Abstract: A degasifier intended for equipping an electrolysis plant, particularly a pressurized water electrolysis plant intended for the industrial production of hydrogen and oxygen.The degasifier comprises a vertical tubular container (1) holding a stack (13) of annular plates (14) simply placed one on the other and bounding degasification compartments (23). The liquid to be degasified is fed through a pipe (8) situated in the top part of the container, and the degasified liquid passes out through an aperture (9) situated in the bottom part of said container.

Abstract: A mechanism for converting rotary motion in rectilinear to and fro comprising and hinged in the housing of a crosspiece by a prestressed rod and conical bearing. An even number of bearings stacked symmetrically on each side of the center and internal cages are fitted an intermediate bush with the interposition of spacing rings, the thicknesses of the rings being so determined that the pre-stressing force is distributed equally between the bearings and causes the complete take-up of play. The invention is particularly useful in multicylinder pump mechanisms distributed regularly around a shaft and with axial pistons.

Abstract: A filter-press type electrolyzer equipped with electrodes consisting of solid metal plates (2), called "plate electrodes", and of latticed or perforated plates (5, 6), called "pre-electrodes", parallel to the plate electrodes and separated from the latter by bracing tongues (7), the pre-electrodes enclosing a diaphragm (4) for each cell.The pre-electrodes are equipped with solid strips (61, 62, 63), which are all parallel to one another and parallel to the welding direction; each bracing tongue (72) has the shape of an S and is welded to the associated pre-electrode on a solid strip (62) of the latter and to the associated plate electrode, so as to leave a slight gap (J) from the tongue (71), located in quasi-continuous manner on the opposite face of said plate electrode, and the bracing tongues are placed in a staggered arrangement, as viewed in a plane parallel to the electrodes.

Abstract: A device for supply or discharge of electrolyte for an electrolyzer of filterpress type has several compartments fed through channels (3) which open out into a common tranquilization chamber (4) of thin cross-section, which in turn is fed with electrolyte by way of a duct twisted, for example, into a spiral (51) of small cross-section.

Abstract: An electrolyzer cell of the filter-press type intended to operate under high pressure and at high temperature is constructed of spacing frames (4) for supporting and joining the electrodes and the diaphrams (1). Each frame is constituted by several portions (41 to 44), each held at a fixed point (61 to 64) and slidingly joined to one another.

Abstract: Electrolysis return circuit for an electrolysis installation, e.g. for electrolysis of pressurized water.Passage is provided from the anolyte outlet (1) to the anolyte inlet (3) via a direct transfer circuit (9) equipped with a crude degasser (10) and transferring the portion ##EQU1## of the anolyte flow A, C being the catholyte flow, and via a circuit (7) equipped with a thorough degasser (8) and transferring, from the catholyte outlet (2) a flow ##EQU2## and vice versa to pass from the catholyte outlet (2) to the catholyte inlet (4).

Abstract: The electrolytic apparatus includes at least one set of cells housed in a stack of annular spacer frames, annular bearing surfaces of which indicate joint planes extending to the exterior of the stack of frames, and each equipped with electrode plates and a diaphragm which forms compartments containing each an electrolyte under pressure brought through at least one supply channel, the gases formed by electrolysis being discharged towards channels, and it is essentially characterized by the fact that with each joint plane extending to the exterior of the stack of frames there is associated at least one annular collector groove arranged in a bearing surface of a frame and associated with discharge means capable of discharging the electrolyte flowing through the said joint plane. The electrodes are bipolar and arranged with a structure reminiscent of the structure of a filterpress.

Abstract: The invention relates to the cooling and purification of exit gases from an electrolysis installation, such as an installation for electrolysis of water under pressure. Above each degasser (7) is placed a chamber (1) containing a volume (3) of pure water, cooled by a cooling circuit (2). The gas bubbles are led into the chamber (1) by conduit (5), traverse the volume of pure cooled water (3) and leave purified by way of upper outlet (4). The invention finds use in the industrial production of hydrogen and oxygen by electrolysis of water.

Abstract: A reciprocating pump comprising several pumping volumes formed by cylinders fixed to a frame in an axial piston arrangement, and by pistons capable of sliding in the cylinders under the action of a driving mechanism, and including a ducting assembly conveying the liquid to be displaced from a general intake conduit to the pumping volumes, through intake valves, and from the pumping volumes to a general delivery conduit, through delivery valves. The ducting assembly comprises both a central cylinder head through which passes a central distribution channel connected to the general intake conduit and supplying off-take passages which radiate around it to the side bearing surfaces, and side cylinder heads through which run passages conveying the liquid.

Abstract: An electrolyser consisting of a stack of elemental cells, the said stack being located in a horizontal tubular enclosure.The enclosure consists of a fixed vertical baseplate (2) and of a tubular envelope (1) mounted upon the horizontal bed (8) of the apparatus by way of supporting rollers (7). The body of the stack (4) is supported during the opening operation by chocks (12) and by supporting rollers.The invention is made use of for the production of hydrogen and oxygen by means of industrial electrolyzers.

Abstract: An electrolysis installation such as an installation intended for the industrial production of hydrogen and oxygen by electrolysis of water under pressure having separate anolyte and catholyte flow circuits is provided with an electrolyzer (1) equipped with diaphragms which are permeable to liquids and impermeable to gases and is further provided with means, such as the flow control devices (18, 3) enabling a partial transfer of electrolyte to be effected from each catholyte compartment to the corresponding anolyte compartment, in such a manner as to preserve similar electrolyte densities for each of the anolyte and catholyte flow circuits.

Abstract: Electrolysis unit such as a unit, for producing hydrogen and oxygen industrially by the electrolysis of water under pressure, includes a flow regulating apparatus (49) in each of the circuits (24, 23) connecting the anolyte and catholyte outlets (20, 21) of the electrolyzer (19) to the degassers (25, 34), and a flow-control apparatus (49) ensuring concomitant variations in the anolyte flow and catholyte flow.

Abstract: An electrolyzer consisting of a stack of elemental electrolytic cells held between two end plates connected by tie rods.Each tie rod (9) is associated with a hydraulic jack (20) enabling variable tightening by remote control. A displacement pick-up (16) and a pressure pick-up (17) supply signals (25,26) to a force and position control cabinet (18).The invention is made use of in the production of hydrogen and oxygen by electrolysis of water.

Abstract: The electrolysis cell, e.g. for use in the construction of an electrolyzer for the production of hydrogen on an industrial scale, comprises an alternate series of electrodes 1 to 7 and plane diaphragms 8 to 13, which are parallel and separated from one another by spaces 58 in which an electrolyte can circulate between inlets 16, 17 located on one face 14 of the cell and the outlets 18, 19 located on an opposite face 15 of the cell. The inlet and outlet faces 14, 15 of the cell are parallel to the electrodes and the inlets and outlets communicate with inlet and outlet channels 21 to 23 which extend perpendicular to the electrodes and are connected together by passages between the electrodes and diaphragms, alternate passages being connected to different inlets for different polarity electrolytes.

Abstract: An apparatus for the support and assisted guiding of a tool for machining a workpiece of large dimensions substantially without effort on the part of the operator, comprises a telescopic supporting arm mounted on a carriage for vertical movement and for angular movement about a horizontal axis, a telescopic secondary arm mounted on the end of the telescopic portion of the supporting arm for angular movement relative thereto about two perpendicular axes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the supporting arm, means for supporting and orientating a tool on the telescopic end portion of the secondary arm so that the tool is angularly movable about three orthogonal axes relative to the secondary arm, means for moving the supporting arm relative to the support, the secondary arm relative to the supporting arm and the tool relative to the secondary arm, and a six position manipulator for providing sensitive control of the translatory movements of the secondary arm and non-sensitive control of the means for ori