Abstract: A roadway structure comprising from top to bottom:a top layer,at least one rigid foundation layer having a high modulus of rigidity and supporting the top layer,the ground, or an untreated material or a damaged roadway, andin addition particularly having an under layer beneath and adhered to the foundation layer, which under layer has a thickness such that it constitutes a support with a smooth and flat surface for the foundation layer laid thereon.

Abstract: The invention is about the process of determining the vibration of rotor (1) of a rotary machine, by elimination of interference noise signals B, in which is acquired and digitized a signal S emitted by at least one sensor C of the displacement of the rotor (1) of the rotary machine when said rotor is rotating under its normal operating conditions, then is subtracted from it a reference signal B of the same type that has been determined in advance. This process is characterized in that the reference signal B has been acquired at a speed .OMEGA..sub.b of rotor (1) rotation lower than the operating speed .OMEGA. and such that the signals emitted by at least two sensors (C1, C2) of the displacement of the rotor (1), offset at an angle in the same plane perpendicularly to the symmetry axis (A) of said rotor, are nearly identical, ignoring time offset. The invention also concerns the devices designed to implement such a process.

Abstract: A C.F.R. engine (26) is alternately supplied with a fuel being manufactured (22), sampled from the discharge line of the mixer and, through a line (24), with a reference product (25) of which the cetane number is known, by two separate supply circuits (22, 24) each having a high pressure fuel pump (33, 34), the C.F.R. engine (26) operating at a constant compression ratio.

Abstract: Bituminous compositions of the bitumen-polymer type, in homogenous phase, contain at least one bitumen base and are prepared from at least one polymer of the thermoplastic polyolefin type. These compositions have a thermoplastic polyolefin content of at least 1% by weight of which the crystallinity rate is greater than or equal to 30%, a melting temperature greater than or equal to 110.degree. C. and a penetrability at 25.degree. C. less than or equal to 300 tenths of a millimeter.

Abstract: An improved sponge device is presented having one loop-chord placed entirely within or through the sponge device to facilitate insertion and removal of an attached ovoid sponge device into and from a body cavity. The improved sponge device can be cylindrical or egg-shaped like design,--which shall be utilized depending upon manufacturing capabilities available. The improved sponge device can be impregnated with; specific spermicides, anti-infectives, lubricants, hormones, antioxidants, amino acids, and other appropriate medicaments, to allow release of impregnated solution(s) from the device into the body cavity. Closely controlled impregnation and/or coating of the sponge device is achieved by a method of manufacture employing one or more methods for impregnating and one or more methods for possible lubrication.

Abstract: A process of preparing a ferrierite-type zeolite, with high crystallinity rate and having a anhydrous stage composition expressed by the formula M.sub.x (AlO.sub.2).sub.x (SiO.sub.2).sub.y, M being a cation of an alkaline metal such as Na or K, or a mix of both. The process contains a gel-producing step, by addition of boric acid to an aqueous aluminum-sulfate solution mixed with a aqueous solution containing oxides of Na and/or K and of Si, without the use of a structural agent. The invention also pertains to any zeolite obtained by this process, and its uses.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrocarbon catalytic cracking method in the presence of a catalyst in fluidized phase, within a tubular type reactor (1) containing an injection area.According to the invention, a substantial part of the load to be cracked is introduced into the injection area using at least one means of injection (3) of such load against the flow, in relation to the direction of flow of the catalyst grains, and a substantial part of the load to be cracked is simultaneously introduced in the same area using at least one means of injection (2) of such load in direction of the flow in relation to the direction of flow of the catalyst grains.

Abstract: A drilling tool including a drilling head equipped with cutting edges and fitted with several shock-absorption elements, of which at least one part is made of an elastomer material. Each shock-absorption element having a block incorporating one portion inserted inside a receptor housing formed on the tool surface, and a portion which projects outward beyond the receptor housing.

Abstract: The charting method consists in realising a recordings acquisition, constituting on the basis of the recorded seismic traces, a 3D seismic block (X, Y, T) sampled in elementary cells (C.sub.ijk), such that each elementary cell contains a sample (k) of a central seismic trace (TR.sub.ij), calculating for each elementary cell (C.sub.ijk) of the seismic block, the energy thereof, and fixing an energy threshold beyond which the presence Tk of anomaly zones is considered probable, selecting cells of the block which have energy equal or superior to the said threshold, coding the selected cells, such that all the cells belonging to a same contiguously selected cell set have the same code and the selected cells belonging to distinct contiguously selected cell sets have different codes, and effecting an XY projection of the coded cell block.

Abstract: Compositions including at least three metals (M1, M2, M3) are disclosed. The first metal (M1) is at least one metal selected from the iron group or the manganese group, and is preferably selected from iron, manganese, cobalt and nickel. The second metal (M2) is at least one metal selected from the rare earth group and is preferably selected from cerium, lanthanum, neodymium and praseodymiium. The third metal (M3) is selected from the group of alkaline or alkaline-earth metals, and is preferably selected from barium, strontium, calcium and lithium. The weight ratio (R) of metal (M3) to metal (M2) is greater than 0.15, and preferably greater than 1.5.

Abstract: An office chair has a back with a central portion and respective wings or bolsters on opposite sides of the central portion. The wings are coupled to the main central portion by arm structures that are designed to allow the wings to flex rearwardly from a rest position and back to the rest position in response to forces exerted by a person seated in the chair, but to resist forces tending to move the wings forwardly from the rest position.

Abstract: An office chair incorporates a lumbar support in the lumbar region of the back of the chair. The support includes an arcuate lumbar support element and a carrier for the element, which is pivotally coupled to the back for movement between positions in which the support element provides respectively maximum and minimum support for the lumbar region of the person using the chair. The carrier can be locked in an adjusted position. The support element is resiliently flexible so that its curvature varies between a maximum in the maximum support position and a minimum in a minimum support position of the lumbar support.

Abstract: A method of charging a rechargeable battery which comprises charging the battery with a charging current; sampling a charging voltage of the battery during charging to recognize potential adverse conditions within the battery; interrupting the charging current periodically to create current-free periods and sampling an open circuit voltage of the battery at a plurality of points during each current-free period to identify potential overcharge conditions in the battery; lowering the charging current if any of the above-identified adverse conditions are identified and continuing charging with the charging current if the potential adverse charging condition is not identified; and terminating charging when a negative slope on a chemical polarization versus time curve is identified below a pre-determined minimum level.

Abstract: A method of charging a rechargeable lithium battery which comprises charging the battery with a charging current; sampling a charging voltage of the battery during charging to recognize potential electrolyte decomposition; interrupting the charging current periodically to create current-free periods and sampling an open circuit voltage of the battery at a plurality of points during each current-free period to identify potential shunting and unequal states of charge among individual cells of the battery; lowering the charging current if any of the above-identified adverse conditions are identified and continuing charging with the charging current if the potential adverse charging condition is not identified; and terminating charging when the charging current is lowered below a pre-determined minimum level.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon catalytic cracking process in which, a substantial portion of the hydrocarbons is pulverized and placed in contact with a specific contact zone, which is composed of: a mixing chamber having a maximum section S.sub.2, the upper part of which is fed with a heated regenerated catalyst through an upper opening delimiting a catalyst-flow section S.sub.1, and a descending-flow reaction area, in which the solid-gas mixture emanating from the mixing chamber is poured through an intermediate opening having a section S.sub.3 located in the lower part of said chamber. The ratios S.sub.2 /S.sub.1 and S.sub.2 /S.sub.3 have values of between 1.5 and 8.

Abstract: An underground secondary containment system that is preassembled to a large extent at a manufacturing site prior to shipping to the site of installation. In this manner, the time expended at the site of installation in installing the underground secondary containment system is reduced. The underground secondary containment system includes a double walled fuel storage tank having isolated adjoining compartments for storing two different grades of fuel. A pair of dispenser sumps are mounted on the fuel storage tank at opposite ends thereof. A pair of tank sumps are mounted on the fuel storage tanks above the corresponding compartments. Each tank sump is connected to each of the dispenser sumps via flexible piping which extends along the exterior of the fuel storage tank. In this manner, two different grades of gasoline can be provided to each dispenser without utilizing piping disposed internally of the fuel storage tanks.

Abstract: An exercise device is provided as a set of inner rails pivotally connected to a slide bar adjustably supported by a vertical support member and a set of outer rails pivotally connected to the set of inner rails at a rail pivot point with a strut pivotally connected to the vertical support member and the rail pivot point. A user support platform is rollable along the inner and outer rails when the inner and outer rails are extended from the vertical support member. Pulley means are connected to the vertical support member and a connector means extends through the pulley means to the user support platform allowing an exerciser positioned on the user support platform to propel the exerciser along the inner and outer rails. The exercise device may include a foot rest at one end of the outer rails allowing for additional exercising. The exercise device may also include a foot harness attached to the connector means to allow for additional exercise use.

Abstract: An extraction process and an apparatus for separating aromatic compounds contained in a liquid hydrocarbon feedstock where the feedstock feed into the lower part of an extraction column is brought into intimate countercurrent contact therein with a third liquid and at least partially with at least one structured packing element (31) of the static mixer type contained in the upper part of the extraction column. Such third liquid (feed to the top of said column) is in the form of a solvent which is immiscible with the feedstock except for being capable of extracting the aromatic compounds. At least part of the extract phase rich in solvent and aromatic compounds is separated by liquid--liquid separation (26), preferably by gravity type decantation, into a phase rich in solvent and essentially depleted of raffinate, which is removed, and a phase rich in raffinate and impoverished in solvent, which is recycled to the extraction step. The extraction process is typically to be used to formulate lubricant oils.

Abstract: A drilling tool has several blades 16 each defining an outside wall 20 and two side walls 22, 24. The blades are separated by recesses 18, primary bits 28 are located along the outside wall of the blades, and secondary or backup bits 40 are attached behind the primary bits in relation to the direction of travel (f) of the tool. Each of the blades defines at least one divergent tunnel or channel 30 having small entry opening 32 located in the outside wall of the blade, behind the primary bits, and a larger exit opening 34 located on the rear side of the blade. The secondary bits are mounted at the rear edge of the entry opening, and the channel serves to discharge material excavated by them.

Abstract: The invention concerns a jet engine fuel having the following characteristics:i) distilling range from 140 to 300.degree. C.;ii) cis-decalin/trans-decalin ratio greater than 0.2;iii) aromatics content less than 22% by volume;iv) sulfur content less than 100 ppm, andv) lower heating value per unit volume greater than 34.65 Mj/liter.Also process for making the same wherein for example a cut from catalytic cracking distilling between 140 and 300.degree.0 C. is subjected to a hydrotreatment step and then to a dearomatization step.