Abstract: The present invention relates to a process permitting the modification of the chemical composition of the inner face of a barrel, consisting in heating and in moistening the inner face of the shell (1) of this barrel, characterized in that it consists in alternately heating and moistening, according to a specified heating power and liquid flow rate, and for a specified time, the heating being distributed over the entire height of the shell.It also relates to a machine implementing this process and comprising a rotating support (12), heating means (19) and moistening means (20, 21, 22) which are vertically displaceable with respect to the main axis of the barrel.Application: barrels for wines and alcohols.

Abstract: There is provided an automatic shirt cuff manufacturing unit comprising an overcast stitching machine, a buttonhole forming machine and a button sewing machine. The unit includes means for conveying the cuff to the overcast stitching machine, means for removing the cuff from the overcast stitching machine, means for positioning at least one of the ends of the cuff with respect to one of the working heads of the buttonhole forming and button sewing machines, the working heads of said machines being arranged opposite one another, means for orienting the cuff so that it assumes the proper orientation, or an orientation at 180.degree. from it, under the working heads, means for bringing the cuff under said heads while maintaining it in correct position, and means for removing the cuff from the machines.

Abstract: In order to detect the presence of a native reservoir fluid within a well bore, an auxiliary drilling fluid is injected into the borehole and recovered after it has circulated within the borehole. The detection system comprises a pressure-wave generator, an upstream pressure sensor for detecting the pressure wave as it passes through a first pipe in which the auxiliary drilling fluid circulates in the uncontaminated state, an outlet pressure sensor for detecting the pressure wave as it passes through a second pipe in which the auxiliary drilling fluid circulates and may be contaminated by a reservoir fluid which has entered the drilling fluid at any point of the well bore.