Abstract: The device for the local repair or strengthening of an elongate body exhibiting a change in its integrity, by winding one or more layers of tape around the elongate body, comprises two half rings, each having two ends configured to come into contact with one another, means for moving the two half rings relative to one another until they surround the elongate body, without touching, and means for translating the two half rings relative to one another along an axis perpendicular to the axis of the elongate body until the ends of the half rings are in contact to form a ring surrounding the elongate body. In the embodiments, the device includes, on at least one of the half rings, at least one centering pin corresponding, in the other half ring, to an opening with a shape complementary to the shape of the centering pin.

Abstract: A method for determining a mechanical performance parameter of a structure in which damage has caused a wall of the structure to change from an initial shape to a damaged shape. The method comprising for geometrically characterizing an external surface of the damaged shape; modeling a test body comprising a surface substantially identical to the external surface of the damaged shape; modeling a test wall having a portion of a shape substantially identical to the initial shape; calculating a deformed test wall and a stress state related to the deformation, the deformation of the test wall being caused by a relative displacement of the test body and the test wall, the relative displacement being configured to give the deformed test wall an external surface substantially identical to the external surface of the damaged shape; and evaluating mechanical performance of the deformed test wall.

Abstract: A device (110) and a method for locally repairing or reinforcing an elongate body (100), said device (110) being intended for winding one or a plurality of layers of pre-impregnated polymerizable strip around the elongate body (100), said device (110) comprising: —releasable means (112, 113) of attachment around the elongate body (100), —means for the rotational movement of support structure (125) around the means (112, 113) of attachment, —means for the longitudinal movement of a spool (135) of a pre-impregnated polymerizable strip relative to the support structure (125), said support (125) comprising means for limiting the movement of the spool to a predetermined path, said spool (135) being unwindable when it is subjected to a given tension, —means for bringing the spool (135) into rotational and translational movement around the elongate body (100), causing the pre-impregnated polymerizable strip to be wound around said body.

Abstract: The device for the local repair or strengthening of an elongate body exhibiting a change in its integrity, by winding one or more layers of tape around the elongate body, comprises two half rings, each having two ends configured to come into contact with one another, means for moving the two half rings relative to one another until they surround the elongate body, without touching, and means for translating the two half rings relative to one another along an axis perpendicular to the axis of the elongate body until the ends of the half rings are in contact to form a ring surrounding the elongate body. In the embodiments, the device includes, on at least one of the half rings, at least one centering pin corresponding, in the other half ring, to an opening with a shape complementary to the shape of the centering pin.

Abstract: A device (110) and a method for locally repairing or reinforcing an elongate body (100), said device (110) being intended for winding one or a plurality of layers of pre-impregnated polymerizable strip around the elongate body (100), said device (110) comprising:—releasable means (112, 113) of attachment around the elongate body (100),—means for the rotational movement of support structure (125) around the means (112, 113) of attachment,—means for the longitudinal movement of a spool (135) of a pre-impregnated polymerizable strip relative to the support structure (125), said support (125) comprising means for limiting the movement of the spool to a predetermined path, said spool (135) being unwindable when it is subjected to a given tension,—means for bringing the spool (135) into rotational and translational movement around the elongate body (100), causing the pre-impregnated polymerizable strip to be wound around said body.

Abstract: A method for determining a mechanical performance parameter of a structure in which damage has caused a wall of the structure to change from an initial shape to a damaged shape. The method comprising for geometrically characterizing an external surface of the damaged shape; modeling a test body comprising a surface substantially identical to the external surface of the damaged shape; modeling a test wall having a portion of a shape substantially identical to the initial shape; calculating a deformed test wall and a stress state related to the deformation, the deformation of the test wall being caused by a relative displacement of the test body and the test wall, the relative displacement being configured to give the deformed test wall an external surface substantially identical to the external surface of the damaged shape; and evaluating mechanical performance of the deformed test wall.

Abstract: A hydraulic shock-absorbing jack particularly for use underwater comprises a cylinder 1 in which a piston 20 associated with an actuated rod 23 is slidable. The piston defines within the cylinder a first actuating chamber 6 provided with a first inlet 2 for actuating liquid and connected to an accumulator 7 of elastically variable volume, and a second actuating chamber 8 provided with a second inlet 3 for actuating liquid. The rod is mounted to be slidable relative to the piston such that, in the event of a shock applied to the rod which would otherwise cause an increase in the volume of the second chamber, the rod alone moves relative to the piston without affecting the volume of the second chamber. The rod is provided with an enlarged head 24 located in the first chamber and preventing its disengagement from the piston.

Abstract: An automatic hydraulic connector for connecting an hydraulic pipe to apparatus comprises a female cylindrical receptacle for connection to the apparatus and a retractable hollow male cylindrical body releasably lockable by locking means to the receptacle, under the control of a cylindrical slide member biased by a spring to its locking position and driven into its unlocking position by the action of an operating fluid which acts on a movable cylindrical core which is connectable to the slide member and also in part defines the hydraulic passage extending from an inlet in the male body to an outlet in the female receptacle.

Abstract: An apparatus for inserting a shut-off device 9 laterally into a pipe via a branch 48 which is inclined at an obtuse angle to the pipe, comprises a housing 1 for connection at one end to the branch and containing a first carriage 6 which is movable relative to the housing to a forward position projecting from the housing into the pipe and includes a receptacle for the shut-off device and a guide member 8 for guiding the shut-off device out of the receptacle, a second carriage 10 which is movable relative to the first carriage and is connected to the shut-off device by an insertion jack 13, and displacement means for first moving the first carriage to its forward position, the second carriage moving with the first carriage, and for then moving the second carriage relative to the first carriage to move the shut-off device out of its receptacle further into the pipe, the insertion jack finally being operated to move the shut-off device into position in the pipe.