Abstract: A spray device is described in which the water spray from a water chamber is supplied to a spray head by cylindrical tubes inducing a head loss. The water from the tubes is guided by additional tubes into a water outlet channel forming a continuous slot. Water ejection mechanism are mounted on either side of the slot and in the air conduits. The water ejection mechanism are formed by vanes in which the flow of spray water is guided perpendicularly to the surface of the item to be treated. The vanes, which are segment shaped, are placed end to end along the length of the slot and form converging conduits for the air, ending in rectangular slot openings. A second embodiment is given for a vertical jet spray.

Abstract: A method for monitoring respiration by illuminating the body of the subject with a luminous flux, where a lens is used to form on a set of photosensitive elements, an image of at least one region of the space within which a person under surveillance is capable of moving, a light source is used for illuminating the area, fine control and readout circuits are connected to the photosensitive elements, an analog to digital converter is to the control circuit, and a microprocessor is used to compare successive signals from the photosensitive elements and which is used to determine any significant variations in the successive signals which are due to respiration of the person being monitored. An alarm is also included which is triggered in response to an absence of variations on successive signals.

Abstract: A multiple electrophoresis method and device are disclosed for the controlled migration of macromolecules in gel plates stacked in a direction perpendicular to their plane, at least one series of electrodes (20) disposed at the intersections of two series of perpendicular planes, some perpendicular to the plates (12) and to the desired direction of migration of the macromolecules, the others perpendicular to the first and parallel to the plates (12), the electrodes being connected together selectively and controlled so as to provide both separation of the macromolecules in the plate (12) then transfer thereof to the membranes (22) associated with the plates (12).

Abstract: The filtration apparatus comprises a bundle of porous filtering elements (12) which are disposed over a certain length of a casing (2) and over a substantial part of its cross-section, and at least one assembly of ultrasonic transducers (15) disposed in at least one cross-sectional plane of the casing regularly spaced at its periphery. Each of the transducers is placed within an opening passing through the casing in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the casing. Ultrasonic waves are emitted within the casing in the direction of the bundle of filtering elements in a zone delimited by a cone, the axis of which extends in a direction perpendicular to the filtering elements and the vertex of which is located in the vicinity of the wall of the casing. The particles torn out by the ultrasonic waves from the filtering elements are recovered by an evacuation conduit (8). The invention is applicable, in particular, to the treatment of fluid used in the nuclear industry, and of other dangerous products.

Abstract: A pneumatic loudspeaker with a continuous pressurized fluid flow modulated by an obstacle forming an integral part of a moving armature with an electromagnetic coil supported by a leakproof elastic membrane. The moving armature comprises a cylindrical support and a winding housed in a flat groove made in the body of the support, the winding and its support forming a rigid integral assembly, the winding being sandwiched between a first layer of glue coating the bottom of the flat groove and a second layer of the glue submerging the turns of the winding and endowing the assembly with a smooth and uniform surface.

Abstract: A self-contained emergency breathing apparatus is provided comprising a hood (10) surrounding substantially sealingly the head of a person and comprising an assembly (18) formed of a cylinder of breathable gas at high pressure, a pressure reducer, an ejection nozzle, a duct for sucking the air contained in the hood and mixing this air with the ejected gas and carbon dioxide absorption means. The apparatus may be stored for a long period of time and be used for a short period of time for escaping from a zone having risks of asphyxiation.

Abstract: The device disclosed is for treating an article, i.e., polishing an article, of the type with a rotating vessel where the article to be treated is fastened in relation to the vessel. To enable the article to be treated to be placed in position without the need to remove the particles from the vessel, the article is moved between a loading and unloading position, where the article is outside the mass of particles, and a working position, where it is subjected to the action of the particles to polish and strip pieces of furniture.

Abstract: The pressurized gas is supplied by two sleeves separated by a sprayer device forming a funnel. The narrow end of the funnel has a spraying head with, in the plane of symmetry (P) of the device, at least one slot through which the liquid flows. The pressurized gas passes through a series of openings provided on either side of the slot. A liquid supply tube is arranged parallel in relation to the wide end of the funnel and has openings through which the liquid flows directly or indirectly into the funnel and passes through the slot without any appreciable pressure.

Abstract: Method for transforming a video type image having multiple levels of greys into a binary image, method wherein each pixel is either white or black. With each pixel of the initial image there is associated a partial image centered on said pixel and comprising a plurality of pixels in at least one dimension. If the histogram of the grey levels of said partial image is considered as bimodal (D>E), a threshold (S) median with respect to said histogram is selected. If the histogram is considered as monomodal (D<e), a threshold (S) outside said histogram is selected, the position of this threshold with respect to the histogram being determined by comparison of the latter with a preset mean background value (FM). Application to telecopy, electronic storage of documents and drawings, preprocessing in order to facilitate the reading of handwritten messages or recognition of patterns in general.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a stack of flat objects such as letters on a support is disclosed. A conveyor moves flat objects to the support. A stacking apparatus moves the flat objects onto the support into abutment against a jogging wall of the support. The conveyor and stacking apparatus are supported on a table which is movable relative to the support and stack. The stacking apparatus extends between the conveyor and jogging wall and includes an end having an axis about which the stacking apparatus is pivoted so as to be displaceable towards and away from the end of the stack.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a device for determining the number of people to be found in a determined space, by means of a strip (14) of photodetectors (16) on which an objective lens (10) forms a linear image of a space including objects or people (12). The signals successively produced by the photodetectors (16) are compared by a microprocessor (22) in order to show up movement of people and to deduce the number of people present therefrom.The invention is applicable to performing surveillance of premises and to performing automatic television audience surveys.

Abstract: A single-channel nerve stimulating device for auditory prosthesis for improving the conversational capacity of a profoundly deaf person is described. The single-channel device of simple construction provides detailed information to the patient's nervous system. The device comprises a microphone designed to pick up a sound signal and electronic processor which converts the sound signal into an electrical signal.

Abstract: Elastic suspension leaf (1) made of composite material of which the extremities have a width which decreases concomitantly with a thickness increase, comprising connectors forming a rigid casing and defining an inner trapezohedral volume which fits on the extremities of the leaf. The casing includes a cylindrical ring (9) for connection to a wheel. The connector is comprised of metal elements (10,11,12) or of fiber ribbons embedded in a synthetic resin.

Abstract: Means for servo-controlling the position of a pneumatic actuator (14) comprise a circuit (20) for controlling a valve (10) for feeding the actuator, and a position sensor (30) and an acceleration sensor (34) which are associated with the moving member (16) of the actuator and which provide position and acceleration signals to the control circuit (20). The invention improves the stability and the accuracy with which the position of a pneumatic actuator is servo-controlled.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an improved device for connecting an elastic suspension leaf arranged between a load and a carrier, particularly of a vehicle, to the walls or the like and to the chassis. The suspension leaf comprises a composite material having in its vertical plane of symmetry a thickness increasing from the chassis to the end support of the wheel, its cross-section remaining approximately constant. At least one device for connecting to the chassis includes a lower part which retains the leaf and which has a trapezoidal shape in projection in a horizontal plane and a U-shaped cross-section in a vertical plane, and a semi-cylindrical upper part possessing an axial bore which receives a shock-absorbing device for fastening the device to the assembly. The dimensions of the lower part ensure that the part fits onto the gradually varying shape portion of the leaf at the fastening points of the leaf.

Abstract: A spectrum modulation encoding sensor subjected to the physical magnitude to be measured is connected by an optical fiber to a source of incoherent light, and by an optical fiber to a static demodulation system comprising a set of birefringent elements producing a birefringence gradient along a privileged optical direction x; the system demodulates the signal provided by the sensor optically by means of a Fourier transform.

Abstract: A device for unstacking relatively flat objects such as letters or postal packets of various different lengths, widths, and thicknesses. The device includes: a conveyor for conveying stacks of objects as well as an object separating and grasping mechanism for separating and grasping the objects one-by-one, and a transport conveyor for transporting the objects one after another.

Abstract: Method and device for suspending an ultrafine powder in a gas wherein a mass of powder to be dispersed in enclosing in a container between an axially movable piston and an axially fixed member adjacent to the ends of the container. The fixed member defines an inner counteracting surface facing the powder to be dispersed and has a peripheral gas inlet passage adjacent to the wall of the container and an axial passage extending out of a first end of the container. The second end of the container has a gas inlet. A first gas flow is injected into the second end of the container to move the piston towards the fixed member, thereby pressing the powder against the counteracting surface of the fixed member. A second gas flows into the first end of the container through the peripheral passage for eroding the powder adjacent to the counteracting surface and driving the eroded powder through the axial passage out of the container.

Abstract: Method of measuring the temperature of a running filiform element, without mechanical contact with the element, and devices for implementing such method. According to the invention, a fluid of which the temperature and the flow rate have been measured is supplied to a chamber through which a filiform element is moving. Part of the fluid is collected in order to measure its temperature. The temperature of the element is determined from the flow rate and injection exit temperatures of the fluid. The invention is particularly applied in metallurgy to temperature measuring of yarns, tubes, sheets or metal strips, sections, and the like.

Abstract: An apparatus for the thermal treatment of a thin part (1) includes a thermal light source including linear lamps (17) of very high unitary power such as "tungsten-halogen" lamps, and a housing (2) containing the part to be treated. The apparatus includes inside the housing (2) a chamber (4) delimited by the sidewall and the bottom (3a) of the housing as well as by a silica window, making it possible to create about the part to be treated particular conditions for thermal treatment. Within the treatment chamber there is arranged a compensation means (22a) for the thermal losses of the part to be treated. The thermal light source is configured like a light box (16a) by superimposing several modules (43) having a polygonal cross-section.