Abstract: Disclosed is a machine for forming sheets by longitudinal stretching, the machine includes: two stretch heads located on either side of a forming tool for the sheet, the stretch heads each including a line of grippers integral with a support structure which is associated with way of stretching and which is mounted on a chassis by the intermediary of a tipping axis; at least one tipping cylinder being inserted between the chassis and the support structure, in order to allow for the maneuvering in rotation of the support structure about the tipping axis; and the chassis being carried by a support frame. The stretching machine includes a unit, inserted between the support frame and the chassis, arranged to allow for an adjusting of the vertical positioning of the tipping axis.

Abstract: A structure for supporting forming tools in a machine for forming metal sheet by stretching, the structure comprising n juxtaposed table segments mounted in a stand of the machine, with at least n-1 of said table segments being individually fitted with means enabling said segment to be placed either in a high, working position, or else in a low, rest position.

Abstract: A press has a fixed lower platen, and an upper platen which is movable vertically by means of an actuator. A former corresponding to the article which is to be obtained is placed on the lower platen via a thermal insulation member, the former including channels for circulation of a heat exchange fluid. The material to be formed is placed on the former. The upper platen carries an assembly which has a resilient membrane, the periphery of which is sandwiched between a lower frame and a cover connected to a source of fluid under pressure, sealing between said membrane and the lid being ensured by the clamping pressure between these two parts which results partly from the force exerted on the moving platen and partly from the pressure of the fluid.

Abstract: A load-hoisting system comprising a motor and gear box unit having the parallel outlet gears. Each outlet gear drives a hoisting device connected to the load by a cable, such a device comprising a toothed disk meshing with one of the two outlet gears, the toothed disk driving a winch drum via a friction clutch comprising an intermediate clutch disk, the cable being attached to and wound on the drum, the intermediate disk including retaining catches preventing it from rotating in a direction corresponding to lowering the load, the drum being fixed to a central shaft whose rotation in the direction corresponding to lowering the load ensures that the clutch is engaged. The central shaft is synchronized in rotation with the central shaft of the other hoisting device by means of a plate coupling and a coupling disk provided with tenons or grooves that are orthogonal, the two central shafts being supported by a fixed frame.

Abstract: A press for compressing drums of contaminated waste. The press comprises a frame made up of a table and a crosshead connected to the table by means of vertical supports, and a compression assembly including a main cylinder secured to the crosshead. A main piston is situated inside the main cylinder and delimits a main chamber between the piston and the cylinder head of the main cylinder. The main piston is extended by a depending ram rod. A skirt is designed to surround the drum when it is being compressed by the ram. The skirt is extended at its top by a tubular piston slidably received in the main cylinder between the main cylinder and the ram rod. An intermediate chamber is delimited between the tubular piston and the main piston. An annular chamber is delimited between the tubular piston and the bottom of the main cylinder.

Abstract: A device for connecting two tubes end-to-end. At least one of the tubes is movable longitudinally to be connected to the other tube. A screwthreaded nut joins the two tubes. The first tube has at its end an outside screwthread of diameter d1 and pitch p1. The second tube has at its end an inside screwthread of diameter d2 greater than d1 and pitch p2 different than that p1 of the first tube. One of the screwthreads is continuous and the other is discontinuous by virtue of longitudinal lands subtending an angle at the center of the tube equal to that of the screwthreaded longitudinal lands. The nut 3 has an inside first screwthread compatible with that of the first tube and an outside second screwthread compatible with that of the second tube. The device further includes a system for immobilizing the tubes against rotation and a system for rotating the nut.

Abstract: A method of remote control of a mobile carriage including at least one transmit and receive antenna for movement into an underground gallery connected to the surface by a shaft provided with an elevator for effecting deep storage of radioactive wastes. The method involves fitting the site with a plurality of waveguides from a control station which includes a signal generator and a signal receiver and being situated on the surface. The plurality of waveguides are disposed with at least one first waveguide at the surface extending from the control station to the entrance to the shaft. At least one second waveguide is disposed along the shaft and connected at its top end to the first waveguide. At least one third waveguide is disposed along the gallery and connected to the second waveguide in the vicinity of the entrance to the gallery.

Abstract: A device for limiting a leak in the event of a rupture in pipework (1, 2), the device being characterized in that it comprises two flanges (4, 5) mounted on the pipework on respective sides of a section (3) of the pipework to be protected, the two flanges being assembled to each other by assembly means (10, 11) including members (12) having axial resilience leaving the duct free to expand axially, each flange including means (6, 7, 8, 9) for securing it axially on the pipework, and being itself constituted merely by two half-collars (5A, 5B) that are assembled together.

Abstract: A fixing member comprising a tie bar (4) having an expandable buffer (5) mounted thereon, the buffer being surrounded by a split ring (14) which is shorter than the length of said buffer (5), said expandable buffer bearing against an endpiece (6) linked to one end of the tie bar, and a nut (11) being screwed onto the opposite end of the tie bar to compress the expandable buffer (5) axially, thereby causing both the buffer and the split ring (14) to expand radially, the fixing member being characterized in that the inside surface of the split ring (14) has a helical groove (17).

Abstract: The invention provides a method of acting remotely on a site, such as a damaged nuclear power station. It consists in placing lengths of waveguide end-to-end by means of at least one carriage which is remotely controlled by the line of waveguide lengths implemented in this way, the carriage being provided with handling equipment for laying purposes and with at least one robot arm for connecting the lengths of waveguide together under the control of a control station including a signal generator and a signal receiver, which line is laid to the site that is to be inspected and optionally treated.

Abstract: A device for compensating a vibration force uses four rotating weights with parallel rotation axes. The four weights are located in a common plane P and symmetrical in pairs relative to a plane perpendicular to the plane P and passing through the line of action of the vibrational force F to be compensated. The weights of each pair rotate in opposite directions. A device for compensating a vibrational torque uses four rotating weights with rotation axes parallel to an axis D and symmetrical in pairs relative to the axis D. The weights of each pair rotate in the same direction. A real time control device includes a constant gain non-linear self-adapting Kalman filter.

Abstract: A stretch-forming machine for forming about a forming die, the machine comprising two jaws situated longitudinally on either side of the die, each jaw being connected to a fixed portion via drive means enabling each end of the jaw to move substantially in a plane perpendicular to the jaw in its rest position and to move in any direction within the plane. The die is fixed on a base connected to a table of a fixed frame, the table being situated at ground level, and the machine includes vertical guide means for the middles of the jaws, the jaws being connected to the drive means without any possibility of rotating relative to the means about a longitudinal axis.