Abstract: In a method for the manufacture of an encased high critical temperature superconducting wire by the "powder in tube" method, prior to the introduction of a compressed rod of superconducting material into a silver tube, the rod is heat treated so that grains of unwanted phase are reabsorbed. The tube can be drawn more easily, and strands can be produced with a regular geometry and no defects. The wire is constituted by 15 .mu.m to 20 .mu.m thick filaments (30) with a form factor of more than 60.

Abstract: A method of making a high critical temperature superconductive fiber by fiber drawing a material of the family Bi.sub.x Pb.sub.y Sr.sub.2 Ca.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.z where 1.9.ltoreq. x+y.ltoreq. 2.3. In the method a preform is made, fiber drawing is performed, and the resulting fiber is annealed in air, wherein said preform is constituted by a block of vitreous material having the formula Bi.sub.x P.sub.y Sr.sub.2 Ca.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.z where: 1.9.ltoreq. x+y.ltoreq. 2.3 and a tube surrounding said block and made of a vitreous material having the formula Bi.sub.x' Sr.sub.2 Ca.sub.1 Cu.sub.2 O.sub.z' with 1.5.ltoreq. x'.ltoreq. 2.2.

Abstract: The device for discharging electrochemical cells (20, 21) into a load (Rc) is of the type comprising switching means (25, 26), each cooperating with one of the electrochemical cells (20, 21), these switching means (25, 26) being controlled sequentially by a generator (23) providing N pulse trains (SC1, SC2) offset relative to one another, each electrochemical cell (20, 21) being connected to the load (Rc) for the duration of a pulse, through the switching means (25, 25) with which the cell cooperates. According to the invention, it is characterized in that the pulses of each train (SC1, SC2) have an interval of overlap with the pulses of another train (SC1, SC2), such that the load (Rc) is constantly supplied by at least one of the N electro-chemical cells (20, 21), the overlap interval being very much smaller than the duration of each of said pulses.