Abstract: A mail separating device has a conveyor channel, an input of which is connected to a sorting device for successively supplying the channel with flat mail items. The separating device includes a sensor which is located along the channel for generating a double-withdrawal signal on detecting a pair of at least partly superimposed mail items. The double-withdrawal signal activates a stop device, which is located along the channel and moves an appendix from an idle position to an activating position. A stop portion of the appendix contacts the vertical end edge of a first item in the pair. The impact of the stop portion on the vertical end edge arrests the first item while the second item in the pair continues traveling along the channel and is detached from the first item.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing cathodes for molten carbonate fuel cells containing lithiated nickel oxide, generally known in the art by the initials MCFC, which have matrices of ceramic material prepared with the use of an organic binding agent, comprises the preparation of a mixture containing nickel powder, lithium carbonate, polyvinyl butyral and ethanol, the mixture being suitably processed, cut into cathode form and mounted directly inside one of the fuel cells, the cell then being heated to its working temperature, enabling all of the organic agents to be eliminated from the mixture, saving time and energy.

Abstract: A mail decelerating device wherein a straight channel with a V-shaped cross section is supplied by a conveyor channel with a number of mail items; the mail item is intercepted and directed by a deflecting element towards an inclined wall of the V-section channel, along which it slides and is arrested on striking a kinetic energy dissipating device at one end of the V-section channel; following stoppage of the item, a bottom opening in the V-section channel is opened, and through which the mail item drops out by force of gravity.

Abstract: A mail sorting device wherein an inclined supporting surface cooperates with a guide device presenting a number of push surfaces spaced along the supporting surface and movable from a back stop towards a front stop adjacent to the upper end edge of the supporting surface. The supporting surface supports a number of flat rectangular mail items grouped into stacks interposed between adjacent push surfaces; and the sorting device presents a grip-and-carry device facing the end edge of the supporting surface, and in turn presenting a gripping head movable to and from the supporting surface to withdraw one mail item at a time from the stack and feed it to a conveyor device. The guide device provides for feeding the push surfaces back from the front stop to the back stop.

Abstract: A supply system for fuel cells of the solid polymer electrolyte type for vehicles, including a primary cooling and humidifying circuit with demineralised, pressurised water with a small volumetric capacity and a secondary liquid cooling circuit with plate exchangers for cooling the demineralised water of the primary circuit and air/liquid exchangers for cooling compressed air for supply to the cells, the system further including an electric heater for heating the liquid in the secondary circuit so that the cells can be put into service quickly and means for recycling hydrogen leaving the cells to make the optimum use of the fuel.

Abstract: A multilevel multiprocessor system comprising a number of processing units, each comprising a number of multiprocessor modules connected to a first direct-access line to form a first hierarchical level (region); the processing units comprising subsets of multiprocessor modules connected to respective second direct-access lines to form a second hierarchical level (family); and each multiprocessor module comprising a number of processing modules connected to a direct-access (group) line connected to the first and second lines.

Abstract: An arrangement for hot killing the acid contents of flue and process gases comprising a burner for discharging fuel and combustion supporter, preferably Diesel oil, fuel oil and air, to a combustion chamber, to produce a flame and gas burnt, and means of injecting/blowing a basic substance in either powder or solution form into a hot region of the flame, the gas burnt thus enriched with basic substance being mixed with the flue gas and hot killing its acid contents.

Abstract: A system based on integrated optical technologies for the measurement and diagnostics of physical parameters on whatever structure, by the use of optical sensors, made by the fiber embedded Bragg grating method and by the use of a planar integrated optics device for the analysis of the optical signal. The sensors may be embedded or bonded to the structure, allowing the measurement of parameters like strain and temperature, in either a static or dynamic regime. The system pertains to the technical field of the diagnostics and measurements of mechanical or thermal parameters and to the application field of ground, water and aerospace transportation and also to the application field of construction.

Abstract: A mail flow compensating device which is a straight horizontal conveyor belt and is supplied with a stream of overlapping flat mail items. The flow compensating device is made of a stop wall sloping in relation to the belt and presenting a bottom end portion facing the belt. When the height of the stream exceeds a maximum value, the mail items contact and accumulate against the stop wall to form a group of superimposed mail items. The flow compensating device also presents an optical sensor for detecting the limit contour of the group of mail items, generating a full-flow-compensating-device signal, and cutting off supply to the conveyor belt.

Abstract: Equipment and method for manufacturing integral monolithic structures, using reinforcing fiber layers impregnated with thermosetting resins. The apparatus has an equipment base, which determines the shape of the structure, a cover of the equipment, two side supports enclosed by an outer bag of nylon or similar material and by as many supporting elements as the number of bays required breathing material; a sheet of parting film, sealing mastic, vacuum application valves, a tubular parting film and tubular bags. The invention simplifies the manufacturing process and is particularly important in the aeronautical field and wherever there is a need for very low weight, high structural efficiency and high quality standards.

Abstract: An accumulating device having ten accumulating units connected at the input to a conveyor belt system and designed to house a number of mail items. Each accumulating unit comprises a conveyor system composed of two belts contacting each other along a substantially straight portion and having a sensor for generating an enabling signal upon a mail item being fed into the accumulating unit. As a consequence of the enabling signal, the belts are shifted one discrete step so that the mail items fed into the accumulating unit are inserted between the two belts and overlap one another.

Abstract: A thrust reversing nozzle for a jet engine in which a collar is mounted on the discharge nozzle so as to be movable axially relative thereto and between the collar and the nozzle, two thrust reversal half shells are pivotally mounted and, in their closed position, register with and are flush with the collar so that these half shells and the collar extend the nozzle.

Abstract: A method of converting a DC voltage to a sinusoidal AC voltage by way of a circuit comprising a single-phase inverter in a bridge configuration is disclosed. To output a voltage to a truly sinusoidal pattern even in the presence of load variations, the method provides for control of the inverter switching using the sliding mode technique and pulse width modulation with a three-level output voltage. Also disclosed is a circuit for implementing the method.

Abstract: A separating device wherein two belts with different friction coefficients present respective straight portions facing each other and converging at a contact portion. The belts are fed with a number of mail items which are wedged in the V-shaped opening defined by the straight portions and are fed singly through the contact portion by the higher friction coefficient belt and to the input of a follow-up conveyor belt system. The device comprises a barrier of sensors located between the contact portion and the input of the conveyor belt system, and which provide for determining the form and spacing of the mail items. The signal generated by the barrier of sensors is used for adjusting operation of the higher friction coefficient belt.

Abstract: This invention proposes a handling-switching apparatus in which the pieces to be handled are placed on conveyor tables constituted by rotating carpets that are inclined and set to rotation to unload the conveyed piece. The path, loop shaped, develops on a vertical plane and a characteristic of the invention is that means to keep in the horizontal position the carpets even in the sections connecting the upper to the lower part of the path and conversely are provided.

Abstract: A device whereby a pile of rectangular items is placed on an inclined surface and pushed towards the straight front edge thereof by a push unit. The surface presents two pairs of conveyor belts parallel to each other and coplanar with the surface; and the pile is arrested upon a bottom portion of the first item in the pile activating a first or second limit stop sensor, which activates a respective pair of belts so as to move the bottom left or right portion of the item and so orient the item in relation to a gripping plane. A gripping unit with two suction cups movable along a three-dimensional trajectory grips the oriented item and feeds it to a follow-up conveyor belt.

Abstract: This invention proposes a handling-switching apparatus in which the pieces to be handled are placed on conveyor tables constituted by rotating carpets that are inclined and set to rotation to unload the piece into collecting vessels suitably preset. A cam device is provided to control the unloading of the piece, which are operated and subsequently brought again to a non-operative position by the carriage itself while moving forward, so as to avoid the risk of breakage.

Abstract: A DC/AC converter is disclosed which has an inverter coupled to a load via a transformer. A control signal generator causes the inverter to switch according to a predetermined procedure, and a feedback loop is responsive to at least one state quantity of the circuit to act on the control signal generator and modify the state quantities so as to ensure a predetermined stable pattern for the output AC voltage. To prevent the transformer from becoming saturated, a circuit device is provided which includes correcting means effective to sense in the inverter output voltage an unbalance causing the appearance of a DC component at the primary of the transformer and to apply a correction signal to the control signal generator for so modifying the switch signals as to cancel the unbalance.