Showing papers by "University of Bedfordshire published in 1988"

Armrest arrangements for vehicle seating

Abstract: Vehicle seats are commonly used to transport passengers travelling on different classes of fare, for which seats of different width are often provided. Seats of different width are also desirable to accommodate passengers of different sizes. Adjustable seating units are known which include backrest and bottom parts for a plurality of seats abreast, fixed armrests at the sides and intermediate armrests which can be moved laterally between two or more predetermined positions to separate and define seats of different widths. To improve the appearance and comfort provided by such adjustable seating units, a shroud is provided to fit on or over two intermediate armrests when they are positioned close together between wider seats, the shroud being anchored to the seating unit, for example being mounted on arms pivotally connected to the seating unit, so as to be movable between an operative position, fitting the intermediate armrests, and a stored position. In its stored position, the shroud may be concealed at least partially by a part of the seating unit, such as a movable portion of the backrest or of the bottom part. The shroud may be upholstered and may include recesses for receiving articles to be stored or facilities which are required to be available only when it is in its operative position.

Electrical safety barriers

Abstract: A shunt-diode safety barrier for use with an unregulated voltage power supply and comprising shunt diodes and one or more fusible components provides overvolt protection by incorporating a current-limiting circuit arranged so that the or at least one of the fusible components is protected against applied voltages greater than the normal maximum working voltage. The barrier can be designed to operate as a 1-channel barrier or as a 2-channel barrier. The barrier components can be protected from overheating by the inclusion of a Zener diode to operate in conjunction with the fusible component or components.

Safety barriers for 2-wire transmitters

Abstract: A single-channel shunt-diode safety barrier for energizing a 2-wire transmitter, particularly for use in process control, incorporates within the barrier a floating d.c. power supply or its equivalent to enable the barrier to deliver into an earthed load a direct current substantially equal to that which it draws from the transmitter. The floating d.c. power supply is preferably derived from an external d.c. power source via a transformer or diode-pump circuit within the barrier itself. The barrier is enabled to pass superimposed digital or frequency signals in both directions to and from the transmitter.

Conductive ceramic support for active material in a lead-acid storage battery

Abstract: A conductive ceramic support (16) for the active material in a lead-acid storage battery is disclosed. The support comprises substoichiometric titanium dioxide of the formula TiO x , where x is a number from 1.55 to 1.95. The support is in the form of a plate having a honeycomb structure (15 or 17) of regular and repeating cells, creating voids which hold the active material in the battery. An electrode can comprise the conductive ceramic support (16) with the honeycomb structure (15) on one face pasted with a lead-oxide/sulfuric acid paste and a second honeycomb structure (17) on its opposite face pasted with spongy lead. This electrode can thus form electrically-connected respective positive and negative plates of adjacent cells of a battery.

Assessment and control of beer flavour

Abstract: The three main flavour assessment techniques — triangle tasting, flavour profile and — trueness-to-type tasting — as used for production control, Quality Control and Research & Development, are described. Control of flavour is illustrated with the addition of post-fermentation hop aroma by injection of hop extracts in liquid CO2 solution. The added flavour is measured instrumentally by Gas Chromatography (GC) and the final product organoleptically by flavour profile and trueness-to-type tasting. The rate of hop extract addition is controlled by both the GC and tasting data.

Torque transmitting assembly

Abstract: A torque transmitting assembly comprises a shaft (20), an article (22) mounted on the shaft and a device secured to the shaft for transmitting torque between the shaft and the article. The device comprises an element (23) which extends at least part the way round the shaft (20) and frictionally engages the shaft at two or more locations which lie in a first plane extending perpendicular to a second plane in which lies the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The first plane forms an angle with a third plane extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, which angle is no greater than tan⁻¹ µ, where µ is the coefficient of friction between the shaft (20) and the element (23).

A bale accumulator

Abstract: A bale accumulator for accumulating bales of straw, hay or the like and particularly for accumulating "big bales" has a bale receiving bed having an entry part 96 and a movable part 36 Bales 60 are delivered from a baler and arranged on the bed 96 in a predetermined array by a pusher member 80 When the array is completed the movable part 36 is tipped to deliver the completed array to the ground Movement of the movable part 36 on the bed is such that immediate separation is caused between bales being delivered to the ground and the next bale being delivered to the accumulator of the baling machine so as not to hinder the proper operation of the baler

Bioelectrochemical reactions in organic solvents

Abstract: A method of determining an analyte in an organic or microaqueous solution involves the use of an enzyme electrode at which an enzyme is retained The enzyme may be immobilised covalently at the electrode but is preferably retained at a hydrophilic support (4) which may be connected to an electrical conductor Electrochemical detection of analytes in organic or microaqueous solvents using an enzyme electrode has several advantages over existing methods which employ aqueous solutions of analyte For example compounds with low water solubilities may be detected, detection of a particular analyte may be made more selective by appropriate choice of solvent, the thermal stability of the enzyme may be enhanced and the enzymes may be readily retained at the electrode by virtue of their insolubility in the organic or microaqueous solvent

Stepper Motors: Principles and Characteristics:

Abstract: The basic principles of stepper motors are explained. Under certain circumstances it is shown that a stepper motor may be a better option than a servo motor. The three most common types of stepper motor are described and their important characteristics are illustrated and explained. Finally, the principles of stepper motor drives and the various types available are analysed.

Thermal properties of some di(4‐substituted phenyl)tin dichloride complexes with nitrogen donor ligands

Abstract: The thermal properties of some organotin complexes of general structure (4-ZC6H4)2SnCl2.L2 (Z=Me, CF3, F, Cl, OMe and H; L2 = 2,2′ -bipyridyl and 4,4′ -dimethyl-2,2′ -bipyridyl) are reported. The thermal data obtained by Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) for these complexes is reported. Thermal decomposition experiments for some of the complexes are described and indicate a disproportionation of the complexes into the aryltin trichloride complex and the triaryltin chloride. The controlled decomposition provides a possible alternative preparative route to some aryltin trichloride complexes.

The relevance of linear regression for assessing the performance of microbiological counting techniques

Abstract: The usefulness of an automated or rapid microbiological method to count bacteria is normally assessed by comparison of the method's results with those obtained using a standard plating technique to produce a linear relationship between the two measurements. If the correlation coefficient obtained for this regression is high, then the resulting regression line is often used as a calibration curve for counting. Such an approach can fail to identify imprecisions in the counting techniques especially when the calibration curve is derived over a large counting range. The problems encountered are illustrated by reference to results using a conductance method, and an alternative experimental approach towards assessing the performance of such techniques is proposed.

The prevalence of confidential information in antenatal records.

Abstract: SummaryMuch recent attention has been focused on patients' access to medical records. Some authors have argued that patients should be allowed to carry their own notes and consider that the presence of confidential information in these notes is not an important factor. There is little information on the prevalence of confidential information in hospital case notes. We are reporting a survey of 390 women booking consecutively for confinement, which shows that 31 (7-9 per cent) of these patients denoted some item in their history as being confidential. In many cases the family doctor or the partner were specifically excluded from the information. In such cases. allowing notes out of the hospital system may risk compromising patients' confidentiality.

Arms or health

Abstract: A report is given of the second conference organized by the Coventry and Warwickshire branch of the Medical Campaign Against Nuclear Weapons (MCANW) on the theme of ‘Arms or Health?’ The papers presented covered a range of topics: the resources needed for ‘Health for All by the Year 2000’ and for maintaining the UK National Health Service; health consequences of excessive spending on arms in both wealthy and poor countries; adverse economic effects of today's military spending; rational alternative defence policies; practicalities of converting from military to civil production; and citizen diplomacy.

Ramularia salicina in U.S.A. and Canada

Abstract: Cladosporium salicis-sitchensis , described from Washington, U.S.A., is found to be a synonym of Ramulaspera salicina var. tirolensis , which has hitherto been known only from Europe. A specimen from Canada is the same fungus. Ramulaspera is considered to be synonymous with Ramularia .