Abstract: For attaching the oil sump (10) to the engine block (30) of a combustion engine, a seal is made between the engine block (30) and the oil sump (10) by means of a curable composition (20). The adhesion of the composition (20) when cured is sufficient to secure the oil sump (10) to the engine block (30). The adhesion should be at least 0.5 N/mm2, especially more than 0.8 N/mm2. The curable composition (20) can be a silicone composition. The oil sump (10) can be fixed to the engine block (30) at least during the curing of the composition (20). To this end, the edge of the oil sump can be designed such that a self-fixing takes place when the oil sump (10) is joined to the engine block (30).

Abstract: A sequential blasting system for use in particular in mining comprises a plurality of detonator stages S1, S2, . . . , each of which contains a series circuit consisting of a thyristor T and a detonator means ZE, said series circuit being interposed between two supply leads A, O; B, 0. The signal voltage for the thyristor T in each stage is derived solely from the switching state of the thyristor T of the preceding stage. This causes activation to be transferred from stage to stage independently of the detonator means ZE, in particular irrespectively of whether or not a detonator has been attached and whether or not this detonator becomes highly resistive or not as it should upon being activated. This eliminates the errors that have occurred in known circuits. Upon firing the blasting system, such errors can cause the detonation to occur not only at the first detonator stage, but simultaneously at a location where a detonator is missing as well.

Abstract: A relay driving circuit for a latch-in type magnetic relay having an excitation coil, generating a set current and a reset current of opposite polarity for the coil. A capacitor is provided between the input terminals of the circuit in series with the coil. A set switch is connected in series with the coil and the capacitor, and a reset switch is connected across the series combination. An input voltage level detector is provided to make the set switch conductive, thereby applying the input voltage to the excitation coil and the capacitor to provide the set current. As the input voltage decreases below the trigger level, the detector makes the reset switch conductive to allow the capacitor to discharge current in the opposite direction through the excitation coil.

Abstract: A bounce-free acceleration switch includes a resiliently mounted movable contact (14) which cooperates with a counter contact (15). The kinetic energy of the movable contact (14) is transmitted through an impact body (16) to a resiliently mounted massive body (17) which, when swinging back to its rest position, engages a stop (18). Re-transmission of the kinetic energy from the massive body (17) to the impact body (16) and thus to the contact couple (14, 15), which would cause contact bouncing, is prevented by providing a spacing (s) between the massive body (17) and the impact body (16) in the rest position of the apparatus, and by the fact that during the deflecting and swinging-back movement of the massive body (17) the impact body (16) returns towards its rest position and is therefore not hit again by the massive body (17).

Abstract: An electromagnetic relay adapted to be driven by a.c. voltage includes two windings formed by two wires wound together, each winding having its ends connected through diodes to a respective terminal of the a.c. voltage source. The diodes are connected to each terminal with opposite forward directions so that the magnetic fluxes generated by the two windings have the same direction irrespective of the polarity of the a.c. voltage. The capacity existing between the two windings acts as a reactance for limiting the exciting current without consuming active energy.

Abstract: Circuit arrangements for the control of a bistable relay having a capacitor connected in series with its excitation winding, in which the series connection of coil and capacitor is connected to excitation voltage for the excitation of the relay and simultaneous charging of the capacitor, and, upon absence of excitation voltage, is short-circuitable through a semiconductor switch having its output circuit parallel-connected with the series connection of coil and capacitor, whereby the relay switches back to its starting position.

Abstract: A reel for photographic paper has a hollow cylindrical core and two disk-shaped flanges having centrally located extensions received in the respective end portions of the core. The inner side of each flange tapers outwardly in a direction from the periphery of the core toward the periphery of the respective flange. The extensions have ribs which penetrate into the inner surface of the core, and the core is further coupled to each flange by a rubber hose which surrounds the respective extension and is biased against the inner surface of the core by an endless helical spring which surrounds a conical end face of the corresponding extension.