Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus for facilitating assembly and/or dis-assembly of a vehicle brake assembly, the apparatus being configured to be positionable relative to the brake assembly and movable away from the vehicle and further being configurable to support and hold a selected part of the vehicle brake assembly for facilitating removal and installation thereof, and wherein the apparatus comprises a positioning assembly configured to controllably move the selected held part of the brake assembly relative to a base of the apparatus, and the positioning assembly is further configured to raise and lower the held selected part between a lowered position where the selected part is in contact with or on the ground and a raised position where the selected part and adaptor assembly is transportable by the apparatus to or from the vehicle.

Abstract: The invention relates to an expandable device adapted to forcibly separate spaced components having generally parallel opposed surfaces defining a cavity therebetween, the expandable device having a jaw assembly with a pair of opposing jaws and actuating mechanism for opening the jaws, the actuating mechanism including a separating member configured to be driven between the jaws so as to push apart the jaws such that the jaws are openable between a contracted configuration where the jaws are receivable in the cavity to an expanded configuration where the jaws are forced apart by the actuating mechanism such that the outwardly directed surfaces of the jaws are engageable with the opposed surfaces and exert oppositely directed forces thereon. The invention also relates to an apparatus configured to carry at least one the expandable device, and an assembly comprising two of the apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus configured to engage and support a heavy vehicle brake assembly to facilitate removal and installation. The apparatus comprises a drum and hub engagement assembly configured to engage an accessible portion of an in-situ drum and/or hub assembly and to support the drum and/or hub assembly when so engaged for transport between an in-situ position and a removed position. The apparatus includes a lifting assembly having an upright guide assembly and a lifting device for raising and lowering the drum and hub engagement assembly. The lifting device is configured to raise and lower the drum and hub engagement assembly and the drum and/or hub assembly engaged thereby along the upright guide assembly in a vertical line. The apparatus is configured to be positionable relative to the brake assembly and movable away from the vehicle to facilitate removal of the brake assembly.

Abstract: A pig-handling device is disclosed. A pig-handling device comprises a sled including: a container designed to carry one or more pigs, a pig-supporting device connected to the container, a pair of front wheels connected to the pig-supporting device, and a pair of rear wheels connected to the pig-supporting device.

Abstract: A modular guardrail system relates to a set of interconnected beams that each fit into pairs of detachable bases, thus allowing for the creation, adjustment, and removal of a variety of configurations of temporary fence-style barriers. Each guardrail section may include two vertical posts, one on each end of each guardrail section, connected by a set of horizontal beams and, in some cases, a horizontal toeplate. Adjacent guardrail sections share a common base, thus allowing for the chain assembly of an extended barrier. The base that connects to the guardrail sections may include several vertically-oriented brackets that may slide into the different guardrail posts. The placement of the vertical brackets upon the base is selected so that each of the attached guardrail sections can be arranged independently of one another in any direction. The vertical brackets may be rotatably attached, thereby allowing for more flexible arrangements of the guardrail sections.

Abstract: In the context of service and maintenance of heavy road vehicles, apparatus is provided that is configured to engage and support a rack and manoeuvre it into position relative to the vehicle to facilitate removal and installation of the wheels. The rack has a frame with a base and a pair of arms, each arm being pivotally attached to opposite sides of the base to pivot between an open configuration and a folded configuration. The apparatus may be expanded and contracted between an expanded configuration, where the rack engagement assembly is configured to engage the rack in the open configuration, and a contracted configuration where the rack engagement assembly is configured to engage the rack in the folded configuration.

Abstract: In the context of service and maintenance of heavy road vehicles, apparatus is provided that is configured to engage and support a rack and manoeuvre it into position relative to the vehicle to facilitate removal and installation of the wheels. The rack has a frame with a base and a pair of arms, each arm being pivotally attached to opposite sides of the base to pivot between an open configuration and a folded configuration. The apparatus may be expanded and contracted between an expanded configuration, where the rack engagement assembly is configured to engage the rack in the open configuration, and a contracted configuration where the rack engagement assembly is configured to engage the rack in the folded configuration.

Abstract: A modular guardrail system relates to a set of interconnected beams that each fit into pairs of detachable bases, thus allowing for the creation, adjustment, and removal of a variety of configurations of temporary fence-style barriers. Each guardrail section may include two vertical posts, one on each end of each guardrail section, connected by a set of horizontal beams and, in some cases, a horizontal toeplate. Adjacent guardrail sections share a common base, thus allowing for the chain assembly of an extended barrier. The base that connects to the guardrail sections may include several vertically-oriented brackets that may slide into the different guardrail posts. The placement of the vertical brackets upon the base is selected so that each of the attached guardrail sections can be arranged independently of one another in any direction. The vertical brackets may be rotatably attached, thereby allowing for more flexible arrangements of the guardrail sections.

Abstract: In the context of service and maintenance of heavy road vehicles, apparatus is provided that is configured to engage and support a rack and manoeuvre it into position relative to the vehicle to facilitate removal and installation of the wheels. The rack has a frame with a base and a pair of arms, each arm being pivotally attached to opposite sides of the base to pivot between an open configuration and a folded configuration. The apparatus may be expanded and contracted between an expanded configuration, where the rack engagement assembly is configured to engage the rack in the open configuration, and a contracted configuration where the rack engagement assembly is configured to engage the rack in the folded configuration.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an expandable device adapted to forcibly separate spaced components having generally parallel opposed surfaces defining a cavity therebetween, the expandable device having a jaw assembly with a pair of opposing jaws and actuating means for opening the jaws, the actuating means including a separating member configured to be driven between the jaws so as to push apart the jaws such that the jaws are openable between a contracted configuration where the jaws are receivable in the cavity to an expanded configuration where the jaws are forced apart by the actuating means such that the outwardly directed surfaces of the jaws are engageable with the opposed surfaces and exert oppositely directed forces thereon. Also disclosed herein is an apparatus configured to carry at least one said expandable device, and an assembly comprising two said apparatus.

Abstract: In the context of service and maintenance of heavy road vehicles, apparatus is provided that is configured to engage and support a rack and manoeuvre it into position relative to the vehicle to facilitate removal and installation of the wheels. The rack has a frame with a base and a pair of arms, each arm being pivotally attached to opposite sides of the base to pivot between an open configuration and a folded configuration. The apparatus may be expanded and contracted between an expanded configuration, where the rack engagement assembly is configured to engage the rack in the open configuration, and a contracted configuration where the rack engagement assembly is configured to engage the rack in the folded configuration.

Abstract: A system for removing and reinstalling a heavy vehicle brake assembly, including: a calliper support assembly configured to engage and support an in-situ calliper, the calliper support assembly being liftable and retractable from the vehicle with the calliper engaged to remove and subsequently reengage a calliper with the hub assembly; a hub engagement assembly configured to engage an accessible portion of an in-situ hub and rotor assembly, the hub engagement assembly being configured to support and move the engaged hub and rotor assembly between an in-situ position and a removed position for removal and reinstallation of the hub and rotor assembly; and means within the system for manoeuvring the brake assembly to facilitate servicing.

Abstract: An apparatus configured to engage and support a heavy vehicle brake assembly to facilitate removal and installation. The apparatus comprises a drum and hub engagement assembly configured to engage an accessible portion of an in-situ drum and/or hub assembly and to support the drum and/or hub assembly when so engaged for transport between an in-situ position and a removed position. The apparatus includes a lifting assembly having an upright guide assembly and a lifting device for raising and lowering the drum and hub engagement assembly. The lifting device is configured to raise and lower the drum and hub engagement assembly and the drum and/or hub assembly engaged thereby along the upright guide assembly in a vertical line. The apparatus is configured to be positionable relative to the brake assembly and movable away from the vehicle to facilitate removal of the brake assembly.

Abstract: The invention provides a flow system, a subsea valve, and a method of use in a subsea pipeline filling, flooding or pigging operation. The flow system comprises a subsea valve comprising a valve inlet and a valve outlet configured to be coupled to a subsea pipeline. A pump comprises a pump inlet connected to a fluid source and a pump outlet connected to the valve inlet. The pump is operable to pump fluid from the fluid source and into the subsea pipeline via the subsea valve. The subsea valve comprises a movable valve member and a biasing mechanism, by which the valve member is urged by a biasing force towards a closed position that prevents flow of fluid through the valve and into the subsea pipeline. The valve member is operable to be moved to an open position on activation of the pump to provide a pressure increase at the valve inlet sufficient to overcome the biasing force. In use, opposing sides of the valve member are exposed to ambient subsea pressure such that the subsea valve is pressure balanced.

Abstract: A system for removing and reinstalling a heavy vehicle brake assembly, including: a calliper support assembly configured to engage and support an in-situ calliper, the calliper support assembly being liftable and retractable from the vehicle with the calliper engaged to remove and subsequently reengage a calliper with the hub assembly; a hub engagement assembly configured to engage an accessible portion of an in-situ hub and rotor assembly, the hub engagement assembly being configured to support and move the engaged hub and rotor assembly between an in-situ position and a removed position for removal and reinstallation of the hub and rotor assembly; and means within the system for manoeuvring the brake assembly to facilitate servicing.

Abstract: The invention provides a flow system, a subsea valve (100), and a method of use in a subsea pipeline filling, flooding or pigging operation. The flow system comprises a subsea valve (100) comprising a valve inlet and a valve outlet configured to be coupled to a subsea pipeline (13). A pump (112) comprises a pump inlet connected to a fluid source and a pump outlet connected to the valve inlet. The pump is operable to pump fluid from the fluid source and into the subsea pipeline via the subsea valve. The subsea valve comprises a movable valve member and a biasing mechanism, by which the valve member is urged by a biasing force towards a closed position that prevents flow of fluid through the valve and into the subsea pipeline. The valve member is operable to be moved to an open position on activation of the pump to provide a pressure increase at the valve inlet sufficient to overcome the biasing force.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for analyzing one or more elements of targeted moving snack food surfaces uses laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy to detect the presence, absence, or amount of an element on a heterogeneous surface, including seasoned and ready-to-eat snack foods. A laser is used to quantify the element concentration without destroying the targeted sample. An automated on-line system may be integrated into the method to create a closed-loop feedback control system, adjusting the concentration as desired.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for analyzing one or more elements of targeted moving snack food surfaces uses laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy to detect the presence, absence, or amount of an element on a heterogeneous surface, including seasoned and ready-to-eat snack foods. A laser is used to quantify the element concentration without destroying the targeted sample. An automated on-line system may be integrated into the method to create a closed-loop feedback control system, adjusting the concentration as desired.

Abstract: A reinforced wall in a drawn metal workpiece is formed by folding an annular wall back on itself in a punch-driven operation.

Abstract: An approach to monitoring, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment or conditioning of animals such as horses does not require use of restrictive equipment such as treadmills or force plates and that can provide either or both of more or less immediate or continuous processing of data to perform the monitoring or diagnosis. One or more wireless sensors are attached to the animal, for example, to measure motion-related parameter associated with one or more parts of the animal. Sensor data is received from the sensors and processed to identify a characteristic of the motion of the animal, such as a quality of gait. The sensor data can also be used to avoid injury to the animal and/or the rider, and to verify the identity of an animal.