Abstract: A precursor device is provided for forming a surgical implant for prosthetic surgery. The device has a body or matrix of biocompatible material which is thermoplastic and electrically insulating. Embedded in the matrix is a plurality of electrically conductive fibres. Opposite ends of at least some of the fibres project outwardly from the matrix to permit heating and softening of the matrix for shaping thereof, by the application of a suitable electric potential to opposite ends of said outwardly projecting fibres.

Abstract: A railway bogie is disclosed with wheels of high effective conicity and supported on the wheels through pads with low yaw constraint so that they are self-steering. Cross-members connecting diagonally opposed wheels interconnect yawing movements of the wheelset in opposite senses to counteract the tendency to hunt. Wheels on the same side of the bogie are connected by links pivoted on a lever pivoted on the bogie frame at one end and on the bearings of the wheelsets at the other end. This interconnection inhibits the bogies frame from moving longitudinally when braking or traction forces are present and ensures that yawing movements of the frame are effectively transmitted through the wheelsets and then to the wheel/rail contact area.

Abstract: The invention provides an immuno-reactant, being either an antigen or an antibody covalently bonded to a cross-linked film, more particularly composed of cross-linked protein or peptides, enveloping a carrier body, e.g. a solid, non-porous glass bead of 6 mm diameter. The immuno-logically active parts of the immuno-reactant are present on the surface in a form in which they are available for immunosorption. If the immuno-reactant is a protein, e.g. an antibody, it can provide all or part of the film-forming material. In a particular embodiment the film carries antibodies against a second type of antibody which is captured immunosorptively to form a "double layer" carrier-bound immunosorbent, the antigen capturing sites of the second type of antibody providing the immunosorption sites of the product. The immunosorbents are used, for example, for RIA or ELISA assays.

Abstract: The invention provides an electrochemical cell and an anode structure for an electrochemical cell. The anode structure comprises a substantially non-electronically conductive micromolecular sieve carrier wherein electrochemically active anode material in the form of an electronically conductive electropositive substance is sorbed and held in dispersed form, and a reservoir or source of the electropositive substance in contact with the carrier. The electropositive substance is liquid at the operating temperature of the cell.

Abstract: Electromagnetic distance measurement, preferably utilizing optical signals. Signals from a main transmitter are transmitted from a first position to a second position and returned to the first position and simultaneously from the main transmitter along a first fixed length path. Two separate receiving channels are provided to receive the two signals. The phase difference between the two received signals is determined. A further auxiliary transmitter is provided and signals are subsequently transmitted from the auxiliary transmitter along second and third fixed length paths to the first and second receiving channels respectively. The phase difference between the received second and third path signals is determined, and the difference between the two phase differences obtained. This difference is then solely dependent on the distance between the two positions and the lengths of the first, second and third paths.

Abstract: Immunological preparations are prepared by immunizing hens with an antigen, preferably to a stage of hyperimmunization. The eggs of the immunized hens are collected, the yolk is separated from the eggs, followed by separation of the lipid content of the yolk. The antibodies in the egg yolk are then rendered indispersable with the aid of a water-soluble linear filamentary non-charged polymer precipitant such as PEG and the indispersable antibodies are recovered. This precipitation of antibodies is preferably preceded by a precipitation of caseinaceous proteins at lower polymer concentrations.The immunological preparations are useful for diagnostic purposes and in appropriate cases also for the treatment of pathological conditions.

Abstract: This invention provides a laser or high voltage switch which has two spaced apart main discharge electrodes which define between them a main discharge gap, a discharge inducing member that is of an insulating material and which provides a planar or curved trigger discharge surface adjacent the electrodes and partially or completely bridging the main discharge gap, and an auxiliary conductor on the other side of the discharge inducing member to the main discharge electrodes and capacitively coupled to one of them by a distributed stray capacitance, such that when an excitation pulse is applied across the main discharge electrodes an initial capacitively initiated low order trigger discharge occurs onto the trigger discharge surface, and preferably across the surface from one main discharge electrode to the other. This trigger discharge photo-ionises a gas in the main discharge gap to cause a glow discharge between the main electrodes.

Abstract: The invention provides for the waterproofing of a telephone cable by the incorporation of longitudinal strands within the sheath alongside the insulated conductors. The strands have deposited thereon a moisture sensitive swelling agent, such as ethyl hydrogen cellulose, and in the event of the sheath rupturing and the conductors being exposed to moisture the swelling agent on the strands reacts with the moisture rapidly forming a plug which prevents further ingress of the moisture.

Abstract: A spectrometer of the Rowland circle type having an annular steel table on which are supported a plurality of wheeled carriages. Each carriage has a remotely operable magnetic clamping arrangement to clamp it to the table. Each carriage also has a light entrance slit located in the focal plane, a photo-multiplier tube, and an optical fibre for channelling light from the entrance slit to the photo-multiplier tube. A positioning arm, pivotal about a central axis, is provided. The arm has at its free end a gripping arrangement which is remotely operable to grip any selected carriage. The arm is also remotely positionable to any position on the circle so that any particular carriage can be engaged; displaced to any desired new position; disengaged; and left clamped in the new position. An arcuate rule with an optical read head is also provided whereby the position of the arm is determined. The arm and the carriages are in an evacuated and thermally and structurally insulated housing.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for determining the distance between two positions utilizing electromagnetic waves (EMW's) and the Tellurometer principle. However, instead of utilizing a separate auxiliary EMW at the remote position for each measuring EMW transmitted from the master position a single auxiliary EMW is generated at the remote position and this single auxiliary EMW is utilized with several measuring EMW's. The measuring EMW's have frequencies that differ from that of the auxiliary EMW by similar amounts. Further, the measuring EMW's have frequencies of suitable values so that pattern frequencies and their phase shifts can be derived directly from some of the measuring EMW's and from the difference between appropriate measuring EMW's. The invention is extended, where a large number of measuring EMW's are needed to provide sufficient pattern frequencies for the degree of accuracy required, by providing a plurality of auxiliary EMW's at suitably different frequencies.

Abstract: A railway truck with a load-bearing structure resiliently supported on two live-axle, self-steering wheelsets, axle bearings being provided on the wheelsets and damping elements being connected longitudinally between axle bearings on the same side of the longitudinal axis of the truck. The damping elements change length with constantly applied forces and transmit rapidly changing forces between the wheelsets with the attenuation of energy. Thus, the damping elements do not interfere with the self-steering ability of the wheelsets and act to counteract wheelset hunting. The wheelsets may be connected to couple any yawing movement of each wheelset in opposite sense to the other wheelset.

Abstract: A profiled wheel tread for use with self-steering wheelsets, the tread having a running surface, a wheel flange, a taping line passing through the running surface, and a running zone between the taping line and the wheel flange. The invention provides that the effective conicity across the running zone being the rate of increase of rolling diameter decreases from the taping line towards the wheel flange. In another form the effective conicity initially increases from the taping line, reaches a maximum at a lateral deflection of between 1.5 and 4 mm, and then decreases towards the wheel flange. The wheel flange is thinner than normal to increase the gauge clearance. Improvements are thereby obtained in wheel tread wear and rail wear by minimizing creep forces; in hunting stability, because the effective conicity at maximum lateral deflection is low; and in steering ability, because of a high average conicity and increased gauge clearance.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of stress grading timber, and a timber stress grading machine. The method and machine involve continuously moving a length of timber and stressing the moving length by applying a transverse load thereto. The length is supported by two supports between which the load is applied and the load causes a deflection of the timber length. The load and/or deflection are measured and the moving length is stressed differently by thereafter applying a different load to the timber length at the same position while supported in the same fashion to obtain a different deflection. The different load and/or deflection are measured and the original load and original deflection are related to the different load and different deflection according to predetermined criteria, thereby to grade the timber length. The machine provides means for carrying out the method.

Abstract: An electrolyte for use in an electrochemical cell is disclosed of the alkali metal-aluminium-halide type. The electrolyte has a melting point below 140.degree. C. at atmospheric pressure and conforms with the stoichiometric productMAlX.sub.4whereinM represents lithium cations, a mixture of lithium and potassium cations or a mixture of sodium and potassium cations; andX represents a mixture of chloride and fluoride anions.A method of reducing the melting point of a sodium-aluminium-chloride or lithium-aluminium-chloride electrolyte by doping it with a potassium fluoride, sodium fluoride, or lithium fluoride, to obtain said electrolyte with a melting point below 140.degree. C. is disclosed, as are various electrochemical cells employing the product electrolyte.

Abstract: An electrode for an electrochemical cell, the electrode comprising an electrochemically active substance selected from:(a) the group comprising or including the halogens, the alkali metals, the alkaline earth metals the first and second series of transition elements, lead, phosphorus, arsenic, antimony, bismuth, and aluminium;(b) an oxygen, sulphur or selenium composition; or(c) a composition containing carbon, baron, silicon or nitrogen with any of the substances of (a) or (b);and a zeolite molecular sieve carrier wherein the electrochemically active substance is sorbed and is held in dispersed form for effective use in a cell. An electrochemical cell including a pair of electrodes and an electrolyte, at least one electrode comprising an electrode as defined above.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell and an anode for use in an electrochemical cell are disclosed. The cell in its charged state comprises an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte. The anode comprises a polysulphide or a polyselenide of an alkali metal such as sodium, potassium, or lithium sorbed into a zeolite molecular sieve carrier.

Abstract: This invention provides an electrical switch which has regenerative ON and OFF switching and which is latched. The switch has a main switching transistor, a latching transistor, a plurality of auxiliary current enhancing transistors and a switch-off transistor. The base and collector of the latching transistor are connected with the collector and base respectively of the main transistor to act as a latch. The auxiliary transistors are connected in parallel with the latching transistor, with the bases and collectors of the auxiliary transistors connected with the latching transistor's collector, and with the emitters of the auxiliary transistors and the latching transistor being connected. Finally, the switch-off transistor is connected across the base emitter junction of the main transistor.

Abstract: A body having a siliceous surface provided with a surface texture comprising predominantly a plurality of siliceous microvilli or whiskers projecting from and grown onto the surface is useful as a solid stationary phase for chromatography.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for generating an atomic cloud, the device having a housing in which is housed a cathode and an anode, and with suitable passages or flow directing members to direct flow of a gas outwardly away from or past the cathode discharge surface, so that when a suitable potential is applied across the anode and the cathode a glow discharge occurs between the anode and the cathode. The flow of gas preferably draws atoms that are ejected from the cathode discharge surface away from the cathode to a region beyond the cathode glow region, thereby to generate an atomic cloud having a low value of inherent radiation. The device is further incorporated with an apparatus for spectro-scopically analyzing a substance by fluorescent techniques.

Abstract: A cathode for a high temperature cell, the cathode comprising an electronegative element selected from the group consisting of sulphur and selenium, and a molecular sieve carrier wherein the electronegative element is sorbed and wherein the electronegative element is held captive during use of the cathode in a cell. The molecular sieve carrier conveniently comprises dehydrated zeolite crystals. A high temperature cell comprising a cathode as described, a lithium alloy anode and an electrolyte comprising an eutectic mixture of potassium iodide-lithium iodide, or potassium chloride-lithium chloride.