Abstract: An elastic connecting bar for a system for active control of vibrations and which is apt to be subjected, through one of its ends, to vibrational loads exerted along its axis and which is linked by its other end to a structure which it is expedient to isolate from vibrations. The bar includes a tubular part 12 linked to one of the ends 14 of the bar and surrounding a part 15 of smaller section linked to the opposite end 16, and wherein these two parts 12, 15 are transversely linked to one another by at least two elastic bearings 10, 11 which are clasped between, them and axially spaced. The active system is used for control of vibrations acting between said parts 12, 15.

Abstract: Process and device (1) for the heat treatment of at least one metal wire using capstans (2, 3) characterized by the following features: (a) the wire (4) is brought around at least two capstans (2, 3) which conduct the heat and which include recesses (11). The wire (4) is reeved and crossed in said recesses (11), the width of the recesses (11) being slightly greater than that of the wire (4); (b) the capstans (2, 3) are heated or cooled by means of at least one gas (27), which passes between the capstans and a part which is in contact with a heat exchanging fluid; (c) the thickness of the gas layer is chosen according to the heat treatment to be applied. Installations for the heat treatment of metal wires (4) include at least one device (1), metal wires (4) treated by the process and/or the device (1), and/or the installations according to the invention, as well as items reinforced by said wires (4), in particular tire treads.

Abstract: A corona discharge beam thermotherapy system adapted to project the beam onto the skin surface of a living body overlying a problem region, the beam serving to relieve pain and to obtain other beneficial effects. The system includes an energy-generating unit in which a radio-frequency carrier is overmodulated by an audio frequency signal to produce periodic bursts of radio-frequency energy whose repetition rate corresponds to the frequency of the signal. The output of the unit is fed by a flexible coaxial cable to a tank circuit tuned to the carrier frequency and housed within the barrel of a portable applicator gun on whose grip is mounted a trigger switch operatively connected to the unit. Supported within the barrel and coupled to the tank circuit is a discharge electrode whose tip is adjacent the mouth of the barrel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for diagnosing the mechanical condition of a machine. The method of the invention includes the following steps: sensing a reference vibrational signal of the machine; creating a reference set of events from the reference vibrational signal of the machine; saving the reference set of events; sensing a test vibrational signal of the machine; creating a test set of events from the test vibrational signal of the machine; and, comparing the test set of events with the reference set of events to determine the mechanical condition of the machine. The invention further includes a method of extracting a set of events from a vibrational signal of a machine wherein a subset of the events corresponds to a physical action of the machine. The invention also includes a method of determining a set of clustered events for a machine from a plurality of sets of events, wherein each of the sets has a number of events therein.

Abstract: A method for separating phytate and manganese from protein and dietary fiber involves treatment of an aqueous slurry of phytate-containing material at a low pH with insoluble alumina. In a batch treatment process the pH of the solution is increased, leaving phytate units attached to the alumina while freeing the protein and dietary fiber. In a column treatment process, the column containing alumina is rinsed, after the low pH treatment, with dilute acid and water to recover the protein and/or dietary fiber. This method may be employed either during the manufacture of protein and fiber isolates from flour or flakes, or for removing phytate from commercially available protein and fiber commodities. The spent alumina may be readily regenerated and reused. A method of separating manganese from rice protein using this same technology is also disclosed.

Abstract: A novel process for the removal of phytate from protein using ion exchange has been developed. The process involves the upflow passage of a protein slurry at an elevated temperature through a strong base anion exchanger in the chloride form. The weak base anion sites inherent to the resin have been converted to the free base form. The anion exchange material can easily be regenerated. The process can be used on-line, yields phytate removal of greater than 90%, has high (greater than 90%) protein recovery, is cost-effective, and is environmentally friendly.

Abstract: To make a laminated flexible bearing constituted by rigid reinforcing layers made of composite material alternating with layers of rubber or elastomer, each reinforcing layer is formed by winding a resin preimpregnated thread directly on the underlying layer of rubber or elastomer. Advantageously, the flexible bearing is made by alternating layers formed by winding a resin pre-impregnated thread and layers formed of non-vulcanized rubber or elastomer, after which the resin is polymerized and the rubber or elastomer is vulcanized simultaneously.

Abstract: This invention relates to processes and apparatus for detecting the overall nature of combustion gases using a detector comprising a semi-conducting film of a metallic phthalocyanine which is deposited between two electrodes on an insulating wafer and which is placed in contact with the combustion gases and maintained at a temperature higher than a determined threshold, for example higher than 40.degree. C. for a monoclinic copper phthalocyanine, in order to render the phthalocyanine insensitive to the water vapour contained in the combustion gases.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel two-way duplexer structure for the simultaneous transmission and reception of circularly polarized microwaves. This two-way duplexer of the type designed to connect a first set of two inputs/outputs to a second opposite set of two inputs/outputs, each input/output of said duplexer being connected to the combination channel of a combiner/divider, the two division channels of each combiner/divider each providing for the connection with one of the division channels of one of the combiners/dividers connected to a distinct input/output of the opposite set of inputs/outputs, through distinct phase-shifting means.

Abstract: A two-piece, or articulated, piston head for internal combustion engines and the method for obtaining same. The top and pin boss portions composing the head are obtained separately from blanks; the underside of the top portion is provided with a groove whose inner wall is eccentric in relation to the top longitudinal axis; the two portions are joined together by welding; the upper side of the top portion is provided with a combustion bowl eccentric in relation to the top portion longitudinal axis and concentric with the inner wall of the groove on the underside of the top portion.

Abstract: An outrigger device is provided for automatically controlling outriggers on a fishing boat. The device comprises three strut members connected to a side surface on a fishing boat at given points. Two of the strut members will be of variable length, while the third strut member is of a fixed length. The first variable strut member serves as a base for the main outrigger pole. The second variable strut member and the fixed strut member serve as supporting and controlling struts for the outrigger pole. Variable strut members will be varied, either independently or together, to change the position of the outrigger device to correspond to several different situations.

Abstract: A container device is used to distribute a preferably drinkable liquid, such as beer, wine, mineral water or juice, under pressure from a gas such as CO.sub.2. The container device includes a liquid container with a combined gas and liquid valve and a coupling head which may be detachably coupled with the gas and liquid valve for dispensing liquid from the liquid container and adding gas via a reduction valve from a reservoir of liquified gas in a high pressure container. Without a noticeable increase in overall volume of the container device, the high pressure container can hold and carry a sufficient amount of gas for emptying liquid from the liquid container.

Abstract: A 2-dimensional drawing of closed shapes and/or letters is processed for incised carving with a conical tool. Each closed shape is processed independently to generate a plurality of connected cutter paths. While carving each path it is necessary to change the tool depth so that the edge of the tool at the surface of work remains tangent to two sides at all times. A recursive process is used to handle parts of the work where the cutting path splits.

Abstract: A wallet has a pouch for notes provided with a slot which communicates with a pocket hinged to the pouch so that a mixture of notes and coins may be hurriedly put into the pouch. The coins fall through the slot into the pocket which is then folded into the wallet and the coins can be removed at a convenient opportunity.

Abstract: Printed circuit assembly machine, consisting of a flat lower base, capable of moving up and down, and of a curved upper base capable of tilting, both being drilled with a multitude of holes, through which a vacuum is created, characterized in that both lower and upper bases have their holes distributed in independent zones, each zone being provided with a vacuum tube, which regulates the vacuum in each of them, and a microprocessor with program for controlling operation of the vacuum tubes.

Abstract: A process for delaying the formation and/or reducing the agglomeration tendency of hydrates in conditions under which a hydrate may be formed, these hydrates being formed from water and gas.The process according to the invention wherein, in particular, an additive comprising at least one amphiphilic compound chosen from the group of esters of polyols and substituted or unsubstituted carboxylic acids is used.Application of the process according to the invention to processes using gases and water, which form hydrates between them, in particular in the petroleum or gas industry.

Abstract: A method of making chocolate is disclosed. Here sugar alcohol, particularly erythritol or maltitol, is mixed with the remaining ingredients by dry couching at a temperature above 65.degree. C.

Abstract: A method of breaking up a vocal signal into binary frames of a predetermined duration. The frames are grouped together in packets of successive frames by associating a predictive filter with each frame of a packet. Furthermore, the coefficients of each predictive filter are quantified by taking into account the stable or non-stable configuration of the vocal signal.

Abstract: A machine for creating a batch of blanks out of a pile of blanks and for removing the batch of blanks from the pile consists of a fixed stop positioned along one surface of the blanks, a jogging device disposed opposite the fixed stop, a movable stop positioned in a line with the fixed stop, a separating device arranged adjacent the fixed stop for engaging an upper surface of the pile to raise the pile to create a free space, a conveyor insert movable from a position outside of the pile into the free space for transferring the blanks raised by the separator out of the pile as a batch of blanks.