Abstract: A device for maintaining the crimping of textile fibers or filaments during subsequent setting treatment, located in a line for treating filaments by crimping and setting having a crimping machine (1), whereby this device is connected to the outlet of the crimping machine (1) and consists of two perforated conveyor belts (2), between which is fed the plug of textile fibers or filaments (3) coming from the crimping machine (1) and which pass through a setting oven or other setting machine to arrive at a filament uptake area. The device is provided with a member (6) for maintaining the continuity of the pressure on the plug of textile fibers or filaments (3) at the outlet of the crimping machine (1) and during the entire setting operation, whereby this member cooperates with the perforated conveyor belts (2).

Abstract: A liquid is vaporized by a device having at least one porous substrate exposed to a certain ambient pressure, means for supplying the substrate with liquid in order for it to be loaded with liquid starting from an upstream portion of the substrate, and at least one energy source for heating the substrate so that at least some of the liquid is vaporized. According to the invention, the means for supplying the substrate with liquid may include means for pressurizing the liquid to a pressure greater than ambient pressure, thereby creating a flow-rate greater than the flow-rate induced by capillarity and vaporization of the liquid alone when the substrate is held in a horizontal position. The invention may be applied to the production of water-vaporization equipment, particularly with electrical or gaseous energy supply.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for detecting the presence of steam in a volume of air at a predetermined temperature. The apparatus includes a temperature sensor having two respective temperature build-up times representing an under steam temperature build-up time and an under air temperature build-up time. The method for detecting the presence of steam comprises the steps of placing the temperature sensor in the presence of the volume air, such that the sensor can reach a predetermined set point temperature that is lower than the predetermined temperature, taking a temperature measurement with the sensor, and determining if the measured temperature reaches the set point temperature in order to indicate whether the sensor is in the presence of steam.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for at least partial dehydration of an aqueous composition, in which said composition to be dehydrated is brought into contact, through the intermediacy of a microporous hydrophobic membrane, with a receiving phase whose water activity is substantially lower than that of the aqueous composition and in which the aqueous composition, at least partially dehydrated, is recovered. The invention also relates to devices enabling the process to be implemented, especially continuously.