Abstract: A flowmeter and a method of determining the mass flow rate. The flowmeter has a first measuring tube and a second measuring tube which are arranged in a common housing and are connected to one another mechanically. Also provided are an excitation device for exciting the measuring tubes to oscillation, and a detector device for detecting oscillation parameters which is connected to an evaluating device, which determines a mass flow rate signal for each measuring tube from output signals from the detector device. The object is to improve the measuring accuracy in cases in which identical conditions do not prevail in the measuring tubes. For that purpose, an amplitude detecting device is provided which detects the amplitude of the oscillation of each measuring tube, and a correcting device is connected to the evaluating device, which correcting device has a flow input and an amplitude input for each measuring tube.

Abstract: A mounting arrangement for removably mounting a conveyor belt cleaner scraping member to a support member. The mounting arrangement includes first and second mounting members adapted to be attached to the support member. Each mounting member includes one or more apertures. A base member is adapted to be attached to the scraping member. The base member includes one or more bores adapted to be aligned with a respective aperture in each mounting member. The bore includes inwardly projecting first and second annular ribs. A mounting pin having a shank is adapted to be inserted into the apertures of the first and second mounting members and into the bore of the base member to thereby connect the base member to the mounting members. The shank of the pin includes a first annular groove adapted to receive and interlock with the first rib of the base member and a second annular groove adapted to receive and interlock with the second annular rib of the base member.

Abstract: For the continuous manufacture of a twin-wall pipe having a pipe socket and consisting of a smooth internal tube and an external tube, which is welded together therewith and provided with transverse grooves, two extruders are provided, which extrude an external tube and an internal tube via a joint crosshead. Switches are provided for the production of a pipe socket, by means of which the speed of the extruder is modified in such a way that the mass flow of the melt of plastic material for the production of the external tube is reduced during the production of the pipe socket and/or the mass flow for the production of the inner tube is augmented.

Abstract: An apparatus for the manufacture of corrugated plastic pipes comprises half shells. Each half shell has a base body which consists of a metal of a higher thermal conductivity and a lower specific gravity than steel and which holds a core. Provided in the core is a mold recess in which to form the corrugated pipes.

Abstract: An optical waveguide format tuneable optical filter is formed using Bragg grating reflectors to define one or more optical cavities of a Fabry Pérot etalon, the or each cavity of the etalon including one or more slots containing a controllable refractive index medium, for instance a silicone gel whose index is regulated by Joule heating, or a polymer dispersed liquid crystal whose index is electric field regulated. Strong coupling coefficient (˜ a few tens mm−1) gratings may be made using lithography to form linear arrays of buried high index inclusions extending along the waveguide core axis.

Abstract: A multi-node computer system is described which includes a number of active nodes and a standby node. Each node hosts a server installation. Each server has a system disk, and a recovery disk, which holds a synchronised recovery copy of data held on the system disk. In the event of failure of a node, a recovery process is run to reconfigure the system, by connecting the recovery disk corresponding to the failed computer to the system disk of the standby computer, and copying the contents of this recovery disk to the system disk. This causes the server in the failed node to migrate to the standby node, which thus becomes an active node.

Abstract: An alphanumeric character scramble game played by two or more players utilizing a set of cards each having imprinted thereon a scrambled alphanumeric character string in the form of an automobile license plate. When unscrambled the alphanumeric character string phonetically or representatively corresponds to a word or phrase written answer. Clues are given to the players during each round of play. Points are awarded to a player who answers correctly and subtracted for incorrect answers. A player wins when his or her score reaches a pre-determined value.

Abstract: An impact cradle for supporting a moving conveyor belt. The impact cradle includes a plurality of support structures. Each support structure includes an elongate support member and first and second wing cushion support members for supporting impact bars. Each wing cushion support member includes a first end including a plurality of apertures and a second end including a plurality of apertures. Each aperture in the first end of a wing cushion support member is spaced apart a uniform distance from a counterpart aperture in the second end of the wing cushion support member. A first fastener and a second fastener are inserted respectively through a selected pair of counterpart apertures to connect the first and second ends of the wing cushion support member to the support member. Each pair of counterpart apertures is adapted to dispose the wing cushion support member at a selected inclined angle with respect to the support member to conform to the inclined edges of the conveyor belt.

Abstract: A microwave oven has an oven cavity with a wall (2) formed with a hole (6) covered on an external side of the wall by a metal launch box (8) and choke plate (7). A metal match plate (10) is mounted on the internal side of the wall (2) so that the match plate (10) and the launch box (8) form a launch cavity for delivering microwave energy to the cavity. The choke plate (7) has a peripheral choke channel which prevents leakage of microwave energy between the launch box (8) and choke plate (7), enabling the choke plate (7) and match plate (10) to be bolted to the wall (2).

Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling a multi-nozzle CIJ printhead having a pressure modulator for causing streams of ink emitted from the nozzles to be broken up into individual droplets, and charge electrodes 6 and charge electrode controllers for controllably applying a charge to individual ones of the droplets in each stream. The method involves generating a modulation waveform to operate the pressure modulator to cause droplets to be generated in each stream and operating the charge controllers to supply a charge signal waveform to each charge electrode. The charges applied to the streams of droplets are compared to a reference or threshold value. The number of droplet streams in which the droplet charges exceed the reference or threshold value is determined plural times and an average value for the number is calculated. This step is repeated a number of times and if the average is less than the average previously calculated then the threshold or reference value is reduced.

Abstract: A digital transmission system comprises a plurality of wire, sets (151, 155), such as twisted-pair wires for delivering services to subscribers (110, 120, 130, 140). A first wire set (151) carries a time-division duplexed multitone signal VDSL. The system is arranged to individually select the transmitted spectra of the upstream and downstream portions of the duplexed signal so as to minimise cross-talk interference with further signals ADSL, HDSL carried by other wire sets (155). In use, the transmitted spectra of the upstream and downstream portions of the duplexed signal may differ in bandwidth.

Abstract: To avoid searching for objects that are not effectively configured and therefore to mitigate connectivity and system failure, an intermediate routing object index (100, 103) is created to each and every object in a system (36). In a telecommunications system, for example, an object is only operational at a node (10, 30-34), such as a switch, upon receipt of all necessary configuration messages (102) from an overall system controller (12) responsible for overseeing operation of the node (10, 30-34) and the set-up of a connection. The routing object index stores (103, 108) an indication of the receipt of the necessary configuration messages and so provides a direct indication of whether the object exists and whether it is effectively configured.

Abstract: An exchange comprises a plurality of distributed nodes for processing calls from or to a first neighboring exchange, two or more of said nodes being arranged to be connected to the first neighboring exchange by separate trunk routes, and a signalling point code being assigned to the node-end of each trunk route, wherein the signalling point codes assigned to the node-ends of the separate trunk routes to the first neighboring exchange, differ from each other. The first neighboring exchange sees the exchange as if it were two or more conventional exchanges. The total amount of call processing for handling a call in a network which incorporates one or more exchanges of the invention can be reduced.

Abstract: A communication system, such as an identification system for use in animal feeding or milking parlors, has a driver (16; 200; 320; 350), which supplies current to an antenna (for example 1; 68; 208; 306; 352). That current causes the antenna to emit power (in the from of a time varying magnetic or electromagnetic field), which energizes a transponder (220) operable to transmit an identification signal (such as an RF signal). The driver and antenna are connected to a parallel inductor, which reduces the total inductance of the load seen by the driver. The antenna may be one of a plurality of antennae, all of which are connected to the same driver. Each antenna is located in a respective stall in a milking or feeding parlors so that the system can identify which animal is in which stall of the parlors at a given time.

Abstract: A tensioner device for imparting a rotational biasing force to the shaft of a conveyor belt cleaner. The tensioner device includes a biasing member wherein a first end of the biasing member includes a first coupler member and a second end of the biasing member includes a second coupler member. The second end of the biasing member is adapted to be inserted into a bore in the shaft of the conveyor belt cleaner such that the second coupler member rotationally couples the second end of the biasing member to the shaft. The tensioner device includes a rotatable actuator member having a recess adapted to receive the first end of the biasing member. A lug extends inwardly into the recess and is adapted to engage the first coupler member of the biasing member such that the first end of the biasing member is rotationally coupled to the actuator member for conjoint rotation at least in one rotational direction.

Abstract: A grinding machine, in particular a face grinder for grinding the faces of silicon wafers, has a grinding wheel spindle (20) and a work spindle (22) which are mounted so as to be pivotal about axes (A and B) respectively, each axis being perpendicular to the rotational axis of its respective spindle and being orthogonal to the rotation axis of the other spindle. Three sensors or probes (1 to 3) are provided to measure the position of one spindle relative to the other and to generate signals for controlling servo motors (26, 28) for adjusting the angular orientation of each spindle about its pivotal axis.

Abstract: The underwater vehicle disclosed has a selectively energizable propulsion unit for forcible driving the vehicle through the water and at least one resilient gas filled buoyancy element and at least one rigid buoyancy element which is in open contact with the surrounding water when the vehicle is in the water. The volume of the gas in the buoyancy element provides sufficient displacement of the water to keep the vehicle afloat at the surface when unattended or to support a diver. When the vehicle is submerged water pressure will act directly upon and tend to compress the resilient buoyancy element and the gas contained. This reduces the volume of the gas within the buoyancy element and thus reduces buoyancy of that element and the rigid buoyancy element then takes over and becomes neutrally buoyant or slightly positive.

Abstract: A conveyor belt cleaner and tensioning arrangement for cleaning a conveyor belt including a conveyor belt cleaner and a tensioner. The conveyor belt cleaner includes one or more scraper blades mounted on a rotatable cross shaft. The tensioner includes a mounting member attached to the cross shaft for conjoint rotation therewith, a resilient linear biasing member attached to the mounting member, and a linear actuator attached to the biasing member. Operation of the actuator member stores a biasing force within the biasing member which in turn rotates the scraper blades into full-face engagement with the conveyor belt with a biasing force. As the scraper blades wear the biasing member continues to rotate the scraper blades into full-face engagement with the conveyor belt with a biasing force that changes in magnitude.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a kinetic child restraint device which is fastened to or integrated into the seat of a vehicle to provide for 360 degree spherical impact protection to significantly reducing the risk of injury to a child in the event of a collision. The restraint device includes a capsule, a pivotally attached bracket and a pivotally attached base. The restraint device is designed so that it will automatically pivot a child forward, rearward and sideways to position the head, neck and back of the child perpendicular to the impact force. The restraint device is also designed to rotate during a collision to dissipate impact forces to reduce the risk of injury to the child.

Abstract: Hydraulic steering arrangement (15) with a steering handwheel (2), which is connected with a manual. pump (3), a pump (18) supplying hydraulic fluid, a steering motor (12) and a steering valve (15) arranged between pump (18) and steering motor (12) and having a valve element (20) steering the flow of hydraulic fluid between the pump (18) and the steering motor (12), the valve element (20) being displaceable by hydraulic pressures originating from the manual pump. In such a steering arrangement it is wanted to create the opportunity of implementing various functions, without having to abandon the ordinary hydraulic control. For this purpose, the valve element (20) has an additional drive (31).