Abstract: A ball and socket assembly adapted to engage the post of a rudder installed in the stern of a boat and to maintain it at a proper upright position regardless of the degree to which the post deviates from the vertical and is subjected to hydrodynamic forces which seek to displace the post. The assembly consists of a journal box fixedly mounted on a support and having a spheroidal cavity, and a bearing through which the rudder post extends. The bearing is constituted by a spheroidal section that nests within the cavity of the box and a cylindrical section projecting from the box and pinned to the post whereby the bearing is in alignment with the post and its spheroidal section is caused to rotate within the cavity in accordance with the rotation of the post as the boat is steered.

Abstract: An access cover assembly (10) has a cover member (12) and a frame member (14). The cover member has twelve vertical wall sections (36) with adjoining vertical edges (38) and twelve canted surfaces (40) with adjoining angled edges (46) depending downwardly from said vertical wall sections (36). The frame member has an upwardly facing frusto-conical section (80) and a number of substantially vertical edges (82) depending downwardly from an inner periphery (81) of said section (80), said inner periphery (81) being shaped such that when said angled edges (46) engage said inner periphery (81) when the cover is partially seated in the frame, the cover rotates towards a fully seated position in the frame member (14), whereupon the cover falls into and is locked within the frame member.

Abstract: A track and slide assembly for a sailboat having a mast and a boom, the track being attached to the mast and the slides which ride along the track being each coupled to the luff of a sail. Hence, when the sail is raised on the mast, the slides ride up the track, and when lowered, the slides then ride down the track. Formed in the track along its full length is a slot which extends below the outer face of the track and has a cruciform cross section defining a major channel and a minor channel that intersects the major channel at a point below the face of the track and is at right angles to the major channel.

Abstract: A method of molding complex shapes by injecting a plastics material resin into fibers (24, 32) within a mold (10, 34) wherein one or more galleries (22, 40) is provided in the mold communicating with the fibres, the gallery or galleries being so arranged as prevent substantial deformation of the fibres into them. The galleries may be arranged transverse to the length of some or all of the fibres and be sufficiently narrow to prevent deformation of the fibres into them; or the galleries may lie in the same general direction as the length of the fibres and channel inserts (42) provided with a series of transverse slots (44) are employed within the galleries to prevent fibres being pressed into the galleries.

Abstract: Amorphous silica can be prepared in a stable and pumpable suspension, suitable for use in alcoholic beverage stabilisation, by adding a polysaccharide or inorganic gelling agent. Examples of polysaccharides are carboxy methyl celluloses, guar gum and Xanthan gum. Preferably the suspension contains sorbic acid, benzoic acid or a benzoate to give synergistic action with the polysaccharide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an all polyester composite film structure having: (a) an opaque, biaxially oriented polyester support core film, (b) a clear, biaxially oriented polyester top film, and (c) a first pair of dye receptive or printable receiver films that can be heat sealed together and sandwiched between the top surface of the core film and one surface of the top film wherein at least one surface of a receiver film of the first pair of receiver films is printed with a dye to form printed matter.

Abstract: A method of molding complex composite articles having skin portions containing fibres to be injected with a resin and a core portion includes providing one or more galleries in the core or fibre skin and injecting resin into the gallery or galleries whereby it is rapidly transmitted to all portions of the skin. The galleries overcome the resistance to flow created by the capillary nature of the fibrous layer and enable more rapid mold cycles to be employed and more complex articles therefore to be molded.

Abstract: Amorphous silica can be prepared in a stable and pumpable suspension, suitable for use in alcoholic beverage stabilisation, by adding a polysaccharide or inorganic gelling agent. Examples of polysaccharides are carboxy methyl celluloses, guar gum and Xanthan gum. Preferably the suspension contains sorbic acid, benzoic acid or a benzoate to give synergistic action with the polysaccharide.

Abstract: A precipitated silica, suitable for use in toothpastes, has a high absorbency, i.e. 110 to 180 cm.sup.3 100 g, and good abrasivity with a plastics abrasion value of 12 to 20. The silica provides abrasion even at a relatively low particle size.

Abstract: Amorphous silicas suitable for use as abrasives in transparent toothpastes can be prepared by a precipitation route. These silicas are distinguished by having a BET surface area of 420 to 550 m.sup.2 /g, a weight mean particle size of 5 to 20 micron, a perspex abrasion value of 15 to 28, a mean pore diameter from 3 to 8 nm and a transmission of at least 70% in the R1 range from 1.444 to 1.460.

Abstract: Amorphous silicas suitable for use as abrasives in transparent toothpastes can be prepared by a precipitation route. These silicas are distinguished by having a BET surface area of 420 to 550 m.sup.2 /g, a weight mean particle size of 5 to 20 micron, a perspex abrasion value of 15 to 28, a mean pore diameter from 3 to 8 nm and a transmission of at least 70% in the R1 range from 1.444 to 1.460.

Abstract: An amorphous silica, especially precipitated silica, suitable for use in toothpastes, has a high abrasivity represented by a perspex abrasion value in the range from about 23 to about 35.

Abstract: A mast is provided which functions as both a mast and a righting lever which provides an immediate and powerful addition to the righting moment of a sailing vessel. The mast comprises a hollow longitudinal member adapted for carrying a sail. The longitudinal member contains one or more internal compartments which are sealed to prevent fluid communication to the interior of the mast.

Abstract: A composite cover having high load-bearing capacity comprising an upper and a lower skin of fiber-reinforced plastic material, the upper and lower skins being integral with one another around the edges of the cover and spaced apart from one another therebetween, the space so formed containing reinforcing walls of fiber-reinforced plastic material extending between the upper and lower skins, the reinforcing walls being integral with the upper and lower skins where they contact the same, the voids between the reinforcing walls being filled with lightweight infills, and the skins and reinforcing walls being resin impregnated so as to form one solid integral unit substantially free of joints or seams.

Abstract: A composite cover 10 for a manhole or other opening comprises an upper 12 and lower 14 skin of glass reinforced plastics material. The upper and lower skins are bonded to one another about the edges 18 and spaced apart from one another therebetween to define a space 16 containing reinforcing walls 20 extending between the upper 12 and lower 14 skins. The reinforcing walls 20 are preferably formed from a corrugated sheet of glass fibre reinforced plastics material. The cover of the invention is as strong as conventional cast iron covers but is lighter and cheaper to manufacture.