Abstract: An installation for manufacturing reinforced concrete elements, in particular prestressed concrete slabs or pre-slabs, by means of a bench including a manufacturing area of predetermined shape, together with a molding apparatus. Memory means (46) are provided for storing building data relating to the elements to be manufactured and concerning at least the geometry thereof, together with tracing means (48) for marking on the manufacturing area (16) the locations of at least some of the walls placed thereon and constituting portions of the molding apparatus.

Abstract: At the time of expansion and accompanying kinetic degradation of a flowing stream of fluid, the flow is stabilized by forming at least two contiguous flow streams which consist of the same fluid but have a different velocity distribution and the two streams are then mixed. When applying the method to a valve provided with a so-called "hemispherical" closure member for compressible fluids, subsonic discharge nozzles are formed by cutting recesses in the valve seat downstream of the zone in which the valve closure member bears on the valve seat in the closed position. The subsonic discharge nozzles are disposed in alternate sequence with supersonic discharge nozzles formed by the opposite surfaces of the valve closure member and of the valve seat outside the recesses. When the method is applied to a multi-bore pressure reducer for compressible gases, a pressure-reducing plate is provided with low-discharge ducts in adjacent relation to high-discharge ducts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for immobilizing and packing radioactive "ashes" in a mineral matrix, said method consisting in adjusting the coefficient of expansion of said ashes, molding around said ashes a porcelain in the raw state and taking the whole in one operation to form a hermetically sealed block.

Abstract: A chamfer is polished on the side of each of two end portions of optical fiber (2A, 2B) so that the polished chamfers may be brought into contact to define an end face common to both fibers and of substantially the same cross section as that of a single fiber. A groove is formed in the top surface of a soft support (4), and the middle of the groove (5) is sized to receive the stripped ends of optical fibers. A glass plate (8) is applied to the top surface of the support to close the groove. The chamfered end fibers (2A, 2B) are inserted into the groove from one end so as to form said common end face in the middle of the groove. Another fiber (11) (or similarly prepared pair of fibers) is inserted from the other end of the groove to establish end-to-end optical co-operation between the fibers. The groove is filled with a liquid index-matching medium which sets when exposed to ultraviolet radiation.

Abstract: A device providing protection against over-currents in the windings of an electric motor having a rotor (3) and at least two windings (1, 2) comprises at least two parallel thermistors (17, 18) each mounted in series with at least one motor winding (1, 2).

Abstract: A self-driven chopper-harvester for experimental plots of ground of reduced size, intended especially for collecting fodder plants, comprises a collecting and chopping device forming a first module to which is connected via an ejection duct to a second module comprising an automatic weighing and sampling assembly.

Abstract: A method of making a sailboard or surfboard, in which a prefabricated foam core has fibrous material wound about it and a polyurethane resin especially set with a reaction retarder is poured onto the fibrous material, whereupon the thus treated foam core is inserted in a molding tool and the mold is closed for curing the polyurethane resin. Desirably, the mold is lined with a surface layer, particularly a deep drawn thermoplastic film, before the treated foam core is inserted. In this way one can make low-weight boards of high strength with relatively low production and material costs.

Abstract: An improved intraocular or implant lens has at least the outer layer thereof consisting of a substantially water-insoluble, biodegradable and biocompatible materila. Methods of preparing such a lens and an apparatus for carrying out such a method are also disclosed.

Abstract: Metam sodium (sodium methyl dithiocarbamate) for preserving high-moisture forage crops like hay and grain at application rates below about 4 lbs/T.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for continuously measuring the state of formation of a sheet of paper which comprises: --means for moving a sheet of paper at a predetermined speed; --a light source directing a laser beam through said sheet; --a means for picking up the laser light transmitted, then for converting it into an electrical signal; --electronic processing means for separating this electrical signal into two components; --means for calculating from these components the index I representative of the state of formation; --a means for displaying the value of this index I; wherein the laser beam is polarized, and the apparatus further comprises, between the sheet and the means for picking up the laser light transmitted, a polarizer of which the axis of polarization is perpendicular to the axis of polarization of the laser beam transmitted.

Abstract: The transducer comprises a piezoelectric double-layer plate, the movements of which, under the effect of electrical signals, directly control the flow from one or two spray nozzles. The plate is mounted in a floating manner, without any fastening, between fixed supports of the knuckle-type which do not impede the free deformation (flexion or bending) of the plate. The invention makes it possible to increase the "signal-voltage/movement" ratio of the plate and reduce the hysteresis to obtain greater accuracy and reliability of response.

Abstract: A direct-current motor in which a rotor is provided with at least two regions having opposite permanent magnetic polarities and located opposite to an annular air-gap. The stator is constituted by at least one winding and one magnetic circuit comprising at least one yoke connected by means of arms surrounded in one case by the winding to at least two pole horns located opposite to the air-gap. At least one auxiliary permanent magnet is engaged within a space formed between two circumferential ends of the two pole horns, the ends being directed towards each other. The permanent magnet forms a longitudinal projection carried by a supporting post housed within an inter-pole space between the yoke and the two adjacent horns. The post is carried by an annular plate which is placed on an axial end face of the magnetic circuit.

Abstract: The surface of a first fixed member (2) having at least one hydraulic-fluid passage (12, 18) is in contact with the surface of a second movable member (4) controlled by an actuating system (28, 30) and having at least one shut-off zone (6) and at least one recess (20) forming a zone exposing the said passage; at least one of the passages consists of a plurality of nozzles (12) which are pierced in the first member and are at a distance from one another and which are arranged on at least one track (14) directed parallel to the relative movement of the two members; the said actuating system is a step-by-step system driving the movable member in increments of a value d; the recesses (20) and the shut-off zones (6) on the second member are such that the said nozzles are exposed or shut off in turn at each advance of the movable member (4) by an increment d.

Abstract: The robot comprises at least one holder (10) for the parts (11) in an assembly area and a head (1) carrying the assembly tool (21). The head is translatingly and/or rotationally movable with respect to the part holder by guiding supports (3) and is positioned by motors (6). The head carries in a fixed or sliding mode a device (20) enabling to apply the tool (21) to a part (11) with a predetermined force. The robot further comprises at least one platform (15) facing the holder so that the head (1) is located between the platform and the part holder. The platform (15) is mechanically connected to the part holder by rigid elements (5) arranged outside the space between the assembly area and the platform so as to resist a force tending to take the platform away from the holder.