A watchdog system for a microprocessor (14) uses the primary AC power source to initiate restart signals for the microprocessor (14). The microprocessor (14) has an internal checking system. If a check is satisfactory, the microprocessor (14) provides a reset signal (18) at regular intervals to a counter (15) coupled to the primary AC power source which counts the pulses it receives until a predet...

A driverless guided vehicle movable along a guide path includes a wheel support device for supporting a wheel disposed in rolling engagement with a floor. The wheel support device is resiliently mounted on a body of the guided vehicle for vertical movement relative thereto. A detecting means for detecting the guide path and sensible markings along the guide path is fixedly secured to the wheel sup...

Polyisocyanurate polymers containing pendant urea groups are prepared by polymerization of polyisocyanates in organic solvents employing appropriate trimerization catalysts and then end-capping the polyisocyanurate polymer with ammonia or ammonium hydroxide. These end-capped polyisocyanurate polymers which contain pendant urea groups are dispersed in polyols to yield fine particulate dispersions. ...

Haloalkoxymethylmelamine adduct is prepared by reacting hexamethoxymethylmelamine with a halogenated alcohol. Dispersions of this adduct in a polyol produce a polyurethane product which displays improved flame retardancy.

Aminoplast resin is prepared by reacting urea or melamine with formaldehyde in the presence of a stabilizer compound. Dispersions of the resin in a polyol reacted with a polyisocyanate produce polyurethane products having low flammability properties.

A laser scalpel includes a safety device which comprises a group of detectors (20 to 28) and a signal processing system (30) which raises an alarm (31,32) and renders the scalpel safe. The group of detectors includes a grounding disconnection detector (20) which monitors the connection between the laser scalpel power source (5) and earth, and a current leakage detector (21) which monitors current ...

A sunshade having a cover which can be folded together in fan-like manner and is supported by at least three support struts, at least the outer two support struts having one end pivoted to a bearing member which is swingable around at least one horizontal axis on a stand bar and can be locked in position thereon and the outer two support struts can be pivoted via a spreading slide by one spreading...

A V-belt type stepless transmission, basically including an input pulley and an output pulley mounted on parallel input and output shafts, respectively, each of the input and output pulleys having a stationary flange and a movable flange axially displaceable relative to the stationary flange and rotatable integrally therewith; an endless V-belt lapped around the input and output pulleys to transmi...

A calipering tool for use in a pipe has a body part (B) and feeler means mounted with the body for engaging the surfaces of the pipe being calipered. The feeler means includes pivoted feeler arms moving in response to variations in the surface of the pipe. The body part (B) of the calipering tool is adapted to be pumped in response to fluid pressure acting upon seals R into and out of the pipe for...

The invention relates to a device for diagnosing the condition of a foetus in utero which comprises means for applying a sound stimulus for the foetus and means for detecting foetal movement resulting from the stimulus. The device may comprise a belt to go around the abdomen of a pregnant women, the belt comprising a strain gauge which detects elongation of the belt, and a sonic emitter. The devic...

A process for forming a moisture resistant coating, which comprises: (i) a step of priming a coating composition on a substrate and drying it to form a prime coat, (ii) a step of coating thereon a radical-polymerizable and oxidation-polymerizable, room temperature solventless coating composition containing a scaly pigment and polymerizing it to form a cured intermediate coat, and (iii) a step of f...

Apparatus for coating substrates by means of a reaction for depositing atoms or molecules which is initiated by a plasma. A reaction chamber (1) is equipped with at least one window (22, 23), penetrable by microwaves, with at least one wave-guide structure (16, 17), arranged outside the chamber (1) and in front of the window (22, 23), and with a distributing means (25) discharging into the chamber...

A detectable card is constituted by a sheet substrate made of a synthetic resin, a first capacitor including a pair of electrodes bonded to opposite surfaces of the substrate at the central portion, a second capacitor including a pair of electrodes bonded to the opposite surfaces of the substrate at the peripheries thereof, a spiral connector interconnecting a central electrode and peripheral elec...

An improved method of completely erasing images stored by memory-type electroluminescent display panels. The method comprises interrupting the a.c. sustaining bias signal normally applied to the panel and impressing an erase pulse that is opposite in polarity to the last-preceding sustaining pulse or cycle. The amplitude and duration of the erase pulse are chosen to effect relaxation of the EL lay...

An electric shaver in which the conventional user actuated on-off switch is eliminated, the shaver being automatically actuated when brought into contact with the area of the body to be shaved and deactuated when removed, the shaver being provided with an electronic sensor switch (5) which is electrically connected to a contact plate (K2) on the outside of the casing (1) within the gripping zone a...

A method of cleaning reaction products which result from flame combustion of high calorific value fuels containing impurities such as sulphur, chlorine and fluorine compounds by the addition of additives binding the impurities in the combustion chamber. The additives are added to the fuel or the combustion air to provide the required degree of mixing, and the temperature of the flame is reduced to...

A method for preparing a glass container, and for sealing a glass mouth of a container and the seal is described. The sealing surface of the container is prepared by treatment with fluorine and a metal oxide, or a sulfur oxide and a metal oxide, or fluorine alone or a sulfur oxide alone, at an elevated temperature, in the case of fluorine employing a fluoride compound which decomposes at the tempe...

The invention relates to improvements on ultra-violet suntanning equipment in which the container of the ultra-violet ray source and its immediate electrical wiring and the reflector is remote from the ballast chokes which are connected by a multi-cable, thereby minimising the size and structural strength of said container. This container may be in the form of a moulding or it could be prefabricat...

A gas discharge lamp according to the invention has an at least approximately rectilinear and contracted arc and a high efficiency even in a horizontal operating position. Consequently, the lamp is suitable for use, when arranged in a reflector, as a vehicle headlight lamp. The lamp comprises an ionizable filling of rare gas, mercury, and metal iodide, the quantity of mercury being dependent upon ...