Abstract: The invention relates to a method for making the wall of a heat-insulated fluid-confinement tank, such as for a liquefied gas, that is integrated in the carrier structure (50) of a ship, wherein a prefabricated substantially rectangular block (25) is assembled on top of a flexible mat strip (35), the assembling of said block comprising the following steps: applying two longitudinal parallel strips of glue (26, 26?) on the lower surface of said block (25), said strips (26, 26?) being separated by a glue-free central longitudinal space (28); gluing said glued block (25) on a flexible mat strip (35) by pressing said glued block (25) on said flexible mat strip (35) so that after gluing, said longitudinal central space (28) is at least partially filled with glue, thus defining a substantially continuous glue layer on the lower surface of the block (25), said substantially continuous glue layer reinforcing the gluing of said flexible mat strip (35) in order to ensure tightness.

Abstract: The marine propulsion set (1, 1?, 1?) comprises: at least one pod (2) that is mechanically connected to a support strut (3, 3?, 3?); a propeller (4) that is situated at the aft end of the pod and that has at least two blades (14); and an arrangement of at least three flow-directing fins (50 to 55, 3?A) that are fastened to the pod (2). This arrangement of fins forms a ring (5) that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (X) of the pod (2), said ring lying within a zone (Zx) that is situated between the central portion of said support strut (3, 3?, 3?) and the propeller. The propulsion set further comprises a nozzle (6) that surrounds, at least in part, the propeller (4) and said ring (5). Each of said blades (14) presents an end with an edge (7) coming flush with the inside wall of the nozzle (6) so that the propeller (4) constitutes the rotor of a screw pump.

Abstract: This girder (8) for supporting a tidal turbine fairing has a parallelogram-shaped cross-section (S), taken perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis (A8) of the girder (8). It comprises at least one slot (86a, 86b) extending generally parallel with the longitudinal axis (A8) of the girder (8). a cross-section (S) taken perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis (A8) of the girder (8), the traces of the surfaces bordering the slot (86a, 86b) extend from one of the long sides (801, 803) of the cross-section (S) to an adjacent short side (802, 804) of the cross-section (S).

Abstract: A method of monitoring and regulating the power and the energy consumed by a transport system including electrically propelled vehicles, said transport system including a power supply system including one or more power supply substations connected to an external electrical power supply network, said power supply substation or substations supplying energy to traction substations supplying power to power supply line sections having vehicle-mounted current pick-up means connected thereto, each vehicle carrying a power converter which is supplied with power by said current pick-up means and which monitors the power supplied to a traction motor of said vehicle, which method includes the following steps: measuring the instantaneous electrical power and/or energy drawn from the external electrical power supply network by said power supply substation or substations, and if the power or energy drawn from the external network tends to exceed an assigned threshold, sending one or more vehicles a set point acting on t

Abstract: The flexible connection device of the invention is disposed between a flexible side beam of a bogey frame and an arm of an axle-box, and wherein the stiffness of the connection is greater in the vertical direction (Z) than in the two horizontal directions (X, Y). This enables the side beam to be decoupled from the axle-box, thereby reducing the stresses at the interfaces between these parts when the bogey frame moves transversely and vertically relative to the axles. This also presents the advantage of allowing relative displacements between the side beam and the axle-box.

Abstract: Structural system comprising a track for a magnetic levitation transport system powered by a linear electric motor. This structural system comprising a track for a magnetic levitation transport system powered by a linear electric motor is notable in that it combines two T-shaped tracks produced in a single U-shaped structure, the vertical bars of the T-shapes and the U-shapes being joined, and the lower slabs of the track-supporting U-shapes contributing to the general strength of the engineering structure, in the absence of lateral screens.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing surge arrestors, the method including stacking varistors; and forming a coating of composite material on the stack. Between these steps, also included is placing a bead of flexible, adhesive, and dielectric material on the previously formed stack in register with the various interfaces between each pair of adjacent varistors.

Abstract: The process for controlling an electronic power component for piloting an opening and/or closure of this component. The piloting process includes a plurality of steps for controlling the application of a succession of different commutation voltages on a control electrode of the electronic power component between an instant when the piloting process begins and an instant when either the opening or the closure of the electronic power component is to stop. Passage from one commutation voltage to a successive commutation voltage in this piloting process is automatically effected as soon as a corresponding condition of passage is satisfied. The process further includes a step of interrupting the piloting process and immediately triggering off a process for safeguarding the integrity of the electronic power component if the component does not react to a commutation voltage within a predetermined time for the commutation voltage.

Abstract: A system for automatic and guided transport of people, the system including: at least one running track having guide members for guiding transport modules; an electric power supply system comprising a sequence of power supply blocks; electric self-propelled transport modules travelling individually along the running track and fitted with a collector for picking up electric power supplied by the power supply blocks; and an electric power supply distributor controlled by a central control unit managing the progress of the transport modules by powering or unpowering various power supply blocks.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for manufacturing a directionally solidified columnar grained article with a reduced amount of secondary misorientation of the columnar grains. The method employs a casting assembly comprising a mold with a cavity, a selector section at a lower end of the mold, a heating chamber and a cooling chamber. The mold is fed with a liquid metal and moved from the heating chamber to the cooling chamber where the columnar grained article is solidified. The article is solidified with at least two dendrites or grains emerging from the selector section and entering the main cavity of the shell mold. Further, the selector section is configured so that no dendrite or grain grows from the bottom of the selector section into the shell mold cavity along a continuous path of purely vertical growth.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a directionally solidified columnar grained article with a reduced amount of secondary misorientation of the columnar grains. The apparatus includes a casting assembly comprising a mold with a cavity, a selector section at a lower end of the mold, a heating chamber and a cooling chamber. The mold is fed with a liquid metal and then moved from the heating chamber to the cooling chamber where the columnar grained article is solidified. The article is solidified with at least two dendrites (or grains) emerging from the selector section and entering the main cavity of the shell mold. Further, the selector section is configured so that no dendrite or grain grows from the bottom of the selector section into the shell mold cavity along a continuous path of purely vertical growth.

Abstract: An energy supply unit includes a primary coil which is at least indirectly connected to an energy source. In a secondary coil which is at least indirectly connected to the control circuit, and an insulating section formed between the primary coil and the secondary coil. The auxiliary energy is transmitted via the insulating section by way of a magnetic alternating field. The energy supply unit further includes a first carrier plate, a primary coil embodied as a flat coil situated on the first carrier plate, a second carrier plate, and a secondary coil embodied as a flat coil situated on the second carrier plate. The insulating section is embodied as an interferric space formed between the primary coil and the secondary coil.

Abstract: The invention concerns an insulating nozzle for a gas blast circuit breaker. In accordance with the invention, the material constituting the nozzle comprises (A) 90% to 99.9% by weight of a fluorinated polymer, and (B) 0.1% to 10% by weight of a filler based on at least one oxide selected from (B1) SiO2 and other oxidized forms of metals from column IVA of the periodic table, and (B2) ZnO, CdO and other oxidized forms of metals from column IIB of the periodic table.

Abstract: A wind turbine includes a turbine rotor with at least one blade and a generator with a rotor and a stator. The turbine rotor is mechanically coupled with the rotor of the generator. A diode rectifier is electrically coupled to the stator of the generator. A direct current link is electrically coupled with the diode rectifier. A line converter is electrically coupled with the direct current link.

Abstract: In the disclosed method of fitting a fixed flush glazed window of a high-speed rail vehicle, a first edge of the window is first placed from the exterior of the vehicle in a groove situated on a horizontal portion of the window frame, after which the window is tilted to move the opposite second edge of the window toward the opposite horizontal portion of the window frame, and finally the opposite second edge is fixed to the opposite horizontal portion of the window frame from inside the vehicle. Thus there is no mechanical fixing to the horizontal portion of the window where the groove is located, so that it is no longer necessary to demount all of the interior fittings when changing a window, while fixing the other horizontal portion from the inside minimizes the width of the mastic. Furthermore, installation from the outside means that the window may be fitted independently of the position of the vehicle on the assembly line, since whether the interior fittings have been fitted or not is of no importance.

Abstract: A method and system of non-intrusively monitoring the proportion of a component in a gaseous mixture having at least two components and contained in an electrical switchgear enclosure includes measuring the pressure, the temperature, and the density of the gas mixture by using sensors mounted on said enclosure, and in determining said proportion by processing the measured values in a data-processing unit.

Abstract: A railroad car is provided having a box body extending longitudinally and delimiting compartments, seats arranged in the compartments, means for identifying the seats,means for identifying the car, and at least one side door providing access to the compartments. The side door is an intermediate door away from the longitudinal ends of the car and arranged longitudinally between two compartments provided with seats to which it provides access.

Abstract: A simulator fitted with at least one microprocessor sends input simulation signals to a unit under test, and receives therefrom output signals in reaction thereto. The method consists in processing some of the output signals from the unit as they are issued by means of a programmable logic circuit, in storing parameter values corresponding to said processed signals, and in giving the microprocessor access to the stored parameter values at a frequency which is compatible with its own operating speed. The apparatus enables the method to be implemented. The simulator comprises at least one programmable logic circuit, e.g. of the FPGA type, that is suitable for receiving at least some of the signals output by the electronic unit.

Abstract: A matrix converter for transforming electrical energy between at least one voltage source, in particular a power supply network, and at least one current source, in particular a load, said converter including a matrix of switches connecting said voltage sources to said current sources, wherein each of said switches has two terminals which are interconnected via a photoconductive layer of diamond, each switch being controlled by means of a light source irradiating the layer of diamond interposed between the two terminals of the switch.

Abstract: A method is described for regulating the average electromagnetic torque of a polyphase rotating electrical machine, supplied with a polyphase voltage and a polyphase current that are generated by an inverter. The method comprises a step of controlling the machine, using an exact response control process to do this, a step of determining the value of the harmonics of the voltage and/or the current which are generated by the inverter, and a step of calculating the instantaneous torque set point as a function of the value of the harmonics and an average torque set point, so as to produce an instantaneous torque set point suitable for limiting the difference between the average of the instantaneous electromagnetic torque, between two successive regulation times, and said average torque set point.