrodes carrying a current of about 1 to 500 amperes. The path is surrounded by liquid metal which forms an effective Faraday cage screening the path, enabling the passage of a particulate of about 15 micrometers or larger to produce a voltage pulse between the electrodes of greater than 5 microvolts, which is detectable above the inevitable background noise, which is of about that value.

Abstract: A reactor for performing reactions at very low, i.e. cryogenic temperatures has a collection vessel mounted above an electron gun to collect vaporized material such as metals, metal oxides, metal salts and metal halides. The collection vessel is maintained at a very low temperature, typically between 14.degree. and 77.degree. K., by a heat pump that also serves as a support for the collection vessel. A manifold introduces a reagent into the reactor between the electron gun and the vessel to react with the vaporized material and form a product. The product is condensed on the collection vessel which may then be inverted to provide a stable support for the collected product during further experimentation.

Abstract: A fall arrest device for a pole climber which has a main yoke with resiliently biased arms at each end for partly encompassing a pole. The resiliently biased arms are movable in the same plane as the main yoke and also urge the secondary yokes into contact with the pole to accommodate a range of pole diameters. Handles are attached to each arm for gripping by the pole climber to move the arms so that the fall arrest device can be raised or lowered, and each arm also has eyelets for receiving safety straps attached to the pole climber. In a preferred embodiment the arms have sharp projections for biting into the pole. A pull on the strap, due to slippage of the pole climber, causes the arms to move towards each other and the sharp projections to bite tightly into the pole. Alternative embodiments are also described.

Abstract: The invention provides an agitator for releasing powder toner through a bottom opening of a hopper. The agitator has a screen for placing over the opening and an element which, when positioned in the hopper, is in contact with the upper surface of the screen. Toner normally bridges the openings in the screen so that there is normally no flow through the screen and the element is operable to brush over the upper surface of the screen to break down the bridging locally, thereby effectively sifting powder toner through the screen. On stopping the element, the toner again bridges the openings and flow of toner stops. The invention also provides a feeder which magnetically transports toner received from the hopper, and an applicator which takes the toner magnetically from the feeder and transports the toner to the point of use.

Abstract: Shell and tube heat transfer apparatus and a corresponding process of heat transfer employ a fluid flow consisting of non-turbulent boundary-layers adjacent the inner and outer heat exchanger surfaces of the tubes and a non-turbulent core-layer between the boundary-layers and interfacing therewith. Interrupter-structures disposed within the tube and shell flow passes and interrupt the full development of the boundary-layers at a multitude of spaced spots, leaving the heat transfer surfaces unaltered, unmodified and uninterrupted, so that the boundary-layers cannot increase in thickness but will partially separate from the surfaces and mix non-turbulently with the core-layer to effect the required heat transfer between the surfaces and the fluid. The interrupter-structure preferably consists of a plurality of rows of spheres, with which the space remote from the heat exchange surface is filled with a space-filling material to prevent the useless flow of fluid in a space not effective for heat transfer.

Abstract: The invention provides a class B output stage for an amplifier, more specifically an integrated circuit amplifier for low power, low voltage application, such as a hearing aid amplifier, that is of class B type with consequent negligible quiescent power dissipation, but which avoids the input voltage deadband of conventional class B stages that results in cross-over distortion. The stage uses a bipolar transistor and a field transistor connected in series. The field effect transistor has a gate-source pinch-off voltage that is approximately equal to the base-emitter voltage of the bipolar transistor, so that they are alternately "on" as the input voltage swings over its full value. In a preferred embodiment the bipolar transistor is an npn type while the field effect transistor is a bipolar compatible p-channel junction field effect transistor (JFET) with pinch-off voltage as close as possible but just less than the base emitter voltage of the bipolar transistor.

Abstract: The invention provides a new orthodontic device for use with the arch wire that is employed in an orthodontic procedure to connect together the orthodontic brackets attached to the teeth. The device comprises a core member having an axial bore to permit it to be threaded onto the wire, the external face of the core member being frustro-conical. The core member is pressed axially into a cylindrical sleeve having a tapered inner face complementary to the core frustro-conical outer face, and the core has a longitudinal slit in its circumference extending from the outer face to the bore so that as it is forced into the sleeve it can clamp tightly onto the wire. The device preferably is used with special pliers having ends which are slotted to fit over the wire and recessed to embrace the device, so that as the pliers ends are closed together the core is forced into the sleeve. The device can be used per se as an end stop, e.g. to stop relative axial movements between the wire and a bracket.

Abstract: A new chain harrow of improved performance with regard to effective harrowing and non-clogging is made up of V-shaped elements (as seen in plan) interlinked with the apex of one connected to the end of a respective arm of a more forward element. The elements are formed of unusually large diameter steel rod (e.g. about 16 mm instead of the prior thickness of about 11 mm) with relatively unusually large loops and with a horizontal apex loop that is an incomplete turn of about 270 degrees so as to provide for a specially effective sweeping and guiding action. Each arm is provided at its end with a respective tooth at the end of a respective vertical loop for interlinking with the horizontal loop of the forward element.

Abstract: The invention provides a seal press for use in embossing paper with a desired pattern using a die and a die counter. The seal press includes a housing, a seal set movable in the housing between inner and outer positions, and housing means biasing the seal set into an open position to receive the paper. A lever is pivotally connected to the housing and movable between upper and lower positions. First engagement means is provided between the lever and seal set with the lever and seal set in respective upper and forward positions, the lever being supported by the seal set in these positions to permit operation of the lever to close the seal set and emboss the paper. Also, second engagement means is provided between the lever and the seal set with the lever and seal set in respective lever and rearward positions for storage of the seal press. The seal set is biased towards the outer position and thereby through the second engagement means the lever is biased towards the lower position.

Abstract: A valve for use in a domestic water installation such as a shower is moveable between open and closed positions by an operating mechanism. The mechanism includes a ratchet that provides intermittent unidirectional drive to the valve member from a manual operator. Successive repetitive movements of the operator moves the valve between open and closed positions. The valve includes a seat and a poppet the disposition of which is controlled by cams that ensure that pressure of water in the conduit assists in moving the valve between open and closed positions.

Abstract: A sealing member for the straight moving leading edge of a curtain system, such as is used for example in greenhouses to control the heating and/or lighting conditions, consists of an extruded L-section body with at least one flexible sealing element protruding from a first leg and a second flexible element protruding from the second leg when more complete sealing is required. Preferably the sealing element of the second leg protrudes perpendicularly, while that of the first leg protrudes at an angle away from the second leg. The two sealing elements extend the full length of the body and the curtain edge first engages the first element and bends it toward the first leg and then engages the second element, if present, and also bends it towards the first leg so as to form a sealing space between them. Both elements are held positively in sealing contact with the curtain leading edge by the resilience of the material of the elements.

Abstract: The invention provides a light source for use with diagnostic devices such as laparoscope having a male fitting to receive a light tube connection for transmitting light within the device to an end for viewing using an eyepiece on the device. The light source has an elongate casing and an electrical storage battery contained in the casing. The battery extends longitudinally and has first and second poles at opposite ends of the battery. A tubular insulating insert is positioned inside the casing at one of the ends of the casing and adjacent the first of the poles. A bulb is located in the insert and has the center terminal of the bulb in electrical connection with the first pole. First and second contacts are insulated from one another and located by the insert with the first contact coupled to the body of the bulb and the second contact coupled to the second pole.

Abstract: A telephone book holder is described which consists of a spine with two groups of parallel channels in its rear surface. Edges of front and rear covers are dimensioned to be slid into respective channels of each group, the edges being connected to the covers by living hinges. Book retaining wires are pivotally connected at the top end of the spine and can be press fitted to the other end to retain a telephone book in position. Top and bottom caps are securable to the ends of the spine to retain the covers and the wires on the spine. The covers can be replaced without requiring removal of the book or complete detachment of the end caps and the thickness of the book to be held is adjustable by sliding the covers into appropriate channels.

Abstract: A rotary vaned pump has solid vanes of fixed length sliding in a boss mounted for rotation about a longitudinal axis eccentrically displaced from the longitudinal axis of the pump chamber, so as to provide respective pump compartments in the pump chamber which vary cyclically in volume and are arranged to pressurize fluid entering the pump chamber through an inlet opening and discharging from the chamber through an outlet opening. Each leading vane edge that passes over the inlet opening is formed as a shearing knife edge that shear-cuts any cuttable solid material in the entering fluid that is engaged by the edge as it enters the pump chamber through the inlet. Such solid material is thereby cut into pieces which can be handled by the pump without jamming rotation of the rotor. The leading edge of the inlet opening is also formed as a knife edge that cooperates with the vane edge to shear the solid material.

Abstract: Labelling equipment is provided for applying heat shrinkable wrap-around labels to contoured surfaces of containers. The equipment includes a label carrier having a wheel rotatable about its axis, a vacuum system coupled to the wheel to retain labels on the wheel, a feeder for directing containers individually to the wheel adjacent the periphery of the wheel to receive a label, and a drive system for receiving containers from the bottle feeder and for rolling the containers upon receiving the label from the label carrier.The container is supported on a platen having a diameter corresponding to the greatest diameter of the container so that the label depends in a skirt from the container. The container is subsequently transferred to a smaller platen and passed over a heated plenum to shrink the skirt to the contours of the container.

Abstract: A door securer includes a generally U-shaped member that is adapted to be mounted on the side of a door that opens, as opposed to the side that is hinged. The inside leg of the U-shaped member is pivotably connected to a leg member that has a foot member pivotably mounted thereon remote from the universal joint. In situ, the leg member extends downwardly from the U-shaped member at an acute angle to the door, and the foot member engages the floor behind the door.

Abstract: Aerial spraying apparatus includes two sets of nozzles located at spaced locations on an aircraft. Each nozzle has an electrode associated with it to induce a charge on the cloud of droplets issuing from the nozzle. A high potential is maintained on each electrode by a power pack that induces an equal and opposite potential on the electrodes of each set. By virtue of the opposed polarity of the electrodes, the aircraft is maintained at a neutral potential. To prevent a potential being imposed due to spray being deposited on the electrodes, a pair of corona needles are provided to establish a leakage current and maintain the electrodes at the required potential. This prevents the system becoming imbalanced and a potential being established on the aircraft.

Abstract: The invention provides a new method and apparatus for the detection of non-conductive particulates in molten metals, such as aluminum, gallium, zinc and lead, that can be liquified and drawn into a suitable refractory container. The passage into the container is of very small diameter (about 300 micrometers for aluminum) and it forms part of a current path between two electrodes carrying a current of about 1 to 500 amperes. The path is surrounded by liquid metal which forms an effective Faraday cage screening the path, enabling the passage of a particulate of about 15 micrometers or larger to produce a voltage pulse between the electrodes of greater than 5 microvolts, which is detectable above the inevitable background noise, which is of about that value.

Abstract: A packaging material is formed from a pair of juxtaposed sheets. The material includes a plurality of continuous passages formed between the sheets and extending between two of its edges. Each of said passages is delimited by a pair of spaced partitions, at least one of which follows a sinuous path between the edges. The passages are inflatable by admission of air to provide a shock absorbing facility.