Abstract: A semiconducting mixture which is curable with the aid of silanes includs the following parts by weight:a) 70 to 80 parts of a first copolymer of ethylene, or of ethylene and another olefin, with an ester taken from the group constituted by ethyl acrylate, vinyl acetate, and butyl acetate, with only a fraction lying in the range 60% to 75% of the copolymer being grafted with the aid of silanes;b) 30 to 40 parts of a second copolymer of acrylonitrile and butadiene having about 40% by weight of acrylonitrile;c) 40 to 60 parts of conducting carbon black of the quality satisfying the standard ASTM D 2515-68;d) 15 to 20 parts of monocrystaline wax; ande) 1 part of a phenolic antioxidant.

Abstract: An optical fiber cable capable of withstanding a jump in temperature to 350.degree. C. for a short period of time, the cable comprising:(a) at least one carrier element of a composite of glass fiber and thermosetting resin;(b) an optical fiber support constituted by a grooved rod surrounding the carrier element, or a tube preferably provided with carrier elements in its thickness, or by compact structure fibers, the rod or tube being made of a thermoplastic polymer;(c) optical fibers disposed in the grooves of the rod or inside the tube;(d) a viscous material filling the grooves or the tube around the optical fibers;(e) an envelope constituted by a tape of thermoplastic polymer;wherein the grooved rod or the tube, or the secondary coating of compact structure fibers, is made of cross-linked polyethylene, wherein the viscous material filling the grooves is a silicon resin, and wherein the thermoplastic polymer of the envelope is a polyimide resin.

Abstract: A splice for joining the armoring of two wire-armored cables (1, 2). The armoring is clamped between conical parts (5, 9; 6, 10) at each cable end. Each inner conical part (5, 6) is integral with a flange (7, 8) bolted to one of two similar flanges (13, 14) fixed to opposite ends of a generally tubular flexible assembly itself constituted by three layers of metal wires. The innermost first layer (22) is wound helically. The other two layers (19, 20) are wound with substantially equal and opposite pitches. The inside diameters of the first layer and of the circular openings in each of the two flanges (13, 14) fixed thereto are such that the flexible assembly is capable of sliding at one of its ends over at least one of the cables to be connected after its armoring layers have been removed, and at its other end over the splice (21) between the cables themselves. The invention also provides a method of making the splice.

Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring the laying of a deep sea cable or flexible pipeline (1) from a vessel (22). The apparatus comprises a sleeve threaded on the cable or flexible pipeline and having sliding means (4) tangential to said cable or pipeline and measuring means (3A) for measuring variables indicative of the position of the sleeve and for transmitting their values, positive buoyancy means (8) mechanically connected to the sleeve, an auxiliary small chain (19) suspended from the sleeve and extending down to the sea bed, the mass per unit length of the chain, and the masses and volumes of the sleeve and of the positive buoyancy means being such that the sleeve is maintained around that part of the cable which is situated at a substantially constant height above the sea bed (21), which height is relatively small compared with the depth of the sea bed.

Abstract: A machine for winding a cable on a circular area (100), the cable (10) arriving vertically above the center of said area and being deployed by a deployment wheel (11), said area including an inner ring wall (102) and an outer ring wall (103) delimiting a winding tank therebetween, the machine comprising a stand (2) removably mounted at the center of the inner ring wall of the tank, a generally vertical pillar (3) rotatably mounted on said stand, and a hinged guide arm (4) for guiding the cable from leaving the deployment wheel to a winding end (8) of adjustable radial position thereby enabling: firstly successive coils to be laid next to one another as the cable is wound; and secondly the guide arm to be stored along the pillar when not in use. The machine is particularly intended for use when loading cable onto cable ships.

Abstract: A flexible splice for a submarine cable of the type comprising a plurality of conductors (21, 22, 23) insulated by paper impregnated with oil under pressure (24) inside an oil-tight sheath (20) protected by at least one layer of armoring, the splice being characterized in that it comprises a flexible sheath (2) connected on either side of the interconnections (41, 42, 43) between said conductors to two rigid connection sleeves (1, 1') fittable around respective centering rings (7, 7') bonded to the oil-tight sheath (20) of the cable and then bonded to said sleeves, said flexible sheath being divided into two lengths (2, 2') which are interconnected by means of an inner ring (15) which they overlap prior to being bonded together and covered with a tubular shell (4) constituting an oil-tight sheath which is bonded at each end to said connection sleeves (1, 1'), said sleeves including at least one orifice (33) closable by means of a stopper (30) in order to put the splice under oil pressure.

Abstract: An echometer which translates an optical signal into the centimetric or decimetric wave bands. A test signal and the local oscillator signal are provided by a single laser oscillator. The test signal and the local oscillator signal, which are 90.degree. different in phase, are modulated at centimetric or decimetric frequencies, and detected by mixing echo signals and the local oscillator signal with a photodiode or the like.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring temperature at a hot point along an energy transmission cable (1) when the temperature exceeds a fixed limit temperature, the apparatus comprising a tube (3) containing a liquid which is vaporizable in the vicinity of said limit temperature and which is disposed in the energy transmission cable or in contact with its periphery, together with means for detecting an increase in the vapor pressure of said liquid at least one point along said tube, the apparatus being characterized in that said tube is connected at one of its ends to means for detecting an increase in the pressure exerted by the liquid at said end.

Abstract: The end (2) of an axial strength member is curved into a swan-neck (3) and gripped in a cold polymerized resin (4) which fills a cavity of a chamber (5) that is fixed relative to the junction box (6).

Abstract: This articulated cable head includes a universal joint whose support (4) and ring (5) are made of fiber and epoxy resin laminates obtained by winding threads. The universal joint head (6) is spherical in shape and is made, together with an oscillating arm (7) which extends therefrom, as a single piece of cuproberyllium alloy. The oscillating arm (7) carries a tubular stop part (8) made of fiber and epoxy resin laminate obtained by winding threads, which is surrounded by a rubber sleeve (80, 81, 82) providing a transition in diameter, and which is hollowed out by a cavity serving as a housing for an anchor part (9) attached to the end of a line cable (2).

Abstract: A method of measuring variation in the elongation of a very long element of small transverse dimensions and made of magnetizable material, optionally covered by non-magnetic material, and running between a lower elongation zone and a higher elongation zone, or vice versa, said method consisting in periodically magnetically marking the elongate element simultaneously at two points spaced apart by a predetermined distance therealong in a first one of said zones, and then in detecting the instants at which said magnetic marks pass at least one point situated in the other one of said zones.

Abstract: A device for protecting a polyphase electric power line against high transient overvoltages comprises at least two stages in series, the first stage being provided with a spark-gap and a decoupling inductor and being followed by a stage having a bridge limiter including two oppositely-biased power diodes each connected in series with a high-value capacitor, a time-delay contactor being placed at the terminals of each power-diode/capacitor assembly so as to permit charging of the capacitors through a resistor and auxiliary diodes and then to permit cut-off of the bridge limiter. The protection device has only one pair of high-value capacitors each connected in common in series with one of the power diodes of each phase, an auxiliary diode being associated with each capacitor.

Abstract: Inside a container tube (7) which is closed by two covers (8, 8') fixed to the cables to be connected, this connection box comprises a cylindrical tank (27, 17, 17') for storing optical fibers (3, 3') with the inside cylindrical volume of the tank being delimited at each of its ends by respective conical surfaces (24, 24') leading to narrow passages (40, 40') through which the optical fibers (3, 3') pass on their way from the covers (8, 8'), said tank having a large side opening (27) enabling the ends of the optical fibers (3, 3') to be taken out from the tank for the purpose of being connected and then enabling them to be reinserted together with their connectors (28). In the vicinity of each of its conical ends, the inside volume of the tank has respective annular recesses (29, 29') of greater diameter into which the spare lengths of the optical fibers (3, 3') have a natural tendency to coil.

Abstract: Each of the cables comprises an axial compartment (3, 3') housing the fibers, a steel wire armoring (5, 5') wound around said compartment, a copper tube (9, 9') shrink-fitted over the armoring, and an outside jacket (13, 13'). The center section of said device comprises a mandrel (1) around which the fibers are wound, and a metal sleeve (8) surrounding it with some play. The lateral sections of the device each comprise a metal anchoring part (6, 6') one end thereof having a bore hole (6A, 6A') for inserting the steel wires and the other end a bore hole (14, 14') for inserting the copper tube and the cable jacket, a conical ring (7, 7') for flaring and securing the steel wires, a hard-setting resin filler (12, 12') between the anchoring part and the conical ring, and a resin hood (10, 10') surrounding the end of the anchoring part.

Abstract: A spreader head for an optical fiber cable, the cable (10) comprising a central grooved core (11) with each groove (12) receiving a bundle (13) of optical fibers, the spreader head being constituted by a support part (20) surrounded by a ring (21) having outwardly open recesses disposed around its periphery and each receiving a cylinder (30), with each cylinder having at least as many axial orifices as there are optical fibers to a single bundle of optical fibers, and with each axial orifice having an optical fiber passing therethrough being extended by a flexible tube (50) for surrounding and protecting the corresponding optical fiber.

Abstract: An electric cable (1) for transporting very high current at low voltage, in particular a welding cable for use in robot welders, comprises at least one multi-strand conductor (2) and an outer sheath (4), cooling water circulates inside the cable, and the water gains access to the conductor strands to be cooled by virtue of the conductor being covered by a perforated envelope (3).

Abstract: A connection between a junction box and an optical fiber cable having an axial strength member, said strength member being constituted by braided fibers or by a composite material including fibers, e.g. a guard cable for a high tension line. The fibers of the axial strength member (2) are splayed out into a tuft (4) at the end (3) of the cable and are held fast in a cold-polymerized resin (5) which fills a cavity in a receptacle (6) which is fixed to said box.

Abstract: A surge protection device comprising an inductor and a limiting bridge stage (10) with two oppositely biased power diodes (15,16) each connected in series with a high-valued capacitor, features an inductor connected in a first stage including a spark-gap (6) to ensure decoupling by the inductor from the second limiting bridge stage. A time-delay relay (10A) is disposed at the terminals of each power diode/capacitor combination to enable charging of the capacitors through a resistor (20) and auxiliary diodes (21, 22) connected between the relay and the power line on the one hand and between the power diode and the capacitor on the other hand, and the subsequent blocking of the bridge once the capacitors have been charged.

Abstract: An underwater cable according to the invention comprises in particular of an optical core protected by a PVC sleeve 6, an armoring made of steel or aluminum wires 7, surrounded by a copper or aluminum sleeve 8. Longitudinal sealing of the armoring is ensured by an adhesive compound 10 based on epoxy resin and polybutadiene and butadiene copolymers.

Abstract: A head (10) for laying optical fibers (2) in alternating lay grooves (1A) in a cylindrical core (1), the head comprising a die-holder (11) interconnecting three dies: an inlet die (12); an indexing die (13) including indexing combs; and an insertion die (14); each optical fiber being guided through an orifice (12A) in the inlet die, then through an orifice (13A) in the indexing die, and finally being laid in a groove of the core by the insertion die, said head further including, upstream from the inlet die, a fixed mandrel (20) through which the core passes, said mandrel being constituted by a tube (21) having a front guide (22) disposed at its upstream end with the optical fibers passing through said front guide, said mandrel further including a series of rotating disks (23) located between said front guide and said inlet die.