Abstract: A module for constructing foundations for a structure, comprising: a plurality of formwork members that define a pair of side walls that define a space between the side walls; thereto to hold the side walls in a spaced relationship; a three dimensional reinforcement cage that includes the brace, a plurality of first members, and a plurality of second members perpendicular to the first members, the first members coupled to at least the brace and the second members coupled to at least one of the plurality of the first members and the brace, wherein the cage forms an internal support within the space between the side walls for receiving a settable material, such that the side walls become integrated with the internal support as the settable substrate sets, to form the module.

Abstract: The invention is directed broadly to a modular housing system having a structural framework comprising an internal chassis as a core structural element, the internal chassis including: a first ladder frame that defines a base; four columns at least two being extendable columns; and a second ladder frame engaged to the first ladder frame via the four columns, such that at least one of a distance and an angle between the first ladder frame and the second ladder frame is adjustable to define a usable volume of the structural framework.

Abstract: A construction module for a structure, comprising: a formwork member that includes a base, a pair of parallel side walls that extend upwardly from the base, and a pair of parallel end walls. The base, the side walls and the end walls define a cavity for reinforcement and concrete. A reinforcement member includes an upper portion and a lower portion. When the reinforcement member is located in the cavity and concrete fills the cavity, the lower portion of the reinforcement member and the concrete define an elongate beam.

Abstract: A construction module for a structure, comprising: a formwork member that includes a base, a pair of parallel side walls that extend upwardly from the base, and a pair of parallel end walls. The base, the side walls and the end walls define a cavity for reinforcement and concrete. A reinforcement member includes an upper portion and a lower portion. When the reinforcement member is located in the cavity and concrete fills the cavity, the lower portion of the reinforcement member and the concrete define an elongate beam.

Abstract: The invention is directed broadly to a modular housing system having a structural framework comprising an internal chassis as a core structural element, the internal chassis including: a first ladder frame that defines a base; four columns at least two being extendable columns; and a second ladder frame engaged to the first ladder frame via the four columns, such that at least one of a distance and an angle between the first ladder frame and the second ladder frame is adjustable to define a usable volume of the structural framework.

Abstract: A construction module for a structure, comprising: a formwork member that includes a base, a pair of parallel side walls that extend upwardly from the base, and a pair of parallel end walls. The base, the side walls and the end walls define a cavity for reinforcement and concrete. A reinforcement member includes an upper portion and a lower portion. When the reinforcement member is located in the cavity and concrete fills the cavity, the lower portion of the reinforcement member and the concrete define an elongate beam.

Abstract: A chemical and/or biochemical apparatus (10) includes a thermal mount (14) having wells (26) for receiving reaction vessels (12), a thermal module (16) having a first side thermally coupled to the thermal mount (14), a first heat sink (18) thermally coupled to a second side of the thermal module, the heat sink (18) having a body and thermally conductive fins (32) extending outwards from the body of the first heat sink (18), and a printed circuit board (54) having electronic components for controlling at least the thermal module (16), an excitation light source (62), and a light sensor (52). A first set of light waveguides (60) delivers excitation light to a reaction vessel, and a second set of light waveguides (38) receives light from a reaction vessel and delivers the light to the light sensor (52). The printed circuit board (54), the excitation light source (62), the light sensor (52) and the light waveguides (38, 60) are arranged within an interior space (5) of the first heat sink (18).

Abstract: A chemical and/or biochemical apparatus (10) for receiving a plurality of reaction vessels in which chemical and/or biochemical reactions may take place includes a thermal mount (14) having a plurality of wells (26) for receiving the reaction vessels (12), a thermal module (16) having a first side thermally coupled to the thermal mount (14), a first heat sink (18) thermally coupled to a second side of the thermal module, the heat sink (18) having a body and a plurality of thermally conductive fins (32) extending outwards from the body of the first heat sink (18), and a printed circuit board (54) having electronic components for controlling at least the thermal module (16), an excitation light source (62), and a light sensor (52). A first set of light waveguides (60) is provided for delivering excitation light to a reaction vessel, and a second set of light waveguides (38) is provided for receiving light from a reaction vessel and for delivering the light to the light sensor (52).

Abstract: A construction module for a structure, comprising: a formwork member that includes a base, a pair of parallel side walls that extend upwardly from the base, and a pair of parallel end walls. The base, the side walls and the end walls define a cavity for reinforcement and concrete. A reinforcement member includes an upper portion and a lower portion. When the reinforcement member is located in the cavity and concrete fills the cavity, the lower portion of the reinforcement member and the concrete define an elongate beam.

Abstract: A construction module for a structure, comprising: a formwork member that includes a base, a pair of parallel side walls that extend upwardly from the base, and a pair of parallel end walls. The base, the side walls and the end walls define a cavity for reinforcement and concrete. A reinforcement member includes an upper portion and a lower portion. When the reinforcement member is located in the cavity and concrete fills the cavity, the lower portion of the reinforcement member and the concrete define an elongate beam.

Abstract: A module for constructing foundations for a structure, comprising: a plurality of formwork members that define a pair of side walls that define a space between the side walls; thereto to hold the side walls in a spaced relationship; a three dimensional reinforcement cage that includes the brace, a plurality of first members, and a plurality of second members perpendicular to the first members, the first members coupled to at least the brace and the second members coupled to at least one of the plurality of the first members and the brace, wherein the cage forms an internal support within the space between the side walls for receiving a settable material, such that the side walls become integrated with the internal support as the settable substrate sets, to form the module.

Abstract: A construction module for a structure, comprising: a formwork member that includes a base, a pair of parallel side walls that extend upwardly from the base, and a pair of parallel end walls. The base, the side walls and the end walls define a cavity for reinforcement and concrete. A reinforcement member includes an upper portion and a lower portion. When the reinforcement member is located in the cavity and concrete fills the cavity, the lower portion of the reinforcement member and the concrete define an elongate beam.

Abstract: A construction module for a structure, comprising: a formwork member that includes a base, a pair of parallel side walls that extend upwardly from the base, and a pair of parallel end walls. The base, the side walls and the end walls define a cavity for reinforcement and concrete. A reinforcement member includes an upper portion and a lower portion. When the reinforcement member is located in the cavity and concrete fills the cavity, the lower portion of the reinforcement member and the concrete define an elongate beam.

Abstract: In summary, the invention provides a clip for use in the construction of a reinforced concrete panel, the panel being reinforced by a mesh comprising a plurality of parallel line wires and a plurality of parallel cross-wires connected to the line wires, the clip comprising: a base configured to engage a side wall that, in use, defines a formwork of the panel; and a body extending from the base, the body being configured to retain a line wire or a cross-wire of the mesh in an operative position of the mesh.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting spectra in light emanating from chemical or biochemical reactions occurring in at least one reaction vessel (3) of a plurality of reaction vessels is disclosed. Each reaction vessel (3) has a receptacle portion having an emitting area from which light can emanate. The apparatus may include a masking element (5) having an array of apertures (6) through which light from each reaction vessel (3) can escape. A plurality of light waveguides (7) are arranged to guide light from the apertures (6) in the masking element (5) to a light dispersing device (8) for dispersing the light from each waveguide (7) into a dispersed spectrum. A light detecting device (10) detects specific spectra in the dispersed spectra of light substantially simultaneously.

Abstract: A construction module for a structure, comprising: a formwork member that includes a base, a pair of parallel side walls that extend upwardly from the base, and a pair of parallel end walls. The base, the side walls and the end walls define a cavity for reinforcement and concrete. A reinforcement member includes an upper portion and a lower portion. When the reinforcement member is located in the cavity and concrete fills the cavity, the lower portion of the reinforcement member and the concrete define an elongate beam.

Abstract: In summary, the invention provides a clip for use in the construction of a reinforced concrete panel, the panel being reinforced by a mesh comprising a plurality of parallel line wires and a plurality of parallel cross-wires connected to the line wires, the clip comprising: a base configured to engage a side wall that, in use, defines a formwork of the panel; and a body extending from the base, the body being configured to retain a line wire or a cross-wire of the mesh in an operative position of the mesh.

Abstract: A chemical and/or biochemical apparatus (10) for receiving a plurality of reaction vessels in which chemical and/or biochemical reactions may take place includes a thermal mount (14) having a plurality of wells (26) for receiving the reaction vessels (12), a thermal module (16) having a first side thermally coupled to the thermal mount (14), a first heat sink (18) thermally coupled to a second side of the thermal module, the heat sink (18) having a body and a plurality of thermally conductive fins (32) extending outwards from the body of the first heat sink (18), and a printed circuit board (54) having electronic components for controlling at least the thermal module (16), an excitation light source (62), and a light sensor (52). A first set of light waveguides (60) is provided for delivering excitation light to a reaction vessel, and a second set of light waveguides (38) is provided for receiving light from a reaction vessel and for delivering the light to the light sensor (52).

Abstract: An apparatus (40) for a PCR reaction includes an array (41) of reaction vessels (42) is mounted on a thermal mount (43). The thermal mount (43) is positioned on a on a heater/cooler (45), such as a Peltier module. The array (41) is covered by a sealing film (44), which is sealed to the upper rims (49) of the vessels (42) to keep the reagents and reaction products within each vessel (42). A heated lid (50) is used to heat the underside of the sealing film to reduce condensation thereon of reagents vaporized during the reaction. The reaction vessels (42) are formed of an upper, thermally insulating part (25) and a lower, thermally conducting part (21) so as to facilitate accurate temperature control within the vessels but so as to reduce the amount of thermal energy conducted from the heated lid to the vessels, which would reduce the accuracy of the temperature control.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for detecting a signal of a specific spectrum emitted in the course of a chemical or biochemical reaction. The method comprises conducting the reaction in a reaction vessel, which is arranged so that light emanating from the reaction vessel is received by a detector comprising a plurality of photosensors in an array, wherein each photosensor is activated by light falling within a particular waveband range only, and where photosensors activated by light in different waveband ranges are distributed throughout the array. Output from one or more subsets of those photosensors which receive wavebands which contribute to the said specific spectrum is monitored and the output from a subset, or the relationship between the outputs of each subset are used to determine the signal in the specific spectrum.