Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for providing a determined position in real-time of an underwater object using a plurality of sensors operating at various sampling rates and for using the determined position in real-time in order to perform inspection tasks inter alia.

Abstract: A process for the treatment of wooden elements, said process comprising the following steps: conditioning said wooden elements to reduce their moisture content; and a) performing one of the following sequences of steps selected from the group consisting of at least the sequence of steps b1) to b4) or at least the sequence of steps bb1) to bb2); said sequence of step b1) to b4) at least comprising: b1) impregnating the wooden elements obtained from step a) with at least one wood preservative, b2) heating the wooden elements obtained from step b1) at a temperature of at least 51 & deg; C.

Abstract: The present invention describes the synthesis of new sulforated fluorinated elastomers having very low glass transition temperatures (Tg), a good resistance to bases, oils and fuels and good properties of workability. These elastomers contain, by way of example, from 80 to 60 mole % of vinylidene fluoride (VDF) and 20 to 40 mole % of perfluoro(4-methyl-3,6-dioxaoct-7-ene)sulfonyl fluoride (PFSO2F). In this case, they are prepared by radical copolymerisation of VDF and PFSO2F in the presence of different organic initiators, for example, peroxides, peresters or diazo compounds.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fluorination process for producing fluorinated compounds. The process consists in reacting a compound (I) corresponding to the formula with an ionic fluoride of a monovalent cation. M represents H, an alkali metal, a quaternary phosphonium group or a quaternary ammonium group. Y represents SO2 and m is 1, or else Y is PO and m is 2. Z represents CR2, N or P. R1 represents an electron-withdrawing group which has a Hammet ?P parameter of greater than 0.4. R2 represents a carbonaceous and/or electron-withdrawing group. X represents a halogen other than a fluorine. The fluorinated compounds obtained are of use in particular as electrolytes in lithium batteries.

Abstract: A composition for applying a coating on a support at low temperature from a dispersion of at least a component of the coating to be deposited in the composition. The composition includes at least a strong and heavy solvent with a boiling point higher than 150° C. approximately, and a weak solvent with a boiling point less than 100° C. approximately. The solvents forming the composition must constitute a mixture that evaporates at a temperature less than 100° C. The composition is particularly useful for forming electrodes or electrolyte in lithium-ion batteries. The method and the device used for forming the coating use a dispersion spreader and an infrared lamp.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of electrodes from a porous material making it possible to obtain electrodes that are useful in electrochemical systems and that have at least one of the following properties: a high capacity in mnAh/gram, a high capaciaty in mAh/liter, a good capacity for cycling, a low rate of self discharge, and a good environmental tolerance.

Abstract: The switching apparatus and method are provided for varying the impedance of a phase line of a segment of an electrical power line. The phase line includes n conductors electrically insulated from each other and short-circuited among each other at two ends of the segment. The apparatus comprises, for each of at least one of the n conductors, a passive component and a pair of electromechanical and electronic switches, the pair of switches being able to connect and disconnect in a selective manner the passive component in series with the corresponding conductor, the switches of each pair being controllable independently. The apparatus also comprises a detecting device for detecting the current operating conditions of the phase line, and a control device for controlling each pair of switches according to the current operating conditions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a metallic lithium rechargeable electrochemical accumulator, comprising at least one lithium metal electrode and at least one polymeric electrolyte gel. Said accumulator is capable of operating at temperatures from ?20 to 60° C., essentially without formation of lithium dendrites on the whole surface of the metallic lithium electrode. The above is also wherein a particularly long life, even with intensive use at low temperature. Said inventive rechargeable accumulator can be produced by use of a production method with particular application of temperature control during the specific production stages. As a result of the extremely high electrochemical performance of said accumulator, in particular the remarkable stability thereof, said accumulator can be used in new application fields such as hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles and emergency supply systems such as those of the UPS type.

Abstract: An apparatus for making a hose including a weaving machine and a liner feeder for forming the hose by weaving a jacket about a liner as the liner is being fed into the weaving machine, where the liner is provided with an adhesive layer on an outer surface, the adhesive layer being doped with a radiation absorbing element. The apparatus includes a feeder for receiving and for flattening the hose and an oven located downstream from the feeder, including a bore through which the hose passes, the oven including a module for applying radiation to the hose so that the radiation absorbing element heats following the application of radiation for bonding the liner to the jacket. A winder is located downstream at a predetermined distance away from the oven for pulling and winding the hose and provided with a pressurizer for internally pressurizing a portion of the hose located between the winder and the feeder so that when the hose is in the oven, the pressurizer forces the liner against the jacket.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for preparing a nanocomposite based on magnesium and another element or compound known to absorb hydrogen and hardly miscible when ground with magnesium or its hydride, such as vanadium, titanium or niobium. The method is characterised in that it consists in submitting magnesium or a compound based on magnesium known to absorb hydrogen to hydrogenation to obtain the corresponding hydride in powder form. Said resulting powder hydride is then mixed with the other element or compound or a hydride of said other element or compound and the resulting mixture is subjected to intense mechanical grinding until the corresponding nanocomposite is obtained in the form of a hydride. Finally, if necessary, the resulting nanocomposite is subjected to hydrogen desorption.

Abstract: Modified graphite particles obtained from graphite or based on graphite, the said particles having impurities in their internal structure and having on the surface a low, even nil, rate of an impurity or several impurities. In addition, these particles have at least one of the following characteristics: a tab density between 0.3 and 1.5 g/cc; a potatolike shape; and a granulometric dispersion such that the D90/D10 ratio varies between 2 and 5 and the particles have a size between 1 and 50 ?m. These particles can be used for fuel cells, electrochemical generators, or as moisture absorbers and/or oxygen absorbers and they have important electrochemical properties. The electrochemical cells and batteries thus obtained are stable and safe.

Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus and a method for modifying a power flux in an electrical transmission line section (6,8), each section including phase lines having n conductors (10,12) electrically insulated from one another and shorted at the ends (40) of the section. The apparatus comprises a power exchange unit including a power converter (18) for power conversion between first and second pairs of terminals (20,22), the first pair of terminals (20) being connected in series to at least one conductor of the section; and an electrical element (24) connected to the second pair of terminals (22) and adapted to circulate power through the power converter to modify said power flux.

Abstract: A cryogenic current limiting fuse is disclosed together with a method of manufacturing a cryogenic current limiting fuse, the cryogenic current limiting fuse comprising a first cryogenic composite and a second cryogenic composite wherein at least one of the first and the second cryogenic composites has a non-linear and increasing resistivity with respect to at least one of temperature and current.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of preparing an electrochemical electrode which is partially or totally covered with a film that is obtained by spreading an aqueous solution comprising a water-soluble binder over the electrode and subsequently drying same. The production cost of the electrodes thus obtained is reduced and the surface porosity thereof is associated with desirable resistance values.

Abstract: Process for preparing by crushing, a homogenous mixture of particles containing a conductive nucleus including at least one graphite and continuously or discontinuously coated with at least one material that is different from the one constituting the nucleus, the size of the particles of the nucleus being larger than the particles used for coating the nuclei by crushing the particles together. The mixtures of particles obtained show electrochemical and mechanical properties that enable them to be advantageously used in electrochemical batteries and in paints.

Abstract: The invention concerns an electrical reactor for reforming, in the presence of an oxidant gas, a gas comprising at least one hydrocarbon, and/or at least one organic compound, including carbon and hydrogen atoms as well as at least one heteroatom. Said reactor comprises: an enclosure, a reaction chamber provided with at least two electrodes comprising at least one conductive lining material electrically isolated from the metal wall of the enclosure, at least one supply of gas to be reformed, at least one oxidant gas supply, at least one outlet for the gases from the reforming and one electrical source for powering the electrodes and resulting in generation of an electronic flux in the conductive lining between the electrodes and in heating said lining.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for preparing ceramic powders in the presence of a carbon powder comprising a step which consists in homogenizing a mixture of particles capable of resulting in a ceramic by heat treatment. Said method can be carried out in the presence of an accelerated solvent and provides, at reduced energy consumption, carbon-coated ceramic powders and then ceramics.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with cross-linked sulfonated polymers, eventually perfluorinated, and their preparation process. When molded in the form of membranes, the polymers are useful in electrochemical cells, in a chlorine-sodium electrolysis process, as separator in an electrochemical preparation or organic and inorganic compounds, as separators between an aqueous phase and an organic phase, or as catalyst for Diels-Alder additions, Friedel-Craft reactions, aldol concentrations, cationic polymerisation, esterification, and acetal formation.

Abstract: Process for preparing particles of graphite that are purified in surface, from particles of an impure graphite, this process comprises at least one step of treating particles of graphite by means of a diluted aqueous solution of (H2SO4 and NH4F), H2SO4 and NH4F each being present in the diluted aqueous solution at a weight content representing from 5 to 30% of total weight of the aqueous solution, the quantity of diluted aqueous solution representing from 70 to 95% of the weight of the particles of graphite that undergo purification.

Abstract: A breaking detector for a shear pin having a central bore, comprises an electrically conductive element forming an elongated loop extending on a length of the bore of the shear pin and having upper ends defining contact surfaces adjacent to each other. An electrically insulating element extends in the loop, to prevent the conductive element from short-circuiting. Power supply cables are connected respectively to the contact surfaces and are provided with connectors facilitating connection of the breaking detector to other breaking detectors or to an alarm panel. An electrically insulating body removably supports the elements of the detector in the bore of the shear pin. An identification circuit having a light indicator connected between the contact surfaces and projecting at an upper end of the body allows to locate a defective shear pin having broken the conductive element.