Abstract: Epoxidation of oil, such as soybean oil, using a peracid, is performed in the presence of a complexing agent for heavy metals selected from nitriloacetic, cyclohexane aminotetracetic and diethylenetriaminopentacetic acids.

Abstract: The device is adapted to avoid the drawbacks of conventional arrangements including tie-rods and tensioners and in particular ensure a correct centering of the nozzle relative to the heel of the tuyere. The device comprises mainly a support fixed to the casing of the blast-furnace which defines slideways in which there is received a plate rigid with the lower cone of the blast downpipe. Means are provided for rendering the cone rigid with its support before disassembly. These means are withdrawn in normal operation.

Abstract: A fluid jet type of carburetor, namely one in which a jet of fuel passes across the combustion air path and has some of the fuel entrained by the passing combustion air and the rest of the fuel recycled, includes means for concentrating the flow of combustion air at the zone of fuel/air mixing where the jet of fuel is exposed to the combustion air. Increasing the degree of concentration of the combustion air at the mixing zone enriches the mixture, and vice versa.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of casting metal in a rotary mould or die under the protection of an inertizing atmosphere formed by a liquefied gas. In the mould or die, successive casting operations are performed with different metals while maintaining an infeed of liquefied gas during each of these casting operations and while the metal involved is solidifying, until an end product is obtained which is formed from a plurality of layers of different metals. The invention is applicable in particular, but not exclusively, to the production of centrifugally cast tubes and rolling-mill rolls.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of heat-treating steel in a furnace in the presence of a controlled atmosphere.The H.sub.2 O content of the furnace is determined, the atmosphere is formed by adding to a carrier gas a quantity of a hydrocarbon having the general formula C.sub.x H.sub.y which is necessary and sufficient to reduce the water in the furnace in accordance with the following reaction:C.sub.x H.sub.y +xH.sub.2 O.fwdarw.xCO+(x+y/2)H.sub.2,and the steel is raised to a temperature between 650.degree. and 900.degree. C.The method is applicable to the annealing, heating before quenching, and tempering of steel.

Abstract: The machine comprises a lower frame and an upper frame which define an enclosure in which the cooling fluid flows and carry sets of sheet guiding and driving rollers. Hydraulic jacks are provided for, on one hand, shifting the upper frame relative to the lower frame and, on the other hand, maintaining the upper frame in position in opposition to pressure forces in operation of the machine. Additional support means (41, 51) are provided on each of the frames and are associated with an adjusting mechanism (42,44) for determining with precision the position of the upper frame relative to the lower frame.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting a vehicle headlight to maintain the point of intersection of the headlight beam with the roadway at a fixed predetermined distance, and which compensates for changes in both static and dynamic loading of the vehicle.

Abstract: This invention relates to cryopumps, and consists in the incorporation of walls for trapping by condensation exemplified by outer faces of partitions, and walls for trapping by adsorption, exemplified by inner faces of these partitions. These walls define a confined area in the closed position, in which the adsorbent is isolated from condensable gases. Once these gases have been condensed on the said outer faces, the partitions are opened to place the adsorbent layers in communication with the remainder of the pumping enclosure.The invention is applicable to the production of high and uncontaminated vacua (in particular for the production of thin films).

Abstract: The device enables the machine to undergo without damage the passage of deformed metal sheets or metal sheets whose thickness exceeds the gap between the rollers of the machine. For this purpose, the upper rollers carried by an upper frame of the machine are mounted in bearings which are supported elastically by means of spacer blocks. Sealing elements operating under conditions particular to each sealing element are provided. The main application of this device is in machines for effecting an accelerated cooling or hardening of metal sheets.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for propelling a liquid projectile to create a shock wave by implosion, said device comprising a cylinder containing two pistons, a reservoir of pressurized fluid acting on the pistons, a stop for stopping the piston, a perforated connecting piece to permit the escape of the propelled liquid and for connecting the cylinder with a return mechanism. The invention is applied to underwater oil prospecting.

Abstract: A tap for controlling a plurality of fluid circuits simultaneously, comprising a body provided with a bore into which the said circuits open, and a rotary control member.Each fluid inlet duct is provided with a valve member and the rotary control member is a stem, movable in translation, which is provided with cams and cut-aways and controls the opening and closing of the said valve members.The invention is applicable in particular to oxyacetylene torches.

Abstract: This invention relates to an arrangement for the automatic distribution in free air of metered quantities of the liquid phase of a cryogenic fluid, and comprises a container to hold the liquid phase, a system to control the supply to the said container, metering means, forced discharge means, means for distributing the cryogenic liquid, and a system for controlling the said metering member and the said discharge means.The invention is applicable in particular to the casting of metals, to the production of articles formed from different metals, and to the moulding of articles in series.

Abstract: The device is adapted to facilitate the assembly and disassembly of pipe sections in a blast downpipe. It comprises two flanges defining frustoconical bearing surfaces and a collar comprising clamping jaws which engage on said bearing surfaces. The collar is suspended from a support constructed in two parts, one of which parts is fixed and the other pivotally mounted on the first part. The collar may be clamped or unclamped by means of two screw and nut units.

Abstract: The device comprises a ring gear mounted on the outer surface of the nut and a gear pinion in mesh with the crown gear. The pinion is rotatably mounted on a fixed pin and has a cavity for receiving a device for driving the pinion in rotation.

Abstract: The machine is designed mainly to effect an accelerated cooling of metal sheets and is improved in order to permit efficient operation with sheets of variable width. For this purpose, sets of elements forming baffles are disposed on each side of the longitudinal axis of the machine along edges of the latter. Depending on whether they are withdrawn into or not withdrawn into their housings, these elements modify the conditions of the flow of the cooling liquid in the machine.

Abstract: A bucket using a box-like parallel-sided basket open at the front for dredging the sea bottom to collect nodules. The basket has a bottom wall with front and rear cross-bars and a plurality of parallel spaced rods extending longitudinally of the basket between the front and rear cross-bars. A front part of the bottom wall includes a grill formed by a transverse front link supporting one end of a plurality of longitudinal spaced flexible elements which are inclined downwardly towards the front and stretched between the front cross-bar and the transverse front link. Large shoes are positioned on lateral sides of the basket for supporting the bucket on the sea bottom. The grill is situated between the shoes with the transverse front link positioned in such manner that it penetrates the sea bottom. The basket is positioned inside the shoes and extends to the external edges of the shoes. The shoes include brackets for connecting a dredging line to the bucket.

Abstract: Novel substituted 2,3-alkylene bis (oxy) benzamides and derivatives thereof are disclosed. Also disclosed is a method for producing said compounds. The compounds have anxiolytic, psychostimulant, disinhibiting and thymoanaleptic properties useful therapeutically in the psychofunctional field, particularly in gastro-enterology, cardiology, urology, rheumatology and gynaecology.

Abstract: In order to achieve a seal which is as effective as possible, there are provided at the input and output ends of a metal sheet cooling machine flaps such as flap (input flap) which are journalled in a frame of the machine to turn about an axis X--X and are actuated by jacks. Supports carried by a rigid girder ensure that these flaps do not buckle under the effect of the pressure forces created in the machine.

Abstract: A guide is provided for the buckets of an endless dredging line comprising an emptying station incorporated into the guide. A system comprising a pair of trolleys and a pulley system is provided to hold each bucket stationary at the emptying station for dumping. The endless line travels over the pulleys, some of which are mounted on the trolleys. When a bucket approaches the emptying station, the trolleys are actuated to travel in opposite directions so as to allow the endless line to move at its normal speed while holding the bucket at the dumping station stationary.

Abstract: An air conditioning device for an automobile vehicle includes the provision for automatic proportional control of the air conditioning function and also a priority function such as vehicle windscreen demisting or defrosting. Economy of pneumatic power is achieved by providing, with a double threshold control system, a signal for operating pneumatic flow distributors in the driving fluid lines to pneumatic jacks driving the control elements of the air conditioning device by means of an electrical signal which is capable of being either continuous or discontinuous in which latter state the flow distributor to which the discontinuous signal is applied is caused to oscillate to achieve an intermediate pneumatic pressure between pressure values corresponding to fully open and fully closed positions of the air conditioning control elements to be manipulated.