Abstract: An aerator comprising a support member in the form of a flat plate which is adapted, when the aerator is in use, to lie in a horizontal plane and to be rotated about its central vertical axis, a plurality of angularly spaced blades secured to the underside of said plate and each extending radially from a central region thereof towards its periphery, each said blade having a maximum depth beneath a horizontal datum at a position intermediate its ends, and being provided with a plate secured to its lower edge and extending on both sides of the blade along at least a portion of that part of the length of the blade between its outer end and the position of maximum depth.

Abstract: A load-sensing valve for an air pressure braking system comprises a diaphragm responsive to a signal pressure, as from a brake valve, and actuating through a rockable beam a two stage valve for controlling flow of pressure air to the brakes, the beam fulcrum being displaceable in accordance with vehicle load, and a further diaphragm having operable connection with the two-stage valve and responsive to delivery pressure, the two-stage valve consisting of a pilot valve operable alone where air usage is small to provide high sensitivity and a main inlet valve which is brought into operation with increased inlet pressure and larger air flow.

Abstract: A torque-limiting device comprises co-axial input and output members, a component axially slideable on but constrained to rotate with one of the members, a plurality of balls engageable in respective pairs of seats formed in adjacent faces of the component and the other of the members, a helical compression spring co-axial with the members for urging the faces towards one another, and a spring-loaded plunger carried by the component and engageable in a hole in that one of the members on which the component is slideable so as automatically to hold the device disengaged when a torque over-load causes the balls to move out of the seats and thus forces the faces away from one another against the action of the spring.

Abstract: A trouser pressing apparatus comprising two pairs of horizontal pressing plates, arranged at 90.degree. - 110.degree. to each other and two further pairs of pressing plates arranged above the horizontal pressing plates, carriages on which the lower plates are mounted, clamps for clamping the legs to the plates and for stretching the legs longitudinally, means for stretching the legs transversely, means for applying vacuum to the legs to hold them in position on the lower pressing plates and means for lowering the upper pressing plates onto the lower plates when these latter are in their rearward position and means for steaming and applying pressure to the trouser legs.

Abstract: A grinding mill of the kind comprising a generally cylindrical grinding chamber defined by a screen having a shaft supporting a plurality of grinding hammers rotatable therein and being enclosed in a chamber to which suction is applied characterized by the provision of instrumentality for sensing the pressure within the enclosure surrounding the screen and actuating a safety device in the event that the pressure falls below a pre-determined value.

Abstract: An arcuate card-clothed element is manufactured by combining a deformable sustaining element which may for example be a slotted stiffener or a layer of fibre glass with a flexible toothed foundation while the sustaining element is in a deformable condition and shaped to the desired arcuate contour of the card-clothed element, and introducing a hardenable bonding medium such as a resin to hold the foundation in the shape of the sustaining element and convert the sustaining element to a substantially rigid state. The card-clothed element may be made in individual sectors, or may comprise sectors cut from a cylindrical assembly built on a former.

Abstract: A unit for use in coupling a pair of loudspeakers to an amplifier having two channels comprises a transformer having a first winding and a second winding, one end of a first winding having a first connection device for connecting the first winding in series with one of the loudspeakers, one end of the second winding having a second connection device for connecting the second winding in series with the other of the loudspeakers, the windings being electrically connected asymmetrically, and the other ends of the first and second windings having means for connecting the other ends to the negative supply line of the amplifier. This unit can be used advantageously in connecting the front speaker pair of a "surround-sound" or four speaker sound reproduction system. The remaining speaker pair is then connected in a conventional Hafler arrangement.

Abstract: A scroll for extruding machines comprising a single or double start helical flight or rib divided into a plurality of zones one or more of the zones being formed with a plurality of facets formed with a plurality of opposing angled members located around the root diameter of the flight or rib to homogenize and plasticate the mix as it passes along the scroll and an extruding machine incorporating the scroll comprising a liner forming an under wall of a cavitated outer jacket or barrel divided into a plurality of zones within which the scroll rotates means for circulating steam/water through each zone to maintain a predetermined temperature therein, thermo pockets for monitoring the temperatures, and a motor for driving the scroll.

Abstract: A lifting beam comprising an elongate member carrying one or more pivotally mounted hooks for engagement of a load to be lifted, there being a balance weight pivotably mounted on the or each hook to lie on either side of the pivotal axis thereof so as to cause the hook to be biased into or from engagement with the load such that selection of the position of the balance weight enables the beam automatically to pick up or release the load when the beam is lowered on to same.

Abstract: A method and lifting tackle for raising a load into contact with the underside of an I section girder or beam to allow the brackets of each pair to rest together on assembly on small girders.

Abstract: A smoker's pipe comprising a stem unit incorporating the base of the bowl and formed of a plastics material and a bowl element detachably fitted to the bowl base portion and preferably formed of briar, the stem unit including the bowl base being internally metal lined. The pipe may include an externally fluted metal condenser plug in the bowl base and which plug may be integral with the bowl base lining.

Abstract: An engine is combined with a dual clutch assembly comprising independently engageable and disengageable power take-off and drive clutches in tandem. To minimize the overall length of the combination despite the use of twin plates in the drive clutch, that face of the flywheel remote from the engine has a counterbore defined by a recessed driving surface and a surrounding axially-projecting flange, the power take-off clutch being disposed partially within this counterbore. Circumferentially-spaced radially-outwardly-projecting lugs on the pressure plate for the power take-off clutch are slideable axially in radial slots in the flange.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating oil from a mixture of oil and water wherein a stream of the mixture is directed along an upwardly inclined inverted channel to separate the oil from the mixture by contact of the oil with the under-surface of the channel for flow upwardly in the channel, and wherein the oil is collected from the upper longitudinal end of the channel and wherein the remainder of the stream is allowed to fall downwardly out of the channel.

Abstract: A torque unit for use as an accessory to a conventional socket spanner or other wrench-type tool has a body which can be mounted at a selected position along the tool handle and a member movable relative to the body through which a turning moment is applied by the user, the unit including resilient means, preferably adjustable, biasing said member in opposition to the turning moment and warning means giving a signal sensed by the user, conveniently a sudden displacment and noise, when the load transmitted by the resilient means exceeds a predetermined level in use, of which the following is a specification.

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, an auxiliary valve being provided in the upper ram line held by a spring-loaded detent in a closed condition and adapted to open when during a lifting operation the piston moves out of the increased bore zone.

Abstract: A method for treating a liquid wherein the liquid to be treated is caused to flow through a tank equipped with at least one electrode assembly in the base thereof for the generation of gas bubbles by electrolytic action, whereby suspended materials, usually but not necessarily solids, in the liquid are carried to the surface of the tank by said bubbles to form a layer of thickened material, characterised by the step of dissolving air under pressure into the liquid before it is caused to flow through said tank, whereby the amount of gas available for flotation purposes exceeds that available from the electrolytic action alone.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing flexible card-clothing for use in textile carding comprising the steps of producing a foamed polyvinylchloride compound having a density of between 0.6 and 1.00 grams per cubic centimeter; applying a sealing coat of a material which is compatible with the foamed compound to a fabric layer; applying a layer of the foamed p.v.c. onto the seaing coat to produce a finished foam layer of between 2 and 5 millimeters thickness on the fabric; heating the applied foamed layer to p.v.c. to cause the foamed layer to fuse; applying a surface layer of sealing material onto the exposed surface of the foamed layer to provide a smooth non-absorbent external surface, with the fabric, foamed p.v.c and surface layer together forming a composite foundation face, combining the foundation face with a foundation back to form a laminated foundation, and then inserting card-clothing wires into the foundation so that parts of the wires project from the surface layer.

Abstract: Components for forming a drawer or other tray-like structure comprise hollow wall members, conveniently plastics extrusions, defining mortice sockets in their ends, and corner or front connecting members, conveniently plastics mouldings, having tenons engageable in said sockets and retained by triangular or similar detents which snap-engage with complementary apertures in walls of the sockets. The detents are carried on the free ends of resilient tongues, which free ends are directed away from the free ends of the tenons, and edge faces of the detents diverge away from their leading tips to a substantially broader abutment part which may include an undercut abutment face for greater security. Provision may be made for the tenons to be glued as well as or instead of being solely retained by the detents, of which the following is a specification.

Abstract: A weighing scale having a load receiving structure, such as a weighing platform, a force-transmitting system, such as a lever system, supporting the load receiving structure, and a load cell and selectively adjustable preload spring assembly connected to the force-transmitting system and supported by a rigid support structure independently of the force-transmitting system, wherein the load cell is rigidly mounted on the rigid support structure, and the preload spring is connected between the load cell and the force-transmitting system.

Abstract: A roller train in a carding machine comprises first, second and third card-clothed rollers, the second roller having two sets of teeth pointing in opposite directions, and the relative surface speeds of the rollers being such that one set of teeth on the second roller has point-to-point action with the teeth in the first roller and the other set of teeth on the second roller has point-to-point action with the teeth on the third roller.