Abstract: A hybrid current limiter comprising a first winding of non-superconducting conductive material having a large number of turns and electrically connected in series with a superconductoring coil of low self-inductance and placed in a cryostat, and a second winding of non-superconducting conductive material having a small number of turns, said second winding being closely coupled with said first winding in such a manner as to obtain low overall inductance, the second winding being connected in parallel with the series circuit constituted by the first winding and the superconducting coil.

Abstract: A medium tension circuit breaker comprising a casing of insulating material enclosing a gas having good dielectric properties and containing the following: first contacts connected to a first current terminal and second contacts connected to a second current terminal; a fixed arcing contact electrically connected to the first current terminal and a moving arcing contact fixed to a connecting rod mechanically connected to a drive member; and a moving permanent contact fixed to the moving arcing contact and providing an electrical connection between the first and second contacts when the circuit breaker is in the engaged position. The moving permanent contact is a short tubular part with the first and second contacts being disposed respectively on two circular arcs.

Abstract: A valve comprises a valve obturator cooperating with a valve seat provided with crenellations disposed around the part of the valve seat on which the valve obturator rests. Each crenellation comprises on its surface facing the valve obturator a vertical central partition between two symmetrical openings.

Abstract: Circuit breaker control apparatus uses a DC motor and has only one spring for disengagement purposes.

Abstract: The HP-MP steam turbine body has a single internal stator surrounding both the HP and the MP portions of the rotor. The internal stator co-operates with the external stator to define axial positioning means for the internal stator and to define a thermal screen for an inter-stator space which is swept with steam taken from one of the last stages of the HP stream. The portions of the internal stator which surround all of the expansion of the HP stream and the hot stages of the MP stream are steam-conditioned in optimum manner, thereby making it possible to reduce the temperature gradient which the internal stator has to withstand, and also the temperature of the fastenings for both of the stators. The internal stator is simple in structure, the dimensioning of the HP-MP body is optimized, as are the fastenings, and the temperature control of the stators.

Abstract: Particles are concentrated in a peripheral gas stream of a contaminated gas flow along a deposition length (38) of a centrifuge chamber (2). The longitudinal advance of the peripheral gas stream is then stopped in a separation length (40) in which its pressure is kept high enough by rotating blades (24) rapidly to ensure that said stream escapes to the outside via a removal opening (32) while a purified inner gas stream continues to advance longitudinally. The invention is particularly applicable to purifying smoke.

Abstract: A vehicle guidance system for guiding a vehicle on a virtual track includes a waveguide connected to a member emitting electromagnetic radiation at a frequency between 1 and 100 kHz and disposed on the axis of the track to be followed. At least one set of two magnetic sensors disposed on the vehicle receive the field to determine the lateral offset of the vehicle relative to the axis of the track.

Abstract: A device for storing electromagnetic energy in toroidal superconducting windings of circular right cross-section, wherein the device is constituted by a plurality of flat cylindrical coils having a plane of symmetry perpendicular to their own axes and including the axis of the torus, and which are separated by wedge-shaped spacers. The invention is applicable to distribution networks or to electrical machines.

Abstract: An impulse turbine stage comprising a set (1) of fixed vanes (2) fixed to the stator (3) of the turbine and supporting a diaphragm (4), followed by a set (7) of moving vanes (8) mounted on a disc (9) fixed to the rotor (6) of the turbine, the stage being characterized in that said disk (9) is provided with through ducts (12) parallel to the axis of the rotor (6) and in that the inlets to the ducts (12) opening out into the gap between the diaphragm (6) and the disk (9) are provided with scoops (15) open sideways in the direction of rotation to direct fluid into the ducts (12). The invention serves to reduce the secondary losses of an impulse turbine.

Abstract: A medium or high tension arc-puffing circuit breaker comprising a gastight casing filled with a dielectric gas and containing a semi-fixed first contact electrically connected to a first current terminal and a moving second contact which is electrically connected to a second current terminal and which is mechanically connected to a drive member, said semi-fixed contact being fixed to a piston that moves in a cylinder, said piston delimiting a first volume in the arc zone end of said cylinder and a second volume in the other end thereof, said semi-fixed contact being subject to the action of a spring urging the semi-fixed contact in the same direction as the moving contact during a disengagement operation, wherein the circuit breaker includes means for limiting the speed and the amplitude of the motion of the piston in the spring-compressing direction during a disengagement operation on a short circuit current, said means also enabling unpolluted gas to be injected into the arcing contact zone during the reeng

Abstract: A high tension circuit breaker comprising at least one circuit-breaking chamber and, in parallel with the circuit-breaking chamber, firstly a varistor in series with an interrupter, and secondly a tension-distributing capacitor. The circuit breaker has a linear resistor having a resistance lying in the range range 30 ohms to 300 ohms inserted in series with the varistor. The invention is particularly suitable for reactance circuit breakers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit breaker for limiting a direct current and comprising a combination of first means including superconducting windings for limiting the current and second means for interrupting the residual current. The invention is applicable to interrupting high tension direct currents.

Abstract: A transmission member includes a driving shaft (60) actuated by a control shaft (9), and a driven shaft (3) driven in rotation by a plate (61) provided with a driving thread and a driven thread. The driving shaft is provided with a thread that engages in the driving thread of the plate and the driven shaft is provided with a thread that engages in the driven thread of the plate.

Abstract: A separator of the present invention includes a lid (12) constituting an inlet duct (4) for conveying diesel fuel to a deflector (6) which imparts a centrifugal velocity thereto inside a centrifuging bowl (8). The centrifuged liquid rises, passes through a filter (18), and leaves via an outlet duct (10). These two ducts are heated by an electrical resistance (16) incorporated in the solid metal of the lid by casting. The lid is provided with fins (24) for heating the diesel oil in the vicinity of the filter. The invention is particularly applicable to feeding fuel to diesel engines in goods vehicles.

Abstract: The bearing supporting the rotor has its stiffness increased by being connected directly to a foundation, thereby providing better behavior for the bearing in the event of a major accident (e.g. the loss of one of the blades in the last, low pressure stage). In addition, by separating the bearing function from the stator exhaust end function, there is no danger of any rotor out-of-balance forces exciting resonance in the stator structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to controlling a circuit breaker by means of a drive mechanism circuit for operating a circuit breaker by rotating a main operating shaft (4). The drive mechanism comprises a trigger circuit breaker drive mechanism (1) delivering considerably less power than that required for operating the circuit breaker, and associated with an assembly including a disengagement first spring (6), an engagement second spring (12), and a recocking motor (14) for recocking the springs which are disposed, on being released, to drive the main shaft (4) through 180.degree., with the release of the springs being controlled by motion of an outlet member (2) of the trigger drive mechanism (1). The invention is applicable to the operating circuit breakers.

Abstract: The bearing supporting the rotor has its stiffness increased by being connected directly to a foundation, thereby providing better behavior for the bearing in the event of a major accident (e.g. the loss of one of the blades in the last, or lowest presssure stage). In addition, by separating the bearing function from the stator exhaust end function, there is no danger of any rotor out-of-balance forces exciting resonance in the stator structure.

Abstract: A high or medium tension circuit-breaker having a dielectric gas, the circuit-breaker including stationary and moving main contacts, and a conductor element having high electrical resistance, with the current to be interrupted being constrained to flow through the conductor element once the main contacts have separated.

Abstract: A multifilament superconducting strand for use at industrial frequencies and made from an initial billet comprising a superconducting core niobium-titanium alloy surrounded by an anti-diffusion barrier layer which is in turn surrounded by a copper based matrix material, with the strand being made from the billet by successive stages of extrusion, wire-drawing, and assembly, wherein the strand includes 5.times.10.sup.5 to 5.times.10.sup.6 filaments each constituted by the superconducting core reduced to a diameter in the range 50 nm to 150 nm, the filaments being separated from one another by a distance lying in the range 30 nm to 100 nm, which distance is occupied by the anti-diffusion layer and the matrix material. The matrix material contains in excess of 8% manganese when the anti-diffusion layer is made of niobium, or alternatively, the anti-diffusion layer may be of an iron-containing alloy with the matrix containing copper and nickel.

Abstract: A concrete steam condenser for an axial exhaust turbine supported on a concrete foundation, is aligned with the exhaust and comprises a volume whose external concrete envelope forms a monolithic assembly with the concrete foundation. The turbine exhaust is flanged to the condenser inlet. The condenser does not require supporting or guiding. The turbine shaft responds better to deformation of the condenser. The amount of concrete used is significantly less than the volume usually used.