Abstract: An improved container (45) for fermentation and/or maturation of liquid products such as wine or other liquors is disclosed comprising a liquid impervious outer wall defining a zone for retaining the liquid product and a plurality of tubes (1) manufactured from individual lengths (2) of a suitable wood in edge sealing contact, the tubes 1 having seal means at one or both ends co-operable with the liquid impervious outer wall such that the tubes extend through a substantial part of the zone retaining the liquid product whereby the liquid product surrounds each of the tubes (1) and air freely circulates within the tubes.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing a flexible lance whereby the lance may be projected from the apparatus and into and through a tube to be cleaned or surveyed, the apparatus comprising a storage drum with a peripheral helical groove into which a lance is placed in a plurality of wound coils for storage purposes, the lance being projected from the drum by rotating same and at the same time passing the lance through a guide member that is permitted to move axially in response to rotational movement of the drum, the lance being retained in the groove in the storage position by a plurality of axially extending rollers spaced circumferentially around the drum.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for projecting a stiffly flexible conduit or cable through a bore of a tube to be cleaned, surveyed or otherwise processed, said apparatus comprising a drum enabling the conduit or cable to be stored therein in a plurality of wound coils with a distal or free end of the conduit or cable to be projected from the apparatus and into the bore of the tube to be cleaned, surveyed or the like, the drum being mounted for simultaneous axial and rotary motion and drive means being provided to effect the axial and rotary motion of the drum, restraining means being provided to prevent radial expansion of the wound coils on the drum.

Abstract: A projectile launcher is disclosed and claimed adapted for use in apparatus for cleaning tubes arranged in apparatus being of the type whereby a projectile is placed in a tube to be cleaned and then subjected to a sudden cleaning medium pressure impact to force the projectile through the tube at high speed, the launcher with the tube to be cleaned, a magazine for feeding serially projectiles into the tube to be cleaned, and means for supplying a pulse of cleaning medium along the aforesaid duct once a projectile is positioned in the tube to be cleaned, the barrel and the cleaning medium duct being selectably removable from the launcher to be replaced with similar barrels and cleaning medium ducts to accommodate projectiles of differing diameters without loss of any operating fluids from the launcher.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning tubes in an array of such tubes (162, 175) such as heat exchanger or condenser units that will allow such cleaning action to be undertaken without removing the unit containing the array of tubes from normal service, the apparatus being adapted to be mounted in a head space zone of the unit and comprising a launcher (159, 192) movable on the head space zone to align with the tubes to be cleaned, the launcher being arranged to receive sequentially projectiles (1) from a projectile supply path (11) and to transfer same in a sealed manner to a pressurized fluid delivery path (89, 39) passing through the launcher (159, 192) so that the projectile is aligned with a tube to be cleaned.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for projecting a stiffly flexible conduit or cable through a bore of a tube to be cleaned, surveyed or otherwise processed, said apparatus comprising a drum enabling the conduit or cable to be stored therein in a plurality of wound coils with a distal or free end of the conduit or cable to be projected from the apparatus and into the bore of the tube tot be cleaned, surveyed or the like, the drum being mounted for simultaneous axial and rotary motion and drive means being provided to effect the axial and rotary motion of the drum, restraining means being provided to prevent radial expansion of the wound coils on the drum.

Abstract: Tubes are cleaned using projectiles propelled by the more or less instantaneous release of liquid cleaning medium at high pressure acting upon one face of the projectile. Projectiles travel at a velocity of at least about 10 m sec.sup.-1 inducing a cavitation-like process to the rear of said projectile.

Abstract: An ignition system for internal combustion engines which minimizes or eliminates problems associated with conventional spark ignition arrangements, the ignition system comprises a laser energy generator (9) which is arranged to supply laser energy continuously at an energy level less than that needed to initiate combustion with the energy level being spiked in timed sequence and delivered to the combustion chambers (35) of the engine, the system further including optic means (39) for focussing the pulsed laser energy at predetermined points within the combustion chambers whereby the focussed laser energy is sufficient to ignite any combustible charge within the combustion chambers, the pulsed laser energy being deliverd through a purging chamber (12) to the respective combustion chambers with a purging gas being continuously supplied to the purging chamber (12) to prevent combustion gases flowing towards the laser optic means (39).

Abstract: Pipes or tubes, for example, in heat exchangers, can be cleaned internally using a water hammer shock wave with a relatively incompressible pig which travels at high velocity and a flushing liquid. FIG. 1 illustrates the use of launcher (14) to apply a very rapid pressure build-up by means of a liquid to one end of a pig located in a tube (11) to be cleaned.