Abstract: A device for the slow release of chemicals into the body of an animal when the device is positioned in a body cavity of that animal, is formed as a flexible core member (1) from polypropylene, polyethylene or other polymer in a shape having a plurality of lobes (4,8) one (4) of which is longer than other shorter lobes (8) and the shorter lobes (8) being foldable for insertion and removal purposes. The core (1) has a solid (3) secured to the surface thereof or forming a part of the surface thereof which solid of silicone rubber or ethylene vinyl acetate or other suitable polymer is impregnated with one or more chemicals which in use are leached therefrom by body fluids. A withdrawal ligament (14) is attached to the free end of the longer lobe.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring flow and/or volume of a liquid preferably milk in which the milk is passed from a passageway (3,56) through a gap (5,46) which is long vertically but narrow in width so that a pool is formed in the passageway, the height of milk in the pool being a measure of the rate of flow of the milk. The levels maintained over predetermined intervals of time are integrated to give volume measurements. Measurements of levels are made by providing a resistor (8,32) in the passageway (3,56) so that the impedance is changed according to the liquid level and measuring such impedance.

Abstract: A method of coating articles, a coating and a coated article wherein a bitumen primer layer is applied to a base sheet material and while the bitumen primer layer is still wet a layer of a barrier material of a consistency, composition and thickness is applied to the primer layer such that the bitumen primer layer does not bleed through the barrier layer and the barrier layer adheres to the bitumen primer layer. A coating of stone chips is then applied to the barrier layer in a manner such that the stone chips are partially embedded at least in the barrier layer so that the stone chips are held in position on curing of the bitumen primer and barrier layer but the stone chips are not completely covered by the barrier layer.

Abstract: An intra-vaginal device for supplying minerals, hormones or medicoments to an animal is formed as an injection moulded polymeric body having a skin in which adjacent at least part of the surface thereof at least one active ingredient is incorporated. The body is preferably separately moulded before the skin is applied and the skin is preferably of a two part silicone rubber or a polymer such as ethylene vinyl acetate or a polymer substance and the active ingredient is selected from one or more of progesterone oestrogen testosterone, mineral trace elements such as selenium cobalt copper and boron and anthelmintics.

Abstract: A milking claw of the type employed for connecting teat cups to a milk line of a milking machine having a claw body including a common chamber for receiving milk from the teat cups and flow directing means for creating a vortex in the fluid within the common chamber sufficient to counter back pressure on the fluid within the chamber and substantially prevent backflow of milk from the chamber to the teat cups. In a particular embodiment, the claw body includes individual chambers for receiving milk from each of the teat cups and for discharging milk to the common chamber interposed between the teat cups and the common chamber. This embodiment may further include means known to the prior art for creating a vortex in the fluid within each of the individual chambers, in addition to the flow directing means of the present invention.

Abstract: A claw for connecting teat cups to a milk line of a milking machine has a plurality of individual chambers with a milk inlet leading from a teat cup into each chamber and an outlet leading from each chamber to a common chamber in the milk line, the inlets, outlets and chambers being positioned and shaped to give a swirling or vortex action to fluid in the chambers that the normal direction of flow of fluid from the teat cups to the milk line cannot be easily reversed thus substantially preventing back flow of milk to the teat cups and cross flow of milk between teat cups.A rapid flow of fluid from any of the outlets will tend to induce an increase in flow velocity of air passing from an air inlet to the milk line which in turn will tend to increase a parallel flow outwardly from each of the other outlets.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring electrical conductivity particularly but not solely for use in detecting mastitis in individual quarters of a cow's udder employ the cyclical charge and discharge of a capacitor (C1) through liquid in a conductivity cell (9), the cycle reversing on the potential applied to the capacitor (C1) reading a high reference potential and a low reference potential by applying the reference potentials to terminals (10,15) or sensing leads (32,33) of electronic devices (VC1, VC2) or (31) to cause operation of switches (SW1SW2) or (S1, S2) so that the variations in frequency are indications of conductivity of the cell (9). In one modification a reference conductance (30) is included in the circuit during charging of the capacitor (31) and the rate of the time periods of the cycle gives an indication of the conductance of the cell (9) in terms of the reference conductance (30).

Abstract: Milking method and apparatus in which a diaphragm (8,29,39) interposed between a chamber (12,30,34) through which pulsation vacuum is applied to the outer cavity of a set of teat cups through a valve (11,6a, 7a, 33) and a further chamber (9) which is connected to the inner milking cavity of the teat cups so that the vacuum in the outer chamber is controlled by the valve (11,6a, 7a, 33) so as not to exceed and preferably to be equal to the vacuum in the milking cavity of the teat cup. The apparatus is provided in the milking machine claw and may be associated with one or two pulsators in that claw. Further valves (8,10a) prevent back flow from the claw to the teat cups.

Abstract: A wire wound resistor is vertically disposed in a vessel. The resistor has a former of between 20 mm and 45 mm diameter and resistance wire of a resistance of between 1 and 4 ohms per turn connected in the circuit of an A.C. bridge circuit. Impedance change is indicated on a display unit calibrated to indicate the change in level of liquid e.g. milk in the vessel. The resistance wire is laid on the former by applying ultrasonic sound energy to soften the former which is of polysulfone or polycarbonate and the wire embedded in the softened former material. The vessel is shaped at the lower end to assist in giving linear readings when the level of liquid is low.

Abstract: A roof is provided with a plurality of reinforcing struts spanning tile battens. The reinforcing struts are of top hat cross-section and are provided with a stepped locating tab at one end to enable a sequence of struts to be laid in stepped formation to accurately locate side channels on stepped roofing tiles.

Abstract: A flow sampling apparatus has a body through which a central inlet conduit runs and a dome on the body. An inlet orifice on the inlet conduit discharges a fluid containing some liquid (milk) and the liquid flows evenly over the inner surface of the dome. One or more outlet ports are connected to a pair of intermediate vanes of a flow divider having at least four vanes and the liquid passing between the intermediate vanes is a representative sample of the whole flow over the inner surface of the dome. The sample is delivered to a sampling flask wither to the bottom of a flask which may be emptied by pressurizing the liquid in the flask or delivery may be by a flexible tube to a selected one of a series of flasks held in a removable magazine.

Abstract: A wash-house fitting including a trough which is able to be combined with a washing appliance preferably a washing machine. A pair of pipes run between the trough and the washing appliance, one of these pipes being arranged such that water, such as soapy water, initially in the washing appliance can be passed through that pipe to the trough through an aperture in the base or walls of the trough for later return to the washing appliance. The other pipe is arranged such that another liquid such as rinse water may be transferred from the washing appliance to a drainage system.

Abstract: An electrical conductivity indicator has a bridge circuit which is supplied from a source of electronic oscillations preferably successive half cycles being of reverse polarity and having electrodes in a cup arranged to be hand held below the teat of a cow so that the presence or absense of Mastitis infection is indicated by the variations in electrical conductivity of the milk held in the cup.

Abstract: A tap having a pair of chambers joined by a fluid passage and an outlet from each chamber. An inlet is provided to one chamber and a valve controls the flow between the two chambers. Thus the flow from one outlet is uncontrollable and the flow from the other outlet is controllable. Also a tap assembly having two inlets and control members to control the flow to a common spout. The control members also permit uncontrolled flow from each inlet to another outlet in which a further control member is provided.

Abstract: A drainage fitting comprising a hollow member with an inlet thereto and an outlet therefrom. A valve is positioned or positionable within the hollow member such that by operating the valve liquid flow through the hollow member can be substantially prevented or allowed. There is a second inlet to the hollow member which is positioned such that liquid entering the hollow member from the second inlet can be directed either through the outlet or through the first inlet by operation of the valve.

Abstract: A wire wound resistor is vertically disposed in a vessel. The resistor has a former of between 20 mm and 45 mm diameter and resistance wire of a resistance of between 1 and 4 ohms per turn connected in the circuit of an A.C. bridge-circuit. Impedance change is indicated on a display unit calibrated to indicate the change in level of liquid e.g. milk in the vessel. The resistance wire is laid on the former by applying ultrasonic sound energy to soften the former which is of polysulfone or polycarbonate and the wire embedded in the softened former material. The vessel is shaped at the lower end to assist in giving linear readings when the level of liquid is low.