Abstract: Apparatus for inducing flow in a molten material comprises a refractory lined vessel (10) for containing a molten material with an aperture (35, FIG. 3) in the refractory lining. A mounting plate (40, FIG. 4) of non-magnetic material is removably mounted to the vessel over the aperture and an electromagnetic induction unit (14) is mounted adjacent an exterior face of the mounting plate. A cooling system is provided for cooling the mounting plate. The mounting plate may have vanes (72, FIG. 6) on an outer surface to define cooling channels (74, FIG. 6) through which a cooling fluid can flow. The vanes may follow a non-linear path and the cooling fluid may be air.

Abstract: Apparatus for inducing flow in a molten material comprises a refractory lined vessel (10) for containing a molten material with an aperture (35, FIG. 3) in the refractory lining. A mounting plate (40, FIG. 4) of non-magnetic material is removably mounted to the vessel over the aperture and an electromagnetic induction unit (14) is mounted adjacent an exterior face of the mounting plate. A cooling system is provided for cooling the mounting plate. The mounting plate may have vanes (72, FIG. 6) on an outer surface to define cooling channels (74, FIG. 6) through which a cooling fluid can flow. The vanes may follow a non-linear path and the cooling fluid may be air.

Abstract: The credit a mobile radio apparatus account, the display (15) of the a mobile telephone (10) is used to display an image including a barcode (1) which graphically represents transaction data. This includes data identifying a transaction database records in a transaction database (75), the transaction database records including data identifying the mobile radio apparatus account. An account database (83) comprises account database records of mobile radio apparatus accounts including an amount of credit. A retail terminal (30) provided in a retail location has a reader (40) which reads the barcode (1). The retail terminal (30) accepts payment and communicates the read transaction data and data indicating that payment has been accepted to a transaction control system remote from the retail terminal (30). The transaction database (75) is updated to indicate that payment has been accepted and the account database (83) is updated to credit the mobile radio apparatus account by the payment amount.

Abstract: The present invention discloses systems and methods for managing the transfer of value to a third party using short messaging Services (SMS) communications. Methods for using SMS to transfer value to a third party comprises providing the payment card to a user; activating the payment card; initiating a transaction associated with the payment card; receiving via SMS communications an identifier associated with the payment card; associating value with the payment card; determining an amount of value associated with the payment card; providing an indication of the amount of value associated with the bill payment card to the payment card user via SMS communications; associating at least one third party with the payment card; selecting a third party to be associated with the transaction; receiving from the user an amount of value to transfer to the third party; transferring to the third party the amount of value; and terminating the transaction.

Abstract: A stand device for use with objects such as musical instrument cases. The stand can be attached to an instrument case for supporting the instrument case in an upright position. The musical instrument may be stored within the case for protection against the elements or accidental damage. The stand may be placed in an extended position for supporting the musical instrument case, or the stand may be retracted to a compact configuration to facilitate transporting, storing and handling the stand. The stand may include a body that may be attachable to the instrument case through a pair of connectors and a brace member. The body may also have a pair of legs for providing additional stability to the stand. When the stand is retracted, the connectors, brace member and legs may be received within the body so as to be out of view.

Abstract: A liquid flow control device has a port or passageway through which liquid flow is to be controlled. A body of a liquid swellable material is located in the port or passageway having an upstream side and a downstream side in relation to the direction of liquid flow through the port or passageway. A layer of sealing material is provided on the upstream side of the body to prevent contact of that side of the body with the liquid when the body is swollen to close the port or passageway whilst allowing contact of the downstream side of the body when the body is in the non-swollen condition allowing liquid flow through the port or passageway.

Abstract: A liquid flow control device includes an annular housing having an inlet for liquid in one periphery of the housing and an outlet for liquid in the other periphery. An annular block of water swellable material is located in the housing. A layer of sealing material encircles the annular block on the side thereof adjacent the inlet to close the inlet when the block is swollen through contact with the liquid.

Abstract: A system and method for adding value to a customer account are provided. An identifier associated with a value is distributed to a customer. The identifier is usable to add the value to an account. A request to add the value to a customer account is received via short message service (SMS). The request comprises the identifier and account identification information associated with the customer account. In some embodiments, the identifier may be entered into the device using text auto-completion software. The request is received from a user communication device as an SMS message. The value associated with the identifier and the customer account associated with the account identification number are identified based on the request. The value is caused to be added to the customer account. A confirmation that the value was added to the customer account is passed to the user communication device.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a tube coupling comprising a coupling body having an open ended throughway to receive a tube, an annular shoulder in the throughway facing the open end of the throughway, an ‘O’ ring seal for sealing with a tube located against the annular shoulder in the throughway and a collet located in the open end of the throughway for locking a tube in the throughway. The collet has a head projecting out of the open end of the throughway and resilient arms extend into the throughway to engage a tapered cam surface adjacent said open end to force the arms inwardly with movement of the collet outwardly of the throughway into gripping engagement with a tube.

Abstract: A tube coupling has a coupling body with a throughway open at one end to receive an end portion of a tube. A seal encircles the throughway to seal with the periphery and end of the tube and a cap is mounted on the body having a tube locking device rotatably mounted in the cap to engage and hold the tube in the cap. The cap and body have interengaging means which guide the cap on the body in an axial direction along the body with rotation of the cap from a first position in which a tube can be inserted through the cap and into the seal in the throughway and retained by the locking device and a second position advanced along the coupling body from said one end in which the tube end is held positively in engagement with the seal in the throughway. The locking device engages via a ring with the coupling body to resist rotation of the locking device with respect to the body whereby rotation of the cap between said the first and second positions does not cause the tube to rotate.

Abstract: A stand device for use with objects such as musical instrument cases. The stand can be attached to an instrument case for supporting the instrument case in an upright position. The musical instrument may be stored within the case for protection against the elements or accidental damage. The stand may be placed in an extended position for supporting the musical instrument case, or the stand may be retracted to a compact configuration to facilitate transporting, storing and handling the stand. The stand may include a body that may be attachable to the instrument case through a pair of connectors and a brace member. The body may also have a pair of legs for providing additional stability to the stand. When the stand is retracted, the connectors, brace member and legs may be received within the body so as to be out of view.

Abstract: An automatic brake control system for a vehicle in which the brakes 16, 17 are controlled by a control unit 22 to limit vehicle speed when descending a hill is provided with an input from a sensor on the gear selector 28. The control unit has a vehicle speed characteristic associated with each gear, the characteristics relating vehicle speed as controlled by the brake system to the position of the accelerator pedal, and having a different minimum speed for each gear.