Abstract: A non-return valve for a steam turbine steam line includes a housing and a clapper swingably mounted in the housing for angular movement between open and closed positions. A metal proximity detector is mounted on the interior surface of the cover for the valve access opening and adjacent the open position of the valve. Movement of the clapper away from its open position results in a signal providing an indication that the valve clapper is away from its open position.

Abstract: System and method for characterizing the resonant responses of a plurality of rotating blades in a turbo machine. The system comprises a plurality of controllable fluid jets disposed about a blade row for exciting rotating blades with selectable frequencies of vibration. The sequential excitation of blades at a plurality of narrowly spaced frequencies and the simultaneous sensing of blade responses sufficiently resolves the resonant center frequencies and harmonics thereof in order to detect changes in characteristic blade resonances.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cooling of hot waste gases using a jetting bed, fluidized bed technique. A nozzle or plurality of nozzles inject the hot waste gases upwardly into a bed of solid particulate material contained in a housing, with the jet of hot gases fluidizing the bed and being dissipated therein without substantially disturbing the surface of the bed of solids. With use of a horizontally extending bed, a plurality of nozzles are spaced such that the jets of hot waste gases do not impinge upon one another. With use of a vertically extending housing, a single jet of hot waste gases may be used. The hot solids in the enclosure may be removed therefrom, cooled and returned, or heat transfer tubes may be provided in the housing, out of the area of contact of hot waste gases, to remove heat therefrom.

Abstract: A multimode video merchandiser system utilizes two levels of inductive learning to derive rules for selecting the sequence in which images of products stored on a videodisc are presented on a video monitor to a user. The first level of inductive learning generates rules from market survey based, consumer profile attributes assigned to items selected by previous users to determine the profile of the consumer most likely to be using the system at any given time, and to present the items in a sequence most likely to appeal to such a user. The second level of inductive learning utilizes a set of product characteristic attributes assigned to items selected by the current user to determine that user's preferences, and to modify the sequence of presentation to display first those items possessing the preferred characteristics.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring and generating on-line, real time displays of two and three dimensional nuclear reactor core power distributions and off-line, periodically updated summaries of three dimensional nuclear reactor core power and burnup distributions is disclosed. The method and apparatus makes use of information obtained from inlet sensors and core-exit thermocouples to produce enthalpy rise values. Flux measurements are combined with enthalpy to produce power values. In one aspect of the invention, deviations from reference values are classified and displayed on a two-dimensional color graphics terminal where the various classifications are displayed according to a color code which enables a rapid and convenient method of analysis of the dynamics of the reactor operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating core-average and radially peaked, pointwise core axial power distributions of a nuclear reactor core from monitored responses of reactor flux obtained exterior of the core, such as responses obtained from ex-core power range nuclear detectors, and from responses of temperature obtained from selected core-exit thermocouples.

Abstract: Apparatus for releasably engaging an elongated member that is releasably connected to the top nozzle of a nuclear reactor fuel assembly. The top nozzle has an adapter plate disposed at its lower end having at least one passageway therethrough through which the elongated member is disposed. The elongated member has a releasable latching structure at one end that is able to be engaged by the apparatus, having at least one latching member movable between a latched position in which the latching member is able to engage said adapter plate and secure the absorber rod in a stationary relationship with respect to the adapter plate and an unlatched position in which the latching member is able to disengage from said adapter plate so that the elongated member be removed from the fuel assembly.

Abstract: A system which measures direct current drift and noise in sensor signals from redundant sensors utilizing a parity-space algorithm. Parity vector signals produced by the parity-space algorithm are averaged to provide a direct current (DC) drift signal. An instantaneous noise signal is found by subtracting the direct current drift signal from a parity vector signal for one of the samples of the sensor signals. The RMS value of the instantaneous noise signals are averaged to provide sensors noise signals.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for the control of dynamic systems, more particularly complex dynamic systems and especially those systems exhibiting minimum phase behavior. The method utilizes observer theory to estimate the state variables of the system. Based in part upon the estimated values of the state variables, a pseudo or compensated output for the system is generated. This compensated output represents the steady state asymptote of the actual system output without the unstable or transient system responses. The actual outputs are then controlled by controlling the compensated output.According to another embodiment, a bounded output may also be generated from the state variable estimates. This bounded output represents the minimum and/or maximum excursion that the actual output takes in its approach to the steady state value represented by the compensated output.

Abstract: The present invention includes an adjustable head set held in place on the back of a patient's head when the patient leans back against a chair head rest. The head set includes self-preparing disposable monitors that provide good contact with the patient's head without prior skin preparation. The monitors include a conductive tube containing conductive wires, the tips of which form a planar cushion surface for contacting thr patient's head through a caratinaceous layer of skin. The monitors are held in adjustable holders that allow the contact force to be adjusted. The adjustable holders are mounted in holder slots of head set springs where the slots also allow adjustment of the placement of the monitors. The springs can include hinges for rotatably adjusting placement of the monitors. The disposable monitors are filled with an electrolyte solution using a disposable applicator including a puncturable film, punctured by a monitor when the electrolyte solution is being applied.

Abstract: The present invention is a multimode sensor system that transmits power down a common bus coaxial cable typically using an alternating current power source. Each remote unit connected to the coaxial cable and through an isolation transformer converts the alternating current power to direct current power for an integrated circuit bus interface. The interface is connected to the sensors. The interface is externally pin programmable to provide a carrier at a frequency for a channel assigned to the remote unit. The carrier is provided by a ripple counter producing a frequency divided signal compared to a fixed reference frequency, where the result of the comparison controls a voltage controlled oscillator. When plural low frequency analog signals are to be transmitted over the common bus, an on-chip multiplexer multiplexes the signals to an off-chip, external analog-to-digital converter.

Abstract: A nuclear reactor steam generating plant having a pressurized water reactor with a single discharge line to a steam generator, with the primary coolant passing through the steam generator tubes divided into two streams in the channel head outlet section that is divided into two subsections. Discharge nozzles on the outlet subsections direct the streams of coolant to hermetically sealed pumps directly attached to the discharge nozzles, with the pumps directing the cooled primary coolant back to the reactor vessel. A single removable closure is provided for access to both subsections of the outlet section of the channel head, with a removable portion provided on the divider plate that forms the subsections.

Abstract: A system having a predetermined number of stations or nodes which all receive the broadcast messages. Each message includes a token value used by each node to access a token ring list. The entry accessed in the list determines whether the node has the token and can immediately transmit or whether the node must continue to wait for another message for a time out period equal to the entry. The token is passed around the ring of nodes and if a node fails, the node following the failed node in the ring will receive the token by default when the time out value retrieved from the token ring list is counted down to zero. Failed nodes that are activated will wait an infinite amount of time to receive a message containing a token value which starts the newly activated node counting down and thus brings the newly activated node back into the network in its proper sequence.

Abstract: A pipe end sealing element for use in hydrotesting of plain end pipes, such as instrument tubes of a nuclear reactor, and a method of hydrotesting of such plain end pipes. The pipe sealing element comprises a hollow tubular member with a bevelled flange at one end and a threaded portion at the other end, a hollow conical bushing of decreasable interior diameter having a bevelled surface complementary to the bevelled surface of the tubular member, a sealing plug and threaded bolt engageable with the threaded portion of the hollow tubular member. The hollow tubular member is placed about the open end of the pipe, with the threaded portion thereof adjacent and beyond the pipe end, and inserting the conical bushing into the hollow tubular member about the pipe wall. The sealing plug is placed on the pipe end and the threaded bolt engaged with the threads of the hollow tubular member.

Abstract: An ultrasonic cleaning device for a venturi flow nozzle in a pipe in a fluid system which includes one more transducer assemblies for generating and transmitting sound waves to the nozzle to effect a cleaning action.

Abstract: A self-testing contact closure test circuit and method in which invalid logic states are artificially created in order to simulate a switch malfunction, and thus to determine whether the testing circuitry correctly identifies the invalid state. The system is designed to be used with switches such as those incorporating form "C" arrangements having two pairs of contacts which under normal circumstances are in opposite states.

Abstract: A digital computer performs a complete eddy current analysis of the tubes of a steam generator from data input to generation of a final report. The computer extracts signatures generated by various structural features and tube defects from the data, breaks down composite signatures into their component parts and classifies each such signature by applying thereto a cascading set of experience based rules. Signatures classified as structural features are examined closely for the presence of colocated tube defects. A post processor correlates the location of the indication identified from the time based eddy current data with the known physical location of the structural features so that the position of the defects can be presented in terms of distances from fixed structures.

Abstract: A swing gate closure assembly for nuclear reactor tipoff assembly wherein the swing gate is cammed open by a fuel element or spacer but is reliably closed at a desired closing rate primarily by hydraulic forces in the absence of a fuel charge.

Abstract: Apparatus for transferring components, particularly rod control cluster elements for a nuclear reactor, to and from containers, particularly fuel assemblies, with the aid of a movable carriage containing compartments for receiving at least one fuel assembly and at least one rod control cluster element. The carriage is mounted on tracks and carries an abutment member arranged to cooperate with stops which delimit respective positions of the carriage along the tracks. When the carriage is at least in some of its positions, a respective compartment is located directly below a vertically movable gripper which is operable for gripping a rod control cluster element. In order to allow the carriage to have more than two positions, there is provided a movable stop which can be lowered to permit the carriage abutment member to move therepast and raised to be contacted by the abutment member.

Abstract: A calandria assembly is received within the pressure vessel of a nuclear reactor system, at an elevation corresponding to the level of the outlet nozzles of the vessel, and receives pressurized coolant traveling in an axial flow direction within the vessel and turns same to a radial direction for exit through the outlet nozzles. Hollow tubes mounted in parallel relationship at opposite ends to first and second plates of the calandria in conjunction with a cylindrical skirt of cylindrical configuration joining the first and second plates of the calandria, present a redundant structure introducing the potential of thermal stresses, which are limited by selection of the pattern of flow holes in the lower plate and the provision of flexible annular weld joints of J-shaped configuration between the lower ends of the calandria tubes and the lower, second calandria plate.