Abstract: In order to prevent hazardous substances--oils, fuels, deicing liquids--spilled onto the ground or pavement, e.g. at an airport, to enter storm sewer system with subsequent contamination of the environment, a catchbasin structure is provided comprising a receptacle with an opening closable with a valve in a manner to seal off the entry of the liquid into the storm sewer system. Instead, the liquid can be kept in the receptacle and on the ground in the area adjacent to the catchbasin, or selectively directed to a storage tank system for treatment or recovery.

Abstract: A fuel or other liquid tank for, for example, a motor cycle, comprises a nonreturn vent arranged to vent the tank when the tank is in a generally upright attitude, a filler arranged to admit liquid into the tank below the upper surface thereof, whereby in use an air space remains in the tank at all times, and a pipe for supplying liquid from the tank, said pipe extending from the base of the tank at a first side thereof and terminating as an open-ended vent in the region of the top of the tank opposite said first side, said pipe including a supply portion extending as a branch from a part of the pipe opposite said first side in the region of the base of the tank.

Abstract: A failure warning system for a wheeled vehicle which has an information processor for processing wheel rotation information. The system is applicable to a vehicle having an anti-skid or brake anti-lock device and which also has a bar light speedometer display. The power supply for the display derives from a point in the processor which is live at all times when the processor is functioning normally. Malfunction in the processor which causes loss of processor signal results in a null speedometer reading. A failure warning is thereby provided with a minimum of additional hardware which permits a minimum of difficulty in failure detection in the processor.

Abstract: A device to prevent undesirable paying out under excess loading of a strop forming part of a load restraining means (including vehicle seat belts or safety harness) comprises a housing for receiving an intermediate part of a strop and including a roller around which the strop is guided. The roller is mounted so that it becomes dislodged when tension in the strop exceeds a predetermined value and the strop becomes trapped between the roller and a part of the guidance means which is curved in the opposite sense to the roller in order to produce a gradual stress gradient in the strop to reduce risk of parting. The roller is supported on bushes engaging chamfered apertures in flat washers and which will disengage under excessive resultant force on the roller. Slots cut into the ends of the rollers define teeth which serve to support the roller on cam members formed integrally with the housing with lobes which enter the slots on roller displacement.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with the rapid release of frictional force which is acting to reduce relative movement between contacting surfaces, the normal actuating means being unaffected. One application is in an anti-lock braking system in vehicles, particularly motor-cycles. A sensor monitors wheel angular velocity, calculates deceleration and when this exceeds a predetermined value the sensor causes ultrasonic vibrations to be applied to brake pads effectively reducing friction without release of brake operating pressure to enable resumption of normal rotation. A short duration dc pulse of appreciable magnitude may be applied to the transducer at the onset of the normal input signal to produce a short duration surge to rapidly break the frictional force between the friction member and the moveable member to enhance speed of release.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with the rapid release of frictional force which is acting to reduce relative movement between contacting surfaces, the normal actuating means being unaffected. One application is in an anti-lock braking system in vehicles, particularly motorcycles. A sensor monitors wheel angular velocity and when this falls below a predetermined value the sensor causes ultrasonic vibrations to be applied to brake pads effectively reducing friction without release of brake operating pressure to enable resumption of normal rotation.The invention can also be applied to friction clutches operating in either rotary or linear senses to cause release when overloading, overspeed, etc. occurs.

Abstract: An instantly variable constant current control is interposed between a bank of batteries and a motor. The variable constant current control comprises a series pass transistor operating in a linear mode and controlled by a reference voltage from a potentiometer coupled to an accelerator pedal. Correction voltage from the series pass transistor circuit is proportional to current. The accelerator reference voltage and the current correction voltage are compared in a linear operational amplifier which controls the "on" resistance of the series pass transistor.

Abstract: An arrangement of electric motors which are coupled together both mechanically and electrically comprises series pass elements and current sensing devices in the power circuits of the respective motors, each current sensing device having an output voltage which is proportional to its motor current, and which is applied to a respective linear operational amplifier having an output which controls the equivalent resistance of the series pass element (and thereby the magnitude of motor current). A single reference voltage is applied to all the linear operational amplifiers, so that, for example, if the motors are similar, each will transmit the same torque regardless of any difference in its internal impedance.

Abstract: Electrolyte from a battery cell is circulated by pump, through a container which contains a hydrometer float, and back to the cell. The float has an opaque neck which interrupts light passing from a light source assembly to a light receiving assembly, and the receiving assembly controls slave means, which can be an illuminated sign, as for example a group of visible light emitting diodes, the number of which illuminated indicating the density of the electrolyte. The slave means can alternatively be a volt meter, or a battery charger, the rate of charge of which is controlled by a voltage signal.