Abstract: Apparatus for checking for leaks between the connection flanges of two portions of metal-clad electric gear, said flanges being sealed by means of two seals disposed concentrically in series on the facing surfaces of the flanges, the electric gear being filled with compressed gas, wherein the internal volume (10) lying between the two seals (6, 7) communicates with a smooth hole (11, 24) which itself communicates to the outside, the smooth hole being plugged by a resilient seal (18).

Abstract: A fixed pad thrust bearing for a turbomachine comprises a ring of sector-shaped pads separated by grooves and facing a thrust collar integral with the rotor of the turbomachine within a thrust bearing cage integral with the rotor. The ring bears on a deformable ring. Each pad is fed with oil via a space formed in the wall of the cage and facing an orifice in a bore in the pad. A front surface of each pad facing the collar is inclined relative to the rear surface of the ring. Each pad is further formed with a groove communicating with the aforementioned bore but not reaching as far as the inner and outer edges of the pad, being disposed adjacent the leading edge of the pad. The oil is recovered centrifugally from the outer edge of the collar. In this way, virtually all the power consumed by the oil goes towards providing the hydrodynamic supporting force, minimizing the shearing losses between the fixed and moving parts within the thrust bearing cage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a compressed gas circuit-breaker with a tubular stationary contact, a tubular moving contact, a device for inserting a resistance when the circuit-breaker closes, the insertion device and the resistance being disposed in a coaxial casing, said device being controlled by the moving contact of the circuit-breaker, the insertion device (19) being of the semi-mobile type and having a first means (51, 52) for damping its closing and a second means (50, 44) for delaying its opening when the circuit-breaker opens, wherein the first means (51, 52) and the second means (50, 44) are of the type which operate by pressure reduction. Application to circuit-circuit breakers which equip very high tension lines.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for tightening the core and the upper and lower cross pieces of a shunt inductance winding by means of a plurality of tie rods (5, 6, 7) which are preferably seven in number and which pass through the central hole of the core. A cup-shaped part (12) held by nuts (13) is fitted onto the tie rods, the outer wall of this part is threaded, a nut (14) is screwed onto this part (12) and bears against axially elastic washers (15).

Abstract: A cooling apparatus which enables cut-out devices to be of compact design. A ceramic cooling unit (1) has cells (2) which pass right through it and has partitions (3) which are thin relative to one side of the cross-section of a cell (2).

Abstract: The valve includes a disk (8) one side of which is subjected to the action of an adjustable thrust unit and the other side of which is applied against a seat (3) connected to the pressure source of said hydraulic installation, the thrust unit (12) being constituted by an adjustably pressurized deformable chamber. The valve is used in particular for protecting hydraulic installations e.g. water pipes against accidental overpressures, e.g. water-hammer.

Abstract: Apparatus for increasing the homogeneity of the mixture of fluids, e.g. petroleum products flowing together in a pipe. The apparatus operates by dividing the flow into multiple converging jets and comprises a tubular body (10) for insertion in the pipe. The tubular body (10) houses a cylindrical sheath (9) inside which two plates (21, 22) provided with perforations (23) define two inlet chambers (25, 26) between which the flow is distributed. The space (33) between the plates is partitioned by a plurality of partitions (36) which are substantially perpendicular to the axis of the sheath so as to constitute outlet cells in which jets from the perforations of the plates converge. Said outlet cells have openings (38) formed in the sheath for the lateral removal of the fluids which mix therein.

Abstract: A set of power semiconductors equipped with firing transformers and with protection circuits. Circuitry is disposed in such a way that the connections between the thyristor (2,3), the transformers (11) and the protection circuits (9,10) are shortened. To do this, the components (9, 10, 11) are disposed on circuit boards (7,8) whose planes are parallel to the axes of the columns (2,3) of thyristors. Applications to energizing railway traction motors.

Abstract: The current lead operates at a cryogenic temperature. The collector ring operates at room temperature. While the rotor is being cooled down there is considerable relative movement between them due to thermal contraction. Electrical connection is ensured by interconnecting "rear" or cold side rods with "front" or warm side rodes. The device of the present invention comprises an insulating connector box (12) mounted on the shaft of the rotor. Inside the connector box there are inner and outer pairs of contact blocks (24,23) which clamp onto both a single rear rod (14) and a pair of front rods (16,18). The clamping force is provided by flyweights (28a,b,c). The rotor may thus be cooled to cryogenic temperatures while stationary or rotating slowly since the rods are loosely clamped if at all, and can slide relative to each other. Once working temperatures are reached the rotor is accelerated and the rods are tightly clamped to provide good electrical contact.

Abstract: An electronic circuit designed to control entirely by electronic means the change from traction mode to braking mode and vice-versa of a separately excited DC machine and the forward and reverse operation of the motor as well as rheostatic braking. The chopper includes two main thyristors (T1) and (T2) and a single switch-off thyristor (T3) for the two main thyristors. The direction of current flow through the separate excitation winding (J) is determined by four thyristors (T5) to (T8).Application to railway traction.

Abstract: A device for separably assembling first and second enclosures of an electric cut-out apparatus, said enclosures being filled with a dielectric fluid under pressure and having a rod for operating the cut-out apparatus passing therethrough with the compressed fluid in each of said enclosures being in communication with the compressed fluid in the other enclosure when the cut-out apparatus is in operation. The assembly device includes an intermediate slidable sealing air lock (41) which seals the first chamber and the second chamber. The air lock includes first and second separable portions (7,45) which are fast with respective ones of said enclosures. The operating rod (42) inside the air lock is separable into first and second portions (6,12) which are fast with respective ones of said enclosures. The invention applies in particular to compressed gas high tension circuit breakers.

Abstract: An inlet grating (11) is constituted by a thin corrugated sheet having rounded corrugation tops (15) facing incident gas flow (25) arriving at an oblique angle. The corrugations are parallel and regularly spaced with perforations at the bottoms thereof (23). Suitable choice of dimensions, together with optional auxiliary openings (24), can ensure a uniform flow perpendicular to the plane of the trough bottoms at a suitable distance therefrom. This is of particular application to drying apparatus.

Abstract: The winding bars (12) are fixed to the body (20) of teeth (14, 16) whose feet (18) form a dovetail engaged in the stator magnetic circuit (2), the mechanical strength of these teeth being due to the fact that they are constituted by layers of sheathing fabric coated with resin completely wrapped about the foot, body and head of the core of each of the teeth and forming a casing (46). Wedges (28) are driven in radially on the side walls of the teeth whose thickness is substantially constant around a core (40) whose form defines that of the tooth.

Abstract: Spray nozzles (16, 18, 20) inject just sufficient water to produce the desired cooling of hot powdered substance by evaporation of the water. The water is sprayed finely and uniformly onto said substance to avoid wet lumps agglomerating. The substance comes from a hopper (2), and flows through the apparatus in the opposite direction to a drying gas flow from inlet (21) to a condenser (22) where the heat is recovered from the water vapor.Application to recycling foundry sand and, more generably, to using sand which has been heated.

Abstract: The segments (1) of the braking track (112) fixed to the rotor of an alternator driven by a water turbine are cooled by circulating water by means of a thermosiphonic effect from tanks (5) which are also fixed to the rotor.Application to the security of safety water-driven turbo-alternator units.

Abstract: The stator winding bars (12) e.g. of an alternator are fixed to the magnetic circuit (2) by means of teeth (14, 16) fixed on the cylindrical inner surface (44) of said circuit and protruding inwardly therefrom. Successive teeth going circumferentially round the cylindrical surface are alternately long teeth (14) and short teeth (16). The bars are tangentially wedged by wedges (28) driven radially between the bars and the side walls of the short teeth (16). The bars are held radially by plates (30) which are kept in position by means of tapering pins (32) driven tangentially into holes (44) provided in the heads (29) of the long teeth (14).

Abstract: An apparatus for preventing a turbine from exceeding a predetermined value of a monitored physical magnitude, the apparatus including an over-center toggle lever (3) pivotally mounted on a pivot point (6) on a stationary frame (7), the lever being capable of occupying a tripped position or a released position. In the cocked position, one arm (4) of the lever (3) presses against a stop (8) provided with a unit (20) which controls steam admission units to the turbine, the lever (3) moves away from the stop, steam is cut off, while the end (14) of the other arm (5) is pivotally mounted on the end of a connecting rod (10) which is pivotally mounted at its other end on a pin (11) which is integral with a piston (12) which a spring (16) pushes away. A mass (2) strikes the lever (3) which moves to the tripped position if the monitored magnitude exceeds the predetermined value.

Abstract: A flat multi-strand superconducting conductor with a separator.The conductor is constituted by transposed strands which form two layers (12, 14) on either side of an insulating separator (2, 3, 4) which is formed around a core (3, 4) including a continuous metal detector line so as to allow the transitions of the superconducting strands to be detected by measuring the voltage at the terminals of the conductor and compensating the induced voltage detected at the terminals of this detector line.Application to cryoalternators.

Abstract: A spacer assembly for a stator venting duct of an electric power machine. This spacer assembly is constituted by spacer members in the form of flexible insulating rods (4) and a magnetic metal support sheet disposed in a substantially radial configuration between two magnetic metal sheets (2, 6) of the stack which constitutes the stator magnetic circuit of an alternator. Stops (16) are formed on the metal support sheet (2) cutting out tongues and bending them to engage both sides of the rod after elastically bending the rod.

Abstract: A set of blades for a turbine which includes a group of blades disposed between an upper plate (12) and a lower plate (11) which delimit a group of passages (3). Said set of blades includes ducts (13,14) provided in the upper plate (12) and/or in the lower plate (11), each duct opening at one end in the neighborhood of the convex surface of a blade and level with the constriction (6) of the passage and at the other end at a point situated upstream from said set of blades. Reduction of the low pressure on the convex surfaces only adjacent the upper plate (12) and the lower plate (11), reducing secondary losses, while pressure distribution remains optimum in the zone of good flow of the passage.