Abstract: A storage facility for units, such as boats, consists of a multi-story rotatable tower having radial storage region opening to exterior of the tower, and an elevator tower fixed adjacent the exterior of the tower. The elevator tower includes a lift car having fingers movable beneath a unit to be lifted and also movable substantially radially from a retracted position to an extended position enabling units to be inverted into or removed from the storage regions and lowered to or raised from a loading/unloading station at the base of the lift tower.

Abstract: The invention discloses a bi-convex lens having aspheric surfaces, each of substantially identical curvature. The lens may be used in a stand magnifier which comprises a stand adapted to be supported on a surface and to which is attached or attachable such a magnifying lens. At least part of the stand and the lens is tiltable with respect to the surface in either direction from a position where the lens is parallel to the surface, preferably through an angle of up to 20.degree..

Abstract: In a booster casing (12) a movable wall (14) separates two compartments (16,18) from each other. In inoperative position, a control valve (20) connects the two compartments (16,18) with each other, and separates them when in an operative position, connecting one (16) of them to a source of pressure which differs from the pressure in the other compartment (18). A cylinder casing (52) is attached to the booster casing (12), projects into the same, and contains at least one pressure piston (54) which defines a pressure chamber (56) for pressurizing a brake circuit. An input piston (40) having a greater effective surface than the pressure piston (54) and defining an input chamber (42) is movable together with the movable wall (14). The input chamber (42) is adapted to be relieved of pressure by a relief valve (80) if the booster (10) fails. The input piston (40) and chamber (42) are arranged inside the booster casing (12), and the input piston (40) forms part of the movable wall (14).

Abstract: A self-contained dredging module includes a unitary body adapted to be attached to the stick of conventional back hoe apparatus to convert it with minimum modification from dry land to sub-aqueous excavation. The body carries a dual cutter wheel, suction pump, and separate motors for driving the cutter wheel and the pump. The cutter wheel is arranged on the module in such a position that dredging is permitted when the stick is moved in one direction and also permitted when the stick and module are turned upside down and the stick is moved in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A flow measuring device for checking on medical infusion devices comprises a vertical tube 5 having at least three level sensers 10 and 11 for sensing when a liquid reaches the level of each senser. A logic unit 12 containing a timing device triggered by the first senser measures the time taken for the liquid to reach the second senser and the logic unit compares this time with a predetermined time and if the time is less than the predetermined time sets the device to compare a time taken to reach the third senser but if the time is more than the predetermimed time calculates the flow rate. A multiway valve 1 at the inlet of the device under the control of the logic unit permits flow from the infusion device under test to the tube, from the device under test to a drain 15 or to that drain and the tube, or from the tube to the drain or blocks all flows.

Abstract: A steam boiler having a water blow down in which the blowdown rate is automatically controlled in response to the flow rate and impurity level of the make up water so as to maintain the boiler water impurity level below a specified concentrations.

Abstract: In an anti-lock vehicle braking system the brake pressure acting at the controlled wheel is controlled in such a manner that the threshold value with respect to the rotational retardation of the wheel at the beginning of a lowering or raising of pressure is increased briefly, during a control cycle, by a constant amount (S.sub.H -S.sub.G) with respect to a threshold base value (S.sub.G) in order to avoid any undesired control operations caused especially by axle vibrations, pot holes, and the like. The threshold value is then decreased in response to the period of time of the pressure reduction in the preceding control cycle. The decreasing of the threshold value is carried on to values S.sub.T below the threshold base value and maintained for a given time interval (t.sub.x -t.sub.y).

Abstract: A demountable door for a golf cart consists of a panel of clear plastic which is translatably attachable to the cart by links for movement across an access opening in the side of the cart. Two links are attached at one end to a strap which can be releasably connected to the upper end of the panel with the other end of the links attached to the cart. A third link is connected to the lower end of the panel and the cart. When the strap is released the lower link is lifted with the panel clear of a pivot socket on the cart whereby the panel can be mounted or demounted in seconds.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine in which each cylinder has a plurality of inlet ports (17,19) and a plurality of outlet ports (14), each port being openable and closeable by means of a respective valve (12,13,11). The inlet and outlet valves (12,13,11) are disposed with their center lines substantially on opposite sides of a cylinder center plane (16) and angled generally towards said center plane (16). There are three, or possibly more, valves on at least one of said sides, arranged with two outer valves (12) separated by one, or possibly more, inner valve (13). The angle of inclination with respect to said center plane (16) for the outer valves (12) is less than or equal to the angle of inclination for the inner valve (13). The valves are preferably operated directly with a separate camshaft (18,20,15) being provided for each one or more valves inclined at the same angle.

Abstract: The present invention provides a disc for a disc brake, the disc comprising two annular members arranged coaxially with respect to each other and joined together by generally radially extending vanes and pillars, which project from a central web located between the annular members. The vanes extend for part of the radial extent of the annular members, and the pillars are located in a region not occupied by the vanes and preferably radially beyond the vanes. Power absorption and noise generation is reduced considerably as a result of the reduced vane overall diameter, as compared to a disc of like diameter with the conventional long radial vanes. However, the desired cooling is maintained due to the surface area presented by the combination of shorter vanes and pillars.

Abstract: An infuser comprises movable screen means, which is preferably a continuous mesh belt (1) passing around rollers (2). Infusible solid and infusing liquid are deposited onto the screen means (1) and means (5) below the screen collect the infusion. A piezo electric sandwich transducer (9) is provided for imparting ultrasonic vibrations to the screen to cause vibration of the screen means to aid cleaning thereof.

Abstract: A new preventive and therapeutic agent given by oral administration containing carnosine zinc salt as the effective component and, effective against alcoholic liver disorder, viral hepatitis or liver disorders caused by drugs, toxicants, radiation, etc.

Abstract: A method of controlling the brake pressure in an antilock (ABS) vehicle brake system provides for adapting the wheel at which the brake is applied to the optimum course of the coefficient of friction/slip curve by determining the rotational retardation of the braked wheel, upon initiation of a braking action, after given time intervals each and comparing it with the rotational retardation of the preceding time interval. Moreover, the brake pressure is varied in response to the result of the comparison. The renewed acceleration of the retarded wheel also is monitored accordingly so as to effect further lowering of the brake pressure if the renewed acceleration or the gain in acceleration is too small.

Abstract: The present specification discloses a disc brake for use on a commercial vehicle. The disc brake has a brake actuation mechanism which is movable axially by brake operator mounted in a part of the disc brake. The brake operator has an axis of actuation which extends in the same general direction as the axis along which the brake actuator moves to apply the brake. This construction leads to a compact overall design wherein the brake operator is part of the brake itself.

Abstract: An anti-lock system for vehicle brakes of the type wherein a computer is used to process data received from wheel speed transducers and to control the release of the brake of a particular wheel when the deceleration and/or slip of that wheel exceeds predetermined thresholds. In order to increase the immunity of the system to road irregularities while maintaining skid detection sensitivity, it is arranged that, during periods that anti-lock is not currently evoked, the detection of a road bump at the front axle is used to cause the rear axle anti-lock system to be temporarily de-sensitized just before it would be expected, on the basis of speed and wheel-base, to reach the same bump.

Abstract: A thin sheet with a suitable degree of flexibility is interposed between tips of cigarettes to be packed in a package and the inner surface of a top of the package so that when the upper portion of the package is opened to define a cigarette picking up opening, the thin sheet remains in said opening in the form of an inner cover or lid.

Abstract: A vehicle braking system of the type having an electronic control computer for determining the extent of application of the vehicle brakes in accordance with given driver braking demands, includes a plurality of analogue transducers which provide analogue input signals to the electronic control computer representative of a corresponding plurality of variable operating parameters, such as driver braking demand, axle load, applied braking pressure, and vehicle decelerations. In order to enable recalibration of said transducers new zero/tare figures from each transducer are entered into the control computer and provided they pass a process of checking, are arranged to override the existing zero/tare data, whereupon they are used by the system until the next zero/tare recalibration service operation is selected.

Abstract: A control device for controlling the operation of a fuel control member 17 of a vehicle engine includes a piston 12 coupled to the control member and connected to the throttle pedal of the vehicle through a lost motion spring 20. The pressure in the chambers 13, 14 defined on opposite sides of the piston can be controlled by valves so that in one mode the movement of the piston and fuel control member are directly under the control of the operator and when the vehicle is driven in a second mode, the piston controls the position of the fuel control member to provide "cruise control" and in a third mode the piston can move the fuel control member in opposition to the setting determined by the driver to provide "torque control".

Abstract: The present specification discloses a braking disc for a disc brake. The braking disc comprises an annular disc member with a number of radially inwardly projecting lugs, located coaxially with respect to a central hub member which has a number of radially outwardly projecting lugs, the lugs on the hub member being located between adjacent lugs on the annular disc member. The lugs on said members are interconnected by at least one resilient member which is designed to flex generally radially but not circumferentially. Thus the or each resilient member positively transmits circumferential torque forces but is sufficiently flexible to allow for radial deflection due to thermal expansion of the disc member, without being over-stressed.