Abstract: A valve comprises a valve body defining a throughbore having a throughbore axis, a first ram (100a; 200a) comprising a first seal face (144a,145a; 280a) and a second ram (100b;200b) comprising a second seal face (144b,145b; 280b), wherein the first and second rams are disposed on opposing sides of the throughbore on a ram axis and are actuable to be moved along the ram axis to bring the seal faces together, a channel (142; 242) defined by the first and/or second seal faces configured to accommodate a tubular member (40) in a sealing position when the first and second seal faces are brought together, wherein the first and second seal faces are oriented in a plane which is parallel to the throughbore axis and which is inclined with respect to the ram axis.

Abstract: An apparatus for lacing the lateral strings in a racket frame which has already been strung with the longitudinal strings. The apparatus consists of a lower beam provided in its upper surface with two staggered longitudinal rows of vertical slots, the spacing of the slots of each row corresponding to twice the pitch distance of the longitudinal strings of the racket frame. The corresponding slots of the two rows form pairs of slots and the upper surface of the lower beam forms string support surfaces between the pairs of slots. An upper gripper beam is vertically movable with respect to the lower beam. The gripper beam has downwardly facing string surfaces arranged in pairs associated with the pairs of slots of the lower beam. The gripping surfaces of each pair are separated by a downwardly extending lug portion.