Abstract: Card-clothing wire is manufactured for use on rollers in textile fibre processing machines. The wire is formed into a helical coil, with the teeth projecting radially from the rib of the wire, in the same manner as in the condition of use on the roller, and while in this helical coiled formation is subjected to a high temperature chromium diffusion process to produce a surface layer enriched with chromium, producing a surface hardness in excess of 1500 HV as measured on the Vickers hardness scale. Although the surface is well able to withstand the abrasive action of the fibres in use, it is not subjected to cracking, because of the precoiling of the wire before it is subjected to the diffusion process.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method of and machine for stitching a thong to an upper in a machine for the manufacture of footwear in which the vamp is sewn to the upper by leather thongs, in which a barbed needle on a ram reciprocating in a fluid operated cylinder is passed through preformed pairs of shaped holes in the material to be thonged, applying a thonging thread to the needle and applying fluid to one end of the cylinder to draw the needle and the thonging thread through the vamp and the upper, withdrawing the needle and moving the material to receive the needle through a succeeding pair of holes on the material and applying fluid to the opposite end side of the ram and re-passing the needle and thonging thread through the vamp and upper for succeeding stitches, an air line being connected to each end of the cylinder with a control valve to regulate the air flow.

Abstract: A method of cooling a moisture-containing foodstuff article is described, which involves placing the article in a chamber and evacuating the chamber to reduce the pressure in the chamber, whereby moisture evaporates from the article and the latent heat of the moisture is extracted from the article. In order to prevent damage to the article by a too-rapid evaporation, the evacuation is controlled in response to dimensional change (typically the height) of the article.The invention also includes a method of controlling the evacuation of the chamber by progressively opening a valve in the pumping system to reduce the impedance (and hence increase the pumping rate) of the pumping system. This progressive opening of the valve is however, subject to an over-riding control which may arrest the opening action or initiate closing of the valve in response to a detected dimensional change of the article.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for dispensing pre-determined proportions of two or more different materials from supplies thereof, comprising the steps of dispensing one of the materials onto a moving conveyor band adapted gravimetrically to sense the rate of supply of that material, and when the required rate is sensed as by a strain gauge, dispensing a second material onto the band and sensing the rate of supply of the second material until the required rate is established, continuing the foregoing procedure until all of the materials are being dispensed in accordance with the desired pre-determined proportions and thereafter continuously or intermittently monitoring the composite supply, and in the event of a variation therein, arresting the supply of materials one or more at a time until the source of variation has been detected and corrected, the supply of materials then being continued.

Abstract: An inhalation chamber for housing animals in toxycology laboratories in which each animal cage is suspended from discs mounted on a shaft rotated slowly in the casing to bring each cage in turn below a controlled atmosphere inlet and maintaining the pressure in the chamber below atmospheric pressure to avoid leakage to atmosphere, with a scraper and water supply for removing droppings from a tray below each cage.

Abstract: A rotatable scroll for a rubber extruding machine comprising a series of vanes in the base of channels in the scroll to redirect the material into a surface layer and to direct lumps of material to one edge of the channel and a ramp or ramps over which the lumps flow with a small clearance between the ramp and the barrel.

Abstract: Surgical apparatus for use in the syringing of a patient's ear comprising a receptacle having an upwardly extending wall shaped to fit the side of the patient's head the wall having a first downwardly extending recess to receive the ear to be syringed with the portions of the wall on either side of the recess extending upwardly, in front of and behind the ear, the wall having a second downwardly extending recess opposite the said first recess, through which a syringe can be inserted to pass across the receptacle and into the ear, and fastening means to hold the receptacle in position on the patient's head and urge the wall of the receptacle into sealing engagement with the side of the patient's head.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing special food to a selected plurality of animals in a herd which includes providing a distinguishing device on each of said selected plurality of the animals, and providing a supply of foodstuff in an enclosure having a movable barrier which in a position of rest prevents access to that foodstuff supply and is locked in the rest position by a releaseable lock device. The device is so controlled that the barrier is released for animal access to the food only in response to the proximity of any one of the distinguishing devices, so that all of the selected plurality of animals, and only those selected plurality of animals, have access to the supply of foodstuff. A battery powered low electrical consumption control circuit is provided.

Abstract: Apparatus for folding box blanks wherein each blank comprises a first portion and one or more further portions to be folded inwardly to lie over the first portion in superimposed relationship therewith the apparatus including a conveyor for carrying the blanks successively through the apparatus during folding and means at the side of the conveyor for progressively manoeuvering the further portion or portions of each blank into the folded position as the blank is conveyed, a pair of elongate flat tongues adjacent the line along which the or each further portion is to be folded so as to hold the blank against the conveying surfaces, the tongues being spaced apart in their upstream region to prevent the further portion from falling inwardly and thus to control the folding movement, the tongues being held apart by a stud while the upper tongue can twist with respect to the lower tongue towards the downstream ends thereof to accommodate the progressively reducing angle between the first portion and the further por

Abstract: A transfer unit for transporting heavy loads from station to station for work to be carried out on the load on a grillage divided up into a plurality of passageways, rails being mounted in the passageways for carriages or bogies carrying jacks for lifting a beam on each carriage to raise the load from the grillage with means for driving the carriages or bogies in synchronism and fairing jacks for lining up the load on the grilling or on the beam.

Abstract: An integral traveller for ring spinning machines formed with two parallel limbs meeting at an apex at an included angle of 110.degree.-120.degree. to the horizontal with the apex symmetrical between the limbs and one limb being formed with an inturned portion for engagement in use with a shoulder on the outer surface of the ring.

Abstract: In a railway wheel braking unit, a braking flange carrying a friction pad for engaging the wheel tread is detachably mounted on the main brake shoe by a rod structure that projects with a snug fit into an arch on the main shoe, a retaining pin passing through aligned openings in the arch side walls and the rod structure.

Abstract: An accessory for converting a crane of the kind having a telescopically extendible jib pivotally connected to a turntable into access equipment comprising a unit to be fitted to the free end of the jib of the crane, a bracket member pivotally connected to said unit for rotation about a horizontal axis, first hydraulic cylinder means extending between said unit and the bracket and capable of being actuated to adjust the orientation of said bracket relative to the jib of the crane, a boom structure pivotally connected relative to said bracket for movement in a vertical plane about a horizontal axis, a working platform or cage pivotally connected to the end of said boom structure remote from said bracket, second hydraulic cylinder means for causing pivotal movement of said boom structure relative to said bracket and means for maintaining said working platform or cage level regardless of the angle of inclination of said boom structure.

Abstract: A final drive assembly for an agricultural tractor has a casing in which are journalled the outer end of a half-shaft and, parallel to the half-shaft, a final drive shaft. The two shafts are driveably interconnected by fixed ratio speed reduction gearing lubricated by mineral oil contained in the casing. A multi-disc brake can frictionally interconnect the half-shaft and the casing, and is operated via a linkage by a hydraulic slave cylinder housed within the casing and preferably actuated by mineral oil to avoid contaminating the lubricating oil in the event of any leakage from the cylinder.

Abstract: The invention provides a device for teaching concepts of numbers and mathematical principles comprising a base component having a surface divided into a hundred identical unit squares in ten by ten format, and two series of number elements for use with the base component. Each number element of the first series is dimensioned so that it corresponds exactly in size and shape with a whole number of the unit squares on the base component and displays unit squares corresponding to those unit squares it covers on the base component when it is placed on the base component. Each number element of the first series is marked with the number which it represents in terms of the unit squares. Each number element of the second series has a length corresponding to ten unit squares and a width corresponding to a plurality of unit squares.

Abstract: A hydraulic ram system for tilting a vehicle cab which is resiliently mounted on the vehicle frame includes a ram cylinder of which that end in which the ram piston is located when the cab is in the lowered position is of increased bore diameter to render the piston passive in this position, a restriction being provided in the lower ram line across which a pressure drop is created when fluid is pumped through the line, while in the upper ram line a valve is provided responsive to the pressure differential across the restriction and thereby operable to interconnect the upper and lower ram lines.

Abstract: A moulded plastics pet door for relatively large animals comprising a rectangular frame for attachment to the sides of an aperture in a main door, a second U shaped frame engaging a frame on the rectangular frame and a flap engaging a frame on the second frame both the frame and the flap being pivoted on a rod extending transversely of the rectangular frame, shielded magnets being provided on the second frame and the flap to engage shielded keepers on the second frame and the flap. The flap is moulded with hollow reinforcing ribs and with slots in the rear side to receive bolts for locking the second frame and flap to the rectangular frame to prevent use of the pet door.

Abstract: A pressure control valve for controlling the operation of spring-actuated fluid pressure released brake units in vehicle braking systems. The valve described requires less operating effort than for conventional control valves of this kind even those including a follow-up means. It has a plunger-type valve element slidable within the carrier and controlling the flow of fluid between inlet and delivery ports. The carrier is biassed towards an open position of the valve in opposition to a spring force by the delivery pressure and the valve element is responsive to delivery pressure to open the valve in opposition to another spring force. The carrier spring has a substantially greater rate than the valve element spring which can be adjusted so that the effort required to operate the valve can be kept to moderate limits while retaining the advantage of a follow-up valve action.

Abstract: Cyclonic furnace for efficient burning of such waste products as rubber tires or industrial or domestic refuse with minimum atmospheric pollution and high heat output has fixed circular hearth with central outlet for slag and ash discharge, material to be burnt being fed onto the hearth periphery; combustion air ports opening tangentially into its combustion chamber; and automatic control means regulating e.g. material infeed and inflow of combustion air including a facility for monitoring combustion conditions in the furnace, preferably by measurement of CO and CO.sub.2 levels, and comparing those conditions with previously recorded conditions automatically to predict changes and make anticipatory adjustments of the furnace controls giving extremely rapid control reaction and enabling combustion air requirements to be cut to a minimum, of which the following is a specification.

Abstract: An annulus of individual seal sections mounted in sealed end to end abutment is disposed between coextensive side wall portions of a liquid storage tank and a floating roof, the seal sections being individually removably mounted on the roof side wall.