Abstract: A device and method to accelerate solid metal slugs to high speeds. In one embodiment, a large electric current is passed through an outer cylindrical metal tube enclosing in part a metal slug, a central electrode, and a conducting tail coupled at opposite ends to the. metal slug and the central electrode. Electromagnetic forces accelerate the metal slug to a point high enough to mechanically separate the conducting tail. On separation, a plasma is generated by the passage of electric current though a gas produced by vaporization of the conducting tail and nearby materials. An insulator enclosed within the tube prevents the plasma from shorting to the outer tube until the current flow has produced a sufficient magnetic field to contain the plasma. The metal slug is then accelerated to high speed by a combination of electromagnetic forces and mechanical pressure from the hot gas through which the electric current is passing.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical iron. An iron comprises a sole plate (1), of a glass or ceramic substrate bearing an electrical heating element. The electrical heating element comprises a transparent or translucent antimony tin oxide thin film which directly heats the glass or ceramic substrate.

Abstract: An electric hand iron comprises an electrically heated sole plate and an electrically operated water nozzle. The water nozzle is arranged to produce a water mist which produces a substantially uniform density moisture pattern, in response to a user activated control.

Abstract: A device and method to accelerate solid metal slugs to high speeds. In one embodiment, a large electric current is passed through an outer cylindrical metal tube enclosing in part a metal slug, a central electrode, and a conducting tail coupled at opposite ends to the. metal slug and the central electrode. Electromagnetic forces accelerate the metal slug to a point high enough to mechanically separate the conducting tail. On separation, a plasma is generated by the passage of electric current though a gas produced by vaporization of the conducting tail and nearby materials. An insulator enclosed within the tube prevents the plasma from shorting to the outer tube until the current flow has produced a sufficient magnetic field to contain the plasma. The metal slug is then accelerated to high speed by a combination of electromagnetic forces and mechanical pressure from the hot gas through which the electric current is passing.

Abstract: A sole plate assembly for an electric hand iron, said sole plate assembly comprises a metal outer frame member; a metal retaining ring member shaped to fit inside said metal outer frame member; a flat sole glass or ceramic plate member shaped to fit in said metal retaining ring member; and a flexible seal member arranged to locate in said metal retaining ring member. The construction provides for improved ease of assembly, and a robust sole plate construction.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical iron. An iron comprises a sole plate, of a glass or ceramic substrate bearing an electrical heating element. The electrical heating element comprises a transparent or translucent antimony tin oxide thin film which directly heats the glass or ceramic substrate.

Abstract: An electric hand iron comprises an electrically heated sole plate and an electrically operated water nozzle. The water nozzle is arranged to produce a water mist which produces a substantially uniform density moisture pattern, in response to a user activated control.

Abstract: A sole plate assembly for an electric hand iron, said sole plate assembly comprises a metal outer frame member; a metal retaining ring member shaped to fit inside said metal outer frame member; a flat sole glass or ceramic plate member shaped to fit in said metal retaining ring member; and a flexible seal member arranged to locate in said metal retaining ring member. The construction provides for improved ease of assembly, and a robust sole plate construction.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical iron. An iron comprises a sole plate (1), of a glass or ceramic substrate bearing an electrical heating element. The electrical heating element comprises a transparent or translucent antimony tin oxide thin film which directly heats the glass or ceramic substrate.

Abstract: A building block (2) comprising two side panels (6, 8) with at least one open side, the side panels spaced apart by two bridging parts (10, 12), a removable section (17) on at least one bridging part (10, 12), and a pair of recessed or protruding formations (20) on opposite inner faces of the open end of the side panels (6, 8) to enable building blocks to be interconnected. A location device (40) comprising two members (44) spaced apart by cross members (42), where the two members (44) extend beyond the cross members (42) to engage with formations (26) of one or more building blocks (2) is also disclosed. A wall constructed from building blocks (2) and utilising location devices (40) and a method of constructing such a wall are similarly disclosed.

Abstract: A dry wall building system comprises courses of building blocks where the building blocks are joined end to end by keys. Each of the blocks comprising sidewalls, endwalls and at least one vertical cavity or slot, at least one first channel in the upper surfaces of the endwalls and at least one second channel in the lower surfaces of the endwalls, the arrangement and construction being such that when blocks are laid one upon another the channels and the said at least one cavity or slot of the blocks can be aligned to provide an internal network of horizontal and vertical infill passages which can be filled with a settable material to seal joints between the blocks and to provide load bearing support between respective courses of blocks. A method of manufacturing blocks is also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and system for activating a function at a station in an application operating on a hypertext document. The hypertext document contains control elements. Each control element has a set of attributes. The method involves parsing the attributes of the control element, sending the attributes to an object module associated with this control element, and invoking the object module to make a GUI object containing the attributes. Once the system invokes the object module, the object module associated with a particular control element is activated. The activated object module then displays the GUI object.

Abstract: A blade sharpener having a sharpening mechanism that functions to sharpen a blade engaging the mechanism and being moved longitudinally relative to that mechanism. The sharpening mechanism is located within a hollow housing or scabbard for containing the blade, and means is provided to restrain the blade against inadvertent removal from the housing. The blade is moved into and out of the housing through a front end of the housing, and the restraining means becomes operative (automatically) when the blade is fully inserted. Locking means then functions to prevent release of the restraining means, and that locking means includes a plate movable in the longitudinal direction of the housing between locking and unlocking positions. The locking means is moved into the unlocking position by actuation of a press button located at the rear end of the housing, and automatically returns to the locking position when pressure is removed from the press button.

Abstract: An AC motor control system and process useful in such AC motor applications as elevators, storage retrieval machines, cranes and hoists, and other load-carrying and work performing machinery.Two identical and electrically isolated windings are utilized in an AC motor with the current to each winding being controlled through an SCR bank. A first winding, when energized, sets up an electromagnetic field which drives the rotor in a clockwise. A second winding, when energized, drives the rotor in a counterclockwise direction.The use of two separate motor windings eliminates line-to-line electrical short circuit problems so that expensive lock-out circuits, circuit breakers, current feedback detectors and air chokes are no longer required.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatic leveling of elevator cars by controlled DC plugging of AC induction motors. The invention utilizes, in a novel circuit and control arrangement, the external neutral connection of a Y-wound motor design to inject controlled direct current into the neutral to dynamically control the braking to a stop. The elevator car is thus more safely and accurately leveled at the desired floor than has heretofore been known in the art. A novel speed control method is also disclosed which compares and sums positive and negative DC signals and which switches to the motor braking mode at a desired time.

Abstract: A liquid purification system for treating liquids such as water or sewage effluent in which a sealed casing has a plurality of corrugated panels therein dividing the casing into a plurality of sections. Liquid which may already have been partially treated is sprayed against or caused to flow onto each side of each corrugated panel and against the side walls of the casing and allowed to run down the panels and casing walls in a thin layer. The casing is filled with ozone under pressure and may have ultraviolet tubes placed between each pair of panels so as to permeate and disinfect the liquid at the bottom of the casing is pumped through an output pipe and through a filter system and may have additional treatment.