Abstract: A method of operating a fuel system is provided. The method includes removing fuel from at least a portion of the fuel system using a gravity drain process. The method also includes channeling nitrogen into at least a portion of the fuel system to facilitate removing air and residual fuel from at least a portion of the fuel system, thereby mitigating a formation of carbonaceous precipitate particulates. The method further includes removing air and nitrogen from at least a portion of the fuel system during a fuel refilling process using a venting process such that at least a portion of the fuel system is substantially refilled with fuel and substantially evacuated of air and nitrogen. The method also includes removing air from at least a portion of the refilled fuel system using a venting process. The method further includes recirculating fuel within at least a portion of the fuel system, thereby removing heat from at least a portion of the fuel system and facilitating a transfer of operating fuel modes.

Abstract: A method of operating a fuel system is provided. The method includes removing fuel from at least a portion of the fuel system using a gravity drain process. The method also includes channeling nitrogen into at least a portion of the fuel system to facilitate removing air and residual fuel from at least a portion of the fuel system, thereby mitigating a formation of carbonaceous precipitate particulates. The method further includes removing air and nitrogen from at least a portion of the fuel system during a fuel refilling process using a venting process, such that at least a portion of the fuel system is substantially refilled with fuel and substantially evacuated of air and nitrogen. The method also includes removing air from at least a portion of the refilled fuel system using a venting process.

Abstract: A method of operating a fuel system is provided. The method includes removing fuel from at least a portion of the fuel system using a gravity drain process. The method also includes channeling nitrogen into at least a portion of the fuel system to facilitate removing air and residual fuel from at least a portion of the fuel system, thereby mitigating a formation of carbonaceous precipitate particulates. The method further includes removing air and nitrogen from at least a portion of the fuel system during a fuel refilling process using a venting process such that at least a portion of the fuel system is substantially refilled with fuel and substantially evacuated of air and nitrogen. The method also includes removing air from at least a portion of the refilled fuel system using a venting process. The method further includes recirculating fuel within at least a portion of the fuel system, thereby removing heat from at least a portion of the fuel system and facilitating a transfer of operating fuel modes.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a metal matrix composite material and a method for the manufacture thereof, the material comprising an aluminium-based alloy matrix, the matrix comprising a microstructure composed of at least a first aluminium alloy phase and having a second phase of nanostructured quasicrystalline particles embedded therein and further including in said matrix fibrils of at least one other dissimilar material.

Abstract: Various forms of apparatus (1) for preparing and dispensing beverages, preferably based on coffee, can receive instructions from a customer and deliver the beverage automatically. The apparatus is preferably capable of fully automatic cleaning in a cleaning cycle in which a cleaning agent is flushed through the lines (62, 64), and the apparatus is preferably arranged to ensure that not only are the lines cleaned properly but that no cleaning agent can be dispensed. The apparatus includes a brewer assembly (78) having a chamber (81) in which freshly ground coffee can be introduced and either espresso or filter coffee can be automatically prepared by passing hot water through the chamber and removing the spent coffee grounds. The coffee may be stored as coffee beans in sealed containers (208) that can automatically be pierced to release the beans which are ground immediately before preparation of the beverage.

Abstract: An optoelectronic device has at least a first facet (S), a first waveguide (2) and a second waveguide (3). The waveguides are substantially coincident at the first facet (6), such that light travelling along the first waveguide (2) is reflected into the second waveguide (3) by the first facet (6). The first facet (6) is formed by precision cleaving. Preferably an etch feature is incorporated in the same mask level as that to define the waveguide core.

Abstract: A winder assembly is provided for rotating a component of a can necking machine to a desired angular position suitable for performing maintenance on the component. The winder assembly includes a shaft coupled to a motor of that drives the components of the can necking machine during operation. A handle can be removably connected to the shaft, such that rotation of the handle in a rotational direction correspondingly causes the shaft to rotate. The shaft causes the motor to rotate, which drives a gear train that rotates the components of the necking machine that are coupled to the gear train.

Abstract: An apparatus for rotating a container body that utilizes frictional forces rather than the engagement of gears to rotate the container body is provided. Such an apparatus may include a stationary housing and a turret rotating on a shaft proximate to the housing. The turret may have a plurality of pockets and a roller assembly disposed within each pocket. Each roller assembly may have a body portion and a drive roller portion. Each body portion may have a contact portion for contacting a container body received in a respective pocket. Each drive roller may be in contact with the housing such that as the turret rotates, friction between the drive rollers and the housing causes each roller assembly to rotate.

Abstract: An optoelectronic device has at least a first facet (S), a first waveguide (2) and a second waveguide (3). The waveguides are substantially coincident at the first facet (6), such that light travelling along the first waveguide (2) is reflected into the second waveguide (3) by the first facet (6). The first facet (6) is formed by precision cleaving. Preferably an etch feature is incorporated in the same mask level as that to define the waveguide core.

Abstract: An optical network comprises a central source providing light in a plurality of spaced wavelength bands and including variable-gain optical amplifiers enabling the relative intensity of light in respective wavelength bands to be varied. A wavelength-routed network (preferably but not necessarily passive) receives light in all the wavelength bands from the central source and routes each wavelength band to a respective terminals. The terminals are operable to modulate and return received light in any of the said wavelength bands, and may be simple and identical, requiring no precision light source, as would otherwise be needed to allow multiplexing to use optical fibre efficiently. The operator can adjust the semiconductor optical amplifiers to illuminate or disable individual terminals, as required, and can alter the intensity (and if required type) of light supplied to the terminals to maintain a satisfactory signal level, minimising need for engineer visits.

Abstract: An optical signal transmitter has an optical source for generating broad-band optical radiation, a wavelength division multiplexer optically linked to the optical source and operable to receive and slice spectrally the broad-band optical radiation, and at least one optical signal generator optically linked to the wavelength division multiplexer to receive a spectral slice of the broad-band optical radiation.

Abstract: Sulphides and selenides are prepared by dissolving sulphur or selenium in an aqueous or non-aqueous solution of hydrazine hydrate. The solution is combined with a solution of an appropriate cation to precipitate the corresponding sulphide or selenide. Solutions of two or more cations may be used to produce ternary compounds of sulphur and selenium, for example thio-gallates. Likewise both sulphur and selenium can be used together to produce sulpho-selenides. The method is particularly applicable to the production of doped phosphors by the inclusion of solutions containing the appropriate dopant.

Abstract: Apparatus for a making can bodies comprises a reciprocating punch and a rotary turret (10) mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis parallel to the axis of the punch. A plurality of flexible finger sets (13) spaced circumferentially around the turret and extending generally radially from the turret are adapted to pick up, support and convey can bodies (16) stripped from the punch as the turret rotates. The turret is driven in rotation at a cyclically varying angular velocity such that the angularly velocity of finger set (13) is less at the moment when it engages a can body stripped from the punch than at other times.

Abstract: Apparatus for slitting or cutting material comprises a driving roller 10 and a driven roller 12. Each roller 10 or 12 has on its periphery a plurality of ribs at a predetermined pitch and helix angle. The pitch of the ribs 18 on the driving roller 10 is smaller than the pitch of the ribs 30 on the driven roller 12, and the helix angle of the ribs 18 on the driving roller 10 is of opposite direction to, and of smaller magnitude than, the helix angle of the ribs 30 on the driven roller 12. The ribs 18, 30 cooperate to cut with a shearing action a web 16 of sheet material fed into the nip between the rollers 10, 12.