Abstract: There is provided an apparatus and method of filleting and cleaning a cephalopod, including squid. The apparatus for use in filleting a cephalopod including, a body having a first end being shaped for insertion into a cavity of a mantle of the cephalopod and a second end graspable by a user, a cutting member located at, or adjacent, the first end, for severing an internal membrane of the cephalopod, a guide located adjacent the cutting member, wherein upon insertion of the first end in through an opening of the mantle, the guide acts to constrain the movement of the cutting member such that it is directed along a junction between the internal membrane and an inner surface of the mantle, to thereby detach the internal membrane therefrom, wherein the mantle is inhibited from being perforated by the cutting member.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus and method of filleting and cleaning a cephalopod, including squid. The apparatus for use in filleting a cephalopod including, a body having a first end being shaped for insertion into a cavity of a mantle of the cephalopod and a second end graspable by a user, a cutting member located at, or adjacent, the first end, for severing an internal membrane of the cephalopod, a guide located adjacent the cutting member, wherein upon insertion of the first end in through an opening of the mantle, the guide acts to constrain the movement of the cutting member such that it is directed along a junction between the internal membrane and an inner surface of the mantle, to thereby detach the internal membrane therefrom, wherein the mantle is inhibited from being perforated by the cutting member.

Abstract: The apparatus, which can be used in aspirating face seals or thrust bearings, spaces two relatively rotatable facing surfaces in use by entraining gas between the surfaces. The apparatus includes a first portion (1) defining a generally frusto-conical surface (3); a second portion (2) defining at least one flat surface disposed adjacent the first portion so that the two surfaces face each other and define at least one point of closest engagement between the surfaces, with diverging gaps extending between the surfaces on either side of a plane which contains the point or points of closest engagement and which extends generally orthoginal to the direction of relative rotation, and a device (4) for biasing the flat surface towards the frusto-conical surface to maintain the gaps within a predetermined dimensional range.

Abstract: A ring-shaped sealing member is configured to effect a seal between a shaft arranged to rotate in one sense within a housing at a relatively high rate--typically in excess of 10,000 r.p.m. The sealing member fits closely around the shaft but is split to allow circumferential expansion thereof. At least one ramp surface facing the shaft is defined by the sealing member, the clearance between the shaft and ramp surface decreasing in the direction of normal rotation of the shaft.On rotation of the shaft at a high speed, air is carried round by the shaft within the gap of decreasing clearance between the shaft and ramp surface of the sealing member. The sealing member is expanded circumferentially thereby, and when the shaft rotates sufficiently quickly the air film carried round by the shaft lifts the sealing member completely clear of the shaft, the air film maintaining the seal between the shaft and the sealing member.