Abstract: The invention provides method and apparatus for identifying the faulted phases on the occurrence of a single phase fault simultaneously on both circuits of a double circuit electric power transmission line using measurements taken at one end only of the line. Using measurements of voltage and current at the one end of the line and a knowledge of various parameters of the line, a signal representative of the travelling wave arriving at the one end of the line in consequence of the faults is derived. This derived signal is used to deduce the values of the components of the derived signal attributable to the different faults for each of a number of assumptions as to which phases are faulted. The deduced values for the different assumptions are then used to determine which assumption is most likely to be correct.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of charging a carbon-anode lithium storage cell, which method comprises a first step in which a constant current is imposed and during which the voltage across said storage cell is allowed to increase until it reaches a reference value, and then a second step in which said reference voltage is imposed and said current decreases. The method of the invention is characterized in that, at each instant, said reference voltage is equal to the sum of the end-of-charge voltage of the cell plus the product of the current multiplied by the ohmic resistance of the cell.

Abstract: A device for measuring circuit breaker wear by integrating the square of the current to be interrupted, said circuit breaker including a control that is actuated by a trip coil. The device includes a timing delay circuit that is actuated by a signal corresponding to a change in the driven or non-drive state of the trip coil, the timing delay circuit causing integration to begin after time has elapsed that is equal to the mechanical delay of the circuit breaker, which mechanical delay is a previously-measured data item. The device further includes a circuit that delivers a signal proportional to the current carried by the circuit breaker, a circuit that squares the signal, and that applies said square to the integrator, said integration being performed for a given length of time that is longer than the maximum arcing time of the circuit breaker, which maximum arcing time is likewise a previously measured data item, the result of the integration being applied to a summing circuit.

Abstract: A circuit-breaker including two arcing contacts that co-operate with each other, at least one of which is part of a moving contact assembly that is secured to a drive member and that is constituted by a first tube carrying the moving arcing contact at its end, and by a second tube that is coaxial with the first tube so as to define firstly an expansion chamber on one side of an annular wall, and secondly a compression chamber on the other side of the annular wall, the compression chamber being closed by a piston. A compression device is provided for compressing the gas in the compression chamber during a first portion of the displacement of the moving contact assembly, and a pressure-reducing device is provided for reducing the pressure of the gas in the compression chamber during a second portion of the same displacement of the moving contact assembly.

Abstract: A spring drive for an electrical switching apparatus has a switch-on shaft to which a switch-on spring is coupled eccentrically and on which a large wheel (16) is seated in a rotationally fixed manner. A small wheel (20), which is driven in order to stress the switch-on spring, interacts with the large wheel (16). A tooth system (52) on the large wheel (16) has a gap (54) for decoupling the wheel pair (18) formed by large wheel (16) and small wheel (20) when the switch-on spring is stressed. In order to connect the switching apparatus, the large wheel (16) is driven in a rotation direction (D), as a result of which the tooth system (52) engages with the small wheel (20) again. In order to prevent blocking when the teeth engage in one another, the teeth (60) on the small wheel (20) are constructed in such a manner that the edges (56, 58) abut against one another radially on an outer side at a common edge (62).

Abstract: A method of preparing a substrate with a view to depositing a thin layer of a superconductive material thereon, wherein an operation is performed of depositing on the substrate an intermediate material having the property of having a crystal lattice constant that is a function of the percentage of a doping element, the depositing operation being initiated with a concentration of the doping element such that the lattice constant of the intermediate material is equal to or as close as possible to the lattice constant of the substrate, the proportion of the doping element being continuously varied during the depositing operation to a proportion of the doping element such that the lattice constant of the intermediate material is equal to or as close as possible to the lattice constant of the superconductive material.

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: An initialization beacon for initializing a stationary vehicle, particularly for assisting the driving, operation, and maintenance of the stationary vehicle, comprises superposing cross-over structures Si, whereby each cross-over structure is made from a first electrical cable Ci1 and a second electrical cable Ci2. The first electrical cable Ci1, which mutually parallels with the second electrical cable over most of its length, crosses over the second electrical cable Ci2 to form a succession of magnetic nodes N. The magnetic nodes of each of the superposed cross-over structure form magnetic nodes Nij in the superposed cross-over structures. The magnetic nodes NiJ are staggered in a non-overlapping fashion according to a space period in each of the superposed cross-over structures. Pairs Pmn of the superposed cross-over structure Si can be successively powered at a clock frequency FH and a data frequency FD.

Abstract: The installation, which includes a tubular enclosure, is provided with a plugging device at each end, each plugging device including a moving assembly that can be displaced perpendicularly to the axis .DELTA. of the enclosure. The moving assembly includes a plug of the stopper type provided with a seal, a spacer provided with a pull rod a drawer and a plugging body. The moving assembly is slidably mounted in a force take-up member. Via co-operation between sloping ramps carried by the plug and complementary sloping grooves in the drawer, the transverse displacement of the drawer causes the plug to be displaced axially.

Abstract: The invention concerns impact-absorber devices, an impact-absorption method, and a framework and a vehicle including such impact-absorber devices. According to the invention, the impact-absorber device comprises at least one longitudinal member absorbing by deformation the energy generated by an impact in a given direction, which member is made from thin plate, having a generally triangular cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the direction of impact. Applications to rail vehicles, for example.

Abstract: A turbocharged diesel engine is described. The engine has a two stage turbocharger assembly including two low pressure turbochargers coupled in parallel and arranged in series with a single high pressure turbocharger. This allows all turbochargers to be of comparable dimensions for inter-changeability of parts. The turbochargers may be mounted on an enclosure which encloses the turbines and the exhaust gas duckwork which communicates with the exhaust pipe to insure that any leaking exhaust gas escapes to the atmosphere via the exhaust pipe. A cartridge is also described which contains the moving parts and which can be removed without disturbing the turbine housing.

Abstract: A method of monitoring the fabrication of a superconductive material having a high critical temperature is wherein:the starting material is a mixture of powders of precursors for said material having stoichiometric proportions appropriate for the desired superconductive phase;the said mixture is agglomerated to form a tubular or a cylindrical piece;the agglomerated piece is placed in a controlled-atmosphere oven for synthesizing said superconductive phase;the conductivity of said piece is measured continuously;the temperature at which conductivity begins to decrease is exceeded and then the temperature is returned to a value where conductivity begins to increase; andthe temperature of the oven is permanently adjusted so that said conductivity does not decrease.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a shutter device for shutting off a distribution duct, said device being wherein it is composed of at least one longitudinally-extending means that is/are inflatable. The present invention also relates to use of longitudinally-extending inflatable means to constitute a shutter device. The present invention also relates to a ventilation and air-conditioning installation including such a shutter device.

Abstract: A fixed blade assembly for an axial flow turbine, in which each blade (23) is secured between a radially inner ring (21) and a radially outer ring (22). The trailing edge (25) of each blade is straight and leans at an angle .theta. away from a radial line (28) from the turbine axis through the inner end of that edge and in the circumferential direction that the suction side (24) of the blade faces. The blades (23) have this (negative) angle of lean in the range 5 degrees to 12 degrees.

Abstract: An expansion joint connecting the ends of two pipes adapted to convey a hot fluid, each end having an end flange, includes a sleeve fastened at its respective edges to a cold flange fastened to a nesting device and a coupling arrangement connecting the end flange and the corresponding cold flange. The coupling arrangement comprises at least two members connected together, one fastened to the cold flange and the other fastened to the end flange. A first member is a corrugated sheetmetal sleeve the undulations of which are parallel to the longitudinal direction of the pipe and a second member is flexible and deformable in the longitudinal direction of the pipe.

Abstract: A method of making a solid magnetic material from Sm.sub.2 Fe.sub.17 N.sub.3-x type intermetallic nitride powder, where 0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1, comprises the following steps:a--the powder is mixed intimately with glass powder having a conversion temperature Tg between 260.degree. C. and 310.degree. C. and a softening temperature Tf less than 400.degree. C., the proportion of glass powder being between 10% and 30% of the total volume;b--the mixture is compressed to obtain a solid;c--the solid obtained is subjected in a neutral gas atmosphere to a heat cycle during which a temperature not less than Tf+5.degree. C. and not more than 420.degree. C. is maintained for at least one hour.

Abstract: A gas-insulated single-phase cable for long-distance transport of electricity under high tension, the cable including a cylindrical steel case filled with nitrogen under a pressure of at least 10 hectopascals, an aluminum- or copper-based metal conductor held axially inside the steel case by closed insulating cones, and an aluminum case disposed at a short distance from the steel case and constituting a magnetic screen protecting the steel case from the magnetic field generated by the current carried by the conductor. The steel case is separated from the aluminum case by rings of plastics material or of filled polymer, such as polytetrafluoroethylene. Each rings is placed in a groove in a metal collar, with two adjacent portions of the aluminum case being welded to the collar.

Abstract: A gas-insulated high-tension three-phase electricity line which includes a cylindrical steel case and three conductors disposed parallel to the axis of the case, and a magnetic screen constituted by a cylindrical aluminum case placed inside the steel case and very close thereto. The conductors are held by a plurality of sets of three insulating arms secured to one another, the conductors being free to slide through openings formed in the arms, the aluminum case being separated from the steel case by strips of plastics material or of filled polymer having a low coefficient of friction.

Abstract: A pressurized gas insulated screened line comprises a plurality of sections, two adjacent sections being separated by a junction enabling demounting of a section and each section comprising at least one conductive bar held in place in a cylindrical enclosure. Each section is equipped with at least one optical fiber running from one end to the other of the section and disposed inside the enclosure. A control arrangement connected to the fiber is accommodated inside the enclosure. The optical fibers of N adjacent sections forming a module are connected to each other. One end of the N interconnected optical fibers is connected to a control station.

Abstract: A fluidized bed hearth floor comprises a supporting metal sheet provided with fluidization-gas injection nozzles. The supporting sheet is made of refractory metal, and is covered with a plurality of flat elements made of refractory metal, each flat element being fixed to the supporting sheet by welding in a localized zone, e.g., substantially at a point.