Abstract: A system for inspecting the hull of a vessel includes a movable machine which moves on the hull and a positioning element to determine an instantaneous position of the machine in a reference point. The positioning element includes: —first and second coaxial encoding wheels separated from each other by an inter-wheel spacing and in contact with the hull, and are capable of measuring first and second linear movements of the machine; —first and second inclinometers arranged so as to measure inclinations, relative to a reference direction, of a first axis and a second axis of a frame of reference linked to the machine; and, —a processing element, which receives data measured in order to calculate a variation of the position of the machine in the frame of reference, and in order to integrate the successive position variations in order to obtain the instantaneous position of the machine.

Abstract: Device for launching missiles from a ship, includes at least one missile launch ramp, includes a ditch delimited by side walls of which at least two constitute bulwarks which extend around the periphery of the ship, the ditch being open above the exterior deck of the ship, in that the launch ramp is positioned in the ditch so it can be used to launch a missile over a lateral bulwark of the ditch extending around the periphery of the ship. It includes an element for discharging the missile propulsion gases including a duct opening onto an orifice in a lateral bulwark of the ditch extending around the periphery of the ship, and the lateral bulwarks of the ditch are of a height tailored to conceal the missiles in place on the ramp, for angles of incidence of between 0 and ?5° with respect to the deck of the ship.

Abstract: Ship (1) of the type comprising a control bridge (2) with a direct view of the ship's environment, and an operations control room (3) receiving information in real time on the situation of the environment of the ship, prepared by analysis means (4) for analysing the environment of the ship, of which the operations control room (3) comprises means for the panoramic display of the ship's environment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a missile container retaining structure (1a) for a missile launch device of the type comprising a plurality of cells for receiving a missile container (2) and at least one duct (3). The structure is constituted by metal plates (101, 104) which are pre-cut so as to comprise complementary elements which can be fitted one inside the other, the plates being assembled so that the complementary elements of two adjacent plates are fitted one inside the other.

Abstract: A weapon storage device (10) which is to be attached to an external face (8) of a hull (4) of a submarine (2) and which is capable of containing weapons (14), such as ammunition or weapon carriers, which are to be deployed from the storage device on receipt of a deployment signal transmitted from inside the submarine, includes a compensation element (16, 18, 30, 40) which allows the variation in mass of the storage device (10) resulting from the deployment of at least one weapon to be compensated for, partially or wholly, by replacing a volume of gas initially contained in the storage device by an identical volume of water introduced into the storage device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a submarine (1) of the type that includes a bridge (4), a bridge fin (3) and a device (8) for releasing and recovering a secondary self-propelled underwater vehicle (90), said device (8) including a handling means (8A) which can be used to move the secondary underwater vehicle between a storage zone (18) and a release or recovery zone (19) and a reversible grip means (14) solidly connected to the handling means (8A), which can be used to free the secondary underwater vehicle (90) at the moment of release and to attach said vehicle at the moment of recovery. The release and recovery device (8) is designed such that the release and recovery zone is located outside the turbulent zone (7) that surrounds the moving submarine.

Abstract: A device generating hydrogen from a hydrocarbon, oxygen and water. The reaction is carried out at high temperature. The device includes a first substantially cylindrical zone surrounding the reaction chamber circulates water vapour and hydrocarbon, excluding the reaction products, the zone being separated from the reaction chamber to recover heat lost by the reaction chamber, to preheat the mixture circulating in the first zone. The reagent(s) are in contact with the walls of said first zone to exchange produce heat. A substantially cylindrical second zone surrounds the first zone and circulates water to be vaporized, the water is in contact with the walls of said second zone. The first and second zones are separated such that water circulating in the second zone is preheated by heat of the first zone where the water of the second zone is mixed with the hydrocarbon and introduced into the first zone.

Abstract: The invention relates to a missile container retaining structure (1a) for a missile launch device of the type comprising a plurality of cells for receiving a missile container (2) and at least one duct (3). The structure is constituted by metal plates (101, 104) which are pre-cut so as to comprise complementary elements which can be fitted one inside the other, the plates being assembled so that the complementary elements of two adjacent plates are fitted one inside the other.

Abstract: The invention relates to an armed stealth surface vessel (1) comprising a hull (2), a deck (5, 6) and superstructures (3). The inventive vessel is equipped with sensors, transmitters, arms and, optionally, handling means. The invention is characterised in that the outer casing (4) of the deadworks comprises walls which are all inclined inwards such that the outer faces thereof are oriented upwards and form an angle that is greater than or equal to 20° with the vertical at least above a line located 5 m above the waterline and, along at least 50% of the length of the vessel, above a line located less than one metre above the waterline. The invention is also characterised in that that the essentially-vertical joint lines between two adjacent walls are inclined inwards and form an angle of more than 20° with the vertical. The invention is further characterised in that the sensors and transmitters, the arms and the handling means are concealed or can be concealed in or under the outer casing of the deadworks.

Abstract: A ship hull includes at least one float (10) and a centre of buoyancy (CB) situated behind the centre of flotation (CF), the distance between the centre of buoyancy and centre of flotation is greater by 5% than the waterline length L of the hull.

Abstract: Ship (1) of the type comprising a control bridge (2) with a direct view of the ship's environment, and an operations control room (3) receiving information in real time on the situation of the environment of the ship, prepared by analysis means (4) for analysing the environment of the ship, of which the operations control room (3) comprises means for the panoramic display of the ship's environment

Abstract: A device for unwinding a wire providing data transmission of any type (instructions or accounts) between two mobile elements (1) and (7) operating in a fluid, includes one or two reels housed in a winder (2). The winder (2), capable of being dissociated from the two mobile elements (1) and (7) includes stabilizing elements for moving away the reeling point from the launching mobile element (7). The invention is applicable to wire-transmission between a submarine and a self-propelled torpedo.

Abstract: A device for unwinding a wire providing data transmission of any type (instructions or accounts) between two mobile elements (1) and (7) operating in a fluid, includes one or two reels housed in a winder (2). The winder (2), capable of being dissociated from the two mobile elements (1) and (7) includes stabilizing elements for moving away the reeling point from the launching mobile element (7). The invention is applicable to wire-transmission between a submarine and a self-propelled torpedo.

Abstract: A container ship includes a hull, propulsion device, support, guide disposed on the support that is extendible beyond the hull, and handler movable along the guide. Thus, the container ship enables containers to be unloaded near a variety of points of use, i.e., not only in ports that are not equipped with port handling facilities, but also onto unequipped beaches, banks, or landing slips. The container ship also unloads containers in such a manner that it has practically no effect on the equilibrium of the ship, whatever its size.

Abstract: A device (12) for interfacing an external peripheral unit (18) to a store controller (16) and store terminal (14) of a point of sale (POS) system has been provided. The interface device includes an MPU (50) for passively monitoring the data coming from the store terminal without causing any interruption to the POS system. When a specific key sequence indicative of a request for use of the peripheral unit has been detected, the device interrupts the flow of data between the store controller and store terminal and enables the MPU to now send data to the store controller and store terminal. Additionally, the device provides a plurality of data paths for allowing the MPU to read data from the store terminal, for storing and reading data from the store controller, and for transferring data between the MPU and the peripheral unit.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a three dimensional stuffed figure provides a face combining the sculptured appearance of a hard face and the softness of a plush face. The face has a front surface of stretch material and a rear surface of non-stretch material defining a stuffing aperture through which is stuffed a quantity of fiberfill sufficient to stretch the stretch material relative to the non-stretch material. Facial details of the front surface of the stuffed face are contoured by tensioning threads (extending from the non-stretch material through the stretch material and back to the non-stretch material) and optionally colored by air brushing. The inverted head is secured to the inverted body to define an inversion aperture, and the inverted head and body are re-inverted through the inversion aperture.

Abstract: The disclosure herein describes a plant assembly that includes a pot and a saucer adapted to be nested together in similarly constructed assemblies; the pot consists of an inverted frusto-conical body with an elongated hollow conically-shaped central part upwardly extending from the bottom wall thereof; the saucer consists of a cylindrical body that includes also a frusto-conical central part that extends upwardly from the bottom wall. Both central parts have enlarged lower areas defining supports allowing similarly constructed pot and saucer assemblies to be nested one within the other.