Abstract: A ball joint is disclosed containing a body of a joint, where there is inserted a pin having a longitudinal axis and including a first threaded end and a second spherical end which is rotatably arranged within a seat of the body and able to co-operate with a first spherical-cap-shaped element or shell inserted within a seat having a corresponding shape of a second spherical-cap-shaped element or shell cooperating with a covering element so as to close the spherical end of the pin within the body. The second spherical end of the pin and the first and second shells including pairs of recesses and ridges in the contact areas are suitable for reciprocally compenetrating, with the pairs of recesses and ridges being arranged at 90° to each other to allow the rotation of the pin along all axes in the space (X, Y, Z).

Abstract: In a chain drive, the wear of a chain having a plurality of links, each of which is provided with a pair of pivot pins parallel to each other and transversally spaced apart from each other and at least three strips parallel to one another and arranged side by side is controlled by means of a detection device adapted to detect the breakage of at least one of the strips and to emit a signal indicating to replace the chain itself.

Abstract: A landfill 10 is lined with an impermeable liner material at 12 and filled with waste, such as household waste. When the landfill is full, it is capped by a cap 14. Degradation of the body of waste material within the landfill creates leachate liquid as a byproduct. Without intervention, the leachate will form a layer 16 of saturated waste material at the bottom of the landfill 10. An extraction well 22 allows leachate to be drawn from the landfill 10 by a pump 26. Injection wells 24 allow leachate to be reintroduced into the landfill 10. Various sensors 36, 38, 40 take measurements associated with the wells 24. Leachate delivery is controlled in accordance with the values obtained. The obtained values may include the leachate head in the well and/or the volume or rate of leachate delivery to the well and/or the elapsed time since commencement of leachate delivery to the well and/or the rate of dispersion of the leachate into the landfill from the well.

Abstract: A landfill 24 has an impermeable liner 26 at its base and sides, and is capped at 28 by a multi-layer cap. The body of waste material 46 within the landfill 24 will undergo degradation. One byproduct will be leachate. Sediment 37 will develop at the bottom of the landfill 24 in the absence of any intervention. Extraction wells 38 extend from the surface (above the cap 28) down to the bottom of the landfill 24. A pump 54 allows leachate to be drawn from the waste material 46, through the extraction well 38. Leachate is extracted at a rate sufficient to create turbulence within the body of waste material 46. The turbulence serves to entrain sediment in the leachate for extraction of the entrained sediment with the leachate.

Abstract: Silver positive electrode for alkali secondary batteries having an enhanced cycling capability, and consequently a longer lifetime in cycling of the storage batteries incorporating it, by optimizing, in recharge mode, the conditions for electrochemically reducing the oxidized silver species. The silver electrode according to the invention is of the plasticized type, and a high-porosity collector, such as a woven fabric, a felt or a reticulated cellular metal foam, is used. The active compound introduced into the collector is prepared in paste form, in which the active material consists of metallic silver particles and/or silver monoxide particles, and may advantageously include a metal oxide acting as pore-forming and wetting agent for the electrode. Such an electrode is particularly intended for mounting in silver-zinc storage batteries operating in open mode or sealed mode.

Abstract: A supply system, fur supplying an internal combustion engine with air and fuel, is provided with a first fuel supply circuit, having at least one electro-injector controlled b an electronic unit, an intake conduit conveying combustion air, a throttle valve in the intake conduit, and a second fuel supply circuit, activated in the event of failure and having a nozzle that atomizes fuel due to a depression in the intake conduit; a fuel flow rate adjusting valve varies the flow rate exiting from the nozzle, under the operation of a mechanical transmission; according to the operation of the throttle valve.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for catalytic recombination of gases for alkaline batteries with shortened zinc anode. The invention concerns a device for catalytic recombination of gases formed when charging a zinc anode alkaline battery, characterized in that it consists of a catalytic mass in contact with a crosslinked cellular metal foam serving as catalyst support and heat dissipating structure, said catalytic mass consisting of a mixture of carbon black including metal of platinum metals, and of a hydrophobic binder, the whole assembly being heat-treated to cause the hydrophobic binder of said catalytic mass to be sintered. Said device is advantageously connected to one of the terminals of the battery or to any other metal part constituting part of the cover of the battery case, so as to promote discharge of the calories produced.

Abstract: A closure for a container including a downwardly depending skirt having an upper end and a bottom end and a periphery defining a perimeter of the closure for sealable connection to the mouth of said container. Each of two side edges of the lid has a proximal end adjacent a different side of the hinge on the skirt and angling outwardly from the hinge at increasing distances from the opposing side edge to a distal end defining a different end of the outer edge. The end wall has shoulders integrally formed with the end wall and skirt proximate the upper end of the skirt on opposite sides of the lid hinge. The shoulders extend across portions of the end wall such that the thickness of the end wall in the regions of said shoulders is thicker than a thickness of said end wall free of the shoulders.

Abstract: A closure for a container, the container having a neck and a mouth at an upper end of said neck. The closure including a downwardly depending skirt having an upper end and a bottom end and a periphery defining a perimeter of the closure for sealable connection to the mouth of said container. The closure also has an end wall with a top surface coupled to and extending diametrically across the upper end of said skirt and about a substantial portion of the periphery for closing the upper end of said skirt and the mouth of said container when said closure is applied to said container. The lid has two side edges and an outer edge defining a portion of a periphery of the lid and a top lid surface. Each side edge has a proximal end adjacent a different side of the hinge on the skirt and angling outwardly from the hinge at increasing distances from the opposing side edge to a distal end defining a different end of the outer edge.

Abstract: The invention relates to an additive to the active mass of a zinc anode for an alkaline secondary electrochemical generator. Said additive contains conductive ceramic powder, preferably titanium nitride particles which is exposed to an oxidation pre-treatment prior to the incorporation thereof into the active mass of the anode. Said ceramic powder is used as electronic conduction in the anode active mass and as zincates retention which are produced by generator discharge. In order to use said retentive capacity, the powder is exposed to an oxidation pre-treatment, whereby making it possible to form the binding sites on the surface of ceramic grains. The inventive additive makes it possible, starting from the first cycles of the electrode formation, to form uniform zinc deposits, thereby increasing the service life for the cycling of the zinc anode.

Abstract: A closure for a container is disclosed having an end wall with one or more product dispensing openings therein. The closure has a flip open lid hingedly connected to the outer edge of the end wall and movable between a closed and an open position. The end wall has stiffening shoulders on opposite sides of the hinge and extending proximate the edges of the lid so as to stiffen the end wall against deformation upon application of the closure to the container.

Abstract: A closure for a container having a mouth wherein the closure is adapted for sealable connection to the mouth of the container and includes an end wall at the upper end of the skirt for closing the mouth when the closure is mounted to the container. The closure includes an opening in the end wall for dispensing a product held by the container and a first flap that has at least one flap aperture that is smaller than the opening. The first flap is adapted for selectively opening and closing the opening. A second flap is adapted for overlaying the first flap and includes a first state wherein one or more of the flap apertures in the first flap are open and a second state wherein the flap apertures in the first flap are sealed.

Abstract: A closure for a container having a mouth wherein the closure is adapted for sealable connection to the mouth of the container and includes an end wall at the upper end of the skirt for closing the mouth when the closure is mounted to the container. The closure includes an opening in the end wall for dispensing a product held by the container and a first flap that has at least one flap aperture that is smaller than the opening. The first flap is adapted for selectively opening and closing the opening. A second flap is adapted for overlaying the first flap and includes a first state wherein one or more of the flap apertures in the first flap are open and a second state wherein the flap apertures in the first flap are sealed.

Abstract: The invention relates to secondary alkaline electrochemical generators with a zinc anode in an electrolyte, the active mass of said anode comprising at least one conductive ceramic. According to the invention, the electrolyte of the generator is made up of a highly-concentrated alkaline solution and/or the active mass of the zinc anode contains an additive comprising at least one alkaline titanate having general formula (M2O)n(Ti)2)mxH2O, wherein M denotes Li, Na, K, Rb or Cs, n being between 0.5 and 2, m being between 1 and 10 and x being between 0 and 10, or alkaline earth having general formula (MO)n(TiO2)mxH2O, wherein M denotes Mg, Ca, Sr or Ba, n being between 1 and 5, m being between 1 and 10 and x being between 0 and 10. The invention also relates to the zinc anode of the generators used in the invention and the production method thereof.

Abstract: A complex porous structure of a reticulated foam, felt or fabric types, wherein their metallisation over their entire developed surface, by electrolysis of lead or lead alloys, is made possible by a specific preliminary conductive activation treatment obtained by using two consecutive phases of coating the developed surface of the structures, comprising a first deposition of a conductive polymer, which provides the structures with the required conductivity, and a second thin deposition of conductive lacquer or varnish which ensures the surface protection of the conductive polymer against the deactivating effect of the conductive nature of the latter, due to the cathodic polarisation of the said structures in the electrolytic lead-coating bath.

Abstract: The invention concerns the treatment of porous structures such as cross-linked foams, woven or nonwoven, to make them electrically conductive by depositing polymers. The device enables, in a chemical reactor, to perform the activating treatment directly through non-reeled off blocks or rolls of porous structures, the treating fluids of the successive steps being made to circulate inside said blocks or rolls, via a perforated rotary mandrel whereon they are pressed. Said device enables to activate efficiently the structures, which may be metal-coated or not, and are particularly designed to be used as electrodes for liquid effluent electrolysis, of detectors and traps of organic or biological molecules, electrode supports for electrochemical generators, catalyst supports, filtering media, acoustic insulants, electromagnetic, nuclear and antistatic protection structures, heat exchangers and the like.

Abstract: The invention concerns the manufacture of complex metallic or metallized porous structures, wherein the electroplating metal over the entire developed surface is preceded by a specific pre-metallization of the basic structure. The pre-metallization is obtained by depositing a conductive polymer, which is deposited on the entire developed surface of the structure by the steps of an oxidizing pre-treatment of the structure, depositing in the liquid phase, a monomer having a polymerized form that is electrically conductive, and polymerizing by oxidation-doping of the monomer. The structures according to the invention are particularly intended for use as electrodes for the electrolysis of liquid effluents, as electrode supports for electrochemical generators, as catalyst supports, filtration media, phonic insulation, electromagnetic and nuclear protection structures, or for other applications.

Abstract: Secondary electrochemical generators of the zinc-electrode alkaline type whose anode has a great capacity for cycling. The electrochemical generators according to the invention comprise zinc anodes made in such a manner as to increase within the active material the number of sites for formation of zinc during recharging, by a better draining of the electrical charges, obtained by using a dispersed secondary collector in the form of a conductive powder in the active mass, to which may advantageously be associated a principal support-collector of the high porous three-dimensional structured type having a high developed surface. These generators thus have zinc electrodes of improve cyclability, the number of charges and discharges that the electrode can perform under different regimes being increased.