Abstract: A process for forming a protected metal mass includes forming an unprotected metal mass, vaporizing a layer forming reactant and depositing the layer forming reactant onto the unprotected metal mass, causing the layer forming reactant to bind to the surface of the metal mass as an attached protective layer.

Abstract: A one-shot method of making an optical fiber package (FIG. 1) for a submarine cable. A plurality of fibers (1) are fed into a space delimited by one or more elongate elements from which a tubular structure (3) can be formed, for example a C-section. A liquid filling material, such as a two-part exothermic curing polyurethne, mixed by static mixer (16), is injected into the C-section which is then closed by a die (17). The filling material rapidly cures to a resilient solid (2) in which the fibers are embedded before hauler (18) is reached. The fibers are spaced apart from one another and the tubular structure by means including a guide structure (14,15) as they enter the C-section and this is maintained in the cured material.

Abstract: A method of making very long length e.g. 50 km of optical fibre submarine cable in which acrylate-coated fibres (5) are guided by a fixed lay plate (10) and embedded by a fixed trumpet shaped die (7) in a relatively soft thermoplastic polymer coating (3) (e.g. Hytrel-RTM) with a zero lay angle. The coating (3) is heat softened and carried on a kingwire (2). The partially-embedded fibres are encased in a second coating (12) of the polymer by conventional extrusion. The element is coated with a water blocking material as the element is encased in a tubular strength member comprising a conductive tube of copper or aluminium surrounded by two layers (24,25) of high tensile strength wires. A dielectric sheath of e.g. natural polyethelene is extruded over the wires. The structure of the cable limits the bending of the fibres to e.g. 0.6 m, so that very low losses can be achieved.

Abstract: A cable grip device, known as a "stopper", suitable for holding submarine cables during laying and recovery operations on board a ship, comprises a conventional helically wound stopper modified to have a low coefficient of friction over an internal surface portion (1A) and a higher coefficient of friction portion over a surface (1B), which it is found enhances the tensile load which the stopper can bear particularly when used for smooth surfaced deep water submarine cables.

Abstract: A control system including a controller for reading temperature values from sensors in a gas turbine, determining the reliability of the sensors, and issuing a fuel control signal for use in controlling the turbine is disclosed. The fuel control signal has a calculated value which is a function of the turbine operating temperature derived from the values of temperature signals generated by the sensors.

Abstract: A control system for the injection of water or steam into the combustion chambers of a combustion turbine for reducing the emission of oxides of nitrogen in the exhaust gas of a combustion turbine is described. The control system includes a water control valve having a linear flow versus stroke characteristic which is controlled by an error signal representing the difference between a predetermined water-to-fuel schedule and the actual water-to-fuel schedule. Instruments for monitoring and recording water and fuel flow are also described.