Abstract: A rigid needle shield for covering a distal end of a syringe is provided. The rigid needle shield includes an elongated flexible member connected to a sidewall of the rigid needle shield for moving the rigid needle shield between a first relaxed position and a second flexed position. When in the first relaxed position, the elongated flexible member is substantially within the rigid needle shield. However, when the elongated flexible member is moved to the second flexed position, the elongated flexible member extends beyond a proximal end of the rigid needle shield to engage a needle hub or a shoulder of the syringe to move the rigid needle shield distally relative to the syringe.

Abstract: A process is described for the recovery of nickel and/or cobalt from laterite or partially oxidized lateritic ores having a substantial proportion of the iron present in the ferrous state. The process includes providing a laterite or partially oxidized laterite ore wherein a substantial proportion of the iron present in the ore is in the ferrous state; acid leaching the ore to provide a product leach solution containing at least ferrous iron, nickel and cobalt together with acid soluble impurities; and recovering the nickel and cobalt from the product leach solution with a selective ion exchange resin in an ion exchange process leaving the ferrous iron and other acid soluble impurities in the raffinate.

Abstract: A rigid needle shield for covering a distal end of a syringe is provided. The rigid needle shield includes an elongated flexible member connected to a sidewall of the rigid needle shield for moving the rigid needle shield between a first relaxed position and a second flexed position. When in the first relaxed position, the elongated flexible member is substantially within the rigid needle shield. However, when the elongated flexible member is moved to the second flexed position, the elongated flexible member extends beyond a proximal end of the rigid needle shield to engage a needle hub or a shoulder of the syringe to move the rigid needle shield distally relative to the syringe.

Abstract: A rigid needle shield (10) for covering a distal end of a syringe is provided. The rigid needle shield includes an elongated flexible member (20) connected to a sidewall of the rigid needle shield for moving the rigid needle shield between a first relaxed position and a second flexed position. When in the first relaxed position, the elongated flexible member is substantially within the rigid needle shield. However, when the elongated flexible member is moved to the second flexed position, the elongated flexible member extends beyond a proximal end of the rigid needle shield to engage a needle hub or a shoulder of the syringe to move the rigid needle shield distally relative to the syringe.

Abstract: A rigid needle shield (10) for covering a distal end of a syringe is provided. The rigid needle shield includes an elongated flexible member (20) connected to a sidewall of the rigid needle shield for moving the rigid needle shield between a first relaxed position and a second flexed position. When in the first relaxed position, the elongated flexible member is substantially within the rigid needle shield. However, when the elongated flexible member is moved to the second flexed position, the elongated flexible member extends beyond a proximal end of the rigid needle shield to engage a needle hub or a shoulder of the syringe to move the rigid needle shield distally relative to the syringe.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of nickel and/or cobalt from laterite or partially oxidised lateritic ores having a substantial proportion of the iron present in the ferrous state, said process including the steps of: a) providing a laterite or partially oxidised laterite ore wherein a substantial proportion of the iron present in the ore is in the ferrous state; b) acid leaching the ore to provide a product leach solution containing at least ferrous iron, nickel and cobalt together with acid soluble impurities; and c) recovering the nickel and cobalt from the product leach solution with a selective ion exchange resin in an ion exchange process leaving the ferrous iron and other acid soluble impurities in the raffinate.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of magnesium oxide from a source containing magnesium salts, said process including the steps of: (a) adding an alkali and sulfur dioxide to the source containing magnesium salts, in a leach step to form a magnesium bi-sulfite containing leachate;(b) separating the insoluble materials from the leachate; (c) stripping excess sulfur dioxide from the leachate and precipitating the magnesium as solid magnesium sulfite hydrate; (d) separating the solid magnesium sulfite hydrate from the magnesium depleted leachate; and (e) calcining the solid magnesium sulfite hydrate and recovering the magnesium as magnesium oxide.

Abstract: A process for producing titania from a solid, iron-containing titaniferous material (such as ilmenite) is disclosed. The process includes a first step of treating iron-containing titaniferous material under conditions that reduce ferric ions to ferrous ions in the titaniferous material. Thereafter the process include steps of leaching treated titaniferous material and forming a leach liquor that includes an acidic solution of titanyl sulfate and iron sulfate and recovering titania from the leach liquor.

Abstract: Power generation equipment (10) comprises a compressor (11,12) into which finely dispersed water is directed. Air compressed by the compressor (11,12) is directed into combustion equipment (13) where it is mixed with steam and fuel before combustion takes place. The resultant combustion products pass through two turbines (14,15), the second of which (15) is a power turbine. The exhaust efflux from the power turbine (15) is then cooled to such an extent that its pressure falls to below atmospheric pressure. The carbon dioxide is removed from the efflux by means of a sequestration membrane (33) before the pressure of the efflux is raised to above atmospheric pressure by a further compressor (16) driven by the power turbine (15). The equipment (10) is very efficient and produces low levels of pollution.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprises turbine and compressor elements on a rotary shaft. The shaft is rotably mounted on preloaded axial thrust bearings. As it rotates in use the turbine and compressor elements create an axial thrust load on the bearings. According to the invention that axial thrust load is opposed by an electromagnetic coil which is energised to exert an axial force on the shaft in opposition to the axial thrust load and preferably completely balancing the axial thrust load. Bearing life is much extended.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine is provided with a plurality of compressors and a plurality of turbines. The compressors supply less than half of the oxygen received to the combustor chamber and thus fuel rich combustion occurs in the combustion means. A number of combustion ducts are positioned between adjacent turbines and oxygen is supplied to each of the combustion ducts from the respective compressor via the cooling passages of the respective turbine. Unburned fuel in the exhaust gases of the combustion means is mixed with cooling air in the turbines and is then burnt in the combustion ducts.

Abstract: A scroll for directing hot gases into a radial flow turbine includes two annular confronting members which corporate to define a volume; the confronting members are curved in the same axial direction so that one member is inward of the other and support means are included to support the inward confronting member; the configuration ensures that the cross-sectional area of an annular outlet in the radially inner region of the scroll remains substantially constant during variation in scroll temperature.

Abstract: A rail gun assembly (10) having rail electrodes (11, 12) which are of toothed cross-section configuration and an armature (15) which provides an electrical interconnection between the rail electrodes (11,12). The armature (15) is made up of three electrically conductive portions (24,25,26) which are separated by insulators (27,28). The electrically conductive armature portions (24,25,26) are so configured that varying amounts of electrical current pass through them as the armature is operationally accelerated along the gap between the rail electrodes (11,12). Localized overheating of the armature (15) is therefore substantially reduced.

Abstract: A rail gun (10) comprising two elongate co-extensive rail electrodes (11,12) having confronting surfaces (17,18) which are of toothed cross-section configuration. The toothed configuration of the surfaces ensures that during the operation of the rail gun (10), there is not an electric current concentration in the vicinity of the confronting surfaces (17,18). Consequently problems associated with the overheating of the confronting surfaces (17,18) are reduced.

Abstract: A rail gun (10) comprising two spaced apart elongate co-extensive rail electrodes (11,12) having confronting surfaces which are of toothed cross-section configuration. Alternate tooth flanks (21) have the outlets of a plurality of nozzles (24) located therein. The nozzles (24) direct helium into the gap (14) between the rail electrodes (11,12). The helium provides electrode (11,12) cooling as well as providing less resistance to armature (15) acceleration than would be the case with air.

Abstract: An electromagnetic gun comprises a barrel for containing and directing an electrically conductive projectile and a plurality of inductors which are arranged in series relationship along the barrel so as to create magnetic fields which accelerate the projectile along the barrel. Each inductor is associated with a pair of rail electrodes within the barrel bore which, when bridged by the projectile, short circuit their associated inductor to provide additional acceleration of the projectile.

Abstract: A valve is one of a plurality of similar valves set out in the form of a matrix to constitute a portion of the fuel control system of a gas turbine engine. The valve comprises a piezo-electric crystal and is deformable by the application of a potential difference thereto from a first, non-deformed condition in which the crystal blocks the orifice to second deformed condition in which the orifice is unblocked. At least some of the valves are normally redundant but are caused to become operable in the event of the failure of any of the other operable valves.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine is of a size suitable for generating electrical and heat energy for domestic and other purposes. The engine has a low number of components, and some of the components are capable of performing more than one function. For example, the engine has a centrifugal compressor driven by a centripetal turbine through a shaft. The compressor and turbine are mounted in a casing comprising a two part core and two end plates. The gas flow ducting is formed by surfaces on the compressor and turbine rotors, the core and the two end plates.