A microchip for control of a switch mode power supply (SMPS), with said microchip also having the ability to measure capacitance of an electrode or sense plate structure or structures, and use of a low power, power supply structure to supply said microchip, said power supply structure distinct from the main energy path via said SMPS to a load. The microchip may control said SMPS to transition between an active state and an inactive state, with the measured capacitance used to determine a condition for state transition. In said SMPS inactive state, only the microchip draws power to operate its capacitive sensing circuitry, leading to a significant SMPS standby losses decrease compared to prior art. Further teachings by the present invention include capacitive sensing based data transfer, universal charging platforms for mobile devices, noise immunity enhancements, various lighting embodiments as well as SMPS operation improvements.

The wind turbine (10) includes a shaft (14), a first and a second propeller (16a, 16b) which are rotatably connected to the shaft (14) and rotate in opposite directions. At least one permanent or electro-magnet ( 18) is located on the first propeller ( 16a) and at least one coil (18) is located on the second propeller ( 16b). By that way the generator is integrated in the rotating propellers (16a, b). Each propeller-blade can include a tab (22) projecting towards the other propeller (16a, b) and carrying a magnet ( 18) or a coil (18).

This invention relates to a method of constructing a curved structure and apparatus for performing such method. More specifically, the invention relates to a method and apparatus fort he construction of dome-like structures, particulary for the application of constructing an aqueduct or viaduct. The method includes the steps of erecting a curved support base (30) and layering one or more moulds over the curved support base (30). The moulds (34) comprise outer walls defining an outer perimeter thereof and inner walls dividing an interior oft he mould (34) into an array of adjacent compartments, wherein the mould (34) is flexible so as to substantially conform to the curvature of the curved support base (30). Once the mould (34) have been laid over the curved support base, each of the compartments of the mould (34) are filled with a settable material such that on curing, and removal oft he support base (30), a curved structure made up of a plurality of individual in-situ casted block is constructed. Preferably, the moulds (34) include formations that enable the blocks cast in-situ therein to interlock.

The device (10) is used to facilitate transport of an excavator (12) having two continuous tracks (14). The device (10) includes a base (16) presenting an inclined, ground-engaging surface relative to a surface (18) on which the device (10) rests when in an inoperative, non-transporting condition as shown in the Figure. Guide formations (20) extend upwardly from either side of the base (16). The device is provided with two axies (22) about which the guide formations (20) and base (16) are rotatable.

This invention relates to a fragmenting apparatus (10) and method or fragmenting, particularly for fragmenting tyres (300) and more specifically "off the road" (OTR) tyres, into manageable size pieces for the purposes of recycling used tyres (300) and reducing the used tyre stockpiles around the world currently having hugely detrimental effects on the environment. The fragmenting apparatus (10) includes a rotatable mount onto which a tyre is rotatably securable about a first axis of rotation (16/116) and a cutting wheel (14/114) for cutting and/or fragmenting the tyre (300) being rotatable about a second axis (18/118) of rotation being substantially parallel to the first axis of rotation (16/116) and having an axial dimension (116, 118) substantially the same or greater than the width of the tyre (300). The first and second axes of rotation (16, 18) are movable relative to one another such that the cutting wheel (14/114) and the tyre are movable into and out of cutting contact with one another such that in use and in cutting contact, the tyre (300) is cut and/or fragmented by the cutting wheel (14/114) in a radially inward direction from an outer tread portion of the tyre (300), through its first and second sidewalls (304 A, 304 B) and towards its first and second inner beads (302).

The invention provides a distillate fuel blend with improved seal swell properties comprising at least one highly paraffinic distillate fuel fraction having a mass swelling ratio less than 9 % when measured according to ASTM D1414 or ASTM D471 at 50°C and for 20 days when using 5 an NBR (nitrile butadiene rubber) O-ring with a hardness of 70 that has been de-plasticised; and about 0.5 volume percent to about 15 volume percent of at least one component selected from a group of aromatic ethers wherein the blend exhibits a mass swelling ratio of at least 10% when measured according to ASTM D1414 or ASTM D471 at 50°C and for 20 days when using an NBR (nitrile butadiene rubber) O-ring with a hardness of 70 that has been de-plasticised. 10 The invention extends to the use of an aromatic ether fraction in a blend with a synthetic middle distillate fraction for the purposes of achieving seal swell characteristics more comparable with those characteristic of crude-derived middle distillate fuel product.

An explosive booster assembly (70) which includes a primary module (10) with a first housing (12) and a first booster (14), wherein a detonator (62) is engageable with the first housing, and an auxiliary module (30, 30A) which comprises a second housing (32) with a second booster composition (34), wherein the second housing (32) is interengageable with the first housing (12) to expose the first booster composition (14) to the second composition (34), and wherein any number of substantially identical auxiliary modules (30, 30A) are engageable with one another in order to form a compound booster assembly.

A pyrotechnic time delay element which includes a casing made from a plastics material, a pyrotechnic composition inside the volume, a membrane inside the volume against one end of the pyrotechnic composition and a primary explosive inside the volume on an opposing side of the membrane.

This invention relates to a method and system for determining probable exposure to a visual display at a particular location. The invention involves receiving object data associated with at least one object proximate, or in viewing proximity, to the visual display; and processing the received object data to determine a probable demographic profile associated with the object, wherein the determined probable demographic profiles are used to determine the exposure to the visual display.

A tamper indicating device (10) for a seal for a container includes a locking unit comprising a holder (12) which spans a conventional locking bolt (22) and receives a slidable insert (14) for securing a tag (20) of the locking bolt (22) in position. The tag bears the identity number (36) of the bolt (22). The device ( 10) includes a circuitry (30) within the slidable insert (14) containing an RFID microchip. Any attempt to tamper with the device (10) to obtain access to the locking bolt (22) will result in the insert (14) being broken along its fracturable zone (24), subsequently causing the circuitry of the device to be broken.