Abstract: A low cost and portable scalar network analyzer for the simultaneous measurement of forward and reflected scalar scattering parameters of devices under test. Plural UHF oscillators of similar construction are mixed to produce a wideband test instrument having good stability characteristics. A dual-diode biased RF detector with feedback, including an in-loop adjustable gain buffer stage, provides enhanced linearity, over a wide dynamic range, and at low cost. The forward transfer parameter measurement arrangement further includes a selectable attenuation/gain PIN-diode switched stage to accommodate the widely varying gain/attenuation characteristics of devices under test.

Abstract: A device for detecting the passage of at least one mobile body in at least ne location fixed by its travel along a path inside of a space in reference to which the said travel of the mobile body is evaluated.

Abstract: The pneumatic booster of the vacuum type comprises mainly a housing (12) divided into two chambers (7, 8) by a movable wall structure (6), constructed of a substantially radial plate (9) and a flexible diaphragm (10) secured by its outer peripheral edge to the housing (12), and forming a flange (11) in the space between the plate (9) and the housing (12). The plate is centrally integral with a hub structure housing, a distribution valve device and linked to a control member and to a controlled member, each by a swivel connection. The plate (9) has at its outer edge an extension (13) cooperating in a non-leaktight manner with the internal wall of the housing (12) in order to ensure axial guidance of the movable wall (6) inside the housing (12).

Abstract: A membrane for a filtration, gas or liquid separation or pervaporation apparatus comprising at least one porous layer of an inorganic material selected from sintered ceramic, sintered metal, sintered glass or carbon and a separating layer of organic material, the membrane being characterized in that said organic material is a polyphosphazene, in that the average diameter of the pores in said porous layer of inorganic material is between about 5 nm and 1 .mu.m, and in that said separating layer is continuous and only penetrates into said porous layer to a depth of less than five times the diameter of said pores in said porous inorganic layer, said layers being strongly bonded to each other.

Abstract: A method of assembling a rigid element in a module, the rigid element having a membrane for separation, filtration, or catalytic transformation purposes. The outside shape of the element is substantially cylindrical or prismatic. The element is made from a support of sintered substance, the ends thereof are sealed, and an active layer is deposited thereon. The module is intended to contain at least one rigid element within a shell which is substantially cylindrical about an axis parallel to said rigid element and closed by two end plates having openings to which the ends of the elements are fixed, together with intervening seals. Each of the ends is provided with an extra thickness which is bonded to the support. The extra thickness mass is machined in such a manner as to obtain a shoulder whose outside surface has a predetermined circularly-symmetrical shape about an axis close to that of the element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to apparatus for cutting irradiated fuel elements when in the horizontal position. A fuel element is placed on a support and presents a cross-section for cutting. The fuel element may be displaced along its longitudinal axis. In the immediate proximity of the cutting section, the fuel element is compressed by at least one side clamp, and between two cuts the side clamp(s) is/are unclamped, the fuel element is then advanced by a desired length, and the side clamp(s) is/are reclamped. The end pieces cut off by end piece cutters fall into a fixed end piece removal apparatus. The rods are cut up inside a cavity in such a manner as to confine the cut-off lengths therein, the cavity being provided with a bottom opening enabling the cut-off lengths to be removed and directed towards a fixed rod-removal apparatus. In a preferred embodiment, the end pieces are cut off against the front face of the carriage which carries the rod-cutting blade.

Abstract: Device for positioning of a drill bit (1) at a positioning plane (2). A drill rig (3) is provided with two video cameras (9) for sensing the position of a light source (8) adjacent the drill bit. The video cameras are aligned in parallel. The image fields of the video cameras are displaced such relative to each other that the light source gives two points (20,21) on a monitor (10) common to the two cameras if the light source is situated outside the positioning plane and one point (11) if the light source is situated in the positioning plane.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a frame supporting an upper cutting cylinder and a lower cutting cylinder placed between two parallel and vertical uprights. A removable cassette is made of two pairs of blocks vertically slidable in two rectangular apertures and formed into the upper horizontal faces of the two uprights. Two opposite coaxial spindles of the upper cutting cylinder are rotatively mounted in the two opposite upper sliding blocks. Two opposite coaxial spindle of the lower cutting cylinder are rotatively mounted in the two opposite lower sliding blocks. On each side of the removable cassette, the upper and lower sliding blocks are connected together by a resilient coupling device.

Abstract: Rock working tool for a tunnel boring machine. The tool comprises a shaft (34) with a central hole (35). A tool part (8,9) is rotatably journalled on the shaft. The tool is cooled through the arrangement of channels (40,41,42) in the tool for conducting cooling liquid from a pressure liquid source (22) to the central hole and via the channel (42) which flushes directly on the tool part (8,9).

Abstract: The modulator is intended for diverting a specific quantity of fluid under high pressure from the supply circuit of a hydraulic motor for a power-steering of motor vehicles, comprising a body (48), a bore (50) in the body, a modulator slide (52) movable axially in the bore under the action of a control member (98), an inlet orifice (58) and a fluid outlet port (60) opening into the bore (50). The slide (52) has first and second bearing surfaces (82, 84) substantially of the diameter of the bore and separated by means of a narrowed section (86), opposite which the inlet orifice (58) opens out, the second bearing surface (84) controlling the outlet port (60). Furthermore, the slide (52) defines a first chamber arranged between the first and second bearing surfaces (82, 84) and second and third chambers arranged on either side of the slide (52) and communicating with one another.

Abstract: The fiter membrane comprises a porous structure made of a material selected from sintered ceramics, sintered metals, microporous carbon, and microporous glass, and is characterized by the fact that its entire external surface, including the inside surface of the pores in the structure, is covered with a thin and continuous film of carbon or of an oxide. In a sintered aluminum membrane, the surfaces of pores are coated with a dense and continuous thin layer of zirconia which prevents the surfaces from being degraded in service. In the figure, curve 3 shows how the throughput of a membrane without a zirconia layer falls off over time, while curve 4 shows little change in the same membrane having such a layer.

Abstract: A peg for anchoring within a hole having an undercut portion comprises a body (1) with an external end (5) for mounting an element thereon and a tapered internal end (11) widening out towards the inside of the hole, a locking ring (2) formed from segments disposed about the body and intended to pivot within the undercut portion (10). The external diameter of the ring (2) is equal to that of the hole (8). Means (4,14,19) for temporarily immobilizing the segments of the ring are mounted upon the body. Means fixed upon the body may drive the ring (2) into the vicinity of the undercut portion of the hole and radially acting means (4) may cause the segments of the ring (2) to pivot into the undercut portion.

Abstract: A saddle with two cutting stations, i.e., front and rear openings, moves forward and backward horizontally within a chassis. The rear opening includes a cutting blade. The chassis includes a front counter blade. A magazine holds a tube bundle and includes a rear face clamp and rear counter blade. In a first cutting operation, skirting at the base of the tube bundle is placed in the front opening and is cut by first moving the saddle rearward against the rear face clamp and rear counter blade, and then frontward against the front counter-blade. In a second cutting operation, the tube bundle is placed in the rear opening. As the saddle is moved frontward, the cutting blade in the rear opening cooperates with the front counter-blade on the chassis to cut the tubes. This second cutting operation is continued until the tubes are cut.

Abstract: The leakage-type pressure regulator for a hydraulic circuit, including at least one reservoir of fluid under low pressure (5), a pump (11) and an accumulator of fluid under high pressure (9), comprises: a pusher (19) projecting from a chamber (3) connected to the reservoir (5); at least one sensor (27) detecting the position of a magnetic core (23) sliding under the effect of the pusher (19) in the vicinity of the sensor (27), so as to control the functioning of the pump (11); a piston (17) sliding non-sealingly in a bore (7) communicating with a chamber (3) on the one hand and with an outlet of the accumulator (9) on the other hand, so as to establish a leakage of the hydraulic fluid between the accumulator (9) and the reservoir (5), the piston (17) having one end bearing on the pusher (19); and an elastic means (21) opposing the effect of the pressure of the fluid in the accumulator (9) on the piston (17), in such a way that the position of the core (23) is a function of the pressure of the fluid in the acc

Abstract: A hydraulic wheel braking system for a vehicle includes wet disc wheel brakes that are applied by a single spring-activated piston within each brake housing. Each piston is selectively and variably disengaged from the brake discs by variable hydraulic pressure acting against the piston in opposition to spring pressure to enable controlled wheel rotation. During vehicle operation, brake fluid pressure at the pistons is controlled by a foot pedal-operated brake valve. A manually-operated parking and control valve assembly can selectively disable the brake valve and relieve hydraulic pressure at the pistons to spring-apply the pistons to the discs. The assembly acts to automatically spring-apply the pistons to the discs upon a loss of brake or transmission clutch fluid pressure.

Abstract: A continuous finishing process for flexible materials using a continuous printing machine of the thousand dot type. A small controlled amount of a finishing product, comprising 90 to 100% of photopolymerizable active material, is deposited at a rate of 5 to 35 g/m.sup.2 per pass in the printing machine. The finishing product is then photopolymerized, and a satining or graining operation is performed. The above stages are repeated until the desired finish is obtained.The finishing product is photopolymerizable under ultraviolet radiation and comprises unsaturated prepolymers, liquid monomers, and photoinitiators.The apparatus comprises at least one module comprising a continuous printing machine, an ultraviolet radiation oven, and a satining or graining machine, these various machines being placed so as to achieve a continuous conveying of pieces to be treated from one machine to the other.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the discovery of a new bacteria of the genus Alteromonas which has been found to attract oyster larvae by the production of compounds involved in melanin synthesis. More specifically, the present invention contemplates a method for inducing the settlement and metamorphosis of Crassostrea virginica larvae by induction with certain metabolic substances produced by the present bacteria and its altered variants. Furthermore, the present invention is directed to other and derivative metabolic products which can be employed for their desired utility and application. In accordance with the present invention, it has been discovered that ammonia (NH.sub.3) initiates settlement and metamorphosis of the oyster larvae in the same manner as the natural phenomena.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new and distinct virus-free variety of apple tree useful as a rootstock for supporting grafted apple varieties, particularly for planting of hedgerows of apple trees. The new variety originated as a clone of heat treated Paradis-Jaune-de-Metz selection, M9B, also called M9 INFEL. It has been found that there is better root lignification as well as generally several points of root issue on the clones as well as an increased vigor to the cultivars.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new and distinct virus-free variety of apple tree useful as a rootstock for supporting grafted apple varieties, particularly for planting of hedgerows of apple trees. The new variety originated as a clone of heat treated Paradis-Jaune-de-Metz selection, M9B, also called M9 INFEL. It has been found that there is better root lignification as well as generally several points of root issue on the clones as well as an increased vigor to the cultivars.