Abstract: The method for imparting permanent press characteristics to textile articles without using textile resins and textile resin catalysts includes applying to the textile article, a urethane acrylate prepolymer or an epoxy acrylate prepolymer or an acrylated polyester prepolymer or a water soluble monomer having a molecular weight less than 300 and selected from the group comprising acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, esters and substituted esters of acrylic acid and methacrylic acid and amides of acrylic acid and methacrylic acid, or prepolymers of such monomers, curing the prepolymer or monomer in situ on the textile article using ultraviolet radiation, and pressing the textile article along a crease after the application of the prepolymer or monomer. The pressing step may be applied either before or after the curing of the prepolymer or monomer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting degradation in wood by applying acoustic waves along the wood grain and measuring the bandwidths and frequencies or standing wave resonances induced in the wood as the frequency of the applied waves is varied. Good quality wood exhibits a substantially harmonic relationship between the frequencies at which resonances occur and the bandwidths of the resonances are relatively small.

Abstract: An apparatus for remote temperature reading particularly for the reading of the temperature of an article or animal at a distance by means of an electromagnetically interrogatable label attached to or implanted in the article or animal the label being constructed to be capable of receiving an electromagnetic signal from a transmitter, converting the signal to a surface acoustic wave, passing the wave over a path on the label, reconverting the surface acoustic wave to an electromagnetic signal and retransmitting it to a receiver. The path of the surface acoustic wave is of a material such that the time of travel of the surface acoustic wave over the path is a function of the temperature of the path and thus of the label. The receiver is constructed to measure the time interval between electromagnetic signals produced by the passage of the surface acoustic wave past a transducer or transducers in the path and thereby provide an output indicative of the temperature of the environment of the label.

Abstract: The invention provides corrosion-oxidation resistant alloys based on iron, using aluminum (usually about 4 to about 9% by weight) as the element which prevents corrosion/oxidation, and manganese (usually about 3 to about 15% by weight) and containing from 0 to about 6% chromium. The alloys are referred to collectively as "Fermalloys". The invention provides alloys with high ductility at working temperatures and reasonable malleability at room temperature. Some scale deterioration that may occur on these rather simple alloys can be eliminated using minor additions of rare earth elements and some degree of high temperature strengthening may also be possible by the addition of carbon to form carbides.

Abstract: Method and means for controlling the drying and/or aeration of a stored product, particularly grains and other agricultural produce. The system requires consideration of the drying effect of blowing ambient air through the grain and is not predicated solely upon whether the ambient air will have a cooling effect on the grain.

Abstract: An amplifier system comprising at least two tracking switching regulators or a dual-output regulator, which regulators vary the voltage across the output stage at the signal or its envelope rate.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of a low temperature catalyst suitable to synthesize methanol or mixtures of methanol and dimethyl ether, comprising forming an alloy containing 35 to 60%, preferably 44 to 50%, by weight of aluminium, 0.1 to 25%, preferably 13 to 17%, by weight of zinc and the remainder being substantially all copper and extracting the alloy with an aqueous solution of an alkali metal hydroxide, preferably sodium hydroxide, preferably at atmospheric pressure and a temperature of from 50.degree. to 80.degree. C., preferably from 65.degree. to 75.degree. C.The resultant novel catalyst is used to produce methanol or a mixture of methanol and dimethyl ether by a process comprising contacting the catalyst with a gaseous mixture of carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide, or a mixture thereof, with hydrogen. This reaction is preferably carried out at a temperature of from 200.degree. to 290.degree. C. and a pressure of from 1500 to 7500 kPa and linear hourly space times of from 0.001 to 0.5 hours.

Abstract: A cold trap for use in a high vacuum system to analyze the vapor component or components of the gases in, or introduced into, the vacuum system, including the assessment of the partial pressure of any specific component which may be present in the said gases, comprising a chamber closed at its upper end by a thin metallic diaphragm dished inwardly to receive a liquid coolant such as liquid nitrogen, an outlet to interconnect the chamber with a high vacuum system, and means to introduce successive doses of liquid coolant into the diaphragm. This construction allows the trap to be rapidly cycled. It is shown to be advantageous for the radius of curvature of the lowest part of the diaphragm to be such that the area of the diaphragm which remains at the temperature of the coolant until all the coolant has evaporated is larger than the effective area of the outlet.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of a low temperature catalyst suitable to synthesize methanol or mixtures of methanol and dimethyl ether, comprising forming an alloy containing 35 to 60%, preferably 44 to 50%, by weight of aluminium, 0.1 to 25%, preferably 13 to 17%, by weight of zinc and the remainder being substantially all copper and extracting the alloy with an aqueous solution of an alkali metal hydroxide, preferably sodium hydroxide, preferably at atmospheric pressure and a temperature of from 50.degree. to 80.degree. C., preferably from 65.degree. to 75.degree. C.The resultant novel catalyst is used to produce methanol or a mixture of methanol and dimethyl ether by a process comprising contacting the catalyst with a gaseous mixture of carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide, or a mixture thereof, with hydrogen. This reaction is preferably carried out at a temperature of from 200.degree. to 290.degree. C. and a pressure of from 1500 to 7500 kPa and linear hourly space times of from 0.001 to 0.5 hours.

Abstract: An ideal or near ideal radiation concentrator for a distant source of radiation or a radiation distributor in which a non concave linear radiation absorber or source is arranged between facing reflecting side walls to receive radiation reflected from the side walls or to emit radiation. One side wall is made up of at least a portion the curvature of which is in accordance with equation (2) of the specification and the other side wall including at least a portion the curvature of which is in accordance with equation (3) of the specification. Where a circular or other convex section absorber or source is employed it is preferred that each side wall commence at a point on the absorber or source, the curvature of the side wall adjacent the absorber or source being the involute of the cross-section of the absorber or source.

Abstract: A process for the production of construction material comprising the steps of:1. heating soil to a temperature sufficient to destroy substantially the property of the soil to swell with changing levels of moisture without causing any of the soil constituents to melt, which temperature will normally lie between 500.degree. and 750.degree. C. depending upon the soil type,2. adding to the soil, either before or after the heating step, iron oxide in a finely divided form, to form a mixture and3. introducing into, or creating within, the mixture a solution of sodium silicate, such as by adding an aqueous solution of sodium silicate to the mixture or by adding to the mixture a strong solution of sodium hydroxide and a silica source.The construction material formed by the process, and articles formed thereform, form part of the invention.

Abstract: A method of identifying a material, such as a gemstone by applying a thermocouple to a stone, the thermocouple comprising two dissimilar metals having junctions spaced close to each other, heating one of said junctions, applying the other junction to the stone via a high thermal conducting tip and, recording the thermoelectric e.m.f. developed between the junctions which recorded value provides a determination of the type of material.

Abstract: A method of connecting a shunting diode in parallel with a solar cell for the purpose of improving the tolerance of an array of solar cells to mismatch in cell output, whether caused by physical differences in the cells, cell breakage, or the effect of shading, is disclosed. Also disclosed is a method of forming a plurality of interconnected solar cells on a single sheet of semiconductor material, wherein if required, each cell in the array of cells may be shunted by a diode.

Abstract: A method of seismic surveying which provides a horizontal profile of reflector surfaces located between two spaced apart drillholes which profile appears similar to that of a marine type seismic reflection profile. The method comprising raising and lowering a seismic source and receiver in adjacent drillholes to provide a profile of reflectors which are located between the drillholes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a radiation curable composition for coating onto leather. The composition comprises from 40 to 90% by weight of a first compound which is a prepolymer or co-prepolymers and from 60 to 10% by weight of a second compound which is mutually soluble with the first. The prepolymer or co-prepolymer is derived from monomer units of which at least 80% are an acrylate or methacrylate monomer and of which the balance, if any, may be styrene or its derivatives or isoprene. Preferably, at least 50% by weight of the prepolymer is butyl acrylate and up to 20% by weight is styrene. The second compound is one or more of urethane acrylate, epoxy acrylate; a rosin derivative; a monomer of vinyl chloride, vinyl acetate, vinylidene chloride or methyl methacrylate or copolymers of such monomers. The composition may be cured after coating onto leather by U.V. or electron beam radiation.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the purification of effluent waters containing organic pollutants by a rapid biological oxidation (activated sludge) process characterized in that the liquid to be purified is introduced into a tank containing a liquid having a high biomass concentration. Liquid is drawn from the tank and reintroduced through an aerating device in such a way as to produce rotation of the liquid in the tank to the extent that a vortex is produced on the surface. A part of the liquid taken from the tank is strayed on to the vortex and a proportion passed to a mechanical separating means that separates sludge from the liquid and a proportion of the separated sludge is reintroduced directly in to the tank. The liquid from which the sludge has been removed constitutes the purified effluent.

Abstract: A solar radiation concentrator consisting of a refractor in the form of at least one strip of transparent material having on it a pattern of prismatic parallel grooves arranged to refract incident solar radiation onto a trough shaped reflector the opening of which is closed by the said strip, a linearly extending target being arranged within the reflector parallel to the axis of the said strip, the strip and the concentrator having optical properties such that in combination the concentration of solar radiation of the target is maximized so as to permit stationary operation of the concentrator without sun-tracking or seasonal orientation.

Abstract: Apparatus and method whereby ultra low frequency dielectric measurements allow a determination to be made of the parameters (dielectric constant, thickness and conductivity) characterizing electrically distinct layers with membranes such as bimolecular lipid or protein membranes (i.e. the major components of the membranes of living cells).The location and effect of chemicals such as anaesthetics, tranquilizers, hormones and other substances of pharmacological and general biological interest which are adsorbed into these or other membranes can be determined. The effects of these chemicals can be quantitatively specified in terms of this effect of the substructural dielectric parameters.

Abstract: A process for extracting valuable wool wax as a product having the specifications of lanolin from wool grease as found, for example, in the liquor from the scouring of raw wool. The process, apart from removing wool grease/wool wax from wool scouring effluent, avoids the production of pollutants in the extraction process, and in the case of the treatment of wet sludge containing wool grease produces a virtually grease-free solid product suitable for disposal as an environmentally safe soil.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for directly measuring percentile values of a time varying analogue signal by recursively estimating a predetermined percentile level from said analogue signal. In particular, the apparatus continuously estimates the percentile sound levels from the analogue output of a sound level meter so as to monitor sound pollution levels in a particular locality during a specified time period.