Abstract: A gravity gradiometer for measuring off-diagonal components of the gravitational gradient tensor includes a housing having a pair of electromagnetic shield enclosures (22, 23) arranged one inside the other, and a body (25) including superconducting material mounted within the inner enclosure (23) for fine pivotal flexure about an axis passing substantially through the centre of mass of the aforesaid body. An array of superconducting coils (30) is supported by the outer enclosure (22) and positioned in close proximity to the aforesaid body (25) for diamagnetically applying a rotational force to the body with respect to the axis of flexure and/or for responding by modulation of inductance to pivotal flexure of the body arising from a gravitational gradient across the body. The array is arranged to apply the rotational force in both rotational directions and to respond to flexure in either rotational direction.

Abstract: A process for the treatment of toxic materials, for example, inorganic compounds, halogenated organic compounds such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxin and dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane (DDT) and chemical weapons such as Sarin and mustard. The process is based on the discovery that mechanical activation can induce chemical reactions which break down the molecular structure of toxic materials and form products which are simple, non-toxic compounds. The process involves subjecting a mixture of a toxic material and a suitable reagent to mechanical activation to produce a non-toxic end product or products. Mechanical activation is typically performed inside a mechanical mill, for example, a ball mill. Ball milling of various toxic materials with appropriate reagents was found to result in virtual total destruction of the toxic starting material.

Abstract: A flexural pivot bearing includes a pair of members with opposed close-spaced faces which are joined by a web (29), of microscopic thickness, in a plane intersecting the faces. These members and the web are comprised of an integral body (27) of substantially uniform material, and the members are adapted for pivoted mutual flexure about a pivot axis aligned along the web.

Abstract: A method of transmitting data on a communications network having two oppositely directed unidirectional buses (A,B) and a number of access units (4) coupled between buses, the method including the step of establishing a queue which is distributed in the access units and which controls when the access units can transmit data packets on the buses. When an access unit has a data packet (38) queued for transmission on bus A, it sends a REQ bit on bus B. The access units monitor the number of REQ bits passing and empty packets available so as to thereby establish the distributed queue. The access units are able to handle both data packets (38) which are suitable for information from computers and synchronous packets 36 which can be used for voice circuits.

Abstract: A process for the production of a metal product which comprises subjecting a mixture of at least one reducible metal compound and at least one reducing agent to mechanical activation to produce a metal or alloy. Preferably, the mechanical activation is performed in an inert or reducing atmosphere. More than one reducing agent may be used. A ceramic material may be produced by including a nonmetal, or a compound which provides the nonmetal, into the starting materials. At least one other metal or a metalloid may be included in the starting materials for incorporation into the final product.

Abstract: A method of transmitting data on a communications network having two oppositely directed unidirectional buses (A,B) and a number of access units (4) coupled between buses, the method including the step of establishing a queue which is distributed in the access units and which controls when the access units can transmit data packets on the buses. When an access unit has a data packet (38) queued for transmission on bus A, it sends a REQ bit on bus B. The access units monitor the number of REQ bits passing and empty packets available so as to thereby establish the distributed queue. The access units are able to handle both data packets (38) which are suitable for information from computers and synchronous packets (36) which can be used for voice circuits.

Abstract: A capacitance sensor arrangement is used to determine the distance of an element such as a shearing handpiece from a surface such as the skin of a sheep. The arrangement processes data from one or more sensors which include a variable capacitor dependent on the distance, and provides an output voltage consistent with the distance, the output voltage being dependent on the voltage drop across a reference capacitor in the sensor circuit.

Abstract: An inductive sensing arrangement enables the distance of the cutting head of an automated sheep shearing apparatus from the skin of a sheep to be determined. Sensors on the cutting head include a coil, the inductance of which varies in accordance with the distance of the coil from a conductive surface such as the skin of a sheep. An output voltage represents the distance of the coil from the conductive surface.

Abstract: A method of transmitting data on a communications network having two oppositely directed unidirectional buses (A,B) and a number of access units (4) coupled between buses, the method including the step of establishing a queue which is distributed in the access units and which controls when the access units can transmit data packets on the buses. When an access unit has a data packet (38) queued for transmission on bus A, it sends a REQ bit on bus B. The access units monitor the number of REQ bits passing and empty packets available so as to thereby establish the distributed queue. The access units are able to handle both data packets (38) which are suitable for information from computers and synchronous packets 36 which can be used for voice circuits.

Abstract: A system for handling sheep during automated shearing comprising a multiplicity of trolley/cradles T including rollers 16 and 17 for supporting the sheep, and front leg clamping bars 11 and 12, a head clamping bar 13 and rear clamping bars 20 and 21, each of which is releasably mounted on the trolley in a manner which enables selective release thereof whereby the front legs and head and the rear legs of the sheep and independently manipulatable by manipulating means 31, 40 and 41 located at a shearing station, and means FIG. 1 for transporting each trolley T from a loading station to a shearing station and from the shearing station to an unloading station whereby the sheep may be shorn in an automated manner.

Abstract: A head restraint for animals such as sheep, comprising a support carrying arms for engaging the bridge of the snout and the lower jaw to clamp the jaws in a closed position, arms carried by the support, the arms carrying caps which in use cover the eye of the animal, each cap having a lug which engages a cavity in the skull of the sheep just behind each eye socket.

Abstract: A wrist mechanism suitable for robotic manipulators comprising a first actuator for rotating a first yoke about a first axis, a first crossed shaft carried by the yoke, a second actuator for pivoting the first crossed shaft about a second axis, a second crossed shaft carrying a second yoke, an actuator means for causing rotation of the wrist mechanism about a third axis, highly rigid side plates supporting the first and second crossed shafts in bearings, highly rigid cross members rigidly interconnecting the side plates, and gears for transferring motion between the first and second crossed shafts to allow pivotal movement of an end effector carried by the second yoke in excess of 180.degree. about the second axis, and at least 180.degree. about the third axis, and rotation in excess of 200.degree. about the first axis.

Abstract: A pressure or force transducer capable of miniaturization. Preferably, the transducer takes the form of a "contact lens" and is applied to the eyeball to permit intra-ocular pressure to be measured.

Abstract: In a television or other picture transmission the picture is scanned in a random or pseudo-random manner enabling picture analysis and transmission within band widths considerably smaller than with conventional sequential lexicographic scans with elimination of flicker. The random scan is obtained in the X and Y directions by employing two shift registers connected serially with random bit numbers entered into the first register. The coordinates of the scanning spot are determined by the instantaneous content in the shift registers. Similar serially connected shift registers are used at the receiver, and the random bits, which are transmitted along with the video signal, are applied to the first of them. After a short period the receiver will be in synchrony with the transmitter no matter what the original content of the registers at the receiver. Conversion to a random or pseudo-random scan may be used as a step in changing from one television standard to another.