Abstract: A rolling element or ball swashplate has a part-spherical surface covered in latitudinal grooves and ridges, in cross-section resembling parts of a spur gear wheel. The ball is mounted on a well-known rolling element bearing on its polar axis. The bearing and ball are carried on shaft so that the axis is at an angle to that of the shaft. Rotation of the latter causes the ball to precess. Cylindrical racks have circumferential teeth along their length (equivalent to a screw thread with a zero helix angle) which mesh with the ridges and grooves on the spherical ball surface. The racks may slide on rods, or may commonly form part of a larger component such as an hydraulic piston which itself moves bodily. As shaft rotates, the meshing ridges and teeth cause linear motion of the racks, or vice versa. At any time, the ball and racks may rotate about their respective axes, moving the meshing contact point to different parts of the same teeth and distributing the wear evenly.

Abstract: A rolling element or ball swashplate has a part-spherical surface covered in latitudinal grooves and ridges, in cross-section resembling parts of a spur gear wheel. The ball is mounted on a well-known rolling element bearing on its polar axis. The bearing and ball are carried on shaft so that the axis is at an angle to that of the shaft. Rotation of the latter causes the ball to precess. Cylindrical racks have circumferential teeth along their length (equivalent to a screw thread with a zero helix angle) which mesh with the ridges and grooves on the spherical ball surface. The racks may slide on rods, or may commonly form part of a larger component such as an hydraulic piston which itself moves bodily. As shaft rotates, the meshing ridges and teeth cause linear motion of the racks, or vice versa. At any time, the ball and racks may rotate about their respective axes, moving the meshing contact point to different parts of the same teeth and distributing the wear evenly.

Abstract: A manipulative device capable of remote operation has a nozzle head having one or more nozzles adapted to eject a fluid stream having a component at right angles to the axis of the nozzle head. There is a flexible elongate hose for connecting the nozzle head to a source of remote operation, such as a joystick arrangement. Also valves capable of operation by tendons parallel to the flexible elongate hose enables spatial positioning of the nozzle head by remote differential operation of the tendons. The device may be used in various applications for example borehole mining, paint spraying etc.

Abstract: A flow meter suitable for the measurement of the mass flow rate of two phase flows. The flow meter has an S-shaped flow tube located within a housing. The housing has an inlet and outlet which are in register with the inlet and outlet of the flow tube. The flow tube has force transducers fitted at the bends of the tube which measure the reaction forces during fluid flow and enable a mass flow reading to be obtained.