Abstract: Methods of detecting and predicting ovulation and a period of fertility include determining a series of measures indicative of the basal body temperature of a female human user to identify a temperature change event. The method includes obtaining, within a first 24 hour period, a plurality of first readings of the temperature of the female human user at intervals over a first extended period of at least an hour. The plurality of first readings are then processed to determine at least one first representative temperature reading representative of the basal body temperature of the user for the first extended period and the at least one first representative temperature reading is stored. The method is repeated for at least second and third 24 hour periods and the representative temperature readings are provided for analysis to identify a temperature change event for the female human user.

Abstract: Methods of detecting and predicting ovulation and a period of fertility include determining a series of measures indicative of the basal body temperature of a female human user to identify a temperature change event. The method includes obtaining, within a first 24 hour period, a plurality of first readings of the temperature of the female human user at intervals over a first extended period of at least an hour. The plurality of first readings are then processed to determine at least one first representative temperature reading representative of the basal body temperature of the user for the first extended period and the at least one first representative temperature reading is stored. The method is repeated for at least second and third 24 hour periods and the representative temperature readings are provided for analysis to identify a temperature change event for the female human user.

Abstract: Methods of detecting and predicting ovulation and a period of fertility include determining a series of measures indicative of the basal body temperature of a female human user to identify a temperature change event. The method includes obtaining, within a first 24 hour period, a plurality of first readings of the temperature of the female human user at intervals over a first extended period of at least an hour. The plurality of first readings are then processed to determine at least one first representative temperature reading representative of the basal body temperature of the user for the first extended period and the at least one first representative temperature reading is stored. The method is repeated for at least second and third 24 hour periods and the representative temperature readings are provided for analysis to identify a temperature change event for the female human user.

Abstract: Methods of detecting and predicting ovulation and a period of fertility include determining a series of measures indicative of the basal body temperature of a female human user to identify a temperature change event. The method includes obtaining, within a first 24 hour period, a plurality of first readings of the temperature of the female human user at intervals over a first extended period of at least an hour. The plurality of first readings are then processed to determine at least one first representative temperature reading representative of the basal body temperature of the user for the first extended period and the at least one first representative temperature reading is stored. The method is repeated for at least second and third 24 hour periods and the representative temperature readings are provided for analysis to identify a temperature change event for the female human user.

Abstract: Methods of detecting and predicting ovulation and a period of fertility include determining a series of measures indicative of the basal body temperature of a female human user to identify a temperature change event. The method includes obtaining, within a first 24 hour period, a plurality of first readings of the temperature of the female human user at intervals over a first extended period of at least an hour. The plurality of first readings are then processed to determine at least one first representative temperature reading representative of the basal body temperature of the user for the first extended period and the at least one first representative temperature reading is stored. The method is repeated for at least second and third 24 hour periods and the representative temperature readings are provided for analysis to identify a temperature change event for the female human user.

Abstract: Methods of detecting and predicting ovulation and a period of fertility include determining a series of measures indicative of the basal body temperature of a female human user to identify a temperature change event. The method includes obtaining, within a first 24 hour period, a plurality of first readings of the temperature of the female human user at intervals over a first extended period of at least an hour. The plurality of first readings are then processed to determine at least one first representative temperature reading representative of the basal body temperature of the user for the first extended period and the at least one first representative temperature reading is stored. The method is repeated for at least second and third 24 hour periods and the representative temperature readings are provided for analysis to identify a temperature change event for the female human user.

Abstract: An apparatus including a shaft mounted for rotation and a balancing sleeve is provided. The balancing sleeve functions to balance the shaft during rotation and includes first and second ends. The first end is secured to the shaft so that the balancing sleeve is substantially concentric with the shaft and rotates with the shaft. The second end incorporates balancing weight to balance the shaft at lower speeds of rotation of the shaft where there is substantially no flexing of the shaft. The lengthwise stiffness of the balancing sleeve is matched to the lengthwise stiffness of the shaft to maintain balance of the shaft at higher speeds of rotation of the shaft where there is flexing of the shaft.

Abstract: A method of providing information relating to the fertility of a female mammal comprising the steps of: (i) taking multiple temperature readings from the female mammal during an extended period; (ii) identifying and disregarding temperature readings having one or more characteristics of irrelevant or faulty data; (iii) obtaining one or several representative temperature values for the extended period; (iv) repeating steps (i) to (iii) over multiple extended periods; (v) analyzing the representative temperature values obtained over multiple extended periods for one or more patterns in the representative temperature values indicative or predictive of ovulation in order to provide information relating to the fertility of the female mammal to a user, wherein the representative temperature values are not the maximum or minimum temperature readings obtained for the extended period; and related uses and apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus including a shaft mounted for rotation and a balancing sleeve is provided. The balancing sleeve functions to balance the shaft during rotation and includes first and second ends. The first end is secured to the shaft so that the balancing sleeve is substantially concentric with the shaft and rotates with the shaft. The second end incorporates balancing weight to balance the shaft at lower speeds of rotation of the shaft where there is substantially no flexing of the shaft. The lengthwise stiffness of the balancing sleeve is matched to the lengthwise stiffness of the shaft to maintain balance of the shaft at higher speeds of rotation of the shaft where there is flexing of the shaft.

Abstract: A torque protection device is provided which includes an axial direction and a radial direction. The torque protection device further includes a driven element for connecting the torque protection device to a driven output member, a driving element for connecting the torque protection device to a driving input member, and at least one shear pin connecting the driving element to the driven element. The shear pin includes a first end held by the driven element and a second end held by the driving element. The shear pin extends from the driven element to the driving element in the radial direction of the torque protection device.

Abstract: An apparatus for damping the torsional excitation of a hollow drive shaft is provided. The apparatus includes an elongate member that extends along the interior of the drive shaft, one end of the member is secured to one end of the drive shaft, the other end of the member is disposed at the other end of the drive shaft, and a hydraulic damping device secured to the other end of the drive shaft for damping vibration of the other end of the member. The hydraulic damping device includes a piston and cylinder arrangement having first and second hydraulic chambers, a reservoir of hydraulic fluids, and hydraulic circuitry which uses the hydraulic chambers to communicate with the reservoir. The hydraulic damping device is arranged so that any leakage of hydraulic fluid from the first and second hydraulic chambers via a piston/cylinder interface passes to the reservoir of hydraulic fluid.

Abstract: A hydraulic restrictor comprising: a passage along which hydraulic fluid flows; a member which extends along the passage, the member restricting the flow along the passage; and structure for selectively securing the member at a plurality of different positions along the passage thereby to enable variation in the restriction on flow along the passage, the securing structure securing the member at each position by securing the member against the side wall of the passage.

Abstract: In one aspect, an apparatus for damping the torsional excitation of a drive shaft is provided. The apparatus includes: a member secured to one end of the drive shaft and extending along the drive shaft; and damping means secured to the other end of the drive shaft for damping vibration of the end of the member remote from the securing of the member to the one end of the drive shaft. A hydraulic circuit for damping the vibration of a component in a first dimension, the circuit including: a pair of hydraulic cylinders disposed so that the actions of the pistons of the cylinders oppose one another in the first dimension, the pistons communicating with the component; and a fluid flow path between the cylinders, vibration of the component in the first dimension causing fluid flow between the cylinders to damp the vibration.

Abstract: A method of providing information relating to the fertility of a female mammal comprising the steps of: (i) taking multiple temperature readings from the female mammal during an extended period; (ii) identifying and disregarding temperature readings having one or more characteristics of irrelevant or faulty data; (iii) obtaining one or several representative temperature values for the extended period; (iv) repeating steps (i) to (iii) over multiple extended periods; (v) analysing the representative temperature values obtained over multiple extended periods for one or more patterns in the representative temperature values indicative or predictive of ovulation in order to provide information relating to the fertility of the female mammal to a user, wherein the representative temperature values are not the maximum or minimum temperature readings obtained for the extended period; and related uses and apparatus.

Abstract: A hydraulic restrictor comprising: a passage along which hydraulic fluid flows; a member which extends along said passage, said member restricting the flow along the passage; and means for selectively securing said member at a plurality of different positions along the passage thereby to enable variation in the restriction on flow along the passage, said securing means securing said member at each said position by securing the member against the side wall of the passage.

Abstract: In one aspect, an apparatus for damping the torsional excitation of a drive shaft is provided. The apparatus includes: a member secured to one end of the drive shaft and extending along the drive shaft; and damping means secured to the other end of the drive shaft for damping vibration of the end of the member remote from the securing of the member to the one end of the drive shaft. A hydraulic circuit for damping the vibration of a component in a first dimension, the circuit including: a pair of hydraulic cylinders disposed so that the actions of the pistons of the cylinders oppose one another in the first dimension, the pistons communicating with the component; and a fluid flow path between the cylinders, vibration of the component in the first dimension causing fluid flow between the cylinders to damp the vibration.