Abstract: Sheet material having a polymeric surface for receiving a photographic image, the material comprising an antistatic agent which is a synthetic hectorite clay having a layered structure the layers of which are electrically charged.

Abstract: A process for continuously forming a fibrous element in an elongate closed foraminous former during movement of the former through fluid extraction means, and which includes the steps of forming a fibrous dispersion, injecting the dispersion into said former, generating a pressure gradient across an extraction zone within said fluid extraction means and injecting the fibrous dispersion into the former at an injection velocity relative to the speed of the former (efflux ratio) to cause some of the fibres to build up as a fibrous mat on the inner surface of the former and the remainder to pack together to form a core so as to produce a continuous fibrous element having a fibrous core which is enclosed by a crust of greater density.

Abstract: A layboy mechanism for the continuous stacking and delivery of batches of sheet material received from a delivery mechanism and comprising means for continuously receiving cut sheets and forming them into a downwardly moving stack, divider means for dividing the stack into batches containing a predetermined number of sheets, and means for removing the lowermost batch while the remainder of the stack above it is supported by auxiliary support means which move between an operative support position and an inoperative position clear of the stack.

Abstract: An actuating device for a battery operated electronic module accommodated in a metallic or plastic case and comprising one push-button associated with a return-spring, said push-button including one resilient section with a collar which, cooperating with an opening in an element acting as a support for the return-spring limits the travel of the push-button in one direction, the travel length being determined by a face of the push-button abuting against a terminal of said electronic module.The actuating device will ensure a sufficient sealing (water-tight protection) of the case and will be very simple, of low cost and with machining tolerances as large as possible.

Abstract: A fibrous element comprising an elongated structure having a fibrous core with the fibres arranged in random orientation, said core being stiffened and enclosed by a fibrous crust integral with the core and formed as a surface layer of greater density.

Abstract: An electronic battery-powered watch including an oscillator followed by a chain of frequency divider stages, said chain being composed of two parts with an interface circuit between said two parts, said interface circuit multiplying by a predetermined amount the voltage of the battery and the amplitude of the pulses issued from the last stage of the first part of the division chain in order to feed and control the second part of the chain and the decoding and display circuits of the watch.

Abstract: A safety device for battery-operated watches including an indicator device and an accumulator connected in parallel with the battery supplying the electronic circuit of the watch. The battery charges up the accumulator during normal use and when the battery runs down the indicator device gives a visual indication of battery condition and the accumulator continues to provide current to the electronic circuit of the watch for a time to enable the battery to be replaced.

Abstract: In pickling metal, such as iron, steel, special alloys, or the like, aqueous blends containing hydrofluoric acid and nitric acid are used as pickling solutions; resulting spent pickling solutions are evaporated under controlled conditions, such that the concentrate is supersaturated and contains a predetermined amount of iron; the concentrate is then partially cooled and transferred to a crystallization zone where, under controlled conditions, a crystalline precepitate is formed by cooling the concentrate in two phases; the resulting precipitate is then separated from its mother liquor, and the latter is recycled for use in pickling metals of the aforedescribed type.

Abstract: A ski which has a tread and a patterned top covering consisting of a plurality of sheets of plastics material, which are colored throughout in different colors and arranged in succession in the longitudinal direction of the ski and adjoin at mating adjacent edges. Those portions of said sheets of plastics material which define said adjoining edges are held together in pairs by a grid on the underside of the sheets.

Abstract: Piezoelectric microresonators with suspension arms, oscillating according to a vibration resulting from the superposition of a principal extensional mode of oscillation, of a first shear coupled mode of oscillation and of a second extensional coupled mode of oscillation. The suspension arms are attached to the active part of the resonator in a place which is the intersection of a nodal plane of the vibration resulting of the superposition of the principal mode and of the first coupled mode of oscillation. The other end of the arms is fixed on a stiff support in a location which coincide with a node of their vibration.

Abstract: A method for producing a cover for a tin or can is disclosed wherein the cover just prior to forming a weakening scoring thereon is orientated in a definite direction. Apparatus for carrying out such method is also disclosed comprising an alignment station provided at the entry to at least one processing device, said alignment station having means for rotating each cover and means for stopping said cover in a definite rotary position. A cover produced by such method is disclosed, said weakening scoring in said region transverse to the grain direction of said cover being made deeper than said weakening scoring parallel to the direction of rolling.

Abstract: A device for enabling an accumulator to be recharged from a source of electrical energy, such as photo-cells. The device includes a converter circuit and a diode, the converter circuit being capable of adapting the current and voltage supplied by said source to the charging conditions of the accumulator. The converter circuit is arranged to be saturated from a certain value of the current delivered by the source, the stronger currents passing directly through the diode.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece havng an integrated electronic circuit including a quartz crystal oscillator, connected to a multi-stage divider, which divider supplies various outputs of various frequencies to corrector circuits, a logic circuit and a motor control circuit. The motor control circuit includes a switch to allow the timepiece to be stopped by resetting at least one stage of the divider. One of the terminals of the motor is connected to one of the stages of the divider to allow the control of the frequency of the signal issued from this stage, and, therefore, the frequency of the quartz oscillator.

Abstract: An electronic watch having a circuit for permitting it to be stopped in a state of minimum consumption. The watch has an oscillator, a frequency divider comprising flip-flops and a display, with the display and at least some of said flip-flops being connected to a common line so that a signal applied to the common line places them in a state of minimum consumption. The circuit including a switch connected between the common line and a terminal of the power supply and at least two MOS transistors connected so as to apply the signal to the common line when the switch is closed.

Abstract: An electronic digital watch including a device for enabling the correction of the minutes and seconds display. The device includes a delay circuit which only enables a correction to be effected if the push-button for correcting the display is actuated for a predetermined time, and means for resetting the seconds display to zero and, if the watch is slow, advancing the minutes display by one.

Abstract: The element for decoration comprises a crystal glass bar, which is formed with a cavity that extends through the bar along its longitudinal center line and is open at both ends, and a wire which extends through the cavity and serves to attach the bar.

Abstract: A stringed instrument, such as a guitar, is provided with one or more auxiliary strings which are parallel to the regular strings of performance and between the regular strings and the sound box or body to be actuated under the influence and vibrations of the regular strings.

Abstract: A system for feeding solutions and suspensions to nozzles for spraying the solution or suspension into a heated furnace chamber comprises at least one blow case for feeding the solution or suspension to be treated to the nozzle under the displacing action of a compressed displacing gas, means for measuring the flow rate and the instantaneous pressure of the displacing gas and means for supplying a purge gas during non-feeding periods, in order to prevent an ingress of corrosive gases into the pneumatic system.

Abstract: A method of excavating tunnels comprises digging an excavation to form a tunnel, gradually pushing a casing inwardly of the excavation as the excavation proceeds, the cross-sectional area of the excavation being larger than the outer cross-sectional area of the casing in order to provide a hollow annular chamber between the same; arranging at least a seal at the inner end of the casing to seal the annular section between said casing and the excavation; arranging a seal at the entrance of the excavation to seal the annular section between the casing and the entrance to the excavation; and injecting under pressure a drilling mud to completely fill the annular space between the casing and the excavation as the excavation front advances, in order to provide a fluid support for the walls of the excavation and to float the casing within the excavation, whereby friction contact between said casing and the excavation is prevented as the casing is pushed inwardly of the excavation.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine including a coolant jacketed body surrounding a combustion cylinder with a tubular wall extending through the coolant jacket and surrounding an ignition device exposed through a firing deck area to said cylinder, has a circular recess axially of said ignition device and encompassing said firing deck area with an axially disposed, internally threaded bore extending from said recess into said tubular wall, and a circular plate insert having an axially disposed, externally threaded boss threadable into said bore to axially secure said insert within said recess, the diameter of said insert being less than the diameter of said recess to enable expansion by heat absorption of said insert independently of and without transmitting stress and strain to said engine body.