Abstract: The invention relates to a gas-fired cigarette lighter comprising a gas reservoir, a gas distributor valve and means which make it possible to ignite the gas emerging from this distributor valve, comprising at least one reserve supply of gas and means for draining this reserve supply into the gas reservoir. This lighter is remarkable in that it is rechargeable and comprises a filling device enabling simultaneous filling of the reserve supply and of the gas reservoir, the filling device comprising two serially disposed valves, opening of the valve situated between the reserve supply of gas and the other valve being operated either by the opening of this other valve or by an operating element, this other valve then remaining closed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a centrifugal compressor comprising an impeller not comprising distributor blading upstream of the impeller, a pressure probe and regulator means controlled by the probe and arranged to act on the flow conditions downstream or upstream of the compressor to avoid the risk of surging. The probe is disposed upstream of the impeller of the compressor and being arranged to detect the critical direction of the absolute velocity of the fluid and to measure the critical value of the radial gradient of the static pressure beyond which the compressor runs the risk of being subjected to surging.

Abstract: The protector has two ends connected to a central portion, these ends being hollow and each suitable for covering one of the two terminals of two contiguous cells of the battery, the central portion being hollow and being able to cover the connection or strap between said terminals, the upper surfaces of said ends having openings or gaps separated by strips of material, the upper surface as well as the side surfaces of said central portion also having openings or gaps separated by strips of material. The area of said openings or gaps is about twice as great as that of the total area of the strips.

Abstract: A nozzle useful for cleaning deposits from the interior wall of a pipe, the nozzle including a body having a hose connection for accepting a stream of high pressure fluid and having at least three skids to hold the body away from the interior pipe surface, and a turbine connected to the body through a bearing, the body including jets to discharge high pressure fluid in a direction to propel the nozzle through the pipe being cleaned and the turbine having jets positioned to drive the turbine to rotate and to impinge against the interior wall of the pipe.

Abstract: 25-Alkylcholest-5-ene-3.beta.,22-diols and esters thereof adapted to inhibit the activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase are disclosed.

Abstract: The sarcosine.sup.1 dehydroalanine.sup.8 angiotensin II derivatives of the present invention are potent angiotensin blockers.

Abstract: An electrical pulse of predetermined waveform is generated to control an electro-optical shutter to cut out a portion of predetermined waveform from a laser pulse passing therethrough. The electrical pulse is generated across the plates of a capacitor. A DC source is connected directly to one of the plates and the other via a conductor and a semiconductor switch.The waveform is generated by illuminating the semiconductor switch with a series of short rapid light pulses from a mode-locked laser generator. A staircase waveform results with each step corresponding to a pulse from the mode-locked laser. The waveform can be matched to the predetermined model by adjusting the intensity and the spacing of the switching laser pulses.The falling portion of the waveform can be similarly produced using a second semiconductor switch connected between the capacitor plates together. For a very steep falling edge a single high intensity light pulse can be applied shorting the plates together via the second switch.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for freeze-drying by means of microwaves, in which the product to be dried is placed on a support composed of a material which is transparent to microwave energy, covered with a layer of material which conducts electricity.

Abstract: The invention relates to electrical filters comprising piezoelectric crystals.When very considerable variations in slope are required in the transmission curve of filters of this type, it is necessary to use a plurality of crystals having very different equivalent self-inductances, some of which are impossible to obtain. The invention overcomes these limitations by using only crystals (X'.sub.1, X'.sub.2, X'.sub.3 . . . X'.sub.7) having feasible self-inductances and by establishing the desired self-inductances by using transformers such as T.sub.3.The filters according to the invention may be used in particular for the same applications as JAUMANN-type filters in telephone communications.

Abstract: A torque-amplifying hydraulic servo-mechanism of the kind including a rotary hydraulic motor and a hydraulic distributor, said motor being of the sliding vane type and the distributor of the "face", open center type. According to the invention, the rotor (50) of the hydraulic motor includes two diametrically opposite cylindrical surfaces (90) in contact with the stator bore and each extending over an arc equal to that between two adjacent vanes (24), and two interconnecting portions each having two flat faces (106, 108) interconnected by a cylindrical surface portion (104); and the number of vanes (94) is advantageously four times the number of said surfaces ( 90), that is eight. The servo-mechanism thus designed may be advantageously used in power steering systems for motor vehicles, and produces an output torque substantially constant irrespective of the relative position of the rotor and stator of the hydraulic motor.

Abstract: Preparation and the diuretic utility of N-[4-azido-5-(2-ethoxyethyl)-6-phenyl-2-pyrimidinyl]acetamide and congeners are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides Diaryl-(1-azabicyclo [2.2.2]octan-2-yl)alkanols of the formula ##STR1## and the pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts thereof wherein R is a cycloalkanol having 4-8 carbon atoms, an alkanol having 1-2 carbon atoms, or a radical of the formula ##STR2## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each H or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkyl, and R.sub.3 is H or an acyl of the formula ##STR3## wherein R.sub.4 is H or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl. These alkanols are useful as antidiarrheal agents.

Abstract: A process for the repetitive and optimalized layout of shapes having the determined contour of a cigar wrapper within each of the elements of a series of tobacco leaves or half-leaves (having an irregular shape and defects), with a view to cutting out and removing from said elements wrappers having said shapes, in which process at least one sample leaf is determined having dimensional characteristics inferior to those of the whole section of the series of the leaves to be cut out, then, for each of the sample leaves, cut out pattern cards are drawn up, each comprising the outline of a possibility, distinct from the others, of cutting a leaf similar to the sample leaf into said shapes of determined contour, wherein said pattern cards relating to the same sample leaf are graded into groups, as a function of their decreasing yield of wrappers, the pattern cards within the same group are graded as a function of at least one criterion other than that of yield and relative to the interest of use presented by said p

Abstract: A method of measuring the absorptivity or emissivity factor of a sample at ambient temperature comprises maintaining a thermopile at a constant temperature substantially above ambient temperature and exposing the sample to radiation exclusively from the thermopile. The voltage across the thermopile is measured and provides a measure of the absorptivity or emissivity factor. The thermopile may be disposed in a temperature-controlled furnace extending into a conical cavity.

Abstract: An aqueous extract of a vegetable material is treated with a view to reducing its caffeine and/or chlorogenic acid content. The treatment is with a solid ligneous adsorbent of vegetable origin in divided form at a temperature of from 0.degree. to 100.degree. C. so as to absorb the caffeine and the chlorogenic acid. The combination of extract and ligneous adsorbent is dried by freeze-drying. The dried combination is thereafter introduced into infusing bags. On infusing the bags in hot water, an extract is obtained in partially decaffeinated and partially deacidified form.

Abstract: The present invention provides 2-substituted quinuclidines of the formula ##STR1## and the pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts thereof wherein R is phenyl, halogen-substituted phenyl, lower alkyl-substituted phenyl, pyridyl or 5-methyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl.These quinuclidine compounds are useful as anti-diarrheal agents.