Abstract: A storage battery of the lead-acid type has unipolar electrodes (6) and bipolar electrodes (7), having a tubular shape fastened preferably perpendicularly to walls (3, 4) made of an insulating material, which divide container into two or more adjacent cells (1) containing the electrolyte. In a preferred embodiment, each tubular electrode (6, 7) is formed by an axial bar (8) of lead or an alloy thereof, having a circular section, surrounded by active material (9), either positive or negative, in its turn enclosed by a coaxial tubular sheath (10) in porous synthetic and insulating material, and end plates (11, 12) of plastic material. The exteriorly extending ends (13), of the bars (8) of the unipolar tubular electrodes (6) of each of the end cells are connected to a respective external bus bar (14) for the current. The external bus bar (14) constitutes a pole of the storage battery.

Abstract: A miniaturized apparatus for air conditioning comprising an assembly made up of a Peltier effect thermoelectric device, in the form of bimetallic or plurimetallic plates connected to a low voltage D.C. power supply, the opposed cold and hot surface of which are in contact with respective heat exchangers, said assembly being contained in a housing in which two distinct and separate conduits are provided for the forced flow of air through the respective ones of said heat exchangers.

Abstract: A valve comprises a valve body extending vertically, provided with an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit, at the interior of which there is located a suitable weighted shutter arranged for sliding in a guided manner between opening and closing positions for said conduits and to divide said valve body in an upper plenum chamber communicating with the sucking side of a pump and in a lower plenum chamber communicating with the delivery side of said pump.

Abstract: A new configuration of the electrodes of a transverse discharge pumped gas laser is disclosed, in which the electrode connected to ground and the electrode connected to the main condenser bank are placed on the same plane so as to face a third electrode connected to a high impedance. There are two distinct discharge regions, one of which is the back path of the current passing through the first discharge region.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for the activation of perborate in washing machines, said device comprising a cup (2, 8) for activating perborate which is fed by a perborate metering device (1) or may also lack such device, and is connected to the washing tub (6) through a conduit (7) and is supplied with water through the conduit (9) for the supply of water from the water main, or a conduit (18) arranged as a by-pass in said conduit that supplies water from the water main, or through a conduit (19) connected to the bottom of the washing tub (6); said device also comprising an electric resistance (3) for heating water contained in said cup (2, 8) or at a point upstream said cup, and means (4) that detect the temperature inside said cup (2, 8).

Abstract: A portable device allowing the rapid aiding of individuals suffering from difficulty in breathing, movement and communication, in a situation of environmental risk in the form of toxic and contaminating agents, said device comprising a wrapping of flexible material impermeable to gas, vapor, fumes, aerosol and dusts, a window in said wrapping, hermetically closed by a flexible transparent material for the visualization of the inside thereof, a box-shaped body in fluid communication with an extremity of said wrapping and carrying a system for the filtering, feeding and pressurization of the air, and at least one exhaust valve of the air in said wrapping.

Abstract: A mechanism for automatically releasing the control bars in a nuclear reactor following an increase of the temperature in the nuclear boiler includes a thermal sensor suitable for producing a mechanical force or a torque as a function of the temperature and such as to operate a mechanical actuator which provides to unlock the device that holds said control bars causing in this way their fall under the force of gravity.

Abstract: A modular multi-passage rotary coupling for transferring fluids in which pipes are rigidly connected with the inner fixed rings of the relevant modules by sleeves. The sleeves, after being coaxially butt-fastened at their bottom end with the pipes, enter proper bores specifically provided in the relevant fixed rings, inside which each of them is fastened under pressure by means of a closure and tight-sealing screw-threaded cap which is screwed down on a corresponding inner threading provided at the upper end of the relevant sleeve and urging, with the crown of its head, against the upper edge of the bore and also by a shoulder step jutting out at the bottom end of the sleeve and cooperating with the lower edge of the bore of the fixed ring.

Abstract: A FIR Laser cavity comprising a pair of concentric tubes of heatproof dielectric, a pair of nozzles intended for circulating within the space between said pair of tubes a refrigerating and thermally stabilizing fluid; a pair of laser heads disposed at the two ends of said tubular assembly which heads are provided with optical elements; a differential thread sleeve mounted concentrically with said tubes and intended for obtaining the longitudinal micropositioning of one of said heads with respect to one another; two series of three screws which are mounted with a starlike symmetry on said heads and intended for allowing a fine adjustment of the optics carried by said heads along two axes perpendicular to one another and with respect to the geometrical axes of said tubes by means of the elastic deformation of an O ring which is interposed between each head and the tubular body and an output optics carrier and comprising either a reflector and a window for the hermetic seal, or by the reflector alone, which is g

Abstract: Apparatus comprising a toroidal magnet whose conductive layers closest to the axis of symmetry are supported everywhere by a structural material of high mechanical strength, and synchronous press means exerting a compressive force parallel to the said axis of symmetry, the apparatus achieving, in use, quasi-isotropy of the stress tensor in the most critically loaded part of the magnet.