Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for separating excess slack out from a mixture of product and slack. For example, the slack could be a food product coating. According to one aspect, there is provided a hopper for diverting excess slack away from a mixture of product and slack, the hopper comprising a gate moveable between open and closed positions, wherein the gate is configured such that: when the gate is in the open position a first path is provided for contents of the hopper, comprising a mixture of product and slack, to exit the hopper; and when the gate is in the closed position the first path is closed by the gate so that product is retained in the hopper and a second path, different from the first path, is provided for slack to exit the hopper.

Abstract: An inspection system comprising a first and second computer controlled robotic arm that each have five degrees of freedom (x, y, z, ?, ?) and respectively control position and tilt of first and second probes for inspection of a workpiece, wherein the computer control ensures that the two robotic arms simultaneously scan the probes over the workpiece, without interfering with each other.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe for non-destructive testing of a rail, said probe comprising a housing; an insert comprising an ultrasonic transducer and a polycarbonate shoe having a face for contacting a rail; and a compressed spring for exerting a downward force on said insert; the system further comprising a plate with a restraining flange around an aperture to prevent the polycarbonate shoe from extending more than a preset fixed amount through the aperture.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for separating excess slack out from a mixture of product and slack. For example, the slack could be a food product coating. According to one aspect, there is provided a hopper for diverting excess slack away from a mixture of product and slack, the hopper comprising a gate moveable between open and closed positions, wherein the gate is configured such that: when the gate is in the open position a first path is provided for contents of the hopper, comprising a mixture of product and slack, to exit the hopper; and when the gate is in the closed position the first path is closed by the gate so that product is retained in the hopper and a second path, different from the first path, is provided for slack to exit the hopper.

Abstract: An ultrasonic inspection apparatus for an ultrasonic inspection system for inspecting a railway track, the ultrasonic inspection system for attaching to a bogie for pulling over the railway track, comprising a framework for attaching to the bogie, a sled for inspecting a rail, the sled carrying an array of ultrasonic transducers for detecting flaws in the rail, the system further comprising a water subsystem for ensuring fluid coupling between the sled and the rail, automatic lateral position rectification subsystem for keeping the sleds centered over the railway tracks as the train moves along the track, the ultrasonic transducers in data communication with a computing system in a wagon over the bogie for analyzing and mapping the flaws in the rail, wherein at least one pair of ultrasonic transducers is mounted in the same housing thereby shortening the length of the sled to be irrigated.

Abstract: A system for ultrasonic examination of spot welds comprising a probe, a computer, and a display screen, the computer configured for spot weld analysis by appropriate analytical software, the probe for coupling to a spot weld via a couplant, wherein the probe comprises a two dimensional array of sensors that is each configured to conduct an A scan analysis, thereby providing a color pixel indicating weld quality in terms of parameters selected from the group of size, shape, voids, upper sheet-weld nugget interface strength and lower sheet-weld nugget interface strength, such that the two dimensional array of sensors produces a two dimensional pixilated image indicating the weld quality in terms of selected parameters.

Abstract: An ultrasonic inspection apparatus for an ultrasonic inspection system for inspecting a railway track, the ultrasonic inspection system for attaching to a bogie for pulling over the railway track, comprising a framework for attaching to the bogie, a sled for inspecting a rail, the sled carrying an array of ultrasonic transducers for detecting flaws in the rail, the system further comprising a water subsystem for ensuring fluid coupling between the sled and the rail, automatic lateral position rectification subsystem for keeping the sleds centered over the railway tracks as the train moves along the track, the ultrasonic transducers in data communication with a computing system in a wagon over the bogie for analyzing and mapping the flaws in the rail, wherein at least one pair of ultrasonic transducers is mounted in the same housing thereby shortening the length of the sled to be irrigated.

Abstract: This invention relates to a simple method for the synthesis of a highly active metal-free catalyst for oxygen reduction reactions in alkaline media, a catalyst obtainable by said method, an electrode comprising said catalyst and the use of the catalyst and electrode for oxygen reduction reactions in alkaline media.

Abstract: An electrode material, an electrode and a process for hydrogen chloride electrolysis based on platinum metal as catalyst, in which the electrode material has a nanosize mixture of platinum particles and silver particles, is described.

Abstract: A platinum-free chelate catalyst material consisting of at least one unsupported transition metal, a nitrogen-containing organo-metallic transition complex, a further transition metal other than the unsupported transition metal and a chalcogenic compound.

Abstract: Platinum-free chelate catalyst materials for the selective reduction of oxygen have application in hydrogen and methanol fuel cells. Conventional catalyst material comprises an unsupported transition metal and a nitrogen- and a carbon-donor, which are polymerized to give a carbon matrix under pyrolytic conditions, in which the unsupported transition metal, functioning as electron donor and a nitrogen-coordinated transition metal chelate are bonded. The achievable porosity, catalytic activity, and stability are, however, not adequate for commercial applications. Said chelate catalyst material comprises, in addition to the at least one unsupported transition metal, a nitrogen-containing organo-metallic transition complex, with a further transition metal different from the said transition metal and a chalcogenic component. The advantages of various transition metals and the chalcogens as electrically conducting bridge-formers can thus be combined.