Abstract: Semiconductive photoanodes formed of titanium dioxide (TiO.sub.2) are known for use in photoelectrochemical cells. They have been made by various techniques, including chemical vapor deposition, thermal oxidation or anodic oxidation of thin titanium foils, hot pressing of TiO.sub.2 powder, and plasma spraying. The present invention provides a method for the fabrication of TiO.sub.2 thick film photoanodes, which method is simple, inexpensive and suitable for mass production of large area plates. The method comprises screen printing a film of conductive material on a clean alumina substrate which is then heated to fuse the conductive material into a conductive layer. A first layer of TiO.sub.2 particles in an organic carrier is then screen-printed over the conductive layer, at least 10% of the TiO.sub.2 being of anatase form. The structure is then heated to burn off the organic carrier and to transform at least part of the TiO.sub.2 from anatase form to rutile form, this resulting in good adhesion of the TiO.

Abstract: A apparatus and method is described for the magnetron sputtering of a workpiece to deposit a thin metallic film. A rotating magnetic field is provided in the vicinity of the workpiece to produce higher yield from a given cathode target.

Abstract: For determining the amount of wear of the movable parts of a carburetor, the throttle of the carburetor is retained in a position where it defines a predetermined cross-sectional flow area with the whole of the induction passage. That predetermined area is the area for which, when the carburetor was new, the edge of the throttle was midway along the bypass aperture of the idling circuit. The degree of vacuum in the idling circuit of the carburetor is then compared with a reference value which is the degree of vacuum which prevails on the carburetor in brand new condition under the same operating conditions.

Abstract: Conveying device for continuous threads with a thread accumulator to which there is coordinated a brake mechanism, regulating the thread feed, and a coupling mechanism comprising an annular magnet (10) whose winding (9) is surrounded by a two-piece housing concentrating the magnetic field lines, one housing part (7) being rotatably mounted and permanently connected with the drive and forming a slot (11) relative to the other, stationary housing part (8), the slot width, in the peripheral direction, varying in uniform distribution, and into which slot there is inserted a ring (14) made of electrically conducting material, which ring is jointly rotatably connected with the power take-off axle (18).

Abstract: The invention relates to a cylinder lock of the type comprising a cylinder rotatable in a bore of a body and controlled by a key sliding in a longitudinal passage of the cylinder, the entry of the key passage being blocked by a flap which pivots when the key is introduced.According to the invention the said flap comprises a lug upon which there presses a slider which is movable at right angles to the key passage and subject to the action of a spring for returning the flap towards its closure position, the whole being lodged in a front cavity (12) of the head of the cylinder, which cavity is closed by a cap.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bi-stable (toggle) mechanism for a vehicle anti-theft device comprising a lever 20 pivotally mounted by a shaft 21, the said lever being subject to the action of a spring 22 and movable from one stable position through a center position to a second stable position.In the mechanism according to the invention, the said spring 22 consists of a hairpin type spring of which one end 26 is connected to one end of the said lever 20 and the other end 23 mounted so as to pivot at a fixed point 24. The distance between the ends 23,26 of the spring 22 when the lever 20 is in either stable position is greater than the distance between the ends when the lever 20 is at its center position whereby the spring becomes more compressed as the lever approaches the center position where the lever is unstable. The distance between the two ends of the hairpin spring may be less than half that length of the lever which is included between its shaft 21 and the point 24 at which the hairpin spring is located.

Abstract: A constant depression carburettor has an auxiliary throttle member associated with a sensor which delivers a signal representative of the position of the auxiliary throttle member. A solenoid valve is actuated by pulses received from a control circuit which receives input signals from sensor. The solenoid valve meters the fuel delivered to the intake passage via a discharge orifice located at the throat of a venturi limited by a swelling of the intake passage and by the throttle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a master-key piston lock comprising a cylindrical rotor pivoting in a bore of a stator, the said stator comprising radial holes opening into the said bore and in each of which there slides a stator piston spring-loaded towards the said bore, the said rotor comprising an axial key passage into which there open radial holes open at their other extremities at the peripheral surface of the rotor, a right circular-cylindrical rotor piston sliding in each of the said radial holes of the rotor and a key equipped with coded notches co-operating each with the inner extremity of one of the said stator pistons in such manner that the outer extremity of each of the rotor pistons is flush with the peripheral surface of the rotor.The rotor pistons comprise a shoulder with which there can co-operate the notches of a master key.

Abstract: A sliding weight scale includes a recirculating ball spindle mounted in a balance beam arranged to pivot about a swivel axis. The spindle extends perpendicularly of the swivel axis. A sliding weight is engaged via a nut with the spindle. A gear wheel is fixed to the spindle and is driven by another gear wheel fixed on the base plate of the scale. A hand wheel drives an intermediate gear assembly which, in turn, drives the gear wheels and the spindle. The gear wheels driving the spindle are located in a vertical plane containing the swivel axis of the balance beam. By the use of the recirculating ball spindle, the displacement forces acting on the sliding weight are kept small so that dimensional variations occurring in manufacturing and assembly have a negligible effect on the weighing accuracy of the scale.

Abstract: A carburettor has an acceleration pump whose movable wall is mechanically actuated by the throttle valve. The acceleration pump is disabled as long as the engine is at rest. For instance, the movable wall may be separated from the throttle valve or locked in a rest position.

Abstract: A carburettor for an internal combustion engine comprises a main fuel supply system for normal running, opening into a venturi in the induction passage of the carburettor, and at least one auxiliary circuit for supplying a flow of air/fuel mixture for low speed and low-load operation of the engine. The mixture control means for the circuits are carried by a distribution block arranged to be inserted and removably fixed in the part of the induction passage situated in the vicinity of the venturi.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus for manufacturing elements made of a hardenable binding agent, wherein this element is obtained by successive deposits of the dry binding agent in powder form, each deposit being followed by a wetting. The invention is applicable to the production of construction elements, such as plates, tiles, etc.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cylindrical lock of the type comprising a barrel journalling in the bore of a body.In the lock to which the invention relates, the peripheral surface of the barrel and the surface of the bore in the body comprise an assembly consisting of an elastic longitudinal tongue and a shoulder which are respectively integral with the said two surfaces and which are arranged in such a manner that the said elastic tongue interacts with the said shoulder to lock the barrel so that it cannot move longitudinally in relation to the body.Application to the car industry.

Abstract: The invention relates to an anti-theft device for a motor vehicle, of the type comprising a bolt restored by a spring to the position for locking an element essential to the motion of the vehicle, a lock comprising a stator and a rotor which is actuated by a coded key and which in the course of its rotation causes the bolt to be drawn back into the unlocked position, in order to prevent the bolt from returning to the locked position as long as the key has not been at least partly extracted from the rotor.According to the invention the safety device consists of a sliding and pivoting lever accommodated in the key channel and interacting with a through-slot provided in the key.

Abstract: The degree of ignition advance of a supercharged spark ignition internal combustion engine is automatically controlled. The controlling device comprises a first member for increasing advance when the speed of the engine increases. It also comprises a second control member (6) connected to a point of the induction passage (1) which passes from upstream to downstream of the operator operated throttle member (2) upon opening thereof and to a point (17) which is permanently upstream of the throttle member.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bi-stable (toggle) mechanism for a vehicle anti-theft device comprising a lever 5 pivotally mounted by a shaft 6, the said lever being subject to the action of a spring 10 and movable from one stable position through a center position to a second stable position.In the mechanism according to the invention, the said spring 10 consists of a hairpin type spring of which one end 9 is connected to one end of the said lever 10 and the other end 11 mounted so as to pivot at a fixed point 12. The distance between the ends 9, 11 of the spring 10 when the lever 5 is in either stable position is greater than the distance between the point 12 of location of the spring 10 and the point of engagement of the spring end 9 with the lever end when the lever 5 is at its center position whereby the spring becomes more compressed as the lever approaches the center position where the lever is unstable.

Abstract: A screen wiper intended to be detachably fitted on the end of a wiper arm, comprises a harness having means for attachment of the harness to said arm, an elastically deformable elongated piece having means along a portion thereof towards one end for supporting a portion of a wiper blade, and a yoke pivotally mounted towards the other end of said elongated piece for supporting the portion of the blade rubber not carried by the said elongated piece. By mounting the blade in this manner the blade can undergo independant deformation on each side of the articulation point of the wiper arm, which eliminates practically all risk of lift-away such as can occur with known wipers when they encounter zones of great curvature.

Abstract: An idling circuit for a carburation device comprises an idling duct for supplying a primary air-fuel mixture downstream of the throttle and a fueled-air line having an adjustable cross-section for circulating an additional quantity of air and primary mixture from upstream to downstream of the throttle. A solenoid valve is energized by pulses having a duty cycle which is controlled so as to keep the engine speed near a set idling speed and so as to increase the amount of mixture supplied to the engine during deceleration at high speed.

Abstract: In a carburetor the fuel jet system opening into the intake pipe of the engine comprises an emulsion well supplied with air and fuel and a device for correcting the fuel/air ratio of the mixture supplied to the engine as a function of the amplitude of the alternating pressure variations caused by the suction of the engine in the intake pipe. The correcting device comprises a movable wall defining a chamber which communicates with the emulsion well and to which the alternating pressure variations are applied through an attenuator. The device adjusts the depression in the emulsion well for increasing or reducing the amplitude of the alternating component of the pressure which is communicated thereto from the opening of the fuel jet system according as to whether the acoustic matching of the carburetor-engine manifold assembly tends to produce an excessive or insufficient fuel/air ratio under high load.

Abstract: The solenoid valve of the invention comprises a housing having a fluid flow opening passage therethrough. A movable assembly is subjected to the opposing actions of a return spring and an electromagnetic coil. The movable assembly comprises an armature whose abutment against a guide defines an end position and a needle fixed to the armature, which defines with the opening a passage of minimum non zero cross-sectional area when the assembly is in the end position.