Abstract: The device provides an arrangement of the input and output ends of the machine which is of light and cheap construction, smaller in size and allows an adaptation of the machine in accordance with the width of the product to be treated. The device comprises, for each end of the machine, at least one rigid closing shutter carried by one of the frames of the machine. Guiding devices carried by this frame ensure a displacement of the or each shutter in a direction roughly perpendicular to the plane of the sheet passing through the machine. Devices for shifting the or each shutter are provided. The or each shutter cooperates by its free edge with the other frame of the machine so as to close in a substantially sealed manner the input or output end of the machine.

Abstract: Bulk products are cooled by feeding them into a substantially horizontal drum that rotates about its axis. The drum is housed within an insulated enclosure and has a perforated cylindrical wall. The enclosure is subdivided by a wall that extends parallel to the axis of the cylinder; and this latter wall is sealed against the cylinder in such a way that access between the two sides of this latter wall can only be through the cylinder. Cooling gas is then forced upwardly through the cylinder by a fan disposed in this latter wall. The holes through the cylinder are in the form of peripherally elongated slots; and a brush in continuous contact with the periphery of the cylinder not only provides a portion of the seal that forces the cooling gas to pass through the cylinder, but also cleans these slots.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a portable gas supply station comprising two or more gas bottles or cylinders for welding and other applications.The gas cylinders are mounted via their necks in a block. A movable handle makes it possible to open and close the gas lines simultaneously. In its carrying position, the handle ensures closure which allows complete safety.The gas supply station is particularly suitable for welding, soldering, flame cutting and other applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to the protection of a casting jet of molten metal, flowing between an upper storage tank and a lower receiving vessel. At least one inert liquefied gas is injected above and close to the surface of the molten metal contained in the lower vessel, and, at the same time, at least one inert gas is injected into the molten metal through the base or the walls of the lower vessel. The process of this invention protects metal casting jets from oxidation, for example, jets between ladle and manifold, between ladle and ingot mold, between ladle and ladle, or between converter (or furnace) and ladle.

Abstract: Bleaching agent activators which function to release active oxygen. The activator is an amidine of the formula: ##STR1## wherein X is hydrogen, a halogen, an alkyl, aryl, alkylaryl, cycloalkyl, thioalkyl, oxylalkyl, acyl, an inorganic acid radical such as SO.sub.3 H, or an organoinorganic radical, R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 designate hydrogen, an alkyl, aryl, alkylaryl, cycloalkyl or acyl radical; HA designates an inorganic or organic monoacid or the equivalent part of a polyacid. This class of amidines improves the effectiveness, at regular or moderate temperature, of liquid or solid bleaching agents, such as hydrogen peroxide, alkaline perborates and percarbonates.

Abstract: An unmanned self-propelled submarine vehicle is provided with a material exchanger-container having a vertical axis of symmetry aligned with both the vehicle's center of gravity and its center of volume. The exchanger-container has a moveable diaphragm which divides the interior into two compartments, a lower ballast compartment equipped with an unloading apparatus and an upper compartment adapted to receive collected material. Ballast is unloaded during material loading to maintain the weight of the vehicle constant during loading.

Abstract: The arrangement is provided in order to limit or prevent leakages of cooling liquid which always occur under various circumstances at the ends of the machine. The arrangement is provided at the input and output ends of the machine for cooling metal sheets or the like, which is of the type comprising an upper frame and a lower frame. Each frame comprises two lateral walls interconnected by a case which defines an enclosure in which the cooling liquid circulates. The arrangement resides in the fact that there are provided, at each of said ends, on one hand, a sump for collecting the cooling liquid and carried by the lower frame and extending throughout the width of the machine and, on the other hand, a device carried by the upper frame and adapted to project toward the interior of the machine a jet of fluid which is directed in counter-current fashion against the cooling liquid which tends to issue from the machine.

Abstract: A process and device for selectively separating particles from a suspension is disclosed. The process involves: introducing the suspension into a rotating separation chamber in which the flow is regulated so that the angular velocity of the suspension is maintained slightly higher than the angular velocity of the wall of the chamber. The bulk of the flow of the suspension treated is removed from the separation chamber from a peripheral area. The following fractions are removed separately, simultaneously, and if necessary continuously. The heavy fraction is removed from a zone near of the sidewall; the light fraction is removed from a zone nearer of the longitudinal axis of the chamber, than the heavy fraction outlet and if desired, an intermediate fraction may be removed from at least one separate intermediate zone between the light fraction outlet and the heavy fraction outlet.

Abstract: A method of regulating the valve of the resistance of a thick film resistive element. The resistive element comprises a resistive film (25) which bears on its edge two connection terminals (21, 22) and a connecting bar (24). The variation of the resistance is obtained by forming a slot (23) between the terminals, the slot being substantially perpendicular to the connection bar which connects the two parts of the resistive film separated by the said slot.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods of and apparatus for treating waste products. The apparatus comprises a furnace 1 and a recuperator 2, the furnace comprising at least one rotary section 4 for combustion and/or pyrolysis of the waste products and a stationary section 3 for guiding the smokes generated in the furnace between said rotary section 4 and the recuperator 2. This latter comprises an arrangement 11 -12 for causing the smokes to flow in a state of heat exchange with a fluid 14 for exploitation of the heat thus recovered. A heat-carrier fluid circuit is also incorporated between the walls delimiting the said stationary section 3 and/or the said rotary section 4 of the furnace and the recuperator 2, in such manner that the heat-carrier fluid may transfer the heat it had absorbed during its passage within the furnace walls to the exploitation fluid in the recuperator.

Abstract: A method of welding metal articles along a joint using a non-overhanging torch, for example so called butt welds in a vertical or upright position, of the kind which uses a pulsed arc with gaseous protection and a cored wire electrode, is characterized by use of the following combination:(a) the "pulsed" arc is of the constant frequency pulse type with transfer of molten material at each pulse, without setting up any short circuit, viz. of the "spray arc" kind and (b) the cored wire electrode is of the basic kind.

Abstract: The plate comprises a cast iron element of substantially parallelepipedic shape. Cooling tubes which are disposed parallel to one another, embedded in the element and extend longitudinally of the element, issue from the latter on the same main side, respectively in the upper and lower parts of the element, in a protective sleeve. The side of the element opposed to the main side from which the cooling tube issue has a waffle shape.

Abstract: In a process of gaseous opalization a film of silica is formed by an oxidation reaction with a dry gas containing oxygen. Pure oxygen or oxygen diluted in an inert gas, other than nitrogen, may be used. An electric arc is generated by an alternating voltage between 5,000 and 10,000 volts and is directed at a chlorinated silicon compound, entrained by the dry gas containing oxygen, the feeding of which gas carrier does not form silica on the electrodes which generate the arc. This process may be applied to the opalization of incandescent and discharge bulbs of various sizes including tubes and globes of lighting apparatus.

Abstract: The composite bimetallic roll for cold rolling obtained by casting comprises a heart metal constituted by a nodular or lamellar cast iron and a case metal constituted by a steel having a chromium content of 8 to 16% and a carbon content of 0.65 to 0.95%. The chromium/carbon ratio is between 11 and 16 and the structure of the case metal is martensitic with a content of residual austenite of less than 10%.

Abstract: A torch provided with an automatic igniting device by which the combustible gas mixture needed for cutting, welding or heating metals can be ignited easily, reliably and with proper timing by manipulating a valve which must invariably be opened for feeding the pressure fluid to be used and effectively utilizing the pressure energy of the fluid for ignition. The automatically ignitable torch has outstanding advantages in respect of construction, fabrication, cost and durability.

Abstract: A stable cryogenic fuel mixture containing 25 to 30% by volume of acetylene, 61 to 72% by volume of ethylene and 3 to 9% by volume of a C.sub.3 hydrocarbon preferably propylene. This fuel mixture having a density in the gaseous state, which is less than the density of air, is particularly suited for use in welding and assembly operations.

Abstract: An automatic asparagus picking machine is disclosed comprising a chassis able along a mound in which the asparagus are grown. The chassis has a picking tool which is mounted for horizontal and vertical translation at right angles to the direction of displacement of the chassis. The tops of the asparagus are back lit by a lighting system on one side of the mound and their images are picked up by a camera system on the other side. A microprocessor controls the direction of displacement of the chassis parallel to the mound and controls the horizontal and vertical translation of the picking tool. In one embodiment, there is one camera and the microprocessor has a window generator generating windows in two zones of the field of view of the camera. In another embodiment, juxtaposed wide angle and narrow angle cameras are used. Electric motors drive each of two front wheels at different speeds to control the direction of displacement of the machine.

Abstract: A device for applying a coating to a submerged surface. This device comprises an applicator having a support plate and a tight deformable envelope provided on is outer face with bristles, springs being fixed to the inner face of the plate and exert a pressure on the inner face of the envelope. The applicator is connected to the rigid support by means of a group of articulated rods, thereof at least one is connected to the support by elastic means in order that the applicator is applied with an adequate pressure to the surface. Application to the painting of the hulls of ships.

Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus for temporarily rendering rigid a product of soft material of elongated form such as a rubber tube. In this apparatus, a tube of the product penetrates into a tunnel and issues therefrom after having been cooled by liquid nitrogen vaporized in an exchanger. A part of the nitrogen travels in counterflow and another predetermined part thereof travels in equidirectional flow towards a processing station.The invention is particularly applicable to braiding or winding rubber tubes, but is not limited to this field of use.

Abstract: The present invention relates to lysine polymers of one of the following formulae: ##STR1## in which n is a whole number from 8 to 20 and n' a whole number from 4 to 10, to their process of preparation and to their use for the preparation of products of conjugation with benzylpenicillin or any other antibiotic of the .beta.-lactam type, which serve as products of diagnosis for skin tests intended to reveal an allergy to penicillin or any other antibiotic of the .beta.-lactam type.