Abstract: The invention relates to a handle (10) for delivering a stent (2) by retracting a sheath (4) for protecting the stent (2), and is characterized in that it includes a tackle system (20) used to pull the protective sheath (4) over a predetermined retraction distance (D) to uncover the stent and enable the stent to be delivered and expanded. The tackle system greatly reduces the tractive force required to release the stent.

Abstract: Protective cap for a pressurized tank, in particular, for the protection of an air pressure regulator device(s) mounted on a cylinder of pressurized gas (3,4, comprising at least two components (5,6) (10) to be mounted together and on the tank (4) so as to form a pressure enclosure, with at least two of the components (5,6; 15, 16) being mechanically connected by at least one connecting system (7), allowing at least one limited relative displacement between the components (5, 6; 15, 16), with at least two components (5, 6) forming the covering, complementary and distinct portions of the cap (15) in the assembled position.

Abstract: An air treatment plant includes a waste gas vent connected to structure (50) for attenuating the noise conducted by this waste gas. The noise attenuation structure (50) is a substantially closed and at least partially buried enclosure (52). The invention applies especially to plants for separating air by pressure swing adsorption.

Abstract: The device comprises an adsorber (1) and three outlet capacities (2-4), first (8, 9) and second (10, 11) structure to establish bidirectional communication between the adsorber and the elution capacity (2) and the repressurization capacity (3), respectively, and third structure (14A, 15; 16) to establish unidirectional communication from the adsorber to the production capacity (4).

Abstract: The device comprises an adsorber (1) and three outlet capacities (2-4), first (8, 9) and second (10, 11) structure to establish bidirectional communication between the adsorber and the elution capacity (2) and the repressurization capacity (3), respectively, and third structure (14A, 15; 16) to establish unidirectional communication from the adsorber to the production capacity (4).

Abstract: A plant for the separation of gases by adsorption, which is of the PSA type, includes, in a container (1) of vertical axis, at least one annular bed of particulate material (5, 6) supported on a lower wall (9) which is itself supported by a perforated prismatic wall (11) bearing on a domed end (2) of the container. A lower wall (9), advantageously in the form of a very wide inverted V (9A, 9B), has no part forming an angle (.alpha., .beta.) in excess of 15.degree. with the horizontal. The plant is useful in the separation of gases from air.

Abstract: A separation process, involving an adsorber containing at least one adsorbent with an inlet and outflow, involves the following stages of the cycle:--stage I, repressurization from the low pressure of the cycle;--stages II and III during one of which the high pressure of the cycle is reached; and stage IV, depressurization/purging, during which the low pressure of the cycle is reached. Each stage (I to IV) involves a fixed gas flow (F) at one end of the adsorber and a free gas flow (.lambda.) at the other end of the adsorber, the fixed flows (F) addressing the inlet (E) and outlet (F) ends of the adsorber from one stage (I to IV) to the next. The process is particularly applicable to the production of oxygen from air.

Abstract: This process carries out a cycle on a monoadsorber (1) connected, on the one hand, to at least one container (2, 3) via a line (8, 10) fitted with a variable-opening valve (9, 11) and, on the other hand, to a reversible compression/pumping machine coupled to a speed variator (5). Application in particular to the production of oxygen at a variable flow rate from atmospheric air.

Abstract: A gas treatment bottle comprises at least one gas dispenser (24;50) and has a distributor (25;51) intended to be fixed in a gas treatment bottle (10) in front of an inlet or outlet orifice (18;56). The distributor (25;51) has a head (26) which covers the orifice and has an openworked end wall (28) and an openworked side wall (30), typically inclined in the direction of the end wall (28) and surrounding it. The degree of openworking in the side wall (30) is greater than the degree of openworking in the end wall (28).

Abstract: Process for treating a gas mixture by pressure swing adsorption wherein for each adsorber (1), the duration (T.sub.R) of the countercurrent recompression step is much less than that (T.sub.D) of the cocurrent decompression step. The process is particularly useful in the production of oxygen from atmospheric air.

Abstract: The equipment, for example of the PSA type, comprises gas circulation elements for passing the gas horizontally through an adsorbent (3), which comprise, on at least one vertical side of the adsorbent, a gas distribution volume comprising a first subvolume (5; 9) adjacent to the adsorbent, and a second subvolume (6; 10) separated from the first subvolume by a wall provided with passages (40) having cross-sections and/or a distribution which are selected so as to reduce the variations in local flow rate along the adsorbent. The equipment is particularly useful in separating gases from air.