Abstract: Elongate products are molded in a die from fiber reinforced plastics by drawing a bundle of tows through a bath of resin and between two portions of an open die, which is closed under high pressure, and heated to cure the resin. The die is opened and the product is then partly withdrawn lengthwise, to draw further wetted tows between the die portions, and the die is again closed, clamping the tail end of the already cured product which still projects into the die space, or clamping blocks at its downstream end. Cold clamping blocks also clamp the tows at the die upstream end. The products are subsequently severed externally of the die by cutter wheels.

Abstract: In the production of a fastener, reinforcing fibers (20) are wetted out in a bath (22) of thermoset resin, drawn together into a wetted cable (23) which is placed in a `U`-shaped die recess of a first die part (24), having parallel inner side walls (25), a second part (29) of the molding die having side walls (30) and a concave die surface then closes the recess by slidably engaging the parallel inner side walls (25), and pressure is applied to the wetted cable without expulsion of wetted fibers. Both die parts (25, 29) have die surfaces which include contours (31) of fastener surfaces, which may be outstanding threads, or annular buttress type projections radiating from the shank .

Abstract: A heat exchanger module, such as a solar collector module, comprising a tube sheet (3) connected to a header (4). The tube sheet (3) passes through an opening in the header (4) so that the end of the sheet (5) protrudes a distance into the header (4), the header opening being united to the surface of the tube sheet (3) so that the tendency of the tube sheet (3) to burst or split open in the region of the junction of the tube sheet and header is minimized when the module is under fluid pressure. By the term "tube sheet" is meant a substantially planar sheet having an upper and a lower plastic membrane interconnected by a series of spaced division walls thereby forming a series of tubes arranged generally in a flat plane across the sheet, the tubes being continuous through the sheet and open at the two opposite ends of the sheet. The term also includes a sheet of circular tubes joined in side-by-side relationship.

Abstract: A roofing structure in which roofing panels support solar collector plates in cavities in the roofing panels, or formed on the roofing panels, above which are shielding panels which pass solar radiation but prevent water flow into the cavities, so that the solar collector plates are positioned between the shielding panels and the roofing panels with the roofing panels being thermally insulated on their undersides to pass back heat which passes through the solar collector plates.

Abstract: A method of cooling a fluid medium in a heat exchanger by means of an endothermic heat of solution of crystals which are in contact with a heat exchanger in the base of a closed column where the solvent dissolves the crystals whereby to form a saturated solution which cools the heat exchanger, and applying heat to the saturated solution in an upper part of the column to vaporize the solvent and pass it to a condenser, the resulting super saturation causing recrystallization with the crystals sinking to the base of the column, the solvent condensate passing back to the base of the column to continue the endothermic solution of the crystals.

Abstract: A solar generator panel in which a channel contains water, and has a cover which is transparent to solar radiation to allow solar radiation to pass into water in the channel whereby to absorb energy in the water from the radiation, and including an absorber for solar energy forming the front of said channel and in contact with the water to absorb, as heat, that solar energy which passes through the water, and re-radiates and conducts such heat energy back to the water.

Abstract: A self-cleaning developer applicator system for applying liquid developer to a latent electrostatic image carried by an organic photoconductor supported on a conductive substrate which moves relative to a developer station in which a biasing potential is applied between the substrate and a conductive developer applicator electrode to reduce the effect of the background potential of the latent image while adequately developing desired image areas together with means for cleaning the applicator electrode continuously during operation of the system to remove toner particles which collect thereon under the influence of the biasing potential. In a preferred embodiment the applicator is arranged to flow a film of developer liquid at the speed of movement of the photoconductive surface over a relatively extended area of the image during development thereof.