Abstract: A fluidized bed furnace and boiler for the combustion of flyash with a moisture content of 45% by weight. The flyash is produced as a by-product of a coal gasification process and transported in water to a slime dam. From the slime dam a slurry of flyash and water is initially thickened in a gravity thickener (1) (FIG. 1) and then converted to filter cake in a tubular filter press (4). The filter cake is fed through pressurized hoppers (8) and chutes to the base of the boiler (10) and is distributed across the floor through chutes in the side walls and through chutes surrounded by a tubular array of water tubes and extending into the boiler furnace chamber terminating approximately one quarter of the furnace width from the side walls. A fluidized bed with a depth of about 3 meters is formed by discharging air heated in an associated air heater through nozzles in the floor of the furnace chamber to effect combustion.

Abstract: A chain sling assembly (FIG. 13) includes a main link 2 provided with two separable connector links 14 each carrying two shackles 50 and shortening clutches 66. Each connector link 14 has a first portion 16 profiled to co-act with the main link 2 and a second portion 18 profiled to co-act with the shackles 50, hubs 42 of the first portion 16 extending externally of hubs 44 of the second portion 18 and being connected with a pin 20. The shortening clutches permit adjustment of the free length of a fall portion of chain 83 by engaging a link 81 in a jaw portion 76.

Abstract: A conveyor comprising an endless belt for conveying items forward with a vacuum system for vacuum gripping items to the belt to avoid shifting of the items relative to the belt.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with provision of a power take-off from a friction clutch without altering the fundamental design of the clutch itself. The clutch comprises a cover member, a pressure plate and a diaphragm spring having an outer belville portion and inwardly directed fingers. The diaphragm spring urges the pressure plate against driven plate to provide a primary drive. The diaphragm spring is located on the cover member by tabs passing through mounting apertures at roots of the fingers and bent over to hold the spring in position. A power take-off drive member incorporates tabs engaged in the mounting apertures and bent over to locate the power take-off drive member with respect to the cover.

Abstract: A process for applying a vitreous enamel comprises applying a powdered vitreous frit to a metal, said frit having a water content of up to 0.03% by weight; this coated metal then being fired at a temperature in excess of the melting point of the frit, in a furnace having an atmosphere with a dew point of up to 10.degree. C. Metal particles may be admixed with the powdered frit to form a cermet or glass/metal composite. The powdered frit may be applied to a substrate as a non-aqueous slurry or an aqueous slurry including a polysaccharide based suspension agent.

Abstract: A container for medical waste products includes a receptacle and a closure member. The closure member is connected to a resiliently deformable member biasing the closure member to close the aperture to the receptacle. In one version the closure member is a cap guided by rails over the surface of the container and having a skeletal outer frame connected to the container which is distorted by opening of the aperture.There is also disclosed a device for rendering unusable a hypodermic syringe. The device may be provided as a removable insert for the container.

Abstract: This invention is concerned with the high speed printing of a line of text on a sheet in very accurate registration with an edge of the sheet or another feature (for example an existing print line) on the sheet. The sheet is fed without preregistration on to a track (10, FIG. 1) which passes the printing station (20). A detector (16) adjacent the track senses the arrival of the edge or some other feature of the sheet and a printing control means (14) responsive to the detector signal initiates the firing of the printing hammer (22) when the print line reaches the printing station, a registered operation being thereby effected without stopping the sheet. The detector signal may start the operation of a counter (70, FIG.

Abstract: A multipurpose collapsible structure which may be used, for example, as a display stand or as a storage rack. The structure comprises four rectangular frames 2, 3, 4 and 5, defining a rectangular enclosure. The two opposite upright frames 2 and 4 have outwardly projecting bracket 12 which slide over the upper long sides of the other frames. The upright frames are pivoted at their bases enabling the structure to be collapsed, firstly to an oblique structure and then to a substantially flat state.

Abstract: A friction clutch driven plate comprises a hub having a fixed hub flange and an auxiliary hub flange which can rotate a limited amount relative to the hub. Bob weights can move radially under centrifugal force against return springs to engage apertures in the auxiliary hub flange and lock the hub flanges together. This reduces the effective length of spring windows in the hub flanges and the range of movement permitted by a low rate spring which damps gearbox rattle when in neutral.

Abstract: The transmission is intended to effect synchronism between the speed of an engine and the speed of a transmission input shaft. An engine drive clutch and gearbox combination is provided which comprises automatic change speed to engage and disengage the drive clutch and to select a required gearbox ratio. A further clutch is also provided which is responsive to said change speed to control engine speed during a ratio change with the drive clutch disengaged. The further clutch reacts against the output shaft of the gearbox to synchronize engine speed with the speed of the transmission input shaft during the ratio change and enables drive to be transmitted between the engine and output shaft with the drive clutch disengaged.

Abstract: Apparatus for manufacturing a hollow concrete slab by a slide casting operation. The slab is formed with one or more cavities through the use of tubes of flexible material into which a pressurized medium, particularly water, is fed. The apparatus comprises a stationary base and a casting device arranged to travel in the longitudinal direction of the base. A number of parallel shaping pipes forming part of the travelling casting device and having a cross section corresponding to the desired cross section of the cavities to be formed are opened at both ends. The flexible tubes, which are fastened at their rear ends, to a pressured liquid source pass during the casting process from reels in the casting device through the pipes so as to give the cavities their final form.

Abstract: A drum brake hydraulic wheel cylinder assembly comprises a pair of piston assemblies and an abutment member. The piston assemblies are of the kind comprising an adjustable variable length tappet assembly having interengaged screw-threaded components. To enable thrust to be transmitted from one adjacent brake shoe to the other, i.e. for parking purposes, the abutment member is slidable in the cylinder bore against a spring centering device.

Abstract: A ball and socket joint is of the type in which a ball pin is supported by a bearing insert retained within a housing. The bearing insert has axial slots in one end which upon assembly of the joint allow the insert to be deformed in a more consistant manner. An annular groove in one end of the insert defines two thin lips one of which upon assembly is deformed to provide a preload to the joint.

Abstract: A friction clutch driven plate for motor vehicles is of the kind in which a friction facing carrier assembly is mounted for limited rotation relative to a hub, such limited rotation being controlled by damping springs and a friction damper. Centrifugal control of the friction damper is by a pendulum device in the form of eccentric collars pivoting on stop pins and engaging apertures in an intermediate plate frictionally engaged with the hub. At low rotational speeds the stop pins can move within the collars which can also tilt to allow limited relative rotation between the carrier assembly and the hub with low friction damping. At higher speeds the collars are effectively locked in place to give high friction damping. By suitable arrangement of windows for the damping springs this also has the effect of reducing relative rotation controlled by a low rate spring only required to damp transmission noise during engine idling.

Abstract: A single-action, gas powered repeating pistol has a sliding unitary barrel and hammer assembly with the barrel and hammer aligned on opposite sides of a fixed pressure chamber. In the uncocked condition, the hammer extends rearwardly of the main frame so that cocking may be effected by merely slapping the rear of the hammer to force the assembly forward to be retained by a trigger mounted sear.

Abstract: An apparatus for distributing particulate material includes a feeder having a charging inlet and a discharge outlet duct having converging walls. Coaxially aligned with the discharge outlet duct is a deflector including a first spreader having diverging outer walls, and a second spreader contiguous with the diverging walls of the first spreader and having diverging walls of an angular inclination to the direction of flow of the particulate material greater than that of the first spreader. The charging inlet may have attached thereto an extension and an expansion chamber into which a feed pipe projects, the expansion chamber and the feed pipe being external to a receiving vessel. The particulate material may be fed into the feeder entrained in air. The material leaving the second spreader is uniformly distributed and may form a hollow curtain of uniformly distributed particulate material. The curtain may fall into a spray mixing vessel, and a circular baffle may contain the curtain.

Abstract: Apparatus for detecting missing areas or folded corners in sheets, for example banknotes (14), is disclosed. FIG. 1 shows a banknote (14) being scanned in a strip along one edge of the banknote. A strip light source 12 and a strip sensor 16 are disposed on opposite faces of the banknote which is caused to move perpendicularly to the light path between the source and sensor, and perpendicularly to the plane of the drawing. A photometer (18) responds to the total amount of light transmitted through the edge strip of the banknote (14) as the banknote is scanned. A filter (20) may be interposed in the light path to improve the sensitivity of the apparatus. The total amount of transmitted light detected by the photometer (18) is integrated over a period of the scan during which the intensity differs substantially from the mean level for an unflawed portion of the banknote. Integration is thus performed only over missing or folded areas of the banknote.

Abstract: To allow a salesman to record data relating to merchandise items which are to be ordered, a logging device comprises a casing in which are housed a keyboard, a display and associated circuits. The salesman locates a sheet containing a list of merchandise items, on the casing between two columns of light-emitting diodes. At the start of entry of an order, the top left-hand LED is illuminated under the control of a central processor unit, which simultaneously addresses a main memory storage location corresponding to the item alongside that LED. Data, such as quantity required, can then be keyed into that storage location, which already contains an identification code for that item. The salesman then operates a key which causes the CPU to scan through the LEDs, and the storage locations, in turn, until the next required item on the sheet is reached. Data relating to that item is then keyed-in.