Abstract: An electrochemical device for separating oxygen from an oxygen-containing gas comprises a plurality of planar ion-conductive solid electrolyte plates and electrically-conductive gas-impermeable interconnects assembled in a multi-cell stack. Electrically-conductive anode and cathode material is applied to opposite sides of each electrolyte plate. A gas-tight anode seal is bonded between the anode side of each electrolyte plate and the anode side of the adjacent interconnect. A biasing electrode, applied to the anode side of each electrolyte plate between the anode seal and the edge of the anode, eliminates anode seal failure by minimizing the electrical potential across the seal. The seal potential is maintained below about 40 mV and preferably below about 25 mV. A gas-tight seal is applied between the cathode sides of each electrolyte plate and the adjacent interconnect such that the anode and cathode seals are radially offset on opposite sides of the plate.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for manufacturing inorganic membranes which are capable of separating oxygen from oxygen-containing gaseous mixtures. The membranes comprise a porous composite of a thin layer of a multicomponent metallic oxide which has been deposited onto a porous support wherein the pores of the multicomponent metallic oxide layer are subsequently filled or plugged with a metallic-based species. The inorganic membranes are formed by depositing a porous multicomponent metallic oxide layer onto the porous support to form a porous composite having a network of pores capable of transporting gases. The network of pores are plugged or filled by organometallic vapor infiltration to form an inorganic membrane having essentially no through porosity.

Abstract: Planar solid-state membrane modules for separating oxygen from an oxygen-containing gaseous mixture which provide improved pneumatic and structural integrity and ease of manifolding. The modules are formed from a plurality of planar membrane units, each membrane unit which comprises a channel-free porous support having connected through porosity which is in contact with a contiguous dense mixed conducting oxide layer having no connected through porosity. The dense mixed conducting oxide layer is placed in flow communication with the oxygen-containing gaseous mixture to be separated and the channel-free porous support of each membrane unit is placed in flow communication with one or more manifolds or conduits for discharging oxygen which has been separated from the oxygen-containing gaseous mixture by permeation through the dense mixed conducting oxide layer of each membrane unit and passage into the manifolds or conduits via the channel-free porous support of each membrane unit.

Abstract: A means of identification or document of value which includes a paper or polymer region, in particular, bank notes, passports, identification cards or any other document of sufficient value to make it liable to be copied or counterfeited, includes a watermark in the region and a liquid crystal material applied to the region and to at least a part of the watermark to produce optical effects which differ when viewed in transmitted and reflected light.

Abstract: A vehicle load sensing arrangement for use with a vehicle braking system comprises an input member operating in a first bore and being subjected to the force of a road spring, a spring, such as a robust helical coil spring, subjecting the input member to a force in opposition to the road spring force, a valve having a valve member in a second bore which has a cross-sectional area smaller than the first bore, the valve member and input member being substantially in alignment, and an elastomeric member located between the input member and the valve member. The arrangement is such that only a proportion of the road spring force applied to the input member in excess of the coil spring force is transmitted by the elastomeric member to the valve member, the remainder of that excess force being transmitted to the sprung part of the vehicle.

Abstract: A container which comprises a tubular body made of paperboard or of a laminate including paper has its ends closed by closure members made of a different material such as tinplate or a plastics material. Each closure member includes a plug portion which closely engages an end part of the body and a rim which extends laterally from the plug portion and is disposed to be closely adjacent to the end face of the body. At at least one end of the body the closure member therefor is at least in part secured to the body by a continuous band of thermoplastics material which extends lengthwise of the plug portion and forms at the inner end of the plug portion a bead arranged to caulk the leak path between the body and the plug portion to the rim.