Abstract: A vacuum furnace for the ionic surface treatment of workpieces in which the workpiece is connected as one of a pair of electrodes of opposite polarity, and in which a third electrode is located adjacent the workpiece and is connected to it at the same polarity and potential so as to be subject to the same current density as the workpiece, the current through the third electrode being used to indicate said workpiece current density and to control it.

Abstract: The process includes entraining a powder having an average particle size in the range of 1 micron to 1.0 mm in air within a mixing vessel and spraying the entrained powder with a liquid within a spray zone in the mixing vessel. The process is used especially for a throughput rate in the range of 20 to 100 kg/hour of powder. The apparatus for carrying out the process includes a mixing vessel (2) accommodating an axially aligned venturi device (22) and a spray nozzle (18). The mixing vessel (2) may be connected to a vibratory fluidized bed chamber (28) for collecting the sprayed powder.

Abstract: In a wheel alignment gauge for a vehicle, correction for buckling or other lack of truth in the wheel is made by fastening the gauge to the wheel, mounting indicating apparatus onto a spindle and articulating the spindle about an axis to bring the spindle into alignment with, or parallel to, the wheel axle.

Abstract: Two optical fibres to be coupled end-to-end are respectively located within a cluster of straight rigid elements. The meeting ends of the elements are tapered to provide docking ramps which ensure precise axial alignment of the clusters.

Abstract: In a mechanical face seal for producing a fluid tight seal between a pair of relatively rotatable components a first sealing element is associated with one of said components and is fixed axially with respect thereto; a second sealing element is associated with the other component and is movable axially with respect thereto; means is provided for sealing the second sealing element with respect to its associated component and loading it axially into sealing engagement with the first sealing element and a thrust bearing is provided between the sealing element to partially reduce the load applied thereto.

Abstract: Systems for transferring energy between a conditioned zone, a heat source or sink liquid, and an ambient zone including combination liquid-source, air-source heat pumps with multi-fluid reversing means and an easily manufactured multi-fluid heat exchanger. Specifically three types of heat pumps: a split system of unitary type with conventional refrigerant reversing means, multi-fluid heat exchanger(s), and heat source or sink fluid reversing means; a self-contained or packaged type with conventional refrigerant reversing means, a multi-fluid heat exchanger, a conventional liquid-to-refrigerant heat exchanger, heat source or sink liquid reversing means, and innovative component arrangement which allows ambient air to be utilized as a heat source or sink fluid; a self-contained or packaged type with innovative component arrangement which allows air reversing means, multi-fluid heat exchangers, and heat source or sink liquid reversing means.

Abstract: An optical fibre capable of monomode transmission in, and having a wavelength of zero dispersion in, the 1.55 .mu.m window and having a core comprising silica and germanium dioxide and a cladding comprising silica is drawn from an appropriate preform at a temperature in the range from 1900.degree. C. to 2000.degree. C. Fibres thus produced have low loss compared with fibres drawn at higher temperature.

Abstract: Apparatus for the continuous extrusion of metals in which feed is introduced into a pair of circumferential grooves in a rotating wheel to contact arcuate tooling and abutments. The feed is constrained by the abutments to flow through exit apertures in a die top from the respective grooves to a substantially toroidal chamber around a hollow, open ended, portal mandrel to extrude through an annular die orifice as a cladding for a continuous core. Cooling air may be supplied to the interior of the cladding, which is subsequently swaged down on to the core. A solid mandrel may be utilized where it is desired to extrude tube.

Abstract: A friction clutch driven plate incorporates a hub, an intermediate drive plate connected to a flange of the hub through a toothed lost-motion connection and a friction facing carrier incorporating two side plates. Main torsion damping springs act between the intermediate plate and the side plates. Soft auxiliary torsion damping springing acts between the hub and the intermediate plate to damp out idle rattle. Location between the friction facing carrier and hub is provided by an inward extension of one side plate while the auxiliary springing is arranged adjacent the flange and inward of the other side plate to provide a compact construction.

Abstract: A set of golf club shafts that are produced wherein the torsional stiffness of each shaft within the set as a function of its length, be within 5% of a straight line having a gradient lying between zero and a positive value. Each shaft of the set of golf club shafts is formed of a desired length with the outer diameter and thickness of each shaft being varied throughout its length from the large diameter hand gripping end portion through the central stepped portion to the small diameter end or head portion. The clubs of a set are fabricated to the required torsional stiffness with the clubs of a set matched with regard to torsional stiffness.

Abstract: A diaphragm spring clutch of the kind in which the diaphragm spring is retained by a plurality of tabs extending through windows in the spring and embracing a pair of wire fulcrum rings. Each tab is deformed radially outwards midway between the fulcrum rings to provide location for the spring and to allow for the outer radius of the windows to be made coincident with the fulcrum ring radii.

Abstract: A hand-held diesel engine tester, includes a hand operable pump, a reservoir for liquid to be pumped, connection elements for said injector and a liquid pressure indicator or a connection for a liquid pressure indicator.

Abstract: An electronic clutch control system for a friction clutch for starting a vehicle from rest has a clutch position control loop in which the actual clutch position feed-back signal is modified to compensate for changes in clutch characteristic. An engine speed control loop: clutch, engine, engine speed sensor, processed signals, clutch actuator control includes a switchable integrator. A wear compensation signal is added to the clutch position feed-back signal which is then subject to gain control in a gain control device in response to changes in slope of the torque-capacity/clutch position characteristic.

Abstract: Concentric piston and cylinder components of a hydraulic slave cylinder used with a clutch release bearing have their axial movement under a biassing spring limited by latch means in the form of flanges. The flanges each have a radial face and a chamfered face, and one flange is radially deformable, being on a slotted cylindrical extension. The radially deformable flange allows the cylinder to be rapidly assembled without the need for assembly of a separate retaining device.