Abstract: A surfactant comprising the reaction product of: (a) an epoxidised carboxylic acid ester; and (b) a compound including at least one reactive alcohol and/or amino functional group.

Abstract: A surfactant comprising the reaction product of: (a) an epoxidised carboxylic acid ester; and (b) a compound including at least one reactive alcohol and/or amino functional group.

Abstract: A dispersion comprising a solid particulate component such as a pigment, a dispersing agent and one or more solvents is disclosed. The dispersing agent comprises a reaction product of (a) an epoxidised carboxylic acid ester; (b) a compound including at least one reactive alcohol and/or amino functional group; and (c) a derivatising agent. Such a dispersion shows excellent long-term stability. A method of producing such a dispersion having long-term stability, and a use of the dispersing agent to provide a dispersion having long-term stability are also described.

Abstract: A surfactant comprising the reaction product of: (a) an epoxidised carboxylic acid ester; and (b) a compound including at least one reactive alcohol and/or amino functional group.

Abstract: The present invention provides a high actives liquid nonionic surfactant concentrate that includes a fatty alcohol alkoxylate having an alkylene oxide content of about 10-100 moles and at least one other nonionic surfactant alkoxylate having an alkylene oxide content of about 4-12 moles. The liquid surfactant concentrate may be utilized in a variety of applications, such as emulsion polymerization or in the formulation of agrochemical compositions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a high actives liquid nonionic surfactant concentrate that includes a fatty alcohol alkoxylate having an alkylene oxide content of about 10-100 moles and at least one other nonionic surfactant alkoxylate having an alkylene oxide content of about 4-12 moles. The liquid surfactant concentrate may be utilized in a variety of applications, such as emulsion polymerization or in the formulation of agrochemical compositions.

Abstract: An enhanced piezoelectric wire structure includes an elongated portion of piezoelectric material, a metallic core, and an outer conductive sheath. The metallic core is substantially surrounded by the elongated portion of piezoelectric material and configured to function as a first electrode for the piezoelectric structure. The conductive outer sheath preferably covers selected areas of the elongated portion of piezoelectric material and functions as a second electrode for the structure. The piezoelectric material may correspond to barium titanate ceramic fibers, such that a lead-free structure is effected, however other piezoelectric materials may also be utilized. The disclosed structure can be poled with a reduced poling voltage and lower temperature level, and also requires a reduced voltage potential level required for mechanical actuation.

Abstract: A tire assembly with integrated electronic components includes a tire structure and an integrated electronics assembly, which preferably includes at least a radio frequency (RF) device and a multi-frequency antenna that enables wireless communication in at least first and second resonant frequency bands. Such multi-frequency antenna further comprises at least first and second antenna wires connected to the RF device, thus facilitating the transmission of RF signals which may include information such as tire identification information or measured condition information such as tire temperature, pressure, and other characteristics. The first and second antenna wires preferably function together as at least two dipole antennas, for example, two half-wave dipole antennas, or one half-wave dipole antenna and one three-half-wave dipole antenna.

Abstract: A patch having integrated electronics and positioned within the structure of a tire is provided. A process for integrating such patch within a tire is also provided. The patch is placed within the tire structure as opposed to resting on a tire surface. The patch may be attached within the tire structure using adhesives or may be bonded within the tire structure through a curing process.

Abstract: A tire assembly with integrated power generation features includes one or more piezoelectric devices configured to generate electric charge therein upon being subjected to mechanical strains associated with flexure of tire or wheel components. The piezoelectric device may be incorporated in a variety of tire structures and in many different locations. In pneumatic tire structures, the piezoelectric device and related electronics may be embedded in crown or sidewall locations among such selected components as the exterior tread portion, first and second steel belts of a belt package, carcass, cap ply portion, inner liner, zone base, etc. The piezoelectric device with optional rubber casing may also be attached to such locations as the inner liner and tire exterior. Piezoelectric devices may also be integrated with a tire and safety support combination that is configured to operate in an extended mobility mode when the tire structure loses air pressure.

Abstract: A thermal monitoring system for use with a tire is provided. The system includes one or more thermal sensors that are carried by a vehicle. One of the thermal sensors may produce a first sensor output signal that is representative of the temperature of a first location on the tire. Additionally, a second sensor output signal may be produced that is representative of the temperature of a second location on the tire. A signal processing device is included that receives the first and second sensor output signals. The signal processing device produces a processing device output signal that is representative of a potential damage condition of the tire. This signal is produced in response to a particular temperature difference between the first and second locations as indicated by the first and second sensor output signals. An indication device receives the processing device signal and indicates to a user of the vehicle that the tire is experiencing a potential damage condition.

Abstract: A wheel has a central hub and an outer rim interconnected by a web, with a pair of annular braking discs being mounted one on each side of the web and each composed of at least two curved segments, each secured to the web by a number of wide clearance bolts, at least two close clearance bolts and at least two further bolts. The wide clearance bolts are each a clearance fit both in an aperture in a segment and in a bore in the web; the close clearance bolts are a close fit both in an aperture in a segment and a bore in the web; and the further bolts are a close fit in an aperture in a segment and a wide clearance fit in a bore in the web.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a disc brake having a lever-type caliper, suitable for use on railway vehicles. The lever caliper type disc brake comprises a pair of pivotally mounted lever arms with an actuator arranged to act between said lever arms to cause the lever arms to pivot and apply the brake. An adjustable pad positioning device is connected to one lever arm to limit the available pivotal movement for said one lever arm when said actuator is in a brakes released position. The adjustable pad positioning device thus restricts the available movement for said one lever arm when the actuator is in the brakes released position so that the pad carried by said one lever arm is always held at a defined distance from the rotating disc in the brakes released position.

Abstract: The present invention provides a brake pad retaining plate assembly which is a sub-assembly which can be simply bolted to the plate of a brake shoe assembly. This sub-assembly basically comprises a retaining plate which has a pair of bolts screwed into parallel bores in one end of the plate, the shafts of the bolts extending through aligned bores in first and second plate members. A spring engages over the shaft of each bolt and engages against the retaining plate, biassing the plate members towards the heads of the bolts; the plate member nearest to the retaining plate being adapted to be secured to the shoe plate. Thus the brake pad retaining assembly of the present invention can be mounted simply by bolting the plate member nearest the retaining plate, to the shoe plate. Further, the retaining plate can only be released by engaging a suitable tool between the plate members. Thus accidental release cannot occur.

Abstract: In a cluster of nuclear fuel rods cooled by liquid metal an obstruction to coolant flow results in overheating in the wake of the obstruction. By the provision of open ended heat transfer tubes in the flow channels, a guaranteed supply of coolant is maintained and this supply holds the temperature to below saturation. Heat transfer via the tubes is highly efficient and ensures that a sufficient temperature rise occurs at the cluster exit to provoke a response from the outlet temperature transducer sensing average temperature.

Abstract: The invention provides a control system which predicts the brake re-apply point during a brake pressure release/re-apply cycle by measuring the duration of the synchronous running period, that period during which the wheel is decelerating at substantially the same rate as the vehicle. An increase in the synchronous running period above an optimum period is arranged to bring about an earlier re-application of the brakes in a cycle, and a decrease in the synchronous running period is used to effect a later re-application of the brakes. Various circuits are disclosed for detecting the duration of the synchronous running period. In a preferred circuit a track and store circuit compares an acceleration/deceleration signal with a stored signal whose amplitude follows that of the acceleration/deceleration signal, and the synchronous running period is taken to be the period between coincidences between the acceleration/deceleration signal and the stored signal.