Abstract: Disclosed is a modular bridge, typically for temporary use to enable persons to pass between upper floors of adjacent buildings during fire fighting or disaster relief operations, which can be rapidly assembled and deployed within a confined space and entirely from the “home” side of the gap to be crossed. It comprises a plurality of man-portable box section bridge modules adapted to be connected together end to end and projected in cantilever fashion from one side of the gap to the other. The assembly of modules is supported in and guided through a launch frame, with modules being added to the rear of the assembly and pushed through the frame until the gap is spanned. Removable lever arms of the frame are used to counterbalance the weight of the projected bridge modules during the course of deployment.

Abstract: A steam turbine rotor has at least a first stage and a last stage. The rotor is optimised for operation in a wet steam environment at steam temperatures of less than 300° C. by being made more resistant to stress corrosion cracking (SCC). The yield strength of the rotor varies along its axial length such that the yield strength of the rotor in the region of the last turbine stage is more than the yield strength of the rotor in the region of at least one earlier turbine stage.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing melt bodies for food articles such as bread rolls is disclosed. The method includes mixing one cheese component that is a flowable cheese with another food component such as a particulate bacon to form a homogeneous mixture. The mixture may also include another cheese component including shredded cheese which helps to give form and structure to the mixture. The mixture is then used to form melt bodies of reproducible size and shape in the form of disks that can be applied to a bread roll to be cooked. Each melt body could be in the form of a disk that can conveniently be applied to the bread roll to form a cheese and bacon roll. The melt body is mounted on an upper surface of a partially baked roll and then cooked together with the roll in a baking oven. The melt body melts but stays bound together on the roll. This helps to reduce wastage and also helps to facilitate portion control. It also enhances the aesthetics by providing a neat and consistent appearance.

Abstract: A field use optical grain characterising system (101) includes a generally rectangular prismatic composite body (102) that defines a component cavity (103). A substantially vertical elongate channel (104) extends within cavity (103) for housing a grain sample (not shown). An electromagnetic radiation source, in the form of a 12 Volt halogen lamp (105), is disposed within cavity (103.) for directing NIR light into channel (104). An optical detection system (107) is disposed within cavity (103) for sensing selected light emerging from channel (104) and for providing a sensor signal. A processor, which is included within detection system (107), is also disposed within cavity (103) and is responsive to the sensor signal for providing data indicative of a characteristic parameter of the grain sample. A display device, in the form of a 5.7-inch touch screen LCD display (108), is connected with body (102) for selectively presenting the data.

Abstract: A v-twin type engine (20) according to the present invention comprises an engine (20) comprising a single cylinder block (22) and a crankcase (23). The cylinder block (22) is formed with two cylinders (26, 28) and a lower connection region (24) adapted to be attachable to the crankcase (23) of the engine (20). Disposed at the top of each cylinder (26, 28) there is a cylinder head (30, 32). The lower connecting region (24) is formed with a flange (34) that extends around the lower perimeter of the cylinder block (22). The flange (34) is received by an opening (36) formed in the crankcase (23). It will be appreciated that the flange (34) will follow the contours of the opening (36) and the crankcase (23). The flange (34) forms a seal with the crankcase (23).

Abstract: The present invention provides novel bis-triazinylaminostilbene amphoteric fluorescent whitening agents, comprising both individual components and mixtures thereof, a process for their preparation, intermediates useful for their preparation and use of the fluorescent whitening agents for the fluorescent whitening of paper.

Abstract: A perfect palindrome operator sequence-based protein expression system is provided. The expression system comprises a promoter; and a perfect palindrome operator sequence, wherein the promoter is not T7. The expression system is preferably employed for the production of recombinant proteins by fermentation.

Abstract: A composite material having a plasma frequency comprising a random mixture of conductive and non-conductive particles. A material having smaller conductive than non-conductive particles and a concentration of conductive particles approximately at, close to or above the percolation threshold for mixtures of the conducting and non-conducting particles may show a plasma frequency well below plasma frequencies for conventional bulk materials.

Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle is described, in which the vehicle includes a frame structure carrying a ground engaging structure whereby the vehicle may travel over the ground, the ground engaging structure including a pair of steerable wheels which with the vehicle travelling in a travelling direction, are front wheels, and a pair of rear wheels which may each independently be braked by the operation of respective brake devices, the vehicle further including a controller which is capable of providing signals independently to the brake devices of the rear wheels to effect application and release of a selected brake, and the method including sensing the vehicle travelling speed and providing a first input to the controller, sensing steering of the vehicle by the operator and providing a second input to the controller, and where the travelling speed is below a threshold speed, and depending on the direction of steering of the vehicle, the controller applying one of the brakes.

Abstract: An NIR (near infra red) spectrum is obtained from a cereal grain sample and processed to deduce characteristics related to possible weather damage, for the purpose of assessing sample quality. In addition or alternatively, cereal grain is subjected to a compression test, for example to obtain data below the yield point of the shell of the grain, to determine state of any weather damage. An embodiment includes data processing to assess weather damage from data of NIR spectrum analysis and/or data from compression test analysis; a cross correlation is relevant where either of the NIR and compression tests alone are not sufficiently decisive.

Abstract: Disclosed is a modular bridge, typically for temporary use to enable persons to pass between upper floors of adjacent buildings during fire fighting or disaster relief operations, which can be rapidly assembled and deployed within a confined space and entirely from the “home” side of the gap to be crossed. It comprises a plurality of man-portable box section bridge modules adapted to be connected together end to end and projected in cantilever fashion from one side of the gap to the other. The assembly of modules is supported in and guided through a launch frame, with modules being added to the rear of the assembly and pushed through the frame until the gap is spanned. Removable lever arms of the frame are used to counterbalance the weight of the projected bridge modules during the course of deployment.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel bis-triazinylaminostilbene amphoteric fluorescent whitening agents, comprising both individual components and mixtures thereof, a process for their preparation, intermediates useful for their prepartion and use of the fluorescent whitening agents for the fluorescents whitening of paper.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to audio processing including IP telephony audio processing. Voice-over-IP terminals used in phone terminal applications benefit from a low-power implementation suitable for the limited chassis area of these devices. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a programmable audio processor chip is adapted to process voice data for IP communications. The chip includes a DSP voice compression device adapted to compress voice data, and audio processing circuitry programmed with an audio processing software application adapted to process the compressed voice data. The chip further includes an IP network stack adapted to store and process IP data. The IP data includes protocols for processing the compressed voice data via an IP network. A communication stack is also included in the chip and is adapted to store and process communications data. The communications data includes audio processing protocols for processing the compressed voice data.

Abstract: Disclosed is a marine steering assembly having a steering wheel pedestal, a steering output member, a manual steering mechanism and an auto-pilot drive. The manual steering mechanism is connected to a steering wheel. The manual steering mechanism is retained by the steering wheel pedestal for manual control of the steering output member. The auto-pilot drive is connected to the steering output member and provides automatic control of the steering output member. The auto-pilot drive is aligned with and located adjacent the steering output member. The steering output member, the manual steering mechanism, the pedestal and the auto-pilot drive are accommodated within an outer casing.

Abstract: A steerage wheel for a vessel such as a sailing yacht is disclosed. A rim member is attached to a hub member by a series of spokes. The rim member includes pivot mechanisms to allow sector portions of the rim member to be folded over to reduce the effective width of the steerage wheel. The spokes connecting the hub to the sector portions have releasable securing means to allow the connection between the rim member and the hub to be severed to permit folding of the steerage wheel without interference from the spokes. The releasable seeming means is a screw threaded sleeve that allows connection and detachment of the free ends of two lengths of the spoke.

Abstract: Biphenyl-substituted triazines of the formula which are notable for high thermal stability, are used as stabilizers for organic polymers to counter damage thereto caused by light, oxygen and heat, as light stabilizers for textile fiber materials and as sunscreens for the human skin.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) for interrogating an optical signal (not shown) propagating in an optical waveguide, such as an optical fiber, having an input section (12) and a second section (14) through which light entering from the input section (12) will subsequently propagate. The second section (14) includes a grating portion, such as a tilted chirped fiber Bragg grating (16). The grating (16) causes at least part of the optical signal to be coupled out of the optical fiber, through the fiber cladding. A photodetector (18) is provided generally alongside the grating (16). The photodetector (18) is arranged to collect and detect substantially all of the outcoupled optical signal. The relationship between the optical power outcoupled by the grating (16) and the wavelength of the optical signal is known, allowing a measurement of the outcoupled optical power to be used to determine the wavelength of the optical signal propagating through the grating (16).

Abstract: A shift lever assembly (10) including a base member (14) and a shift lever (12). The shift lever (12) is pivotally mounted to the base member (14) and includes first and second shift lever shifting paths (18,20). The shift lever (12) is movable by an operator along a changeover path between the first and second shifting paths (18,20). The shift lever (12) is also movable by an operator along the first shifting path (18) from an initial position to at least one further position relative to the base member (14). An actuator (26) is pivotally mounted to the base member (14). The actuator (26) is configured for movement along the first shifting path (18) between the initial position and the at least one further position.

Abstract: A fault monitoring system comprises a fault detection mechanism to determine the status of a parameter to be monitored. An integrator counts in one direction when a fault in the measurement system is detected and counts in an opposite direction in the absence of fault detection. A threshold detector generates a hard fault indication when the integrator count reaches a threshold value, and an integrator count monitor generates information indicative of the state of the integrator count when below the threshold value thereby providing an indication of the progression of the fault.

Abstract: Biphenyl-substituted triazines of the formulae which are notable for high thermal stability, are used as stabilizers for organic polymers to counter damage thereto caused by light, oxygen and heat, as light stabilizers for textile fiber materials and as sunscreens for the human skin.