Abstract: A hydrocarbon extraction process enabling an acceleration in the production of the productive zone of the oil deposit of a well and an increase in the cumulated quantity of hydrocarbons, characterized by the fact that a hot fluid constituted of hydrocarbons is made to circulate so as to bring the productive zone locally to a higher temperature by conduction in order to fluidify the hydrocarbons imprisoned in an underground reservoir, by means of a thermally-insulated pipe, the hot fluid being mixed with the hydrocarbons extracted via a liner or drain in the productive zone such mixture thus formed being recovered at the surface by means of an pumping pipe.

Abstract: A system for characterizing rheological properties of granular material. A cylindrical measurement cup containing granular material is subject to a uniform vibration induced by a vibration exciter at a user-determined frequency. At the same time, a rotation or an oscillation of a rotating vane tool is performed within the powder and a response measured. Baffles are affixed to the inner wall of the measurement cup to prevent slippage of the granular material during measurement. An energy imparted to the system from the vibration exciter can be measured by an accelerometer coupled to the measurement cup. When sufficient vibrational energy is supplied to the system, a powder contained therein achieves a particle “temperature” sufficient such that the powder behaves as an ergodic system.

Abstract: A system for characterizing rheological properties of granular material. A cylindrical measurement cup containing granular material is subject to a uniform vibration induced by a vibration exciter at a user-determined frequency. At the same time, a rotation or an oscillation of a rotating vane tool is performed within the powder and a response measured. Baffles are affixed to the inner wall of the measurement cup to prevent slippage of the granular material during measurement. An energy imparted to the system from the vibration exciter can be measured by an accelerometer coupled to the measurement cup. When sufficient vibrational energy is supplied to the system, a powder contained therein achieves a particle “temperature” sufficient such that the powder behaves as an ergodic system.

Abstract: Heat insulating flexible material consisting of a stack of reflective elements, separated by an insert material, characterized in that it comprises a reflective foil on which is deposited an insert material in the form of a powder having a particle size distribution less than 1 ?m, said reflective foil being coiled up or folded to delimit the reflective elements.

Abstract: A padded, heat resistant glove and attachable forearm pad to allow restaurant personnel to simultaneously and safely carry, present and serve multiple hot plates and other dishes to patrons in accordance with proper etiquette. The glove includes a front piece, back piece and wrist piece joined together to form a glove, with the front and wrist pieces made of padded, heat resistant material. The forearm pad includes a top piece, typically made of padded, heat resistant material, and a bottom piece, and a wrist attachment piece, which attaches the pad to the glove, and at least one strap piece and corresponding strap attachment piece, which secures the pad onto the user's forearm. The glove and pad provide protection against burns from the hot dishes, while also allowing the handler the dexterity and flexibility necessary to better grasp and stabilize the dishes, and make easier movements, while carrying, presenting and serving them.

Abstract: A sealing ring wherein both the first and the second sealing lip are well protected from mechanical damage/destruction. The relatively more sensitive first sealing lip is particularly well protected and, in particular, is protected from exposure to service life-reducing contaminants. Furthermore, the production of the sealing lip is simple and economical.

Abstract: A pipeline for moving effluents at seabed level, including an inner shell and at least one outer shell having an outer surface separated from the inner shell by an annular space for receiving an insulating layer, wherein the outer shell includes a set of mutually spaced flutings arrayed along at least a portion of the outer surface and each fluting has a bottom resting on a spacer element located around the inner shell.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device reinforcing circumferential welds 8 which join two contiguous pipes 6 and 7 in order to increase the fatigue life of said welds by reducing mechanical stresses in them when being subjected to periodic bending. The device comprises a rigidifying element 10 which is firmly joined to said pipes by a connection means 11, 13, said bush being made of the same material as the pipes. The rigidifying element 10 consists of a bush slipped over the two pipes 6, 7 opposite the weld 8. The connection means is a hardening material 11 such as resin or cement which is injected between bush and pipes and which is confined at this site by shaping, in particular cold-forming, the bush's ends. The application is to offshore hydrocarbon conveyance conduits subjected to periodic loads.

Abstract: A process and machine to make double-walled pipe to be connected end to end, wherein each pipe includes inner and outer tubes arranged coaxially with a ring-shaped space between them except at a connecting area at the end of the pipe where the outer tube is longitudinally retracted with respect to the inner tube. An end-wall of the outer tube is deformed to close off the ring-shaped space by the gradual application of pressure to its wall by means of a series of bars spaced in a ring around a connecting area and tilted over in a radial direction by a crown that is fixed with respect to the outer tube and onto which the bars are attached in an articulated manner.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pipeline 1 moving effluents at seabed level and comprising an inner shell 3 and at least one outer shell 2 which is separated from the inner shell by an annular space 7 receiving an insulating layer 4.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device reinforcing circumferential welds 8 which join two contiguous pipes 6 and 7 in order to increase the fatigue life of said welds by reducing mechanical stresses in them when being subjected to periodic bending.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for closely protecting a workstation. The method includes the steps of (a) providing a horizontal work surface having a top face, an upstream side and a free side opposite the upstream side, the free side having an edge, the work surface being unobstructed and accessible from above the top face and from at least the free side; (b) continuously blowing clean air over the work surface from the upstream side toward the free side so as to form a substantially horizontal flow of the clean air across the work surface and so that the flow of air has a velocity gradient with an upper layer or stream of air having a substantially higher velocity of flow than a lower layer or stream of the air flowing proximal to the top face; and (c) continuously sucking air from the flow of air into a suction intake disposed near the edge of the free side.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel spherical agglomerates of 10-phenothiazinylpropanoic acid. The invention also relates to a process for obtaining those agglomerates.The process for preparing the spherical agglomerates of 10-phenothiazinylpropanoic acid is characterized by stirring a suspension of 10-phenothiazinylpropanoic acid in water in the presence of a binder liquid which is not miscible with water selected from esters of aliphatic or cycloaliphatic acids, aliphatic or cycloaliphatic alcohols, and aliphatic or cycloaliphatic ketones.

Abstract: The invention describes a pipe for carrying fluid, including thermally insulated steel pipe sections of a type including an outer tubular shell, an inner cylindrical shell of smaller diameter, in the inner shell being sealingly welded to the outer shell at each of the ends of the pipe sections. It is characterized in that at each joint, the ends of the two inner shells are welded to each other, and a sleeve links to the ends of the outer shells so that when traction, compression or bending forces are exerted on the pipe, the said sleeve transmits these forces to the outer shells.

Abstract: The invention relates to a high peripheral speed centrifugal compressor of the kind comprising curved hollow sector shaped scoops juxtaposed circumferentially about an axis to form a disc, and a drive shaft for rotating said disc about said axis.According to the invention, the scoops are made from material loaded with high mechanical strength fibers and are connected together circumferentially and radially by filaments wound and stretched in radial clearances between the scoops, the filaments being of material generally similar to the fibers of the scoops and being coated with a bonding agent compatible with the material of the scoops and the filaments, the bonding agent being cured so as to bond the scoops and filaments solidly together in the form of a stable unitary member.The resulting wheel has light weight and high mechanical breakage strength, enabling high peripheral speed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improvements made to heat insulating means for piping subjected to high thermal, hydrostatic and mechanical stresses.The new insulating means comprises a plurality of sectors or layers made from a lacunal insulating material enclosing air, which sectors or layers are bonded together by sheets or layers of elastomer, and having undergone curing at a temperature less than or equal to 120.degree. C.