Abstract: A mobile carrier capable of carrying a number of gas cylinders comprises a generally horizontal first support surface with at least three wheel supports rigidly attached to it, each wheel support including a rotatably mounted wheel. The wheel supports are off-set laterally relative to the first support surface, the first support surface being below the top of at least one wheel support. An upright frame rigidly connected to the first support surface extends around three sides of the carrier. A second support surface is pivotally connected to an outside edge of the first support surface along a fourth open side of the carrier.

Abstract: A thrust deflector system for VSTOL aircraft. The thrust directing system consists of a number of spaced-apart, downwardly facing openings along the bottom of the fuselage. The openings are fluidly connected with the outlet of the aircraft engine so that pressurized gas from the aircraft engine is discharged through the openings and away from the fuselage in discrete spaced-apart jets.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a method of encapsulating hydrocarbon systems with the combination of an emulsifier solution and a reactive silicate solution. The method comprises the addition of an emulsifier solution to a hydrocarbon, for example, crude oil, then adding the reactive silicate solution to the emulsifier solution and hydrocarbon mix. Upon adding the reactive silicate solution the mix changes to a thick gel consisting of agglomerates of microspheres having typical diameters of 2 to 4 micrometers and less. The agglomerates are only loosely bound and the microspheres are easily dispersable into individual entities. Upon drying the wet gel yields a free-flowing powder. The encapsulation does not chemically alter or degrade the oil in any way.

Abstract: A composite bridge amplifier having four output metal oxide semi-conductor field effect transistors (mosfets) in a bridge configuration. The gates of the mosfets are controlled by an input signal which is amplified in a diamond differential amplifier phase splitter and voltage gain stage and then applied to the mosfet gates. The power terminals (sources and drains) of the mosfets receive a power signal which varies with the input signal at a level sufficient to maintain headroom above the output signal but to reduce power dissipation in the mosfets. The power signal is produced by a switch connected between a floating power supply and a filter and operated at e.g. 200 KHz. The switch is operated by a pulse width modulated (pwm) signal derived from the absolute value of the input signal. Because the power signal in effect tracks the output signal, little power is dissipated in the mosfets so that the amplifier can be made very compact.

Abstract: An anti-tilt mechanism is provided for a multi-drawer cabinet. The mechanism has a number of housings each of which has a respective locking cam mounted in it. The locking cams are rotatable about respective cam axes from an inactivated position in which they have a first effective height, to an activated position in which they have a second effective height. The second effective height is greater than the first effective height. The cam is longitudinally moveable within the housing a distance generally corresponding into the difference between the first and second effective heights. Actuating means reacting to movement of the drawers are provided for rotating the cam between the activated and inactivated positions. Respective locking rods extend between adjacent locking cams and are longitudinally moveable with the cams. The anti-tilt mechanism may include a locking mechanism having stop means which limit longitudinal movement of at least one of the cams within its respective housing.

Abstract: Dilute waste sulfuric acid is concentrated by heating it against product acid and then passing it through two contact zones separated by a collection zone. The dilute acid scrubs vapour produced in the collection zone and from a high temperature acid reboiler. In the collection zone acid is drawn off, heated, and recirculated to the collection zone where part of the liquid flashes to vapour. The main heat input is to the more dilute low temperature recirculating acid from the first contact zone rather than to the more concentrated high temperature acid in the reboiler. As a result, less sulfuric acid vapour is generated; the major portion of the heat can be fed to the process at low temperature; and only a single column is required, having a single cool clear water vapour exit stream to dispose of.

Abstract: A thrust deflector for use in VSTOL aircraft which has a pressurized gas generator. The thrust deflector consists of a number of adjacent nozzles. Each of the nozzles has a body with a first face and a second face. The nozzles further have an inlet for receiving pressurized gas from the pressurized gas generator and at least one outlet connected to the inlet for discharging pressurized gas from the nozzle. Each of the nozzles is rotatable from a first position in which the outlet directs pressurized gas downwardly, to a second position in which the outlet directs pressurized gas rearwardly. In the first position the first and second faces of the bodies of adjacent nozzles are spaced apart to permit air to flow between the nozzles. In the second position the first and second faces of adjacent nozzles are in contact preventing air passage between adjacent nozzles. The thrust deflector may be mounted in stub wings along either side of the fuselage or in a chordwise arrangement in the main wing of the aircraft.

Abstract: A lock monitor for fitting to lockable objects that have locks that incorporate a bolt mechanism incuding a slidable bolt and mortise. The opening of the mortise is larger in at least one dimension than the engaging face of the slidable bolt. The lock monitor comprises a status indicator, a contact member mountable to the bolt mechanism adjacent to the slidable bolt and it communication with the status indicator, and an actuating arm mountable on the slidable bolt such that the actuating arm engages the contact member when the slidable bolt is disengaged from the mortise. When the actuating arm engages the contact member it causes the status indicator to register a change in status in the lock.

Abstract: The apparatus and method employ a variety of units, including Laplacian filters, rank value filters, edge detectors, gain units and summation units, to transform an input digitized signal of an image, the transformation being carried out for each pixel independently. The various elements are combined to produce a variety of desired visual effects, e.g. a brush stroke effect, edge enhancement or the appearance of a reflective chrome surface. Further, an apparatus is provided in which a conditioning unit generates a conditioning function, which enables different parts of an image to be combined in accordance with different methods. Thus, a foreground of an image could have the edge content reinforced, whilst the background has brushstroke texture added.

Abstract: A gymnastic training device has a first substantially horizontal support and a substantially vertical support member, the upper end of the substantially vertical support member is rotatably mounted on the lower side of the first substantially horizontal support. A ground engaging wheel is mounted to the lower end of the substantially vertical support member. The gymnastic training device also has a second substantially horizontal support which is fixedly mounted on the substantially vertical support member between the ground engaging wheel and the first substantially horizontal support.

Abstract: An electrical component combination having a receiver and an amplifier. The receiver has three pins extending from its front surface. The amplifier has six pads on its rear surface. The pins are bonded to three of the pads providing electrical and mechanical connection between the receiver and amplifier. The other pads may provide frequency control, power control and gain trim. The combination is placed within a hearing aid housing. The housing may be an in the ear type. The combination provides electrical and mechanical access to the components. The components may be receivers, amplifiers, pre-amplifiers, filters, microphones or other such components.

Abstract: This invention relates to a latching device for a toilet seat. This device includes a strap, one end of which is attached to the top edge of the toilet's water tank. The other end of the strap is releasably secured to the bottom of the toilet seat by a hook-and-loop fastener, respective members of which are attached to the end of the strap and to the bottom of the seat. The hook-and-loop fastener allows attachment and detachment at will.

Abstract: The system is controlled by a control receiver receiving commands from the external computer across a primary control bus. A captured unit captures digital samples from a composite video signal and transfers them to a memory unit across a capture bus. The memory unit stores samples for two complete frames in four memory banks. The samples are transferred across a data bus to an external computer at addresses given by the computer on an address bus. The computer separates the samples into their luminance, inline and quadrature components, averages the inline component and the quadrature component for an area of two pixels by two pixels. The luminance component and the averaged inline and quadrature component are stored in the memory banks. The samples are stored as 5 luminance bits with 3 inline or quadrature bits for similar addresses in each of the four memory banks. During display all of the luminance and chrominance bits for a given area are latched by the memory unit and read by the display unit.

Abstract: A projector having a rolling loop film transport mechanism is provided with a film decelerating cam unit that is located in advance of the aperture of the projector. Deceleration pins carried by a pair of vertically spaced arms that project from the cam unit engage in upper and lower marginal perforations in the film and travel with the film towards the aperture and decelerate the film as each frame is advanced. The cam unit includes two cams, one of which causes the decelerating motion of the pins, and a return motion in the reverse direction, while the other cam causes the pins to advance and retract into and from the film path respectively. By positively retracting the pins, their return movement against the direction of film travel can take place independent of the motion of the film. As compared with the prior art, acceleration forces and resultant stresses on the cam are reduced and the cam unit can operate at higher frame rates and/or with smaller rotor gaps.

Abstract: A membrane that is prepared in a water in oil system and comprises a hydrophobic polymer film having controlled porosity. Such membranes are particularly well suited for use in oil drilling processes; in the separation of oil from the waste water of oil refineries; in the separating of oil from the waste water resulting from cleaning oil tankers; and the separation of oil from water used in cleaning oil tanks or containers for industrial equipment. The membranes can also be used in the dewatering process of edible protein as well as the dewatering of liquid fragrances.