Abstract: Patient support means comprise a net for use with a net bed having rotary shafts on to which the ends of the net are wound, so that in use the patient is supported on the net which is slung between the shafts. The net is of knitted form and manufactured from a heat-settable thermoplastics material which is heat set to provide satisfactory memory such that it does not take a substantially permanent set under normal patient loading. The knitted material of the net has a lengthwise extensibility of between 17% and 35%, a widthwise extensibility of between 4% and 12% and a ratio of lengthwise to widthwise extensibilities of between 3 and 6.

Abstract: A bed comprises a flexible web, preferably of mesh or net form, on which a patient is supported and which is slung between two parallel shafts. The ends of the web are respectively wound on to the two shafts which can be turned by end winding handles through drive clutch/brake units of the shafts. At the other ends the shafts have plain bearing assemblies. The drive units are non-rotatably received in support crutches of a frame of the bed, and these crutches can pivot about inclined axes in the manner of the rowlocks of a rowboat. The bearing assemblies are received in fixed crutches formed to allow a permissible range of angularity of the shafts in these crutches when removed from the drive end crutches.

Abstract: Equipment for transporting and lifting invalids and disabled persons comprises a wheeled chassis 1,a telescopic lifting column 2 and a patient support structure 4 supported by an arm 3 from the column 2. The structure 4 is of adjustable articulated form and comprises a central seat section 20 and adjustable end sections 21 22, adjustment of which allows a patient to be supported either in a lying down position or in a seated position facing one way or the other. Restraining means for use with a seated patient comprise an L-shaped member 27 with a first portion 28 which in operative position extends above the seat portion 20 in front of the patient and an end restraining portion 29 which then extends alongside the body of the patient. The member 27 can be turned in a mounting boss 30 to position the portion 29 according to the seated direction used, and the boss 30 turns on a spindle 17 to allow the member 27 to be raised to an inoperative position at the side of the support structure 4.

Abstract: A stabilized ship borne antenna arrangement is provided with an antenna which is stabilized against pitching and rolling motions of the ship on which it is mounted. The antenna is intended to rotate in azimuth about a stabilized vertical axis and it is mounted on a rotatable member which rotates about an unstabilized axis, which is fixed relative to the ship. Linear actuators link the antenna to the rotatable member with the lengths of the actuators being adjusted so as to maintain the vertical axis of the antenna as it rotates. The stabilized portion of the antenna arrangement is relatively light with a low center of gravity.

Abstract: A net-type bed comprises a flexible web slung between two parallel shafts on to which the ends of the web are wound. The shafts can be turned individually by means of handles and the bed has a self-contained support frame which is of collapsible tubular construction. The frame comprises two parallel longitudinal members spaced apart so as to lie on opposite sides of a normal bed mattress, and two cross members adapted to rest on the mattress support or base of the normal bed below the mattress. End sections of the frame are detachable from the longitudinal members and embody support crutches in which the shafts are rotatably supported.

Abstract: Gaseous insulators comprise compounds having high attachment cross sections for electrons having energies in the 0-1.3 electron volt range. Multi-component gaseous insulators comprise compounds and mixtures having overall high electron attachment cross sections in the 0-1.3 electron volt range and moderating gases having high cross sections for inelastic interactions with electrons of energies 1-4 electron volts. Suitable electron attachment components include hexafluorobutyne, perfluorobutene-2, perfluorocyclobutane, perfluorodimethylcyclobutane, perfluorocyclohexene, perfluoromethylcyclohexane, hexafluorobutadiene, perfluoroheptene-1 and hexafluoroazomethane. Suitable moderating gases include N.sub.2, CO, CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2. The gaseous insulating mixture can also contain SF.sub.6, perfluoropropane and perfluorobenzene.

Abstract: A bath lift, for lifting a disabled person into and out of a bath, has a telescopic column for mounting on the floor alongside the bath. A lifting arm mounted on the top of the column projects therefrom and carries a support, such as a legless chair structure, for the person being bathed. An upper portion of the column is non-rotatable about the axis of the column, and the arm is mounted to swing about a vertical axis. Locking means are operative to lock the arm against swinging movement relative to said upper portion of the column in one or more angular positions, and the locking means can be released manually to free the arm for movement about said vertical axis.

Abstract: A sanitary or commode chair has a wheeled chassis and an apertured seat adapted to be positioned over a W.C. The chair has side support arms which extend alongside a user seated in the chair. Each arm has an inturned end portion to provide front support for the user, and the end portions of the arms can be turned outwardly to the side to allow front entry and exit. Each support arm can also pivot rearwardly and to the side to allow side entry from a wheelchair.

Abstract: Gaseous insulators comprise compounds having high attachment cross sections for electrons having energies in the 0-1.3 electron volt range. Multi-component gaseous insulators comprise compounds and mixtures having overall high electron attachment cross sections in the 0-1.3 electron volt range and moderating gases having high cross sections for inelastic interactions with electrons of energies 1-4 electron volts. Suitable electron attachment components include hexafluorobutyne, perfluorobutene-2, perfluorocyclobutane, perfluorodimethylcyclobutane, perfluorocyclohexene, perfluoromethylcyclohexane, hexafluorobutadiene, perfluoroheptene-1 and hexafluoroazomethane. Suitable moderating gases include N.sub.2, CO, CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2. The gaseous insulating mixture can also contain SF.sub.6, perfluoropropane and perfluorobenzene.

Abstract: A hydraulically-operated percussive device comprises a piston/striker reciprocable in a housing and valve means adapted to intermittently pressurize a working area of the piston/striker to produce forward working strokes thereof. The housing contains a chamber adapted to be pressurized by the hydraulic working fluid to apply a continuous return force to a differential return area of the piston/striker which has a step arranged to enter a dashpot cavity at one end of the chamber to damp forward movement and thereby limit overstroking of the piston/striker. The piston/striker has an intermediate flanged portion which is a close sliding fit in the chamber end regions of which are interconnected through a conduit so that both annular end faces of the flanged portion are subject to the fluid pressure. The end faces are of different efective areas with the difference providing said differential return area and the larger end face providing the step.

Abstract: The invention concerns stabilized platform arrangements of the kind utilized, for example, to carry a rotatable ship's radio antenna, which requires to be stabilized against pitch and roll. A control system is provided which includes means for relating error signals representative of deviations in pitch and roll to orthogonal axes fixed with respect to the antenna, by conversion to angular errors in two orthogonal planes, the elevation and cross elevation planes, containing the reference axis about which the antenna rotates.