Abstract: A process is set forth for the cryogenic distillation of an air feed to produce at least two oxygen-rich gaseous streams having different oxygen purities. The process uses a mixing column system in addition to a distillation column system. A key to the process is that at least two oxygen-rich liquid streams having different oxygen purities are transferred from the distillation column system to the mixing column system in order to produce the oxygen-rich gaseous streams.

Abstract: Data between two stations is often transmitted in the form of a parameter and the name or identifier of the parameter. The present invention divides the identifier into a prefix, an attribute, and a suffix. The actual parameters having a particular prefix or suffix are then transmitted along with the attributes. Then parameters having a different suffix but the same prefix are transmitted along with the respective attributes. This is repeated until all suffixes of the first prefix have been used. The process is then repeated for a different prefix. Indicators are used to indicate the start of a particular group having a particular suffix and a particular prefix. In this way the entire identifier for each parameter does not need to be transmitted each time a parameter is transmitted.

Abstract: A linear magnetic actuator has a pair of stator windings (14, 15) of opposite polarity formed inside a cylindrical soft iron shell (16) providing a slotless back iron piece. The axially movable shuffle comprises a soft iron shaft (11) with a pair of radially magnetised annular permanent magnets (12 and 13). The arrangement has cylindrical symmetry and the stator windings are as thin as possible to minimise the air gap between the cylindrical pole faces of the annular magnets and the back iron.

Abstract: A motor coach designed generally for highway travel has a passenger compartment between sides of the coach and forwardly of the rear wall of the coach and defined above a raised floor of the coach. Underneath the floor is provided an engine compartment behind the rear wheels of the coach and luggage compartment forward of the rear wheels. A lavatory compartment is located at the junction between the rear wall and one side wall and immediately forwardly of the lavatory compartment is provided a floor area on which the rear seats at that side of the coach can be moved forwardly to a stored position to form an open area of the coach aligned with a wheel chair lift mounted in the engine compartment and arranged to lift a passenger from the ground onto the floor of the coach into the area forwardly of the lavatory compartment.

Abstract: The prop headboard is used to support an inflatable grout bag on the head of an elongate prop. The headboard has a timber frame which presents a planar support surface suitable for supporting the inflatable grout bag. Bag-retaining flaps made of flexible fabric material extend from opposite edges of the headboard. These flaps are folded over the grout bag and serve to centralise it on the headboard and to restrain it from rolling out sideways during inflation and thereafter. The invention also concerns a prop system in which the headboard is used, and a method of supporting a hanging wall in a mine working.

Abstract: The method and system involves encoding each data value into a binary format and writing values in reverse order by first writing the value data portion, starting at its end, and proceeding towards its beginning and noting a starting index, upon starting the step of writing and noting an ending index upon ending the step of writing. Encoding includes using a stack wherein data values are pushed on the stack and read off the stack using a first in last out procedure. The start of a structured data type (set or sequence), namely the first byte of the value is encoded and/or written last and the end of a structured data type is the last byte and is encoded and/or written first. The length of the data portion is determined based on the starting and ending index. The length is then encoded to form part of the encoding.

Abstract: An assembly for testing an evaporative emission control system of an automotive vehicle which controls emission of volatile fuel vapors. The assembly is used to determine if a leak is present in a portion of the system which includes a vapor collection canister. The leak detection assembly incorporates a vacuum actuated canister vent control valve which seals the evaporative system so the leak detection test can be performed. A vacuum actuated pump which performs a leak detection test. An engine control unit initializes the pump by drawing air into a pump cavity and also closes the vent control valve. After the initialization period, the pump is activated to pressurize the evaporative emission control system. Once a control pressure is achieved, the cycle rate starts to drop off. If no leak exists in the system, the pump will eventually stop pumping. If there is a leak, the pump will continue to pump at a rate that will be representative of the flow characteristics of the size of the leak.

Abstract: In a multitasking data processing apparatus including means for executing processes and including a display adapter for executing functions supporting a display, the display adapter including a first port means for receiving, from the means for executing processes, requests to execute selected functions having a first execution priority, a second port means for concurrently receiving, from the means for executing processes, requests to execute selected functions having a second execution priority lower than the first execution priority, and means, coupled to the first and second port means, for executing selected functions according to the execution priority.

Abstract: An apparatus for interfacing between a plurality of application programs and at least one display adapter having functions for supporting a display, the apparatus including first driver apparatus providing an interface from a first one of the application programs to functions of a display adapter, second driver apparatus providing an interface from a second one of the application programs to functions of the display adapter, and access apparatus, coupled to both driver apparatus and to the display adapter, for providing both driver apparatus common access to selected functions of said display adapter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for supporting multiple command sets in a single rendering adapter. A device driver operating in tandem with a rendering adapter and its associated microcode interprets disparate command sets without separate control/interpretation sections being maintained in the rendering adapter. Rendering adapter microcode in the adapter for supporting a first command set is extending to support commands in a second command set not capable of being mapped in the first command set. The device driver receives the disparate data stream command sets generated by application programs and destined for the rendering adapter. If a first command set command is received by the device driver, it is passed on to the rendering adapter substantially unmodified. If a second command set command is received by the device driver, an attempt is made to map the command into a first command set command, and then transfer this mapped command to the rendering adapter.

Abstract: A programming interface is provided in a computer graphics system which allows plural hardware display adapters to be upgraded and enhanced without correspondingly upgrading and rewriting display specific device driver code for each separate program application using the graphics system. A resource library with a standard programming interface, but specific to each display adapter is included, as well as display driver code for each adapter. Functions necessary to service the graphics model embodied in the program application are configured as device driver models and also are included within the interface of the present invention. Initially, the functions provided in the resource library are dynamically bound to expose the functionality of the desired display adapter. A second level of dynamic binding is implemented to bind the program application with the display specific code and graphic models being utilized.

Abstract: Composite polymer membranes are disclosed comprising a first polymeric material which defines a porous matrix, and a second polymeric material which at least partially fills, and thereby blocks, the pores of the matrix, and in which preferably each of the first and second materials are crosslinked. The membrane preferably includes a layer of an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid which is graft-polymerized with the first polymeric material of the porous matrix on one of its surfaces. Crosslinking has been found to improve the transport characteristics of species through the membrane, such as the barrier performance of the membrane towards species dissolved in solution.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method of encoding a dirty bit within plural bit control data for controlling an operation by a computer graphics system to simultaneously indicate reset or clear of data for a pixel in the system to quickly update a frame on a screen in an animation application are disclosed. Flexibility of the encoding dirty bits and a trade-off among a relative size of a set of control data available for the system to control the operation are easily achieved by the apparatus and the method.

Abstract: Carboxylic acids produced by carbonylation and having iodide and oxidisable impurities are purified by contacting with hydrogen peroxide and recovering the purified acid by distillation or evaporation. Preferably a strong acid such as sulphuric acid is used as a catalyst. Product contamination by sulphur from sulphuric acid and by excess peroxide may be reduced by the use of metal salts in the recovery step.

Abstract: A data processing system that includes several ongoing processes that provide input words to a buffer of an independently executing processor, a buffer manager that controls the process access to the buffer and controls the words input by the processes to the buffer that includes an apparatus for regulating the number of words from an executing first process for loading into the buffer, an apparatus for loading the number of words, an apparatus for loading a synchronization word when a second process is to be executed and an apparatus for halting the loading of the first process words and providing for loading of the second process words when the synchronization word is accessed by the independently executing processor.

Abstract: A composite membrane comprises a first material which defines a porous matrix and a second material blocking the pores of the matrix, the second material having been crosslinked by irradiation, preferably with UV radiation, when in the pores. Preferably a crosslinking agent is mixed with the second material.The porous matrix may be made by leaching a water soluble material from a blend of that material with polyethylene. The second material may be polymerizable, for example an acrylic acid derivative.

Abstract: Silicon carbide filaments are coated to protect them from attack by a titanium matrix material when incorporating them into a metal matrix composite. The coating method comprises coating the filaments firstly with a carbon layer and then with a titanium carbide or boride layer whose carbon or boron content decreases progressively from its interface with the carbon layer to its exterior surface. A layer of titanium or a titanium based alloy may be provided on the titanium carbide or boride layer to facilitate incorporation into a metal matrix. Preferably, the layers are applied by sputter ion plating.

Abstract: A microporous polymeric film of high porosity comprises a halopolymer in which the repeating units are --(C.sub.n H.sub.2n)-- and --(C.sub.m X.sub.2m)-- in which each X independently represents fluorine or chlorine and the values of n and m are greater than one and less than six. The film is the result of firstly melt processing a mixture of the halopolymer, more than 150 parts by weight of an extractable salt and not more than 80 parts by weight of an extractable polymer per 100 parts by weight of the halopolymer, the extractable polymer not being completely and homogeneously mixed with the halopolymer and being less viscous than the halopolymer when both are molten so that the surfaces of the film resulting from melt processing are rich in the extractible polymer, and secondly extracting at least some of the extractable salt to render the film porous and extracting at least some of said polymer to impart surface porosity to the film.

Abstract: A coating composition for providing (especially temporary protective) coatings on surfaces (especially the hydrophobic paintwork of newly finished motor vehicles) which comprises particulate copolymer dispersed in water containing less than 10 wt % of volatile organic solvent. The particulate copolymer comprises 7 to 14 wt % acrylic or methacrylic acid, 0.1 to 10 wt % hydrophilic monomer (e.g. methacrylamide) and other monomers. The coatings are transparent, abrasion resistant, tenacious yet easily removable to produce environmentally acceptable effluent.

Abstract: Melt-extruded polymeric electrolyte material for electrochemical power cells may be coextruded with other components of the cell, notably a lithium metal anode.