Abstract: Comprising a plurality of assembled solar energy collector elements. Cold liquid is supplied at one end and water heated by the solar energy is drawn off at the other end of the device. The liquid circulates through the device in contact with an absorbent mat of intermingled fibres of dark color which is exposed to the solar radiation through at least one translucent sheet which creates a glasshouse effect. The mat guides the flow of liquid by the effect of capillarity and gravity during the heating of the liquid.

Abstract: A method for freeze drying a previously frozen product by placing the product in a fluidized bed of a finely divided solid purticulate water vapor adsorbent and adjusting the partial pressure of water vapor to a level at which frozen water in the product will sublime.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a heated bath of molten material to obtain controlled solidification, wherein the molten bath is kept in constant rotational movement relative to the solid portion of the material being treated and the mechanical action due to the viscous friction which develops in the bath is detected and thereby controlled, said method being applicable to the floating zone method and the Czochralsky crystal drawing method and being capable of producing ingots of high dimensional regularity.

Abstract: A hip prosthesis comprising a thin metal cotyloid cup, substantially spherical in form, the dimensions of the outer surface of which are substantially equal to those of a the cotyloid cavity, and which is provided with a peripheral flange for abutting on the bone around the cotyloid cavity and for preventing the cup from pivoting; a thin femoral cup, also made of metal, extended by a skirt and substantially in the form of a finger guard; and a relatively thick intermediate cup made of plastics material, having a spherical outer surface adapted to pivot in the cotyloid cup, and an inner surface comprising a spherical central part extended by a cylindrical portion which fits on the femoral cup so as to allow said latter to move only in rotation about the axis of symmetry of the cups.

Abstract: The cell walls are removed from two distinct auxotropic mutant strains of yeast. The protoplasts thus obtained are fused and the cell walls regenerated. The strains obtained are cultured on a medium where the original auxotrophs cannot develop and the hybrid or recombinant strains are recovered. The strains obtained by the process are useful for preparing yeast proteins.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the purification of preparations having an interferon type-activity which comprises contacting the crude preparations with an adsorbent comprising as ligand a chromophore blue, equilibrated with an aqueous buffer whose concentration in salts is isomolar or hypomolar as compared with that of blood, and separating the fixed products having an interferon activity by using an aqueous buffer whose concentration in salts is hypermolar as compared with that of blood.The purified preparations thus obtained are used as active ingredients of drugs having antiviral activity.

Abstract: The invention pertains to drug oil-free compositions, notably aqueous injectable compositions acting as non-specific adjuvants to stimulate in a host the immune responses to different antigens. The active principle of these oil-free compositions is N-acetyl-muramyl-L-alanyl-D-glutamic acid.

Abstract: This prismatic linear electric motor comprises an inductor constituted by an elongated prismatic core surrounded by coils themselves separated by magnetic strips ensuring the conduction of the magnetic flux to a movable armature of U-shaped cross-section, which encloses the inductor. This inductor presents three active faces opposite the two flanges and the web respectively of the movable U-sectioned armature, and the fourth face of the inductor which is not used is in contact with an electrically conducting support which acts as screen against magnetic leakages. Each flat coil enclosed by two magnetic strips is spaced apart from the adjacent flat coils by annular gaps delimited by the magnetic strips and means are provided to cause cooling air to circulate in each gap between the flat coils.

Abstract: The invention relates to a solar energy collector or cell comprising a fixed spherical mirror placed on the ground by its convex face and a boiler in which circulates a heat-transfer fluid and which is movable about the center of the mirror. The boiler comprises a low concentration boiler surmounted by a high concentration boiler. The spherical mirror has a visor in the form of a spherical sector which moves on the periphery of the mirror.

Abstract: A method of making plate material consisting of agglomerated clay-based particles, comprising providing a liquid particle suspension such as slip within a gap left between two continuously travelling confronting electrodes at a given voltage applied thereto, subjecting the suspension to an electrophoretic action between said electrodes and an adjacent counter-electrode subjected to a different voltage and controlling the formation and thickness of the electrophoretic deposits on said first electrodes so that when they leave the electrophoretic field they will be fused together with their outer surfaces having contacted each other and recovering said plate formed continuously from both layers of electrophoretic deposits.

Abstract: Process for the extraction of diene or aromatic hydrocarbons from petroleum hydrocarbon fractions employing sulfonamides as solvents. Also described are new sulfonamides useful as solvents for the extraction process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a projector comprising two optical systems enabling transparencies to be projected with cross-fading, in 3-D and with double-width panning, said projector operating with a single transparency distributing and recuperating magazine, in which the transparencies are arranged in the same order as if they were to pass in a single-lens projector; said projector comprises four parallel transparency guide slots, which are parallel to one another and transverse with respect to the axes of two optical systems in which the transparencies circulate in pairs, said guide slots being extended by a switching means whose role is to cause the transparencies which have already been projected to pass from the forward guide slots into the return guide slots, and thus to cause the transparencies to return to the same compartment of the same magazine from which they left. These displacements are possible due to a recuperator having multiple functions.

Abstract: A process for fluidizing a particulate solid and wherein the process uses an apparatus having a chamber with a fluid distributor at its base and containing at least one elementary compartment formed by a conduit having a cross-section "S", at least one obstacle at its base arranged symmetrically in relation to the axis of the conduit, each such compartment being fed with a quantity of the particulate product and with an upwardly flowing fluid, the particulate material being of at least 1 mm granulometry, the obstacle or obstacles of each cell being adapted to define an open inlet section "s" at its base for the fluid of a dimension given by 0.12.ltoreq.s/S.ltoreq.0.

Abstract: Method for molding articles from agglomerated particles utilizes a press and a plurality of molds mounted to circulate in a closed path. After the pressing step a mold is aligned at one end of a row of molds, the row is placed under pressure and the articles therewithin caused to set. Simultaneously a mold is withdrawn from the other end of the row. The latter mold is then emptied, and the emptied mold returned to the press. The aligned molds are fastened together during the setting step. The invention includes apparatus for carrying out this process.

Abstract: New organo-lithium initiators, their synthesis, and their use. The initiators have the formula: ##STR1## IN WHICH R" is either a hydrogen atom or a methyl radial; either n is 1, in which case R' = H and m and p are integers, the sum of which is between 0 and 10 inclusive, or n is 2, R' then being an alkyl radical of 2 to 8 carbon atoms and m = p = 0; and R is an alkyl radical of 1 to 4 carbon atoms.The initiators are prepared by reacting compounds of the formula: ##STR2## WITH AN ALKYL-LITHIUM RLi in a non-polar solvent in the absence of any polar solvent or complexing agent.The initiators are used to prepare polydienes of high stereoregularity by reacting with a diene, and the polydiene is used to prepare a three-block or star copolymer by reacting with an anionically polymerizable monomer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a solar energy collector of the type comprising a pick-up receiving the solar radiation and converting at least a part of this radiation into heat, and heat-exchange means bringing a heat-exchange fluid into thermal contact with the pick-up and evacuating this fluid towards a user station, said pick-up comprising an assembly of juxtaposed plates which are substantially parallel to one another and form a layer, wherein the distance between two adjacent plates is chosen so as to constitute a well of heat in which the solar radiation is subjected to at least two reflections, at least one of the opposite faces of this well of heat is selectively absorbent for the infrared part of the solar radiation, the two faces of this well are substantially reflecting for the rest of the solar spectrum, and the layer of plates is disposed between a front transparent wall receiving the solar radiation and a rear wall, these walls being substantially parallel to said layer and defining therebetween an e

Abstract: A device for forming acoustical images comprises an ultrasonic source, a linear array of first receiving transducers for receiving the echoes from a target illuminated by a source. The signals from the linear array of first receiving transducers are processed by a system comprising an oscillator at a frequency higher than that of the source, and, for each said receiving transducers, a mixer, a filter for separating the components of the beating frequency and a transmitting transducer.

Abstract: The invention relates to electrical insulators having increased resistance to partial discharges and electrical equipment comprising such electrical insulators.These electrical insulators are formed of a macromolecular material in which is incorporated a chelate of general formula: ##STR1## wherein: R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 each represent hydrogen or a alkyl, aryl, or cycloalkyl group or a heterocyclic group containing a sulphur, oxygen or nitrogen atom, whereby said group or heterocyclic group may be substituted by one or more halogen atoms;X and Y represent oxygen or sulphur;The total number of carbon atoms in the metal chelate is between 5 and 25;M.sup.n+ stands for a metal ion, andN is an integer from 1 to 4, this enolate or thioenolate being present in said insulating material in a sufficient amount for promoting extinction of partial discharges, said amount not exceeding a value which would substantially alter the physical properties of the insulator, such as its volume resistivity.

Abstract: The invention pertains to drug oil-free compositions, notably aqueous injectable compositions acting as non-specific adjuvants to stimulate in a host the immunitary responses to different antigens. The active principle of these oil-free compositions is N-acetyl-muramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine.

Abstract: Composite product, useful notably as a catalyst, comprising a coordination complex of a metal, notably of a transition metal, fixed to a support, wherein this support is formed of a solid mineral material, insoluble in organic solvets, and is covered at least partly by a polysiloxane, on which the coordinates of these complexes are grafted. This catalyst is stable in gaseous as well as in liquid media, and is useful for the hydrogenation of olefins in homogeneous and heterogeneous phases as well.