Abstract: A device for anchoring rachidian instrumentation on a vertebra, comprising at least one support, a carrier for coupling the instrumentation to the support and a structure for anchoring the support with respect to the vertebra, the support having a convex face shaped to conform to and lie against at least one portion of the concave surface of the posterior arch of the vertebra on one side of the spinous process of the vertebral column, and the anchoring structure rigidly linking at least two distinct parts of the support to at least two correspondingly distinct portions of the vertebra.

Abstract: An ancillary equipment for exerting and maintaining a force on a portion of the vertebral column for correcting and maintaining the shape and/or forces exerted on the vertebrae before and during a fixing operation of implanted rachidian instrumentation, comprising at least two active extremities (4, 5, 6) for cooperating respectively with two distinct vertebrae, comprising control rods for adjusting and maintaining the relative positions of the active extremities (4, 5, 6) in at least three orthogonal directions, by adjusting and maintaining the relative position of each active extremity (4, 5, 6) in at least one of said directions.

Abstract: A dynamic implanted spinal orthosis which preserves at least in part the natural physiological mobility of the vertebrae while effecting and maintaining a correction of the relative positions of the vertebrae without osteosynthesis, graft or fusion, comprising anchoring components fixed to the vertebrae and holding means associated with the anchoring components for holding the vertebrae with respect to each other in the corrected position, the holding means comprise an elastic return device for exerting elastic return forces, the orientation and magnitude of which are determined for holding the vertebrae in the corrected position against natural deforming forces for reducing the forces exerted on the vertebrae while preserving their mobility; also a procedure for maintaining a correction of the positions of the vertebrae for treating a deformation of the spine.

Abstract: The invention makes it possible to measure the degree of radioactive radiation emitted by large pieces. It includes two large gamma ray detectors (12A, 12B) placed opposite each other and whose spacing is adjustable. They are completed by a photoelectron multiplier (14A, 14B). The piece (2) to be measured is suspended so as to be brought between the two detectors (12A, 12B). The positioning of these detectors is obtained with the aid of a computer and a system (22) for recognizing the shape of the piece (2) functioning with the aid of optical clip-on lenses. The fact that the two detectors are position-adjustable makes it possible to take account of the shape of the piece to be measured. An application is the recovery of materials originating from nuclear installations with the view to re-using the materials.

Abstract: A pivoting connection device between two oscillating elements of a windshield wiper blade comprises an intermediate member carried by the main stirrup of the blade, with the intermediate member cooperating pivotally with a support bar. The latter has a resiliently deformable portion for engagement with a pivot means carried by the intermediate member. The invention is applicable in particular to automotive vehicles.

Abstract: A connecting device for connecting a windshield wiper blade on to a windshield wiper arm includes a securing element for cooperation with an opening formed on the wiper blade, together with a pivoting coupling element for articulation with the wiper arm whereby to obtain a pivoted connection between the blade and the arm. The connecting device includes means for absorbing any clearance between the securing element and the opening, together with a locking element for locking the securing element on to the blade and for activating the means for absorbing clearance.The invention is applicable particularly to automotive vehicles.

Abstract: An electromagnetic detector designed to monitor road traffic, responsive to a modification of an electromagnetic field produced by the presence of a metallic mass in the vicinity thereof, comprises a metal base on which are disposed a transmitting coil creating a field and a receiving coil whose axis deviates from the perpendicular to the base. The receiving coil detects a measuring field created by the currents induced in the base by the transmitted field. The processed signal is the resultant of the signal produced by the presence of a metallic mass in the transmitted field and by the signal due to the measuring field.

Abstract: An electromagnetic detector sensitive to the intrusion of a metallic mass (e.g., a road vehicle) into its field of radiated energy comprises, disposed on a metallic support, a transmitter coil and two strongly coupled receiver coils. These receiver coils are located at a distance from the transmitter coil and on opposite sides of the axis thereof. The axis of the transmitter coil and the common axis of the receiver coils are roughly perpendicular to each other. The presence of a metallic mass in the field around the detector induces signals in the receiver coils varying in relative phase according to the extent of the modification of the generated electromagnetic field. The output voltages of the receiver coils are combined to form a resultant square wave comparison with a reference square wave produces an output signal depending on the phase difference thereof.

Abstract: An improved process for the production of 1,2-dichloroethane in which chlorine and ethylene are reacted in the liquid phase in the absence of light and in the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst wherein all of the chlorine used in the reaction and a fraction of the total ethylene within the range of 90 to 100 mole percent based upon the total chlorine are introduced to a first homogeneous agitated reaction zone, the products from the first zone are passed to a second homogeneous agitated reaction zone into which there is also introduced the remaining ethylene in countercurrent flow to the flow of the 1,2-dichloroethane, with the total amount of ethylene introduced not exceeding 102 mole percent of the total chlorine.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for winding a continuous strand formed from an attenuable material is disclosed. The winding collet has a starting drum mounted on one end. An end face of the starting drum includes diametrically opposed strand engaging members that engage the strand as it is brought against the face of the starting drum. The strand is conducted from the strand engaging means to the starting drum and is wound on the starting drum until the winding collet reaches operating speed. When the winding collet is at its operating speed, the strand is urged away from the starting drum and onto the winding collet to form the winding.

Abstract: A radio receiver, especially one installed in a road vehicle, has a first section for picking up special message signals such as road-traffic information and a second section for picking up a normal radio program. A relay energizable by the special signals, normally connected to the first receiver section, automatically switches a loudspeaker from the second receiver section to the first one whenever such signals begin to arrive. A circuit breaker in series with the relay can be manually controlled by a pushbutton, through the intermediary of a bistable storage circuit, to deactivate the relay for shifting back to audible reproduction of the normal program at the will of the user even while the special message signals continue to arrive; another actuation of the pushbutton in the presence of these signals restores the original condition.

Abstract: A distress-signal generator aboard a vehicle includes a transmitter with a self-locking relay for energizing a high-frequency oscillator from a local battery in response to one or more trigger signals from respective detectors, specifically an impact detector and a deformation detector. The impact detector comprises two coacting members, one of them fixed to the vehicle body and the other freely movable with reference thereto, the elastically suspended mobile member being generally spool-shaped and having its waist received in an oblong opening of the plate-shaped fixed member. With the major axis of the oblong extending in the direction of vehicle motion, contact between the two members occurs in response to relatively small transverse and vertical accelerations but only with relatively large longitudinal acceleration; relative torsion is detected by a horizontal pin on the mobile member bracketed by two stops on the fixed member normally spaced therefrom.

Abstract: In a device for filling the interstices of the multi-stranded core of a cable, a die freely rotatable about an axis and having a plurality of passages opening from each end of the die, the passages being arranged in a cylindrical locus about the rotational axis of the die. The device itself consists of a housing defining a chamber holding filler material through which the core passes, one end of the housing being closed by the die and the other end of the housing having an aperture axially aligned with the die.

Abstract: A process for the continuous chlorination of ethylene in the liquid phase in the absence of light and in the presence of 1,2-dichloroethane and dissolved ferric chloride wherein the reaction is carried out in a homogeneous reaction zone in which the reaction medium contains dissolved chlorine in an amount within the range of 1 to 20 g per kg of liquid reaction mixture and in which the ratio R between the molar hourly flow rate of ethylene introduced to the homogeneous reaction zone and the molar hourly flow rate of ethylene which saturates the 1,2-dichloroethane contained in the reaction zone is within the range of 0 to 140.

Abstract: A traffic-surveillance system comprises a radar equipment coupled to a transmitter/receiver antenna. This antenna is formed by a transmission line including an elongate hollow conductor with leakage losses, such as a slotted coaxial cable or waveguide, producing along its length an electric radiating field. Any metallic mass, such as a vehicle, located within that field reflects part of the radiated energy which is then picked up by the line. Part of the reflected energy is absorbed in the characteristic impedance of the line while the remainder is conveyed to the radar equipment where it is processed to yield the required information concerning the vehicle.

Abstract: A process for converting trichloroethylene present in 1,2-dichloroethane by chlorination of the trichloroethylene in the liquid phase in the absence of light and in the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst wherein chlorine, 1,2-dichloroethane containing trichloroethylene and ethylene are introduced to a homogeneous reaction zone, with the mole ratio of ethylene to trichloroethylene being at least 50 and the mole ratio of trichloroethylene to chlorine being a maximum of 0.02.