Abstract: The bogie comprises an axle (14) rotatably mounted on a fixed underframe, and measurement apparatus for measuring a physical magnitude related to rotation of the axle (14). The measurement apparatus (34) comprises a metal disk (36) secured to the axle (14) and provided with at least one mark-forming perforation (40), and a fixed detection assembly (50) for detecting the mark, which assembly comprises at least one inductive proximity detector (52). Preferably, the disk (26) is fixed to a collector ring (26) of a current return assembly (24) for transferring the current coming from a motor of the bogie to the axle (14).

Abstract: A superconductive conductor protected against partial transitions, the conductor comprising a superconductive region made up of superconductive filaments embedded in a non-superconductive metal matrix, and a non-superconductive metal region, wherein the cold resistivity of the non-superconductive metal region is less than half the overall cold resistivity of the superconductive region in the non-superconductive state, the superconductive region and the non-superconductive metal region being merely in mechanical contact, without cohesion.

Abstract: A method of producing a high-performance connection between a metal and a solid superconductive ceramic member is effected by introducing into a mold, in juxtaposition, grains or powder of the ceramic or of its precursors and a volume of silver or gold powder, and ceramic grains or powder at the level of an incorporated silver, gold or copper porous body of the foam, straw or lattice type prior to compression of the ceramic powder and sintering of the same. The electrical connection so formed exhibits a low electrical resistance capable of carrying high currents at rated temperature without interfering with the zero resistance state of the superconductive ceramic, with the metal connection free of cracking and having a contact resistance that is substantially constant throughout the range of superconductive material operating conditions.

Abstract: A pumping station feeds hydraulic energy to a grid or raises water from a low level to a high level. It includes, in particular, a transformer connected between an alternator and a grid, with a circuit breaker between the transformer and the grid. It further includes resistance for limiting the surge current through the transformer. This resistance lies in the range of 500 ohms to 100,000 ohms and is inserted for a period lying in the range 15 milliseconds to 19 milliseconds when the circuit breaker is closed, and a controller for ensuring that the circuit breaker closes on the unloaded transformer only at an instant that is no more than 1.2 milliseconds from an extreme value in the grid voltage.

Abstract: A homopolar reluctant sensor comprises a magnetic material rotor including a cylindrical body having at a first end a laminated part comprising the same number of lobes as there are sensor pole pairs and at a second end a ring and a magnetic material stator comprising a cylindrical portion provided with an excitation coil energized by an alternating supply, a first ring having notches and defining with said laminated part a first airgap and a smooth second ring defining with said rotor ring a second airgap. The stator notches are provided with a winding such that the voltage induced therein is sinusoidal and free of harmonics. The envelope of this voltage represents, apart from a phase-shift, the position of the rotor relative to the stator.

Abstract: A device for determining the state of an apparatus capable of existing in a first state and a second state. The apparatus is provided with auxiliary contacts (CAO1, . . . , CAF1, . . . ) which provide binary state signals that depend on the current state of the apparatus. The device includes at least one first state auxiliary contact CAO1), that provides a "1" state signal when the apparatus is in its first state, and at least one second state auxiliary contact CAS1) providing a "1" state signal when the apparatus is in its second state. The device also has a programmed microcontroller (MP) having inputs on which it receives the state signals from the auxiliary contacts (CAO1, . . . , CAF1, . . . ) and also instructions (OO, OF) requesting the apparatus to switch from one state to the other.

Abstract: A sulfur hexafluoride isolating circuit-breaker comprises an SF.sub.6 -filled gastight case for each cell containing fixed contacts and arcing contacts, the poles are fixed to a common grounded metal bar capable of pivoting between two end walls of a drawer suitable for containing the poles, said bar shelters a control shaft for the poles and connected to a control box which is itself connected to said bar, the rotation of the bar providing the section-switch isolating function and rotating or translating said shaft driving the circuit breaking function.

Abstract: A multipole circuit-breaker for each pole has an insulating feedthrough including a cylindrical first portion containing a vacuum bottle. The vacuum bottle comprises an insulating case closed by first and second endplates. The first metal endplate carries a first terminal outside the case and a fixed contact inside the case. The second endplate has a moving metal rod passing therethrough in sealed manner and carries a moving contact. The second endplate is electrically connected to the second cylindrical portion having a metal tube disposed coaxially therein. The metal tube is mechanically connected to the vacuum bottle and is electrically connected to the moving rod. The tube comprises a drive rod connected to the moving metal rod. The insulating feedthroughs of each of the pole are connected to a common metal bar disposed substantially at the junction between the first and the second portions of each feedthrough. The bar contains a control shaft common to the poles and connected to a drive mechanism.

Abstract: A device for signalling remotely the state of a device able to assume a plurality of discrete states comprises a circuit for producing inside a screened enclosure a direct current voltage free of interference. The screened enclosure contains a first circuit for producing from the direct current voltage electrical pulses whose duration is proportional to the value of an inductance which can assume distinct values according to the various states of the device. A second circuit converts the electrical pulses into optical pulses and an optical fiber transmits the pulses out of the enclosure to a processor.

Abstract: An impulse steam turbine has a rotor and a stator and a plurality of stages each constituted by a diaphragm with stationary blading followed by moving blading comprising blades that rotate with the rotor. The moving blades are mounted directly on the rotor, and not on disks, with the stationary blading providing more than 85% of the pressure drop at the base of each stage. Such turbines may be provided with improvements that reduce secondary losses. Efficiency is improved by several percentage points.

Abstract: A damper device, in particular a damper device for railroad vehicles, comprises at least one set of two curved beams articulated to each other, disposed transversely relative to the direction of impact and joined together at their ends so that their concave sides face each other.

Abstract: Galvanic isolation device for direct current electrical signals or electrical signals likely to include a direct current component, which includes a transformer (T), reversible switch I for chopping the incident signal applied to one wind of this transformer reversible switch I' for chopping the signal obtained at the other winding of this transformer, controlled either in phase or in phase opposition with each other and filters (F1,F2) for filtering the chopped signals respectively obtained at windings of the transformer.

Abstract: A multipolar isolating circuit-breaker comprising, for each pole, an insulating feedthrough containing a vacuum bottle, the feedthrough including a first contact at a first end connected to a first terminal of the bottle and designed to co-operate with a first conductor, and a second contact at a second end connected to a second terminal of the bottle and designed to co-operate with a second conductor, the feedthroughs being secured to a common metal bar sheltering a common shaft for driving the bottles and actuated by a mechanism contained in a box. The circuit-breaker is applicable to medium-tension bays and stations.

Abstract: A current feed extends between a terminal at ambient temperature and an electrical equipment immersed in a cryogenic fluid and adapted to operate at variable current. The current feed is cooled by circulating an auxiliary cooling fluid at ambient temperature exchanging heat with the current feed. The auxiliary cooling fluid is introduced at an intermediate level of the current feed when the current exceeds a particular threshold and optionally all or some of the auxiliary cooling fluid is introduced at other levels nearer the electrical equipment at higher currents.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a valve including a valve member co-operating with a seat provided with a crenellated portion disposed around the portion of the seat on which the valve member rests, said crenellated portion being constituted by teeth separated by gaps, the inside walls of the teeth being portions of a vertical axis cylinder, the width l of the gaps being less than the width b of the inside walls of the teeth, wherein the end wall of the valve member facing the crenellated portion when the valve member is in its closed position is convex in shape, co-operating with the inside wall of each tooth to form a channel that flares from top to bottom of the tooth, the point of contact C between the valve member and the seat being at a distance d from the base B of the crenellated portion lying in the range 0.25 times to 0.5 times the width l of the gap. Vibrations are eliminated at partial load and pressure fluctuations downstream from the valve are reduced.

Abstract: A device controls the torque of an asynchronous electric motor by controlling the phase of the motor stator voltage relative to a motor flux on the basis of a set point for the quadrature component of the stator current in a frame of reference related to the flux in turn derived from the motor torque set point. The device includes a first difference detector for detecting any difference between the set point and the current value of the quadrature component and a first regulator operating on the basis of the difference to provide the phase value to be applied to the motor to reduce the difference.

Abstract: A method of connecting a high critical temperature superconductive ceramic part and a low critical temperature superconductor such as a multifilament strand of niobium-titanium, in which method a silver contact is prepared on said ceramic part, wherein said multifilament strand is soldered to said contact using an intermediate solder material whose melting temperature is less than 300.degree. C.

Abstract: A drum rotor for an impulse steam turbine having moving wheels constituted by rotor blades whose roots are provided with dovetails are locked in dovetail shaped grooves formed in the rotor. The grooves are longitudinal over at least a portion of the rotor. The roots of the blades of a moving wheel are separated from the roots of the blades of an adjacent moving wheel by dovetail shaped spacers. An optimum filling of the longitudinal grooves is effected for better interconnection of the caps of the rotor blades.

Abstract: An electrical coil is created by winding an electrical coil as successive parallel oblique layers of coil turns projecting radially outwardly from a coil former about which the coil turns are wound with the coil turns positioned radially outward of the coil former axis. The winding forms in radial cross-section, a triangle having a base situated against the coil former, a second side constituting an oblique rising edge and a third oppositely oblique side. Alternately upward and downward oblique coil turn layers are successively wound to advance the coil progressively along the axis of the former.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ultra-high-tension interrupting chamber comprising a main chamber including an insulating case containing permanent contacts, arcing contacts and two closing resistors inserted by means of semi-moving "make switch" device putting a "first" one of the resistors into operation before the "second" resistor. An auxiliary chamber is connected in parallel with the main chamber, which auxiliary chamber includes an insulating casing containing an opening varistor associated with a break switch having a slow-release opening mechanism situated inside the casing.