Abstract: A method of calcining a clay material for use as a supplementary cementitious material, includes providing a raw clay material, optionally drying the raw clay material, granulating the raw clay material in order to obtain raw clay granules, calcining the raw clay granules to obtain calcined clay granules, and grinding the calcined clay granules to obtain a pulverulent supplementary cementitious material.

Abstract: A spacecraft for the distribution of electrical energy to client craft at points situated in free space, in orbit and/or on a celestial body includes a main structure equipped with an electric thruster, with a chemical thruster and with a solar generator, a first fuel container for fuel intended for the electric thruster, and a second fuel container for fuel intended for the chemical thruster. The spacecraft is able to be modulated such that the main structure can be coupled/decoupled alternatively to/from the first container or the second container, the first container and the second container are able to be coupled/decoupled to/from one another, and the solar generator can be deployed or retracted.

Abstract: The present invention provides a multistage vacuum pump comprising at least a low pressure first stage and at least a high pressure second stage. At least one of the stages has at least one suction inlet for admitting gas to be pumped, and at least one of the stages has at least one delivery outlet that is open to the outside for exhausting pumped gas. The first and second stages communicate with each other in order to pass gas from the first stage to the second stage. The first stage operates at a flow rate that is smaller than that of the second stage. For an oil-seal rotary vane positive-displacement pump, the oil is injected into the stage having the greater flow rate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a multistage vacuum pump comprising at least a low pressure first stage and at least a high pressure second stage. At least one of the stages has at least one suction inlet for admitting gas to be pumped, and at least one of the stages has at least one delivery outlet that is open to the outside for exhausting pumped gas. The first and second stages communicate with each other in order to pass gas from the first stage to the second stage. The first stage operates at a flow rate that is smaller than that of the second stage. For an oil-seal rotary vane positive-displacement pump, the oil is injected into the stage having the greater flow rate.

Abstract: The invention concerns a vacuum pump consisting in the assembly of two stator half-shells (101, 102) and two directly mounted end parts (31, 32) with an interposed single-piece continuous pressure seal (33). The pressure seal (33) comprises two annular end parts (34, 35) generally parallel to each other and connected by two side-members (36, 37) which are generally perpendicular thereto. Thus, the number of components to be assembled to produce an multistage dry vacuum pump is reduced, while providing satisfactory impermeability to outside atmosphere.

Abstract: The invention concerns a vacuum pump consisting in the assembly of two stator half-shells (101, 102) and two directly mounted end parts (31, 32) with an interposed single-piece continuous pressure seal (33). The pressure seal (33) comprises two annular end parts (34, 35) generally parallel to each other and connected by two side-members (36, 37) which are generally perpendicular thereto. Thus, the number of components to be assembled to produce an multistage dry vacuum pump is reduced, while providing satisfactory impermeability to outside atmosphere.