Abstract: Stackable screening plates (3) with radial screening apertures (10) are carried on a tubular shaft having an axial key. The plates have a choice of keyways (14, 15) allowing the plates to be stacked in alternate angular positions. Spring tongues (16) formed integrally with the plates provide uniform but adjustable mutual spacing.

Abstract: A gas spring accumulator comprising:—a housing (2, 3) provided with an inlet (20); and—a flexible diaphragm (4) dividing the interior of the housing into a working chamber (7) which is exposed to system pressure via the inlet, and a gas chamber (6); characterised in that the housing includes a diaphragm element (4) having one side exposed to system pressure via the inlet (20) and an opposite side exposed to a further chamber (13), a first non-return valve (17) arranged to admit atmospheric gas into the further chamber (13), and a second non-return valve (29) arranged to admit gas from the further chamber (13) into the gas chamber (6).

Abstract: A hydraulic pressure amplification system for increasing the output pressure in the delivery pipe to or from a ram pump, a spring rebound inertia pump or similar cyclic pumps which deliver a pulsating flow. Said hydraulic pressure amplification system comprises a fluid inlet (29), a fluid outlet (30) and one or more rigid bodies (21) which contain an enclosed convolute passageway extending between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. The body or bodies are sandwiched between rigid cover plates (22,23) which respectively contain the fluid inlet (29) and the fluid outlet (30).

Abstract: A housing 10 defining a duct 11 for fluid flow contains a cylinder arrangement 18-20 mounted in or at an outlet end of the duct. An input piston 30 is exposed to the fluid flow through the duct and an obturator member 21 is mounted in the duct 11 and arranged to periodically close the duct downstream of the input piston 30 such that the body of fluid flowing through the duct applies an increased pressure to the input piston. Resulting movement of the input piston can be used to directly provide mechanical power, generate electricity, or provide compression of a volatile fluid which, when ignited, provides thrust through rapid exit of combustion products.

Abstract: A gas spring accumulator comprising:—a housing (2, 3) provided with an inlet (20); and—a flexible diaphragm (4) dividing the interior of the housing into a working chamber (7) which is exposed to system pressure via the inlet, and a gas chamber (6); characterised in that the housing includes a diaphragm element (4) having one side exposed to system pressure via the inlet (20) and an opposite side exposed to a further chamber (13), a first non-return valve (17) arranged to admit atmospheric gas into the further chamber (13), and a second non-return valve (29) arranged to admit gas from the further chamber (13) into the gas chamber (6).

Abstract: Simultaneous movies of plural portions of a scene are acquired and shown, using one imager with electrooptical directing device to acquire, stepwise, an interleaved (e. g. alternating) sequence of subscene images. Apparatus is ideally in a vehicle: airborne or unmanned, or both. The invention records and transmits (via one data link, with no needed parallel path) the sequence as one image series; best sorts the received sequence into noninterleaved sequences, a separate sequence for each subscene; and shows these as movies. Alternatively, scene portions form a mosaic. Including gyro operation and pointing, the device best gets a new image roughly each 5 to 40 msec or less; or excluding gyros and pointing, 5 to 40 msec by FSM, 1 to 5 by MEMS, 1 to 5 (or 10) by LC, 1 by 2-axis nongimbal scanner and 0.1 to 0.2 by digigimbal. Subscene direction and focal changes best synchronize with frame reception. FSMs best have refractory bearings and electromagnetic pointing.

Abstract: The amplifier includes a housing containing a chamber with a delivery outlet containing a non-return delivery valve. An inlet pipe projects into the chamber and a resilient obturator ring is engaged with and located about the pipe to be resiliently-movable in the chamber. An annular exhaust aperture surrounding the pipe can be sealed by the obturator ring, the obturator ring being responsive to fluid flow in the inlet pipe such that fluid flow causes the obturator ring to oscillate between conditions which alternately permit and prevent fluid from leaving the chamber through the exhaust aperture thereby causing a pulsed pressure increase in the fluid flowing through the delivery outlet. An adjuster is provided for adjusting the distance by which the fluid inlet pipe projects into the chamber and moves the pipe using co-operably inclined faces. The obturator ring and the delivery valve are shaped to create a venturi effect.

Abstract: Stackable screening plates (3) with radial screening apertures (10) are carried on a tubular shaft having an axial key. The plates have a choice of keyways (14, 15) allowing the plates to be stacked in alternate angular positions. Spring tongues (16) formed integrally with the plates provide uniform but adjustable mutual spacing.

Abstract: A hydraulic pressure amplification system for increasing the output pressure in the delivery pipe to or from a ram pump, a spring rebound inertia pump or similar cyclic pumps which deliver a pulsating flow. Said hydraulic pressure amplification system comprises a fluid inlet (29), a fluid outlet (30) and one or more rigid bodies (21) which contain an enclosed convolute passageway extending between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. The body or bodies are sandwiched between rigid cover plates (22,23) which respectively contain the fluid inlet (29) and the fluid outlet (30).

Abstract: A housing 10 defining a duct 11 for fluid flow contains a cylinder arrangement 18-20 mounted in or at an outlet end of the duct. An input piston 30 is exposed to the fluid flow through the duct and an obturator member 21 is mounted in the duct 11 and arranged to periodically close the duct downstream of the input piston 30 such that the body of fluid flowing through the duct applies an increased pressure to the input piston. Resulting movement of the input piston can be used to directly provide mechanical power, generate electricity, or provide compression of a volatile fluid which, when ignited, provides thrust through rapid exit of combustion products.

Abstract: The amplifier includes a housing 2, 3 containing a chamber 4 provided with a delivery outlet 8 containing a non-return delivery valve 10. An inlet pipe 7 projects into the chamber 4 and a resilient obturator ring 13 is engaged with and located about the pipe to be resiliently-movable in the chamber. An annular exhaust aperture 12 surrounding the pipe can be sealed by the obturator ring 13, the obturator ring being responsive to fluid flow in the inlet pipe 7 such that fluid flow causes the obturator ring to oscillate between conditions which alternately permit and prevent fluid from leaving the chamber through the exhaust aperture 12 thereby causing a pulsed pressure increase in the fluid flowing through the delivery outlet. An adjuster 23 is provided for adjusting the distance by which the fluid inlet pipe 7 projects into the chamber and thus vary the distance between the obturator ring 13 and the annular exhaust aperture 12.

Abstract: A light beam is detected/localized by multisector detector—quad-cell, or 5+ sectors handling plural beams. Preferences: Beams focus to diffraction limit on the detector, which reveals origin direction by null-balance—shifting spots to a central sector junction, and measuring shifts to reach there. One or more MEMS reflectors, and control system with programmed processor(s), sequence the spot toward center: following a normal to an intersector boundary; then along the boundary. One afocal optic amplifies MEMS deflections; another sends beams to imaging optics. After it's known which sector received a spot, and the beam shifts, source direction is reported. The system can respond toward that (or a related) direction. It can illuminate objects, generating beams reflectively. Optics define an FOR in which to search; other optics define an FOV (narrower), for imaging spots onto the detector. The FOR:FOV angular ratio is on order of ten—roughly 180:20°, or 120:10°.

Abstract: A light beam is detected/localized by multisector detector—quad-cell, or 5+ sectors handling plural beams. Preferences: Beams focus to diffraction limit on the detector, which reveals origin direction by null-balance—shifting spots to a central sector junction, and measuring shifts to reach there. One or more MEMS reflectors, and control system with programmed processor(s), sequence the spot toward center: following a normal to an intersector boundary; then along the boundary. One afocal optic amplifies MEMS deflections; another sends beams to imaging optics. After it's known which sector received a spot, and the beam shifts, source direction is reported. The system can respond toward that (or a related) direction. It can illuminate objects, generating beams reflectively. Optics define an FOR in which to search; other optics define an FOV (narrower), for imaging spots onto the detector. The FOR:FOV angular ratio is on order of ten—roughly 180:20°, or 120:10°.

Abstract: A reusable container is formed from a plurality of interlocking panels 1, 16, and each of the panels includes a communication unit (30, 32) capable of communicating with at least one of the other panels such that the communication units co-operate to form an integrated electronic monitoring system for monitoring the structural integrity of the container. Communication may be by means of a wire bus or a non-wire link. Each panel has an electronic identifier. A key panel (16) includes a master communication unit which holds a container identifier and can be programmed with a delivery address. The key panel is capable of communicating with an external docking station to ensure correct delivery.

Abstract: A fluid pressure amplifier is provided, which includes a pipe for flowing fluid and having an array of holes formed therein through which fluid can flow from within the pipe in use, and resiliently-movable obturator means adjacent the pipe and operatively responsive to fluid inlet pressure in the pipe, in which fluid inlet pressure causes the obturator means to oscillate between conditions which alternately permit and prevent fluid from passing through the holes, whereby the fluid leaving the pipe has a pulsed increased pressure. The amplifier is intended for use especially to increase the pressure of water flowing through a pipe submerged in a river, to provide a pumping action to a higher level.