Abstract: Percussion apparatus having a compressed air inlet (3) and serving to impart percussive movement to a tool (10), the said tool (10) sliding inside an envelope (1) fixed to the apparatus and being terminated by a spherical portion (22), includes the improvement wherein the said tool (10) includes a hollow tube (13) with one end (21) holding a ball (22) captive, which ball is urged against the end (21) by a spring (24) lodged in the tube (13). When the ball (22) is worn, it is easily changed.

Abstract: Apparatus for enabling a self-contained submersible module including a length of conduit for connection to a collector to be repetitively put into place and removed. The collector (3) is located on the sea bed, and said length of conduit (14) and said collector (3) have mating ends fitted with a releasable connector suitable for establishing said connection when the ends to be connected come into end-to-end engagement. The length of conduit (14) is mounted in the module (2) on a carriage (7) to enable said length of conduit to be moved out from said module to bring one of its ends (13) into contact with the end (5) of the collector. Once the length of conduit has made connection with the end of the collector, the carriage also enables said length of conduit to be moved in the opposite direction pulling said collector with it in order to connect the other end of the conduit to a well head (1).

Abstract: First and second devices (8,9) measure the speed of rotation at two widely separated points H and J along a line of shafts, e.g. through a turboalternator unit. Parameters representative of the opposing torque are determined by a third device which is responsive to signals derived from said measured speeds and to a signal representative of the travel of a controlling servomotor (7). Apparatus are provided that determine the torsion damage suffered, if any, on the basis of the signals provided by said first, second and third devices. The system avoids the prior art need to use expensive, high-current transformers, and can also provide more accurate measurement of damage suffered.

Abstract: The device for measuring stresses applied to a drilling tool comprises a removable instrument socket (2) secured by means of protuberances (15, 16) thereon to the wall of a compartment formed thereby in a shaft (OM) such as to make fast said socket and said shaft in two transverse planes (12, 13) and as to transmit to said socket the strains occurring in the shaft in response to the stresses to be measured. Strain gauges (9) are fitted to the socket to measure said strains, and accordingly said stresses.

Abstract: The present invention concerns superconductor lengths constituted by superconducting filaments based on a ternary chalcogenide of molybdenum (PbMo.sub.6 S.sub.8) assembled within a stabilizing matrix based on copper. The invention provides a method of fabricating superconducting filaments consisting of mixing a powder of a ternary chalcogenide of molybdenum with a metal powder of smaller granulometry and chosen from the components of the chalcogenide in question, or from the group of metals consisting of aluminum, silver, gallium, rhenium, and titanium, in sheathing the mixture of powders obtained by means of a metal wall constituted from one of a group of metals formed by molybdenum, niobium, tantalum, titanium and vanadium, and in subjecting the superconducting lengths obtained after drawing and cold working using conventional wire drawing techniques to a final heat treatment consisting of heating to a temperature of about 800.degree. C. for at least twenty hours.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sludge belt method of clarifying a liquid charged with solid material. After a flocculation additive has been added thereto, the charged liquid is conveyed to the bottom of a sludge belt in a clarification chamber (40) via a plurality of injectors (76) spread out over the area of said chamber. The total flow rate through said injectors is evenly distributed between the injectors by an internal head loss. The clarified liquid is removed via an upper overflow (72). Each injector forms jets diverging from its vertical axis, so that the injected flow spreads out over an expansion zone belonging to said injector and meeting the expansion zones of adjacent injectors. In addition, the jets drive vortices which prevent the formation of a layer of sludge having insufficient permeability.

Abstract: A synchronous electric machine has a voltage and speed regulator, comprising a stator provided with a secondary winding and a rotor provided with a primary winding, intended for connection to a feeder grid (operating as a motor) or a user grid (operating as an alternator). The stator winding (ES) is coupled with a second stator winding (e) feeding a static rectifier circuit (R) whose output is connected to a superconducting energy storage winding (BS). The rectifier circuit is controlled by a computer (C) programmed to inject active and reactive power into the stator in such a manner as to attenuate transient conditions.

Abstract: This connection means comprises a male connector (1) with a circular groove (5) and a female connector comprising a body (2), a cap (3) and a sleeve (4). The cap (3) hangs from the bottom end of body 2 within which it is able to partly slide. The cap has a bearing surface (7) bearing on the male connector (1) and its bottom part (9) covers the male connector. This bottom part is provided with a circular series of openings (10) each equipped with a finger (11) operable to slide radially. These fingers cooperate with windows (27) in a conical wall (26) of the sleeve (4). Connection is made by gravity, by body 2 pushing down on sleeve 4, which slides downward causing the fingers (11) to slide radially inward. Disconnection is accomplished by sending oil pressure through purposely provided channels (35, 33, 30) into a chamber (20), causing the sleeve (4) to slide up and the fingers (11) to retract.

Abstract: The apparatus is particularly intended for depositing chromium on the bearing surfaces of bearings and end stops of turbine rotors made of chromium steel in order to obtain a good coefficient of friction thereon. The apparatus comprises a vat (1) having a vertical axis 00' constituted by a cylindrical portion (2) terminated by a conical portion (3), said vat (1) being filled with electrolyte, first means (7, 8) disposed near the top of said vat (1) for feeding the vat (1) with electrolyte, second means (4) situated at the bottom of the vat (1) for emptying the electrolyte, third means (32, 33) situated between the second means (4) and the first means (7, 8) for regenerating and circulating the electroylte, fourth means (15) for supporting a curtain of anodes (17) made of the metal to be deposited and for rotating the electrolyte about the axis 00', and fifth means (29) for applying current of given polarity to the curtain of anodes (17 ).

Abstract: A modulation system for railway track circuits in which a modulated signal is applied to a section of track for the purpose of detecting the presence or absence of a train on the section. Such circuits are used to control signalling and they are vital to safe operation of a railway. At a transmitter end, the output (19) of a power amplifier (18) is connected to a section of track. The power amplifier (18) receives the modulated signal from a modulator (17) which is itself controlled by a pseudorandom binary sequence generator comprising a clock (11), a shift register (10), and a modulo 2 adding circuit (13, 14, 15). Equivalent circuitry is used at a receiver end to recognize the pseudorandom sequence in the absence of a train on a given section of track. The likelihood of interference from a train on that section generating an interference signal capable of being mistakenly recognized for the absence of a train can be reduced to an arbitrarily low value.

Abstract: Hydraulic jacks are arranged radially both inside and outside the confinement chamber (EC), substantially on a level with the center of gravity of the boiler (BV, EA) disposed inside. The inside jacks transmit thrust to the boiler via an annular floor (20). The outside jacks transmit thrust to the walls (M) of the hall. The outside jacks are arranged as energy-absorbing dampers. The inside and outside jacks resist fast compression by means of calibrated fluid flow orifices, while they expand readily by means of one way valves and pressure accumulators. The boiler and the confinement chamber stand on a base that is resiliently movable in a horizontal direction relative to the raft (R) of the building. This ensures that the reactor is returned to its normal position once an earthquake is over.

Abstract: A coupling for electric motors, with each motor comprising a rotor (62, 63) and a stator (60, 61) mounted in a tubular shell (4, 5). The coupling includes the ends (8, 8a) of the tubular shells to be assembled, shaped for end-to-end inter-fitting in a manner which determines a relative angular position of the shells, the shape being identical on both shells; the coupling further including an internal coupling module (12) constituting a subassembly which is independent of the motors per se. The module comprises a coupling sleeve (15) for coupling the rotor shafts (16, 17), electrical connection means (29) for interconnecting the stators (60, 61), and support means acting both as radial bearings (19, 20) and as axial stops (21, 22) for the motors.

Abstract: A sluice gate is provided in the form of a vane wheel on a horizontal shaft mounted transversally across the sluice in which it is installed, said vanes being distributed about the shaft and being partially immersible for the purpose of gate operation, same said vanes providing different sluice closing surface areas and said sluice gate comprising wheel locking means to maintain the vanes fixedly in the sluice. Application in small irrigation sluices is suggested.

Abstract: The gas-blast type high voltage circuit breaker includes a first volume (27) in which gas pressure is increased due to heating by the breaking arc, the gas in this volume escaping to blow out the arc at current zero of the current being interrupted, and a second volume (37) in which the gas is compressed by a piston (39) at the beginning of the breaker opening phase, said gas being directed at the arc during the following phases. Circuit breaker further comprises main fixed contacts (21), fixed arcing contacts (24), main moving contacts and moving arcing contacts, the arc extending between the arcing contacts as the circuit breaker opens, said first volume (27) and second volume (37) being disposed to each side of the arcing region, being annular and ending in nozzles (26, 42) which direct separate jets of gas to the two respective roots of the arc.

Abstract: A device for handling rods for oil-well drilling, said device having a motor (21) associated with a reduction gear (22), the motor being suspended from a hook (8) and rotating a hollow vertical shaft (20) about its axis, said shaft being connected to a drilling sludge inlet pipe, wherein around said shaft is disposed a jack which has a cylinder (26) integral with the shaft and an annular piston (24) which is rotated with the shaft and which can undergo translation movements parallel to said axis, said piston (24) inside the cylinder (26) is extended outside the cylinder by a tubular end piece (33) which has a screw thread at its lower portion so as to be able to screw onto a drilling rod, the device further including a set of retractable claws (42) and a set of shoes (44) which allow the first set of rods to be both supported and held motionless, said set of claws and of shoes being guided so that they come into contact with guide units (41B, 43 B) which are prevented from rotating and are connected to a hous

Abstract: This telescopic isolating switch is made from nestable tubular members (10, 11', 12') including a base member (10) connected to an electrical connection point, intermediate members (11', 12'), and an end member supporting an electrical contact. Each intermediate member (11', 12') contains two pulley wheels (110, 111) fixed close to respective ends thereof, together with an endless loop (114) passing over the two pulley wheels (110, 111) inside the member and attached at two diametrically opposite points (116, 117) to the ends of the two adjacent members (10, 12'). The lower pulley wheel (110) of the intermediate member (11') which is adjacent to the base member (10) being driven through the base member (10) by means of a gear system slidingly engaged on a rotary fluted shaft (104) which is fixed inside the base member (10) and which is driven by a drive motor.

Abstract: A solid core (3) serves to transmit both torque and axial thrust (if any) between first and second end pieces (1 and 2) having longitudinal axes that may be up to 10.degree. out of alignment. The core is close to being cubical in shape, having two interfitting sets of three adjacent sides each comprising a first semicircular plane face, a semi-cylindrical face, and a second semicircular plane face. Concave recesses (10, 13) are provided in respective front faces of the two end pieces to receive each of the semi-cylindrical surfaces of the core. The "chunky" nature of the core maximizes the torque that can be transmitted in a given volume.

Abstract: In sound absorbing lining, conduits (4) are provided, filled with a viscous damping fluid, and are in contact by their ends facing towards the rigid supporting wall (1) to which the lining is applied with flexible cells containing a gas and forming a readily compressible material, for example foam rubber (6). Said conduits are separated from the ambient medium (2) by a separating membrane (3) which is permeable to acoustic waves. Lining is applied to absorbing acoustic waves underwater.

Abstract: In a microbubble injector usable to separate materials of different density by flotation, a deflector wall deflects radially a flow of water exiting under pressure from an injector hole and containing dissolved air at the saturation concentration. This procures cavitation which is localized at the edges of the hole and which generates the required microbubbles of air downflow thereof.

Abstract: In a turbodrill, there is no guarantee that a rotary friction ring (1) is or will remain exactly at right angles to its shaft (2). Wear against a co-operating non-rotary friction ring (6) is thus uneven, and if the surrounding medium is drilling mud, small abrasive grains can penetrate between the friction rings where they are not in contact and score them where they are in contact. The non-rotary friction ring is mounted on a moving sleeve (28) which is connected to a fixed sleeve (33). A spring (17) urges the friction rings into contact. An arrangement of balls in axial grooves between the sleeves allows the moving sleeve (28) to tilt slightly relative to the fixed sleeve (33). The non-rotary friction ring can thus wobble to keep in good contact with the rotary friction ring.