1. An optical seismic cable module comprising:
a cable having:
a substantially tubular strength element;
a number of first optical fibres extending along a lumen of the strength element;
a number of second optical fibres extending part-way along the cable module radially outboard of the strength element;
a number of sensor units at which sensors are joined to the second optical fibres; and
a joining device at each end of the cable module, each joining device providing a load path between the strength element of the cable module and the strength element of a respective adjacent cable module, and providing for the connection of one or more of the first optical fibres of the cable module to respective first optical fibres of the respective adjacent cable module;
the seismic cable module further comprising a connection unit intermediate the length of the cable module at which at least one of the respective second optical fibres are joined to one of the first optical fibres of the cable module;
wherein the sensor units on both sides of the connection unit are joined to that connection unit by the second optical fibres.
2. An optical seismic cable module according to claim 1, wherein the joining devices provide for connection between first optical fibres of adjacent cable modules and respective second optical fibres of adjacent modules.
3. An optical seismic cable module according to claim 1, wherein equal numbers of sensor units are provided on each side of the connection unit.
4. An optical seismic cable module according to claim 1, wherein:
the connection unit is positioned intermediate the length of the cable module;
the sensor units are positioned on each side of the connection unit;
one of the respective second optical fibres extends from each sensor unit to the connection unit; and
the strength element and the first optical fibres of the cable module extend continuously from the respective ends of the cable module to the connection unit.
5. An optical seismic cable module according to claim 1, wherein more than one of the sensor units are joined to each of the second optical fibres.
6. An optical seismic cable comprising:
a number of cable modules according to claim 1,
wherein the cable modules are joined end-to-end at the joining devices wherein the first optical fibres of one cable module are joined to the first optical fibres of the adjacent cable module; and
the joining devices provide a load path between the strength elements of adjacent cable modules.
7. An optical seismic cable according to claim 6, wherein, in one of the cable modules, the respective second optical fibres extend from each of the sensor units to the connection unit.
8. An optical seismic cable according to claim 7, wherein, in one of the cable modules, the sensor units are positioned on each side of the connection unit.
9. An optical seismic cable according to claim 8, wherein, in one of the cable modules, equal numbers of sensor units are provided on each side of the connection unit.
10. An optical seismic cable module according to claim 1, wherein the respective ends of each module provide for module-to-module connection of first optical fibres, and also for module-to-module connection of second optical fibres.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. Piston device for dispensing ice cream, for ice cream machines of the \u201cinstant\u201d type, comprising a whisking cylinder (1) closed by a hatch (3) having an aperture (603) communicating with the said whisking cylinder (1), characterized in that the said hatch 3 has a cylindrical chamber (303) of relatively large diameter in which is mounted with a seal a rotatable drum (4) carrying a plurality of cylindrical housings (4a-4d), each having in its lower lateral area a through hole (304a-304d) which can be aligned with the said aperture (603) for communication with the whisking cylinder.
2. Dispensing device according to claim 1, characterized in that a vertically slidable piston (7a-7d) is fitted into each of the said cylindrical housings (4a-4d), means being provided for the selective movement of the said pistons (7a-7d).
3. Dispensing device according to claim 2, characterized in that each of the said cylindrical housings (4a-4d) is provided at its base with a die plate (504a-504d) provided with a series of through holes (604a-604d) for imparting any desired cross-sectional profile to the ice cream extruded through the die plates.
4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the said ice cream extrusion pistons are provided at their bases with a series of projections or plugs (504a-504d) complementary to the holes (604a-604d) of the said die plates, in such a way that the ice cream remaining in the said holes is fully expelled at the end of the dispensing stage.
5. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the said cylindrical housings (4a-4d) carrying the die plates (504a-504d) are positioned at equal distances from each other and at the same distance from the periphery of the drum (4).
6. Dispensing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the said drum (4) comprises in its lower part a handwheel (404) for rotating it in steps.
7. Dispensing device according to claim 2, characterized in that each of the said pistons (7a-7d) is provided with a reference and anti-rotation pin (607a-607d) which can slide in a vertical groove (20a-20d) in the cylindrical housing (4a-4d) in which the corresponding piston (7a-7d) is fitted.
8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that each piston (7a-7d) is provided in its upper part (107a-107d) with a substantially horizontal slot (207a-207d) which can be engaged by an element (10) for raising and lowering the engaged piston.
9. Dispensing device according to claim 8, characterized in that the said piston driving element (10) comprises a shank (210) connected to a guide piston (11) slidable in a cylindrical housing (17) formed on the surface of a cover (15) which closes the hatch (3).
10. Device according to claim 9, in which a re-entrant (311), in which is engaged a finger (12) fixed to a manually operated handle (19), is formed on the lateral wall of the said guide piston (11).
11. Dispensing device according to claim 10, characterized in that a reference and anti-rotation pin (211), which can slide in a vertical groove (18) in the cylindrical housing in which the said piston slides, is provided on the lateral wall of the said guide piston (11).