Abstract: An anti-inflammatory agent comprising as an active component an inhibitor specifically inhibiting a thiol protease, which is obtained from human urine by extraction and purification. This agent has an action of inhibiting a disease caused by a thiol protease. This anti-inflammatory agent is prepared by a process in which a thiol protease inhibitor is extracted and purified from human urine by adopting in combination at least two treatments selected from a treatment with a molecular filter, a treatment with an ion exchanger, a treatment with an adsorber and an affinity chromatographic treatment.

Abstract: A brace is provided for positioning on the top of a dog's head after ear cropping surgery and has side walls having the shape of the cropped ears to which the cropped ears are connected until healed. The brace may be provided with stationary nylon self-gripping tape on each side wall or an adhesive such as cattle glue may be used to attach the ears to the side walls of the brace.

Abstract: A device is attached to the human hand and has parts extending along and attached to each finger and extending beyond the outer end of each finger to provide a tool for digging in the ground. The device is formed of a flat sheet material having a central part which covers the outer part of the palm of the hand and from which the parts attached to each finger extend radially outwardly. Bendable tabs extend outwardly from each side of each finger part to be bent behind the finger of the hand to attach the tool to the hand.

Abstract: A pedal-operated booster incorporates a valve mechanism for controlling pressurization of a boost chamber. The valve mechanism comprises a pedal-operated piston and a pressure-responsive valve spool which is coupled to the piston for limited relative movement in a longitudinal direction within a working chamber in the piston. The spool is movable with the piston in an initial brake-applying direction in which the spool is operative to isolate the boost chamber from an exhaust port and the piston is operative to place an inlet port in communication with the working chamber. This causes the spool to move relatively away from the piston in response to pressure fluid in the working chamber which is admitted to the boost chamber.

Abstract: In an hydraulic anti-skid braking system for a vehicle a supply of fluid from a master cylinder is modulated by a modulator assembly in accordance with skid signals from a skid sensing means device, and an hydraulic pump incorporating at least one plunger has a working chamber in communication with the modulator assembly to control brake re-application following skid correction. The modulator assembly incorporates a piston which is normally urged into an advanced inoperative position against a stop by a spring, in which position the piston holds a spring-loaded valve in an open position to place the master cylinder in communication with the brake. Support and expander chambers on opposite sides of the piston are interconnected at all times by a restricted passage with the support chamber defined in a bore in which the piston is guided to slide, between the piston and normally closed dump valve.

Abstract: An automatic plate freezer comprises a plurality of freezer plates which rest on a lower support connected by ties to an upper support. Each plate rests on the plate below via adjustable spacers and the upper support may be raised and lowered by jacks. In use, product to be frozen is loaded on the plate located at a loading level determined by sensors and the spacers associated with that plate are set to a value appropriate to the product in question. The jacks are then extended to lift the stack of plates until the plate just loaded is engaged by latches. The stack is then lowered, and the latches support all plates at and above the level of the latches. Lowering of the remaining plates continues until the sensors detect that the plate below that just loaded is at the loading level whereupon the cycle repeats.

Abstract: An hydraulic booster has a housing provided with a bore, an inlet connected to a source of high pressure fluid, an outlet connected to a reservoir and a boost piston working in the bore. The boost piston is advanced in response to pressurization of a boost chamber by fluid from the source, under the control of a valve mechanism operated by an input member. The diameters of the bore and the boost piston are arranged to provide an annular chamber round the boost piston connected to the inlet, with the sealing diameter at the rearward end greater than that at the forward end of the chamber, where the boost piston is spaced from the bore. The forward end is sealed by a seal mounted in the bore so that it is radially deformable and able to tolerate the radial clearance between the piston and the bore. The seal is preferably a P.T.F.E. ring backed by an O-ring.

Abstract: A self-pumping strut comprises radially inner and outer cylinders extending between closure members to define a reservoir space between the cylinders which is partitioned by a cylindrical elastomeric membrane into an hydraulic reservoir space and a gas space.A piston connected by a piston rod to a wheel slides in the inner cylinder to define a pump chamber and a first working chamber within the inner cylinder. Each chamber communicates with the hydraulic reservoir space by means of a respective solenoid-operated valve. A pump outlet valve incorporated into the piston controls flow of hydraulic fluid between the chambers. The first working chamber is in communication with a second working chamber by means of flap valves, the second working chamber being separated from a gas spring chamber by a diaphragm.An electronic control unit operates the solenoid-operated valves to adjust the height of the strut, which is detected by a sensor.

Abstract: A metal heating furnace for heating slabs, billets or blooms prior to their hot rolling. Full use to thermal energy can be ensured and the workpieces can be uniformly heated to a desired rolling temperature.

Abstract: The invention provides a van for transporting horses which has fixed side walls which are outwardly bowed longitudinally of the length of the van.

Abstract: An applicator head, for applying a coating of material (e.g. hot-melt adhesive) to a passing ribbon comprises an extrusion slot disposed transverse to the direction of passage of the ribbon and arranged to apply a coating of material in at least one continuous band along the ribbon, and an arrangement for intermittently opening and closing an extrusion slot for applying a coating of material discontinuously in a band contiguous with said one band.

Abstract: A tamper evident retainer to hold a closure and container in closed condition, the retainer having a displaceable extension flange carrying retaining means, in the initial condition of the retainer, before application of the closure to the container, the retainer having the extension flange and retaining means out of the path of relative movement of the closure and container during closing and being displaceable to position the retaining means in the path of relative movement of the closure and container during opening, the retainer having a weakened zone so that access can be had to the container by rupturing the weakened zone to release the retaining means and thereby allow the closure to be removed from the container.

Abstract: The present specification provides a caliper for use in a disc brake. The caliper has at least two body sections which are clamped together by one or more bolts, each bolt having a bore extending axially therethrough, the bores acting as pin guides for the pins secured to the torque taking member, in the complete brake. Thus only a pair of holes are required to be formed in the caliper body sections, improving the strength and rigidity of the caliper and keeping manufacturing costs to a minimum.

Abstract: In a valve assembly for a pressurized dispenser, such as of the kind commonly known as aerosol cans, a novel arrangement is proposed for sealing the spray tip or button to the ferrule or center boss of the mounting cup of the valve during `gassing`. An inwardly directed annular shoulder formed in the top wall of the ferrule or center boss is engaged by an outwardly facing annular surface on the underside of the spray tip and the higher the pressure the better the seal. As the spray tip no longer needs to be as flexible as hitherto it can be made of polypropylene. A complementary outward-facing shoulder on the underside of the top wall helps to locate the rim of the valve shell and thereby to resist displacement of the gasket during gassing.

Abstract: In a master cylinder assembly the pressure spaces in advance of pedal-operated pistons of two separate master cylinders are interconnected by a transfer passage, and each master cylinder incorporates a boost chamber to which hydraulic fluid from a pressure source is admitted to act on the piston and augment the force applied to the piston by the pedal when the master cylinder is operated. Each master cylinder incorporates a control valve having a valve spool which is normally urged by a spring into a retracted position to close a transfer port providing communication between the pressure space and the transfer passage and to close an inlet port to cut-off communication between the pressure source and the boost chamber.

Abstract: In a high pressure hydraulic system a source supplies pressurized fluid to a slave unit through a control valve operative to maintain the slave unit in a desired condition. Leakage from the slave unit past the control valve when the source is inoperative is undesirable, but it is difficult to provide durable leakproof seals and to minimize valve operating forces at high fluid pressures. The control valve therefore comprises two solenoid-operated valves oppositely acting and arranged in series between the source and the slave unit, each valve being closed to prevent flow through the valve in a direction from the other valve and opened to permit flow in both directions, under the control of a solenoid and the pressure differential acting across the valve, a seating portion on a first valve is of elastomeric material to provide a leakproof seal when that valve is closed.

Abstract: A remote display module displays characteristics, e.g. specific gravity and velocity, of a slurry of solids and liquid flowing in a pipeline. The remote display module generates a light spot representative of the coordinates of velocity and specific gravity signals which an operator endeavors to maintain in desired position relative to graphical overlays representative of the weight of solids flow per unit of time for a pipeline of known diameter.

Abstract: A flow detector, for use adjacent a steam trap to detect an unacceptable level of leakage of steam through the trap, comprises a tubular housing substitutable for a standard pipe nipple. The housing comprises a boss which provides a condensate collecting well in which an electrode is exposed. Immediately opposite the well, on the opposite side of a flow passage provided by the housing, is a baffle in the form of a ramp arranged to divert steam towards the well. In normal conditions of use, the presence of condensate in the well is signalled by an electric current passing between the electrode and the housing. Should an excessive steam flow occur in the passage, steam diverted by the ramp displaces the condensate from the well around the electrode and stops the flow of current. A similar detector could be of use in a compressed air line.