Abstract: A pedal driven cycle comprising a belt drive connecting a power input sprocket to a driven sprocket along a chain line; an outer protective belt drive cover plate having a footprint which substantially coincides with a side profile of the belt drive along at least a major portion of its length of travel so that the outer cover plate does not extend beyond an outer surface of the belt drive; and fixtures for mounting the outer protective belt drive cover plate to the cycle in parallel with the chain line and laterally spaced apart from a side edge of the belt drive to provide a clearance, with fore and aft adjustment.

Abstract: An injection moulded cantilevered single side mountable wheel for a bicycle, a rim; a central hub; and a plurality of hollow spokes connecting the rim to the central hub.

Abstract: A drive system for a side mounted cycle wheel, comprising a wheel hub for mounting the side mounted cycle wheel; a motor drive for driving the side mounted cycle wheel, the motor drive comprising an electric motor and a planetary gear reduction assembly positioned at least partially within the wheel hub and comprising one or more planetary gears; and, a rotary wheel hub bearing rotatably coupling the wheel hub to the motor drive, wherein the rotary wheel hub bearing is positioned laterally between the electric motor and the planetary gears.

Abstract: A pedal driven cycle comprising a cantilevered frame member coupled to a power input sprocket and a driven sprocket; a belt drive connecting the power input sprocket to the driven sprocket; and a side mounted rear wheel releasably coupled to a multi-speed gear hub that is coaxial with the side mounted rear wheel, wherein the multi-speed gear hub is coupled to the driven sprocket.

Abstract: A pedal driven cycle comprising a belt drive connecting a power input sprocket to a driven sprocket along a chain line; an outer protective belt drive cover plate having a footprint which substantially coincides with a side profile of the belt drive along at least a major portion of its length of travel so that the outer cover plate does not extend beyond an outer surface of the belt drive; and fixtures for mounting the outer protective belt drive cover plate to the cycle in parallel with the chain line and laterally spaced apart from a side edge of the belt drive to provide a clearance, with fore and aft adjustment.

Abstract: There is described a quick-release arrangement for mounting a bicycle wheel (2) to a hub of a bicycle frame (1) using a single-sided mount. The quick-release arrangement includes a number of levers (12) each movable between a closed position, in which the wheel is retained to the bicycle hub, and an open position in which the wheel is freely removable. A locking ring (21) is mounted to the bicycle wheel and is rotatable between an open position and a locked position. When the locking ring (21) is in the locked position, hooks (24) on the locking ring (21) are engageable with pins (26) mounted on the levers (12), to prevent the levers (12) from moving out of their closed positions. The locking ring (21) may be mounted to a lever cover plate (18) which is fixed to the wheel and arranged so as to partially cover the levers (12) when they are in their closed positions. The lever cover plate (18) may have a window (27) through which an indicator is visible to indicate the position of the locking ring (21).

Abstract: There is described a handlebar mountable bicycle light for fitting to a bicycle handlebar (3) between brake levers (4). The bicycle light comprises an upper cover (5) and a lower cover (6) which are preferably made from injection molded plastics and of a clam shell type arrangement able to receive handlebar (3) and rigidly retain light pipe assembly (7) with cover screws (8). Lower cover (6) contains an aperture (14) through which the handlebar stem (9) extends. The light pipe assembly (7) comprises a transparent rod-like light pipe (18) with LEDs (26) mounted at each end of the light pipe (18). The light pipe assembly 7 further includes heat sinks (24) to draw heat away from the LEDs (26). The arrangement is such that when the bicycle light is mounted to the handlebar, the heat sinks (24) are in contact with the handlebar so that heat from the LEDs may be conducted via the heat sinks (24) to the handlebar material.

Abstract: A method of neutralising ground ordnance, the method comprising: providing a missile device (10) comprising a longitudinally extending body (12) defining a fore and an aft region and a casing (18) which houses an explosive material; penetrating the ground with the missile device in the vicinity of the ground ordnance; and initiating the explosive material. The explosive material is such that initiation of the explosive material avoids sympathetic initiation of the ground ordnance.

Abstract: A wheel and rear hub gearbox assembly for single-sided mounting to a bicycle frame, with the gearbox mounted to the frame by a bearing situated intermediate the axial extent of the gearbox casing. The wheel is detachably mounted to the gearbox casing by cooperating mounting formations on the wheel and at one end of the casing. The wheel is positioned relative to the gearbox such that when the wheel is mounted to the gearbox casing, the bearing is central, in the axial direction, relative to the wheel.

Abstract: There is described a bicycle (1) in which the rear wheel (3) is provided with a planetary hub gearbox (17) and is mounted on a single rear arm (13) positioned to one side of the rear wheel. The planetary gearbox comprises an outer casing (19) having an external bearing surface to engage a bearing mounted to the rear arm (13) of the bicycle, and releaseable mounting means for attaching the rear wheel (3) of the bicycle to the outer casing (19) of the planetary hub gearbox (17). The rear arm is of tubular or hollow construction, with the drive chain (15) or belt running enclosed within the rear arm (13).

Abstract: A method of enclosing a micromechanical element formed between a base layer and one or more metallization layers includes forming one or more encapsulating layers over the micromechanical element and providing an encapsulating wall surrounding the element extending between the base layer and the one or more encapsulating layers. An electrical connection is provided between the base layers and the one or more metallization layers formed above the micromechanical element.

Abstract: An device for programming and reading codes onto an array of binary data storage element includes: a shift register for receiving, sequentially, a binary data series to be written onto the data storage elements; and control logic circuit for determining whether or not data is to be applied to each of the data storage elements in turn, by reading sequentially the data stored in the shift register and if it is determined that data is to be stored on a respective data element, applying a write signal to that data element. The control logic circuit applies a permanent locking signal to the array of data storage elements such that further writing to the elements is prohibited when it has been determined that data has been written to each of the elements which require data to be written thereto.

Abstract: An axle assembly for a suspension system of a vehicle includes an elongate axle member adapted to rotatably receive wheels of a vehicle, a first arm member operatively associated with the axle member and flexibly connected, in use, to a chassis of the vehicle, a second arm member operatively associated with the axle member and flexibly connected, in use, to the chassis, and a first ram operatively associated with the first arm member and the axle member. The axle assembly is incorporated, in use, into a suspension system as a roll control component of the suspension system. The arrangement is such that when expansion or contraction of the ram is restricted, rotation of the axle member relative to the first arm member is restricted and roll of the vehicle is resisted, and when expansion or contraction of the ram is permitted, rotation of the axle member relative to the first arm member is permitted and articulation of the axle member is permitted.

Abstract: The invention provides a plasma welding or brazing process in which a direct current pilot arc is maintained throughout the process. The process comprises the steps of setting a pilot arc power supply (6) to a relatively high level, generating a high voltage spark discharge between a non-consumable electrode (14) of a plasma welding or brazing torch (2) and a nozzle (18) of said torch in order to start the flow of a pilot arc current, detecting the pilot arc current and reducing the pilot arc current to a relatively low level. The invention further provides apparatus for carrying out plasma arc welding, comprising a plasma welding torch, a controller and a power supply. The controller further comprises means for detecting the flow of a pilot arc current and or a main arc current and means for reducing this current on detection.

Abstract: A memory element for a flash memory including a first element made from electrically conductive material and having a stable position, an electrically conductive floating gate for storing charge, and means for urging the element from the stable position towards a position enabling a transfer of charge to the floating gate.

Abstract: A suspension system for a vehicle includes two laterally spaced front and rear wheel assemblies, each assembly including a wheel and a wheel mounting, permitting movement of the wheel in a generally vertical direction, bounce support devices supporting the vehicle body, and roll control devices controlling roll attitude. The roll control devices include respective second coupling devices interconnecting the longitudinally adjacent wheel assemblies, and further include transfer devices interconnecting the second coupling devices of each pair of longitudinally adjacent wheel assemblies.

Abstract: A micro-mechanical element includes a discrete switching element and a switching means for applying force to the switching element to move the switching element between two stable positions.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension control system that allows substantially vertical motion of each wheel relative to the vehicle body includes front and rear resilient support means for supporting the body, a front roll stabilization assembly interconnecting at least one forward pair of wheels and a rear roll stabilization assembly interconnecting at least one rearward pair of wheels. Each roll stabilization assembly includes at least one lateral torsion bar (2) and a double-acting hydraulic actuator (3) interconnected to the at least one lateral torsion bar (2), the front and rear hydraulic actuators (3) being interconnected by first and second fluid conduits (5). Roll moments applied to the vehicle body generate pressure within the fluid conduits (5) thereby transmitting the roll moment into each lateral torsion bar (2).

Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle suspension system for a vehicle body supported by a plurality of spaced apart wheels arranged in at least generally diagonally opposite pairs, the vehicle suspension system including an adjustment system for adjusting the position of each of the wheel rams relative to the vehicle body, sensors adapted to generate a signal indicative of the position of each of the wheels, an electronic control unit arranged to receive the signals, wherein the required position for each wheel ram is determined as a function of the diagonal average of the positions of each pair of diagonally opposite wheels, the position of each wheel being adjusted on the basis of the diagonal averages.

Abstract: A method of enclosing a micromechanical element formed between a base layer and one or more metallization layers includes forming one or more encapsulating layers over the micromechanical element and providing an encapsulating wall surrounding the element extending between the base layer and the one or more encapsulating layers. An electrical connection is provided between the base layers and the one or more metallization layers formed above the micromechanical element.