Abstract: An extruder (1) comprising a feed port (10), the feed port is configured to direct material towards a barrel region of an extruder, the feed port comprising a passageway, the passageway arranged to be in communication with the barrel region (11) of the extruder, and the passageway comprises a transverse cross-sectional shape which comprises three substantially rectilinear side surfaces (4a, 4b, 4c) which are arranged substantially orthogonally, and a fourth side (4d) which is non-orthogonally angled relative to two of the side surfaces which are adjacent to the fourth side.

Abstract: An assembly and method for distributing lollipop sticks (9) from a common supply (5) to a plurality of stick holders (14), the assembly comprising an elongated conveyor chamber (3) for containing lollipop sticks as they are conveyed from the common supply to the stick holders, a plurality of stick holding channels, (14) spaced apart and leading from the base of the chamber, the conveyor chamber containing basal surfaces (11), (13) operative to move in each of two substantially opposite directions, and in use the base supporting a plurality of lollipop sticks, the basal surfaces comprising a first basal surface portion (11) and a second basal surface portion (13), the first basal surface portion (11) being obstructive to sticks in contact with the first basal surface portion as said first basal surface portion moves in a first direction away from the common supply (5), and the second basal surface portion (13) being relatively less obstructive to sticks in contact with said second basal surface portion (13) wh

Abstract: Apparatus (1) and process for the manufacture of lollipops in which lollipops (3) are transferred from a substantially horizontal condition in a hopper (4), to a substantially vertical condition in a stick retainer (7) prior to placement in sugar confectionery. The apparatus comprises a hopper (4) for holding the sticks (3) with their longitudinal axes substantially horizontal, means (5) for ejecting a stick from the hopper in a substantially horizontal direction and feeder means (6) for feeding the ejected stick downwardly into a stick retainer (7) prior to placement in the sugar confectionery, the feeder means comprising a flexible tube (8) operable to conduct the stick from the hopper to the stick retainer whilst simultaneously changing the orientation at the stick to that of a downward direction.

Abstract: Apparatus (1) and method for moulding lollipops, the apparatus comprising stick receiving means (6) and a mould forming surface (3) of a mould (15), the stick receiving means being mounted for pivotal movement relative to the mould forming surface through substantially ninety degrees. In use the apparatus is passed around a circuit (34) and engagement between the apparatus and a cam track (35) is such that a stick held by the stick receiving means is pivoted through substantially ninety degrees into the mould so that confectionery material can be poured into the mould and around the stick. As the apparatus further progresses around the circuit the formed lollipop is pivoted out of the mould for release from the stick receiving means.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine in which the oil content of blow-by gas is reduced by conveying the blow-by gas (34) away from the engine to be cooled in a heat exchanger (30). Oil (40) condensing from the cooled blow-by gas (34) is returned to the engine and the cooled blow-by gas is exhausted to atmosphere or conveyed to the engine air intake system.

Abstract: A method and a device for setting backlash between gears in a gear train. The device comprises a gear device. When the gear device is located in a gear train with a drive gear and a driven gear and brought into mesh therewith, the drive and driven gears mountings can be fastened to secure the positions of said drive and driven gears. The gear device can then be removed and is replaced by an idler gear designed to mesh with the drive and driven gears with an amount of backlash with each predetermined by the gear device. The gear device may comprise a gear oversized by a preset amount. Alternatively, it may comprise a pair of rods pivotally secured together.

Abstract: A method for reducing stress at a junction of high pressure fluid flow passages in a body involves passage intersected by a secondary passage. The depression is formed to generally surround an outlet of the secondary passage but be spaced therefrom In one embodiment, the depression is circular, i.e. ring-shaped.

Abstract: A piston for an internal combustion engine includes an insert defining an air chamber opening into the combustion chamber. The insert is preformed to a desired configuration and the piston cast around the insert thus securing the insert within the structure of the piston. The insert may be located wholly within the piston or may have a flange part which extends over an outer surface of the piston.

Abstract: An assembly of auxiliary apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes a coolant pump, an oil cooler device, and an oil filter unit combined and interconnected as a unitary unit for mounting on the internal combustion engine. The oil cooler device includes a housing having an oil pathway and a coolant pathway formed therein. The pathways are arranged to allow heat exchange between oil and coolant flowing through the pathways. The housing has a mounting surface for attachment to the internal combustion engine such that the oil pathway and the coolant pathway both extend beyond the mounting surface and into a recess of a wall of the engine. The assembly allows the engine envelope size to be reduced.

Abstract: A method of operating a two-coil solenoid valve of the type including an armature member located in a housing for movement between a first electromagnet and a second electromagnet, each electromagnet being located adjacent to a respective end of the armature member and being switchable between an on state and an off state. In order to move the armature member from a first position closely adjacent to the first electromagnet to a second position closely adjacent to the second electromagnet, the electromagnets are controlled to be at the same initial switched state and subsequently one of the electromagnets is switched to the other switched state for a first predetermined period sufficient to allow the resultant pull exerted on the armature member to be such that the armature member is caused to move towards the second electromagnet.

Abstract: A no back-lash gearing mechanism comprises meshing toothed elements. At least one of the toothed elements has a number of teeth having an undulated, "S"-shaped, transverse section. The teeth are arranged such that, when the toothed elements mesh, one of the teeth having the undulated form makes at least one point of contact with each of two opposing adjacent teeth of the other element thus preventing back-lash.

Abstract: A fluid flow control valve includes first and second electrically conductive body members separated by an electrically active separation member having electrical resistance. A valve actuation member is slidably located within the second body member, making a sliding electrical contact with the second body member. The valve actuation member can move from a first position spaced from the first body member to a second position electrically connecting the first body member with the second body member, thus forming a low resistance electrical connection. In its first position spaced from the first body member, the resistance of the electrical connection between the body members depends on the electrical resistance of the separation member.

Abstract: A rocker arm lubrication arrangement for an engine includes a shaft which pivotally mounts a number of rocker arms. The shaft has a longitudinally extending lubricant supply bore and radially upwardly extending supply bores corresponding to positions of the rocker arms. Lubricant passes along the longitudinally extending supply bore to the radially extending bores and then exits via corresponding bores in the rocker arms. The lubricant is under pressure and thus exits as jets of lubricant which impinge on an underside of an engine cover to be returned as a lubricant spray. The rocker arms may be arranged on the shaft such that the jets are intermittent.

Abstract: A variable timing gear device for an engine component driven by a drive system from the engine drive shaft. The gear device comprises an epicyclic or differential gear mechanism, an input of which is driven from the engine drive shaft and an output being connected to the driven shaft of the component. The device allows the drive speed between the input and output to be varied. The device may include means for varying the phase relationship between the engine drive shaft and the driven shaft of the component.

Abstract: A fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine. The system includes an injector assembly for injecting fuel under pressure into the combustion chamber of an engine. The system also includes an intensifier assembly for intensifying the pressure of the fuel supplied to the injector assembly. This is incorporated in the cylinder head or attached to the cylinder head or an engine valve cover of the engine remote from the injector assembly. Intensified fuel passes from the intensifier assembly to the injector assembly via a conduit. This arrangement of injector assembly, intensifier assembly and fuel conduit reduces the over cylinder space required, particularly for a cylinder head arrangement with vertically projecting injector assemblies.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine comprising a piston (1) having a recessed combustion bowl (3) with a raised projection (4) in the floor of the bowl so as to define an annulus with the sides of the bowl, swirl means to cause the inlet air to rotate about said raised projection, and a fuel injector (2) having orifices that spray a plurality of jets into the annulus at spaced points around the projection (4), the cross-sectional area of the annulus being such as to vary around the projection (4) and to have a minimum value in a median plane (D--D) through the axis (C) of the projection (4), and the injector nozzle (2) being located in a central region of the bowl (3) and having orifices orientated so as to direct jets of fuel both sides of said median plane. The cross-section area of the annulus is varied by varying the radial width of the annulus, this being achieved conveniently in a circular bowl by offsetting the axis (C) of the projection (4) radially from the axis of the bowl (A).

Abstract: A valve comprises rolling diaphragm (7) supported at its outer periphery by an annular support member (8) within which the diaphragm rolls in response to inlet pressure so as to uncover an outlet opening (20) in the support member, thereby to allow the escape of said pressure. Preferably, the diaphragm (7) is annular and is supported at its inner periphery by a guide member (9) that engages on abutment (19) when the outlet opening (20) is closed by the diaphragm, and that guides the diaphragm as it rolls back and opens the outlet opening (20). Preferably, the outlet opening (20) is of reduced width towards that part which is first uncovered by the diaphragm in operation. The valve may include a two part housing (1, 4) with the support member (8) located between the two parts and with the outer periphery of the diaphragm (7) gripped between one part of the housing (4) and the support member (8).

Abstract: This invention relates to engine valve seats of the kind comprising a body with an annular inner peripheral portion that carries a frusto-conical valve face adapted to be engaged by a valve member that is coaxial with and is movable along the axis of said frusto-conical valve.