Abstract: A wax removing device for a wax heater has a plate member sized to fit within a reservoir of the wax heater. A handle extends up from the plate member.

Abstract: An IMS system has a cell (1, 101) with an inlet (2) at one end by which gas or vapour to be analysed can be supplied to the cell. A selective barrier (6) in the cell allows selected molecules to pass into an ionisation region (7) and the ions produced then pass into a drift region (9) via a gate (8). The ions drift along the cell (1, 101) to a collector (11) and provide an electrical output. A system (40, 140) supplies cleaned, dried air to the opposite end (30) of the cell (1, 101) to flow along it against the flow of the ions. The system (40) includes a doped molecular sieve (41), which continuously adds a first reagent to the air for combination with selected ions in the cell. The system (40) also has additional reservoirs (42, 43, 44) of further, different reagents, which are switched selectively to supply to the air in addition to the first reagent when indicated by the cell output, such as to combine with an interferent ion.

Abstract: An ion mobility spectrometer system includes two cells (1) and (2) driven by a drive unit (12) so that the cells operate at opposite polarities and are switched between different polarities either at regular intervals or in response to detection of a substance in one cell. Two reagents are supplied to both cells (1) and (2), one promoting detection of a substance in the positive mode and the other promoting detection of a substance in the negative mode so that there is no need to switch reagents when the polarity changes.

Abstract: An electroplating bath, a system, a process for, and the article obtained from, depositing a zinc-nickel ternary or higher alloy, a) zinc ions; b) nickel ions; and c) one or more ionic species selected from ions of Te+4, Bi+3 and Sb+3, and in some embodiments, further including one or more additional ionic species selected from ions of Bi+3, Sb+3, Ag+1, Cd+2, Co+2, Cr+3, Cu+2, Fe+2, In+3, Mn+2, Mo+6, P+3, Sn+2 and W+6. In some embodiments, the system includes a divider forming a cathodic chamber and an anodic chamber, with the electroplating bath in the cathodic chamber only. In various embodiments, the zinc-nickel ternary and higher alloys may provide improved properties to the conductive substrates upon which the alloys are deposited.

Abstract: A system for pivotally coupling two elements of a portable computer is disclosed. The system includes a hinge pin for pivotally coupling the two elements. The hinge pin includes a rod having a main axis and a first outer diameter. The hinge pin further includes a bore in a proximal portion of the rod having a first inner diameter, wherein the bore is aligned along the main axis. The hinge pin further includes a distal portion of the bore having a second inner diameter larger than the first inner diameter. The hinge pin further includes a groove stop within the bore, providing a surface for pulling the hinge pin along the main axis in a proximal direction. The system further includes a tool for extracting the hinge pin from the two elements, allowing the hinge pin to be pulled along the main axis in a proximal direction.

Abstract: A system for pivotally coupling two elements of a portable computer is disclosed. The system includes a hinge pin for pivotally coupling the two elements. The hinge pin includes a rod having a main axis and a first outer diameter. The hinge pin further includes a bore in a proximal portion of the rod having a first inner diameter, wherein the bore is aligned along the main axis. The hinge pin further includes a distal portion of the bore having a second inner diameter larger than the first inner diameter. The hinge pin further includes a groove stop within the bore, providing a surface for pulling the hinge pin along the main axis in a proximal direction. The system further includes a tool for extracting the hinge pin from the two elements, allowing the hinge pin to be pulled along the main axis in a proximal direction.