Abstract: A reinforcing bar system, including at least one reinforcing bar, a carrier supporting the reinforcing bar, and a coupler for attachment to the reinforcing bar, wherein the carrier is arranged to form a void in a concrete element to be cast, such that said void surrounds the reinforcing bar to enable a coupler to be threaded onto the reinforcing bar and into the void. A method of installing reinforcing bar including the steps of providing a carrier having a void former; fitting the reinforcing bar to the carrier; casting a concrete element using the carrier to form a void in the concrete element with the reinforcing bar protruding into the void; and threading a coupler onto the reinforcing bar and into the void.

Abstract: A threaded reinforcing bar for use in concrete construction, wherein the reinforcing bar has a body having an external thread along its length, wherein a thread profile of the external thread is such that the thread covers greater than 30% of the bar. A threaded reinforcing bar for use in concrete construction, wherein the reinforcing bar has a body having an external thread along its length, wherein a thread profile of the external thread is such that the thread width is greater than or equal to a threshold proportion of a pitch of the thread. In one example, the threshold proportion is 0.25.

Abstract: The invention provides a sample delivery system for an analytical instrument, comprising: a valve assembly comprising one or more valves, the valve assembly configured to receive an external sample from a sample source; an external sample reservoir coupled via the valve assembly to a sample dilution junction, wherein the valve assembly is configurable to alternatively permit either (i) flow of the external sample from the sample source to the external sample reservoir or (ii) flow of the external sample from the external sample reservoir to the sample dilution junction; a first fluid pump to control a flow of the external sample from the external sample reservoir to the sample dilution junction; a second fluid pump to control a flow of diluent to the sample dilution junction, thereby diluting the external sample to produce a diluted sample; and an analysis sample reservoir configured to deliver an analysis sample contained therein to an analysis device of the analytical instrument, wherein the analysis sample

Abstract: A coupler including a first fitting for mounting to a first externally threaded reinforcing bar for use in concrete construction, the first fitting comprising a first body having a first internal thread for threadedly inserting the first externally threaded reinforcing bar into the first fitting; the first fitting having a second internal thread having a pitch finer than a pitch of the first internal thread; and a plug for threading into the second internal thread for abutting an end of said threaded reinforcing bar.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical coupling, comprising: a first coupling portion and a second coupling portion, the first and second coupling portions configured to mate in kinematic constraint via a first mounting interface and at least two further mounting interfaces, wherein: the first coupling portion comprises a first mounting element and the second coupling portion comprises a socket, and the first mounting element is receivable in the socket at the first mounting interface such that the first mounting interface constrains lateral displacements of the first coupling portion relative to the second coupling portion when mated; and at least one optical channel for transmitting abeam of light along an optical axis through the optical coupling, the optical channel comprising complementary light-transmitting ports in the first and second coupling portions, wherein the optical axis is not laterally removed from the first mounting interface by more than half the distance between the first mounting interface and

Abstract: The invention provides an optical coupling, comprising: a first coupling portion and a second coupling portion, the first and second coupling portions configured to mate in kinematic constraint via a first mounting interface and at least two further mounting interfaces, wherein: the first coupling portion comprises a first mounting element and the second coupling portion comprises a socket, and the first mounting element is receivable in the socket at the first mounting interface such that the first mounting interface constrains lateral displacements of the first coupling portion relative to the second coupling portion when mated; and at least one optical channel for transmitting abeam of light along an optical axis through the optical coupling, the optical channel comprising complementary light-transmitting ports in the first and second coupling portions, wherein the optical axis is not laterally removed from the first mounting interface by more than half the distance between the first mounting interface and

Abstract: An actuating mechanism, particularly for a disc brake caliper, including a screw actuator having a screw 40 and a nut 18 threadably coupled together, an electric drive for driving one of the screw 40 and the nut 18 axially relative to the other and including a stator 20 and a rotor 22, a sleeve assembly including a generally cylindrical sleeve 25 interposed between the rotor 22 and the nut 18 and supporting the rotor 22 for rotation relative to the sleeve 25. The rotor 22 is connected to one of the screw 40 or the nut 18 for rotating the screw 40 or the nut 18. The screw actuator being at least partly mounted within the sleeve 25 and being arranged to bear against a portion of the sleeve assembly to transmit axial thrust to the sleeve assembly, and the sleeve assembly cooperating with an abutment to transmit the axial thrust to the abutment.

Abstract: An actuating mechanism, particularly for a disc brake caliper, including a screw actuator having a screw 40 and a nut 18 threadably coupled together, an electric drive for driving one of the screw 40 and the nut 18 axially relative to the other and including a stator 20 and a rotor 22, a sleeve assembly including a generally cylindrical sleeve 25 interposed between the rotor 22 and the nut 18 and supporting the rotor 22 for rotation relative to the sleeve 25. The rotor 22 is connected to one of the screw 40 or the nut 18 for rotating the screw 40 or the nut 18. The screw actuator being at least partly mounted within the sleeve 25 and being arranged to bear against a portion of the sleeve assembly to transmit axial thrust to the sleeve assembly, and the sleeve assembly cooperating with an abutment to transmit the axial thrust to the abutment.