Abstract: A heated valve assembly includes a valve and a valve assembly. The valve assembly includes a valve seat extending across the flow passage and a moveable valve member movable in the flow passage relative to the valve seat between a closed position, in which the moveable valve member is sealing engaged with the valve seat to prevent flow of fluid in the flow passage past the valve assembly, and an open position in which the moveable valve member is moved out of sealing engagement with the valve seat. The valve seat includes a valve seat housing of thermally conductive material, and one or more heater elements incorporated within the valve seat housing.

Abstract: A waste tank assembly includes: a tank having a top end configured to be connected, in use, to receive waste via one or more ports, and an open bottom end, the tank defining an interior; a waste cartridge removably received in the tank interior and having one or more ports configured to be fluidly connected to the one or more ports of the tank to receive the waste in an interior volume of the cartridge; and a closure part for securing the waste cartridge inside the tank interior, the closure part openable to allow removal of the cartridge from the tank interior via the open end.

Abstract: A cleaning arrangement for cleaning an interior volume of a tank. The arrangement includes: a tank, the interior of which is to be cleaned, the tank having a top, a bottom, and, extending from the top to the bottom, an outer wall and an inner wall defining the interior volume. The inner wall is provided with a removable coating.

Abstract: A valve assembly, comprising: a valve housing body extending along a longitudinal axis X between a first end and a second end and defining a cylindrical passage therethough from the first to the second end; a fluid inlet at the first end for receiving a pressurized fluid; and a fluid outlet provided in between the first and second end of the housing body; and a piston provided in said cylindrical passage, said piston being axially movable between a first position wherein said fluid outlet is blocked by said piston such that the piston blocks the flow of fluid from the inlet to the outlet, and a second position wherein said outlet is not blocked by said piston and a fluid flow path is formed from the inlet to the outlet.

Abstract: A strain wave drive includes: an elliptical wave generator shaft rotatable about an axis (X); a flexible flex spline mounted around the wave generator shaft; a ring gear assembly mounted around the flex spline, the ring gear assembly comprising an output ring gear having a circular inner periphery and being sandwiched between two earth ring gears each having a circular inner periphery. The flex spline has a first set of a first number of radially outwardly extending teeth around its outer periphery. Each earth ring gear has the first number of radially inwardly extending teeth to engage with the first set of teeth of the flex spline. The flex spline has a second set of the first number of radially outwardly extending teeth around its outer periphery wherein the output ring gear has a second number of radially inwardly extending teeth.

Abstract: A rinse arrangement for cleaning an interior volume of a tank, the arrangement comprising: a tank, the interior of which is to be cleaned, the tank having a top, a bottom, and, extending from the top to the bottom, an outer wall and an inner wall defining the interior volume; and a rinse fluid inlet port mounted to an upper region of the tank, the inlet port having a first end and configured to be fluidly connected to a rinse fluid supply, in use, and a second end that extends into the tank interior; and wherein the inner wall has a convex shape from the top to the bottom, defining a convex surface (C) curving in towards the interior volume.

Abstract: A rinse device comprising rinse device comprising a housing, and where in the housing there is provided: a rinse fluid dispensing mechanism configured to eject a rinse fluid from the housing into a volume surrounding the housing; and a pressure generating mechanism configured to generate pressure waves in the volume.

Abstract: A dielectric insulating assembly arranged to be positioned between a drive shaft and a driven shaft of a motorised drive assembly. The assembly includes dielectric insulation between the drive shaft and the driven shaft and plurality of electrically non-conductive fastener elements configured to connect the drive shaft to the driven shaft and the dielectric insulation therebetween, in torque transfer engagement, the fasteners located around an outer boundary of the dielectric insulation.

Abstract: A dielectric insulating insert assembly arranged to be positioned between a drive shaft and a driven shaft of a motorised drive assembly, the insert assembly comprising a plurality of elongate pins of dielectric material configured to engage, respectively, with the drive shaft and the driven shaft in torque transfer engagement, the pins providing a dielectric barrier between the drive shaft and the driven shaft.

Abstract: A flex spline for a strain wave drive. The flex spline includes: a flexible tubular body having a first open end and a second open end; a first set of radially outwardly extending teeth around its outer periphery at the first open end; a second set of radially outwardly extending teeth around its outer periphery at the second open end; and a third set of radially inwardly outwardly teeth located axially between the first and the second sets of teeth. The body also includes one or more sections of changed geometry located between the first and second sets of teeth and/or the second and third sets of teeth, the sections of changed geometry being provided with a geometric feature in the flex spline body that is not present in the remainder of the flex spline body.

Abstract: A dielectric insulating insert assembly arranged to be positioned between a drive shaft and a driven shaft of a motorised drive assembly. The insert includes a body of dielectric material to form an insulating layer and having a non-circular cross-section and configured to engage, respectively, with the drive shaft and the driven shaft in torque transfer engagement, the insulating layer providing a dielectric barrier between the drive shaft and the driven shaft.

Abstract: A rinse device comprising a housing part and a rinse hose, the housing part having a first end configured to be attached to a supply of pressurized fluid and a second end to which a first end of the rinse hose is attached, a second end of the hose is open to allow fluid to flow out of the hose, in use; the housing part defining a cavity through which pressurized fluid from the supply flows, in use, from the first end to the rinse hose, the rinse hose being a flexible and extendible hose provided with a plurality of openings through which the pressurized fluid is ejected; and wherein the rinse hose comprises an elongate tube through which the fluid flows, in use, the openings provided through the elongate tube.

Abstract: A strain wave drive includes an elliptical wave generator shaft rotatable about an axis (X), a flexible flex spline mounted around the wave generator shaft and a ring gear assembly mounted around the flex spline. The ring gear assembly includes an output ring gear having a circular inner periphery and is sandwiched between two earth ring gears each having a circular inner periphery. The flex spline has a first number of radially outwardly extending teeth around its outer periphery and each earth ring gear has the first number of radially inwardly extending teeth to engage with the teeth of the flex spline.

Abstract: A strain wave drive includes an elliptical wave generator shaft rotatable about an axis (X), a flexible tubular flex spline mounted around the wave generator shaft and a ring gear assembly mounted around the flex spline. The ring gear assembly includes an output ring gear having a circular inner periphery and is sandwiched between two earth ring gears each having a circular inner periphery. The flex spline has a first number of radially outwardly extending teeth around its outer periphery; and wherein each earth ring gear has the first number of radially inwardly extending teeth to engage with the teeth of the flex spline; and wherein the output ring gear has a second number of radially inwardly extending teeth, wherein the second number is greater than the first number.

Abstract: A heating arrangement for a valve includes a thermally conductive heating wire embedded within a body of the valve. Also provided is a valve body formed by additive manufacture and having a thermally conductive heating wire embedded therein to which electric power is applied to cause the thermally conductive heating wire to generate heat in the valve body. A method of manufacture is also provided.

Abstract: A rotary recline mechanism for allowing reclining movement of a first part relative to a second part, the mechanism comprising: a first gear mechanism comprising first and second gear rings having first and second sets of teeth that engage to lock the first and second parts relative to each other and disengage on operation of an actuator to allow relative movement of the first and second parts by application of a force on one of the parts in a first direction, and a second override gear mechanism to allow relative movement of the first and second parts by application of a force in a second direction while the first and second sets of teeth are engaged.

Abstract: A torque transfer assembly includes a drive shaft and a driven shaft. The drive shaft includes a motor shaft configured to be connected to and rotated by a motor, and a cam shaft connected to and rotatable with the motor shaft. The driven shaft is connected to and rotatable with the cam shaft, and the cam shaft is formed of a dielectric material defining an insulating barrier between the drive and the driven shaft.

Abstract: A dielectric insulating insert arranged to be positioned between a drive shaft and a ball shaft of a motorised ball valve assembly. The insert includes a body of dielectric material to form an insulating layer and having opposing sides from each of which extends an engagement portion having a non-circular cross-section and configured to engage, respectively, with the drive shaft and the ball shaft in torque transfer engagement.

Abstract: A rotary recline mechanism for allowing reclining movement of a first part relative to a second part, the mechanism comprising: a plurality of friction pads arranged to be compressed together, the plurality of friction pads comprising alternating first friction pads connected to the first part and second friction pads connected to the second part; biasing means to bias the friction pads into compressed frictional engagement; actuator means to which force is applied by a user; and a force transmission means that translates a first force applied by the user in a first direction to act against the force of the biasing means to release the frictional pads from the compressed frictional engagement to allow the first friction pads to rotate relative to the second friction pads.

Abstract: A valve assembly, comprising: a valve housing body extending along a longitudinal axis X between a first end and a second end and defining a cylindrical passage therethough from the first to the second end; a fluid inlet at the first end for receiving a pressurized fluid; and a fluid outlet provided in between the first and second end of the housing body; and a piston provided in said cylindrical passage, said piston being axially movable between a first position wherein said fluid outlet is blocked by said piston such that the piston blocks the flow of fluid from the inlet to the outlet, and a second position wherein said outlet is not blocked by said piston and a fluid flow path is formed from the inlet to the outlet.