Abstract: A flexible cellular material is thermoregulated by compressing and expanding gas trapped in its cells A flexible elastomer material of a device that provide thermoregulation includes two layers of different shore hardness and conductivity and is has gas-filled cells. Each cell has a zone to store the gas when compressing the material in the layer C with higher hardness and thermal conductivity and another zone to expand the gas when decompressing the material in the layer D with lower hardness and thermal conductivity. The flexible material can be used as a sole in shoes to maintain a cool temperature. With each step, the cell zones located in the layer C act as adiabatic chambers whose gasses heat with compression. When the foot leaves the ground the zones of cells located in the layer D then act as a reactor nozzle that will expand the air and therefore cool it.

Abstract: A flexible cellular material is thermoregulated by compressing and expanding gas trapped in its cells A flexible elastomer material of a device that provide thermoregulation includes two layers of different shore hardness and conductivity and is has gas-filled cells. Each cell has a zone to store the gas when compressing the material in the layer C with higher hardness and thermal conductivity and another zone to expand the gas when decompressing the material in the layer D with lower hardness and thermal conductivity. The flexible material can be used as a sole in shoes to maintain a cool temperature. With each step, the cell zones located in the layer C act as adiabatic chambers whose gasses heat with compression. When the foot leaves the ground the zones of cells located in the layer D then act as a reactor nozzle that will expand the air and therefore cool it.

Abstract: The present invention has for its objects a process for extracting the chemical elements contained in diverse products (i.e. waste, ashes, used catalysts, etc. . . .) or in raw materials such as soils, sediments, lands, brownfields and ores and a device to implement the process. The process consists in forming volatile compounds with one or several elements to be extracted present in a first reactor using a gas being maintained outside of thermodynamic equilibrium as in non-thermal plasma (electric discharge under high or low pressure, corona discharge . . . ). These volatile compounds are then exhausted towards secondary reactors intended to selectively extract said volatile compounds by decomposition or by condensation to recover each elements and the gas which can be recycled.

Abstract: The method consists in, first, circulating the air in which the content of a specific pollutant is to be measured through or over materials that reversibly absorb compounds in the air that interfere with the measurement of pollution. These absorbent materials are employed in the form of self-fixing patches or membranes that can be disposed of after use and are placed between the air to be measured and the measurement means. These patches or membranes can be used for all types of measurement means, such as electronic sensors or calorimetric indicators (in which case the membrane will advantageously be transparent). This actual pre-treatment of the air will thus allow reliable, reproducible measurement irrespective of the environmental conditions (humidity, presence of other pollutants, etc.). For humidity, for example, the membrane will consist of silica gel or cotton wool.

Abstract: The invention relates to a disinfection or sterilisation method. The material to be disinfected is introduced in a receptacle and the receptacle is sealed. Subsequently, the sealed receptacle is heated under a water vapour and/or radical pressure. The water vapour pressure and/or radical pressure is obtained during the heating by evaporating the water and the radicals absorbed and/or formed in a natural way at the surface of the material.

Abstract: The present invention has for its objects a process for extracting the chemical elements contained in diverse products (i.e. waste, ashes, used catalysts, etc..) or in raw materials such as soils, sediments, lands, brownfields and ores and a device to implement the process. The process consists in forming volatile compounds with one or several elements to be extracted present in a first reactor using a gas being maintained outside of thermodynamic equilibrium as in non-thermal plasma (electric discharge under high or low pressure, corona discharge . . . ). These volatile compounds are then exhausted towards secondary reactors intended to selectively extract said volatile compounds by decomposition or by condensation to recover each elements and the gas which can be recycled.

Abstract: A filter assembly including a filter medium installed in at least one receptacle. The filter assembly includes a heating system to heat the filter medium. The filter medium includes metal fibers. The receptacle or receptacles are provided with at least one air inlet and with at least one air outlet and a device to eliminate the air and free space around and in the filter medium. The receptacles may include at least two deformable walls, which are membranes made of a polymeric or elastomeric material, and the filter medium may include at least one sintered, non-woven metal fiber web.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of preparing material to be further subjected to a heat and/or compaction treatment. The method comprises the step of—introducing the material in a plastic recipient (20) having an inner layer and an outer layer. The inner layer has a melting point lower than the temperature reached during the heat treatment, whereas the outer layer has a melting point higher than the temperature reached during the heat treatment.—closing the plastic recipient in such a way that the inner layer is not appearing at the outer surface of the closed recipient. The invention further relates to a method of disinfecting or sterilizing material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a filter assembly holding a filter medium provided with means to disinfect the filter medium. The invention further relates to a method to disinfect a filter medium by heating the filter medium under a water vapour and/or radical pressure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a disinfection or sterilisation method. The material to be disinfected is introduced in a receptacle and the receptacle is sealed. Subsequently, the sealed receptacle is heated under a water vapour and/or radical pressure. The water vapour pressure and/or radical pressure is obtained during the heating by evaporating the water and the radicals absorbed and/or formed in a natural way at the surface of the material.

Abstract: An operating device (1) is designed for fastening to a component which is circular in cross section, for example a steering-wheel rim or a steering-wheel spoke. For this purpose, two strap parts (6, 9) which are to be connected to each other are fitted to the operating device (1) for wrapping around the component. One strap part (6) is provided with a clamping lever (3) for pivoting it into a position beyond the dead center in which the strap parts (6, 9) are in a clamping position.

Abstract: A detachable front panel of an electronic device, containing push-buttons corresponding to actuating rods in the chassis of the device. The push buttons are provided with springs which urge the buttons against the actuating rod, and causes the buttons to be moved into the front panel when the panel is detached from the device.

Abstract: The furnace according to the invention makes it possible to continuously vitrify and/or densify toxic materials, such a nuclear waste, by using microwaves. The furnace contains two vertical ends connected by a horizontal melting vessel. The materials to be melted and the microwaves are introduced at the first end. The melting vessel has a constant cross-section as a result of a horizontal upper wall in order to aid the distribution of the power of the microwaves over the surface of the molten bath. Preferably, the second end is provided with a piston making it possible to regulate the return of non-absorbed microwaves.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a borosilicate glass containing nuclear waste.In this process, an inactive borosilicate matrix is prepared in an aqueous medium by mixing the following:a silica-based gel precursor,a concentrated aqueous solution of a boron compound, anda concentrated aqeuous solution of the vitrification adjuvant,in proportions corresponding to the composition of the final glass minus the waste, with stirring at a high rate of shear, at a temperature of between 20.degree. C. and 80.degree. C., preferably at 65.degree.-70.degree. C., at an acid pH, preferably a pH of between 2.5 and 3.5, so as to form a gelled solution, and the said matrix is heat-treated and the nuclear waste is added at any stage during the said treatment to form, by melting, the final borosilicate glass containing the said waste.The process according to the invention is applied to the treatment of nuclear waste, especially to solutions of fission products.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the immobilization of nuclear waste in a borosilicate glass.In the process, the following are mixed simultaneously:a silica-based gel precursor,a concentrated aqueous solution of a boron compound, and concentrated aqueous solutions of the other constituents of the final glass, i.e. a solution (solutions) of the waste to be treated and a solution of the vitrification adjuvant,with vigorous stirring, mixing taking place at between 20.degree. and 80.degree. C., preferably at 65.degree.-70.degree. C., in proportions corresponding to the desired composition of the glass, the said mixture having an acid pH, preferably a pH of between 2.5 and 3.5, and the said mixture is dried, calcined at between 300.degree. and 500.degree. C. and then melted.The invention is applied to the treatment of solutions of nuclear waste, especially to solutions of fission products.

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.