Patents Assigned to The University of Durham
  • Patent number: 6775872
    Abstract: A vehicle for traversing a surface such as for carrying out an inspection, survey or maintenance operation upon that surface comprises two bodies interconnected by means to move the bodies towards and away from each other, each of those bodies being supported upon a multiplicity of resilient bristles (13; 25; 32) extending from it, the bristles of each body being mounted in groups upon bristle-carrying members (10; 23; 31) each guided for movement towards and away from the body, and fluid pressure means (25; 22; 34) to effect the guided movement of the bristle-carrying members in at least one of those directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: University of Durham
    Inventors: Ernest Appleton, Neil William Stutchbury
  • Patent number: 6769321
    Abstract: A vehicle (1) for travelling along a conduit (2) having fluid flowing therein is described. The vehicle comprises a forward set of resilient bristles (12) and a rear set of bristles (18) which are adapted to move towards and away from the forward bristles (12). The forward bristles (12) engage the surface of the conduit (2) and apply a greater gripping force when they are moving towards the mar bristles (18) than when they are moving away from the rear bristles (18). Similarly, the rear bristles (18) apply a larger gripping force to the surface of the conduit (2) when they are moving away from the forward bristles (12) than when they are moving towards the forward bristles (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: University of Durham
    Inventors: Ernest Appleton, Neil William Stutchbury
  • Patent number: 6677418
    Abstract: Process for the catalytic copolymerisation (ROMP) of strained activated cyclic olefins comprising contacting an activated strained mono (poly)cyclic olefin monomer of formula with at least 1 wt % of an activated strained di (poly)cyclic olefin monomer of formula in the presence of a catalyst or an initiating agent wherein the group represents a strained (poly)cyclic olefin, tail Y and spacer X comprise preferably electron withdrawing and property modulating groups whereby the monomers form a copolymer comprising the repeating unit and at least 1 wt % of the unit which is adapted for subsequent cross linking of respective copolymer chains in the presence of heat and catalyst to form an amount of a cross linked copolymer comprising the unit, and polymeric products obtained thereby, novel monomers and intermediates, a method for selecting monomers for reaction a method for the preparation of shaped produc
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: University of Durham
    Inventors: William James Feast, Ezat Khosravi, Thanawadee Leejarkpai
  • Patent number: 6375739
    Abstract: Apparatus for bulk vapor phase crystal growth comprising: at least one source zone and at least one sink zone each associated with means for independent temperature control within the zone; and at least one passage means adapted for transport of vapor from source to sink zone; and additionally comprising means for in-situ monitoring of the sink zone; wherein means for monitoring is substantially non-intrusive in terms of temperature regulation within the sink zone; process for bulk vapor phase crystal growth employing the apparatus; method for starting up the process; method for controlling the process; use for any bulk vapor transport technique; equipment for monitoring growth using the apparatus or process; and crystal grown with the apparatus or process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: University of Durham
    Inventor: John Tomlinson Mullins
  • Patent number: 6313261
    Abstract: Device adapted for efficient light emission including a plurality of component layers of which a first outer layer is adapted for electron injection, a second opposing outer layer is adapted for hole injection, and plural intermediate layers arranged therebetween for charge semi-conduction. The intermediate layers include at least one semi-conducting polymer adapted for hole transport and/or electron blocking, and at least one semi-conducting polymer adapted for hole blocking and/or election transport. The at least one semi-conducting polymer adapted for electron transport and/or hole blocking comprises polymer selected from a nitrogen and/or sulphur containing polymer which is partially or substantially conjugated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: University of Durham
    Inventors: Ifor David William Samuel, Andrew Paul Monkman, Eymard Gabriel Francois Joseph Rebourt, Stuart Dailey