Abstract: A retortable, hydraulically solid, sealed package (10) containing a liquid or semi-liquid food product (24) comprises a thermoplastics container (12) formed by a thermo-forming process and a heat-shrinkable thermoplastics closure diaphragm (20). The closure diaphragm is heat-sealed to a rim (18) of the container after the headspace above the product has been evacuated, and is subsequently subjected to external pressure so as to be non-elastically stretched and made to lie wholly in contact with the enclosed product. When retorted (e.g. for sterilization) the package suffers no visible deformation of the container (12), despite the considerable volume shrinkage of the container which may occur. The loss of volume caused by this volume shrinkage is accommodated by a reduction in the concavity of the diaphragm (20) caused by a corresponding heat-induced shrinkage of the diaphragm material.

Abstract: In this invention, a means is described for seeding through a self-propelled irrigation system. In one form of the invention, the seeds are metered into an auxiliary water line, supported on the main water line, and are sprinkled onto the ground by way of sequentially operated sprinklers. In another form of the invention, the seeds are metered directly into the main water line and are broadcast onto the ground by sequentially operated sprinklers.

Abstract: In this invention, a device is described for seeding through a self-propelled irrigation system. In one form of the invention, the seeds are metered into an auxiliary water line, supported on the main water line, and are sprinkled onto the ground by way of sequentially operated sprinklers. In another form of the invention, the seeds are metered directly into the main water line and are broadcast onto the ground by sequentially operated sprinklers.

Abstract: A water delivery machine for delivering water under pressure from a pressurized main line to a linear irrigation system, the main line having spaced risers therealong, and wherein the water is delivered continuously as the linear system moves over the field being irrigated. The machine has fore and aft articulated booms, the inner ends of which are connected to the water conduit of the linear system, and the outer ends of which are connected to couplers. The booms provide water conduits to deliver water from the couplers to the linear system. Each boom includes a conduit section extending generally in the direction of travel of the linear system which is supported on a wheeled cart having inner and outer wheel bogeys.

Abstract: An irrigation system, such as of the self-propelled type with a series of self-propelled support towers for supporting and moving an irrigation conduit over a field to be irrigated, the conduit comprised of a series of conduit sections supported by the towers. The system is for use on sloping or uneven terrain causing tension or compression loads in the system, and includes a control for sensing such a load and for controlling the movement of selective support towers to relieve the load. Included is a coupling for joining adjacent conduit sections which senses the relative displacement of said sections caused by said load. Also included is a steerable support tower which is steered in response to the coupler sensing said displacement to relieve said load.

Abstract: Antifouling compositions or paints with a high degree of stability and toxic to marine life comprising the combination of (a) cuprous oxide; (b) one or more triorganotin polymer or copolymer carboxylates and (c) at least one relatively inert dehydrating agent of low water solubility which is capable of taking up water either physically or chemically; and optionally also comprising other toxic or non-toxic resin or pigment components, non-aqueous diluents, thinners, extenders or solvents, together with other conventional additives.The component (c) is preferably a relatively inert metal salt of low water solubility, e.g. calcium sulphate in anhydrous or hemi-hydrate form and the polymer or copolymer is generally a substituted or unsubstituted vinyl or acrylic triorganotin polymer or copolymer carboxylate, copolymers being preferred to give the desired choice of physical or mechanical properties.

Abstract: A TDM PCM communication system includes a plurality of user terminals, a switching network and a CPU for controlling the establishment of transmission paths between the user terminals and the switching network for the transfer of information between predetermined ones of the user terminals. An incoming path carries information bits from the user terminals to the switching network and an outgoing path carries information bits from the switching network to the user terminals. The switching network includes means for transferring single information bits each residing in a time slot period from the incoming path to the outgoing path. The transferring means includes an exchange means for effecting a bilateral exchange of information bits in fixed pairs of time slot periods, whereby paths for information bit transmission are periodically provided between ones of the user terminals, as determined by the CPU.

Abstract: A pair of interchangeable memories is provided, one of which receives a PCM frame while simultaneously transmitting one, while the other of which, containing the previous frame, outputs the channel bits for parallel processing. Each simultaneous conference is assigned a temporary storage location in which the associated channels are accumulated to yield the total conference signal. Subsequently, each channel is subtracted from its conference total to produce the final conference signal. The final conference signals replace the unprocessed frame in the memory where, at the end of the current frame, it is interchanged with the other memory. And so on.