Abstract: The present invention provides improved paving vehicles for following a supply truck for use in paving asphalt roadways. The paving vehicles of the present invention need not be transported on a trailer, and are capable of traveling at low or relatively high speeds on their own. This is accomplished through the use of novel chassis and propulsion systems having two rear axles, with each axle coupled directly to its own hydraulic motor, such that each of the two hydraulic motors provides power to one axle. Embodiments of the invention also include reciprocating conveyor apparatus and methods, such that the conveyor apparatus may be moved to a lowered position to receive the gravity discharge of materials from a hopper and supply truck during a paving operation, and moved to a raised position in order to provide a wide margin of ground clearance when driving the paving vehicle, or loading or unloading the paving vehicle from a trailer.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved paving vehicles for following a supply truck for use in paving asphalt roadways. The paving vehicles of the present invention need not be transported on a trailer, and are capable of traveling at low or relatively high speeds on their own. This is accomplished through the use of novel chassis and propulsion systems having two rear axles, with each axle coupled directly to its own hydraulic motor, such that each of the two hydraulic motors provides power to one axle. Embodiments of the invention also include reciprocating conveyor apparatus and methods, such that the conveyor apparatus may be moved to a lowered position to receive the gravity discharge of materials from a hopper and supply truck during a paving operation, and moved to a raised position in order to provide a wide margin of ground clearance when driving the paving vehicle, or loading or unloading the paving vehicle from a trailer.

Abstract: A tray for a child's high chair. A section of interlocking elements that engage a complementary surface on eating utensils or toys permits removably securing the eating utensil or toy to the tray surface. Tray dimensions may be customized to fit tables of commercially available children's high chairs. The tray may also include a smooth surface that accommodates eating utensils and toys that do not have interlocking elements.

Abstract: Paint is contained in a rectangular tray (10) and has provided at its surface a flexible membrane (13) having multiple openings (17), preferably of at least 5 mm mean transverse dimension. Paint is removed from the tray by sweeping the membrane with an applicator such as a roller. The membrane remains on the surface of the paint as paint is consumed. Preferably the membrane has (FIG. 5) the openings (17) confined to a broad central band with narrow imperforate marginal bands (51). The openings (17) lie in lines, or a matrix, which are inclined to the side walls (11) of the tray and which have apparent overlap when viewed along the membrane. The edges of the membrane may be downturned (FIG. 8) to form a paint reservoir for supplementary brushwork. The membrane may be sealed into the mouth (91) of a flexible bag (98) which is filled with paint.

Abstract: Apparatus for repairing a casting having a crack therein comprising a metal lock to extend across the crack and a lacing plug to fit in the crack, the metal lock formed as a rigid elongate member having a plurality of lobes formed from adjacent portions that are circular in cross-section and each having its center on the longitudinal axis of the elongate member, said lobes being of alternating large and small diameters and including a central large diameter lobe and at least one outer large diameter lobe at each side of the central large diameter lobe, said central large diameter lobe being spaced from each outer large diameter lobe by a small diameter lobe and with each lobe overlapping its adjacent lobe and extending through the elongate member; and the lacing plug including a head configured to receive a driving tool, a tapered shaft, a shoulder at a top of the tapered shaft, a non-threaded shaft portion interconnecting the head and the tapered shaft, a break-off groove formed in the non-threaded shaft por

Abstract: A wallcovering comprising a paper ply (13) and plastics ply (10) laminated together and embossed after lamination has materials of the plies chosen so that inherent expansion of the paper ply when wetted is substantially wholly restrained by high resistance of the plastics ply to stretching without taking the plastics ply beyond its elastic limit so that the wallcovering does not bubble or pucker when the paper ply is wetted. Materials suitable for the plastics ply are foamed polystyrene and orientated polypropylene. A degree of fissuring of the plastics ply during embossing is acceptable and can aid porosity for drying.

Abstract: Rounded quartz sand particles (22) are each enclosed in a hardenable resin skin (23) which is integrated with the skins on adjacent particles and which creates a binding of the particles to a primed base (20, 21). A significant fraction of the particles may be remote from the base and only integrated with adjacent particles so that a contoured or embossed effect is created to provide a supplementary non-slip feature. In a process for forming such a surface coating the particles are wetted with a functional liquid, mixed with a binder related to the functional liquid and sprayed. The spraying process is powered by a progressive cavity pump (37) with a selection of particle/resin ratio such that the pump operates under a Sigma effect.

Abstract: A decorative wallcovering in roll form of the kind that is applied to the wall with adhesive, has a strength giving substrate ply (10), a mechanically foamed ply (11) having open and closed pores (13) with a decorative effect (12) on its exposed surface. A diffusion porous toughened surface (14) and print hold-out coat (15) is preferably provided before a printed decorative effect is applied. The print (12) may be hostile to the foam so long as the print application and drying is performed quickly. Texture effect can be achieved by selecting a substrate which has a degree of preferential absorption of one of the constituents of the foam in selected regions.

Abstract: In a drainage inspection chamber of the kind having a manhole access and a base with at least one channel in the base extending between an inlet opening and an outlet opening, the base is formed from plastics material and has an integral side wall structure, circular openings in the side wall structure constituting the inlet and outlet openings. Separately formed socket members for receiving inlet and outlet pipes are located at each of the openings, each of the socket member being provided with a resilient sealing member for sealing with the outer surface of a pipe fitted into the socket member, the sealing member also serving simultaneously to seal the socket member with the internal surface of the inspection chamber.

Abstract: A flexible wallcovering is made by applying a foamable composition (13) to a woodchip paper (12, 14) having woodchips defining a relief surface on the paper by a screen printing process and then foaming the composition. Preferably, the wallcovering is of two ply construction with a woodchip content between the plies and the paper is formulated so that the upper ply is dry removable from the lower ply. The woodchips are at least 2 mm in average length; and the woodchips form 20 to 35% by weight of the paper.

Abstract: Foam plastics sheet material, such as a wallcovering, has a pronounced decorative relief finish and comprises a substrate web with a foam coating some at least of which is blistered. The blistering is achieved by having two foamable coatings on the web, the lower of which is sacrificed to produce the blistering in the upper. In one method the lower coating is foamed, the upper coating is then applied in its pre-foamed state, and then heated so that the lower coating is sacrificed and the upper coating is foamed and blistered. In another method both coatings are applied in their unfoamed state with the lower coating having a lower foaming temperature than that of the upper coating. Both coatings are then heated together. The lower coating foams and is then sacrificed. The upper coating foams and blisters.

Abstract: Foam plastics sheet material, such as a wallcovering, has graduated color toning. The material comprises a substrate web having a pigmented base coat and a foam coat in which the pigment has migrated to the surface of the foam coat in varying degrees, or, in some areas, not at all.The foam coat can have at least two thicknesses or can be applied to a pre-embossed substrate web.

Abstract: A patient transfer device comprises a belt connected at its ends to first and second reels and in its extension from the first reel to the second reel defines in turn an upper patient supporting portion and a lower ground engaging portion. Each of said reels is selectively rotatable so that in a first mode of operation of the transfer device with said first reel driven the belt is taken-up by the first reel and let out by the second reel and in a second mode of operation the belt is taken up by the second reel and let out by the first reel. An auxiliary belt take-up and let-out device is connected to the belt at a position between its upper patient supporting portion and its lower ground engaging portion and is selectively lockable to enable the first and second modes of operation to be performed.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a differentially expanded sheet material comprises applying an organic solvent to the surface of an expandable thermoplastic sheet containing a blowing agent and allowing the treated sheet to at least partially dry before a composition comprising an ink and a kicker for the blowing agent is applied to selected areas of the treated surface. The sheet is then heated so that differential expansion occurs.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a differentially expanded sheet material comprises applying an organic solvent to the surface of an expandable thermoplastic sheet containing a blowing agent and allowing the treated sheet to at least partially dry before a composition containing a metallic powder and a kicker for the blowing agent is applied to selected areas of the treated surface. The sheet is then uniformly heated to a temperature at which the blowing agent in contact with the kicker decomposes but below that at which it decomposes in the absence of the kicker, so that the areas of the sheet in contact with the kicker expand to a greater extent than the uncontacted areas.

Abstract: A float controlled valve for controlling the flow of a pressurized water supply to a cistern, is of the kind having a flexible diaphragm dividing a valve housing into an inlet chamber and a back-pressure chamber, the pressurized supply acting on both sides of the diaphragm to maintain the valve closed. A float controlled pilot valve is pivotally connected to the valve housing and is operable by the float to relieve the pressure in the back pressure chamber. The float operated pilot valve has an actuating lever which is pivoted at one end to the valve housing and carries the float at its other end, the lever being shaped to extend from its float-carrying end up one side of the valve housing and over the top of the valve housing to its pivotal connection at the opposite side of the valve housing.

Abstract: A supporting arrangement for supporting a porous diffuser over a discharge opening of a gas supply pipe comprises a diffuser supporting body which defines a chamber with the porous diffuser and which connects with the discharge opening whereby gas is supplied to the chamber from the pipe. The diffuser supporting body has downwardly extending limbs which straddle the gas supply pipe and positively locate with the pipe in order to mount the supporting body on the pipe.

Abstract: The conjoint use of (a) a pigment treated with a hydrophilic agent and (b) a binder composition based on a component having a relatively high hydroxyl value in an organic solvent based coating composition.