Abstract: A coupling element connectable to a string of one or more pipes, for example, a drill string of one or more pipes or drill pipes is provided. The coupling element is configured to excite, responsive to a data signal fed to the coupling element, an electromagnetic wave in the string. The coupling element comprises a feed portion at a first end of the coupling element, the feed portion to receive the data signal, a first electrically conductive portion extending from the feed portion towards a second end of the coupling element, the second end to be connected to the string for forming an electrically conductive connection between the first electrically conductive portion and the string, and a second electrically conductive portion extending from the feed portion towards the second end of the coupling element. The first and second electrically conductive portions are arranged so as to define a waveguide. The waveguide expands in a direction from the first end towards the second end.

Abstract: A motor vehicle has an electronically controllable parking lock and an electronically controllable parking brake, which can be controlled individually or in combination. A device having an electronic control unit and a central operating element associated with the parking lock and the parking brake is provided. When the motor vehicle is at a standstill and the central operating element is actuated, the parking lock and the parking brake can be controlled in a specific type of parking-lock and/or parking-brake activation. In a first specific type, during a first actuation of the central operating element, at least the parking brake is automatically activated first. If the central operating element is then re-actuated within a predefined time window, or if the central operating element remains actuated for a predefined minimum time period, the driver is offered at least one possibility of manually selecting a specific type of parking-lock and/or parking-brake activation.

Abstract: Polyphenol derivative compositions including oligomer or polymer esters containing N+2 monomer moieties, whose monomer moieties correspond to the following formula ##STR1## in which N is a number from 0 to 100, A represents a group --OR, a hydrogen atom or a substituent R, at least a majority of the substituents R represent a group --COR.sub.1, R.sub.1 is a saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched alkyl radical of at least two carbon atoms, or an aryl, aralkyl or aralkylene radical, a remainder of the substituents R is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an acyl group --CO--C.sub.6 H.sub.2 --(OH).sub.3, a monosaccharide or a polysaccharide, and n.sub.1 and n.sub.2, which are identical to or different from each other, are numbers from 1 to 3, corresponding to the number of substitutions on a ring, and the diastereoisomers and the regioisomers of said monomer moieties, whereby the monomer moieties are connected by carbon--carbon bonds or by ether bridges between the rings which make up a flavan ring system.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of glass sheets with a view to laminating them consists of curving the glass sheets by causing them to pass one after another along a curved trajectory, then cooling them by passage between blowing chests, and of dispatching them by batches to the assembling station, and a laminated pane, the sheets of which have, in the central zone, a core compressive stress of from 1 to 50 MPa.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of glass sheets with a view to laminating them consists of curving the glass sheets by causing them to pass one after another along a curved trajectory, then cooling them by passage between blowing chests, and of dispatching them by batches to the assembling station, and a laminated pane, the sheets of which have, in the central zone, a core compressive stress of from 1 to 50 MPa.

Abstract: A device for contactless detection of glass sheets in movement in glass installations, using a reflective photoelectric barrier, includes an emitter and a receiver (3) of light beams (4). The light beams follow a path in a channel (6) of heat-resistant material whose walls delimit a homogeneous isothermal environment, the channel emerging in the vicinity of sheet (11) to be detected.

Abstract: A process and a device for the bending on a frame of at least one glass sheet by gravity, the bending being performed in at least two stages during which the glass sheet or sheets undergo a deformation by gravity. In a first stage, the glass sheet or sheets are bent according to a first shape corresponding to a blank or precursor of the final shape. In a second stage, the glass sheet or sheets are bent according to the final shape. The device includes a frame 1 of which at least one part has two elements, one element forming a blank frame (2, 3, 4, 5) and another element forming a final frame (2, 3, 12, 13).

Abstract: A curving furnace has at least one curving station, of which the walls are equipped with resistors. The series of upper resistors are subdivided into one or more axial zones in which the resistors are oriented parallel to the height of the glass sheets, and into one or more transverse zones in which the resistors are oriented perpendicularly. The heating power of a given zone is regulated independently of the heating powers associated with the other zones.

Abstract: A process and a device for the bending on a frame of at least one glass sheet by gravity, the bending being performed in at least two stages during which the glass sheet or sheets undergo a deformation by gravity. In a first stage, the glass sheet or sheets are bent according to a first shape corresponding to a blank or precursor of the final shape. In a second stage, the glass sheet or sheets are bent according to the final shape. The device includes a frame 1 of which at least one part has two elements, one element forming a blank frame (2, 3, 4, 5) and another element forming a final frame (2, 3, 12, 13).