Abstract: A testing apparatus is provided for comparative testing of disk passage resistance of various disks in a high energy loss disk stack to detect blocked, broken down or irregularities in the various disks or individual passages thereof. The testing apparatus includes a plug which is sealably movable within a central core of the disk stack to supply air to labyrinth passageways formed at predetermined stack heights by aligning an air outlet on the plug with the labyrinth passageways formed at that stack height. The plug is connected to a pressure gauge calibrated to indicate a normal range of labyrinth resistance. Readings below the normal range indicate broken down or low resistance labyrinths while readings above the normal range indicate high resistance or blocked labyrinths.

Abstract: An upright conduit and disperser which provide the acceleration and uniformity of particle dispersion required for a smooth transition from dense to dilute phase in the pneumatic conveyance of gas entrained particles.

Abstract: A flexible insulating blanket attached to a metal backing with adjustable panels about the backing is used to cover the opening of a carbon anode baking furnace to bring about sealing contact between the cover and the furnace walls so as to minimize thermal requirements and losses from the furnace.

Abstract: A hydraulically balanced face type shaft seal is provided in which the opening and closing seal face areas retain concentricity with each other in the event of lateral shaft displacement. All of the areas affected by the hydraulic force balance are embodied either by the rotating or stationary seal member, and the radial width of the sealing face of a second seal member is sufficiently wider than that of the first member so as to preclude runoff at maximum lateral displacement of the shaft at the seal.

Abstract: A heat exchanger in which mutually reactive heat transfer fluids are utilized. Tubes are interposed coaxially with other tubes so as to form a limited volume, wherein these fluids can mix and react in a controlled manner, permitting detection of leakage across the boundaries separating the reactive fluids before a major chemical or physical reaction can occur.

Abstract: A high temperature non-conducting inorganic refractory adhesive suitable for use in conjunction with a number of substances including conducting elements metallic in nature.

Abstract: A control rod ejection retardation assembly is mounted to a control rod assembly of a nuclear reactor to retard the ejection of the control rod only during an undesired ejection of the control rod while allowing normal control rod movement and "scramming" operation to be drag free and unretarded. The ejection retardation assembly includes a piston assembly mounted to the control rod and having an opening thereto controlled by a ball valve. The piston assembly seals are made loose fitting to allow sufficient fluid flow through the seals to provide unhindered normal control rod movement even with the ball valve sealing the piston assembly opening. During undesired speedy ejection of the control rod, the ball valve seals the opening to prevent fluid flow to the piston assembly retarding piston movement and thereby controlling control rod movement.

Abstract: A snubber cartridge assembly is mounted to the nozzle of a control rod drive mechanism to insure that the snubber assembly will be located within the liquid filled section of a nuclear reactor vessel whenever the control rod drive is assembled thereto. The snubber assembly includes a piston mounted proximate to the control rod connecting end of the control rod drive leadscrew to allow the piston to travel within the liquid filled snubber cartridge and controllably exhaust liquid therefrom during a "scram" condition. The snubber cartridge provides three separate areas of increasing resistance to piston travel to insure a speedy but safe "scram" of the control rod into the reactor.

Abstract: A typical embodiment of an integral pressurized water nuclear reactor and straight-tube steam generator combination in accordance with the invention includes a generally cylindrical pressure vessel that is assembled from three segments which are bolted together at transverse joints to form a fluid and pressure tight unit that encloses the steam generator and the reactor. This novel construction permits primary to secondary coolant heat exchange and improved control rod drive mechanisms which can be exposed for full service access during reactor core refueling, maintenance and inspection.

Abstract: A more compact high energy loss device is provided having a series of uniquely formed multiturn labyrinth assemblies which reduce the pressure of a fluid flowing therethrough. The inlet of the labyrinth assemblies is formed according to a substantially circular configuration to have a predetermined inlet area while the outlet is formed according to a substantially scalloped configuration to provide an outlet area greater than the inlet area. The scalloped configuration of the outlet yields an outlet area which is also greater than if the outlet were of circular configuration. The scalloped outlet configuration also makes the labyrinth assembly less susceptible to circumferential thermal stresses resulting from high temperature fluids passing through the device producing high temperature inlet conditions and low temperature outlet conditions.

Abstract: The position of a control rod located within a nuclear reactor is sensed by a position indicating system utilizing a series of self-exciting reed switch oscillator assemblies mounted along the path of control rod travel. Each reed switch oscillator assembly is preset to provide a constant level output signal when no external flux field is present and to provide an oscillating output signal whenever an external flux field is brought into the vicinity of the reed switch oscillator assembly. The control rod has a magnet mounted thereto which establishes an external flux field and causes the reed switch oscillator assembly proximate to the magnet to provide an oscillating output signal indicative of the position of the control rod.

Abstract: A differential thermocouple combustible gas detector is provided by coating one thermocouple junction of a differential thermocouple pair with a catalyst and the other thermocouple junction with a non-catalyst. Heated combustible gases react with the catalyst to liberate heat to the catalyst coated thermocouple junction in proportion to the concentration of combustible gases and proportionally raise the temperature of that junction above the non-catalyst coated junction. The output signal from the differential thermocouple device is thus a signal indicative of the concentration of combustible gases.

Abstract: The position of a control rod located within a nuclear reactor is sensed by a position indicating system utilizing low hysteresis reed switch assemblies. Each reed switch assembly includes a reed switch having an alternating magnetic flux field applied thereto through a coil surrounding the reed switch and energized by an alternating current power source. The amplitude of the alternating magnetic flux field is adjusted to be between a first flux level required to close the reed switch and a second flux level required to open the reed switch. The level of the alternating magnetic flux field is preset to be below the second flux level to maintain the switch in the open position until an external flux field is introduced to raise the total flux level above the first flux level to actuate the reed switch to close. The interaction of the alternating and external flux fields negates the hysteresis band of ordinary reed switches and provides a more sensitive and accurate position indicating circuit.

Abstract: An illustrative embodiment of the invention provides pressure relief valve means for the core support cylinder of a nuclear reactor vessel during a failure or accident of the nuclear reactor system. The valve means is responsive to differential pressure across the valve which in one direction sealably seats the valve plate against the valve body, and which, in the other direction opens the valve for pressure relief of the cylinder. Moreover, the valve means is provided with energy absorbing means which limit the impact load of an "explosively" opening valve on the reactor vessel wall.

Abstract: An illustrative embodiment of the invention discloses a technique for disassembling a nuclear reactor fuel element without destroying the individual fuel pins and other structural components from which the element is assembled. A traveling bridge and trolley that span a water-filled spent fuel storage pool support a strongback. The strongback is under water and provides a working surface on which the spent fuel element is placed for inspection and for the manipulation that is associated with disassembly and assembly. To remove, in a non-destructive manner, the grids that hold the fuel pins in the proper relative positions within the element, bars are inserted through apertures in the grids with the aid of special tools. These bars are rotated to flex the adjacent grid walls and, in this way relax the physical engagement between protruding portions of the grid walls and the associated fuel pins.

Abstract: A fluid sampling system has a series of sample probes having inlets located at different positions across a fluid conveying duct. The outlets of all the sample probes are connected to a valve assembly. Each of the sample probes is made to have substantially the same length and diameter to provide equivalent transport times and volumes to fluids sampled from the various locations. The valve assembly allows selective connection of the sample probes to the fluid analyzer allowing either individual sample probes to be connected to the analyzer to determine local duct conditions or the connection of all the sample probes to the analyzer to determine the average duct condition.

Abstract: A self-adjusting seal assembly is formed to fit around a member extending from a structure which is thermally insulated with insulation panels but which leaves a gap around the insulated member. The self-adjusting seal assembly covers this gap and automatically compensates for any gap variation due to thermal expansion and contraction. The assembly has a first spring biased seal member located on the insulation panel to partially abut against the member and partially seal the gap around the member. A second seal member is spring biased to abut against the first seal member to thereby completely enclose the member and the gap around the member. As the structure member expands or contracts the spring loaded seal members move to retain their position abutting the member and maintain the integrity of the gap seal.

Abstract: The tubes of a heat exchanger tube bank have a portion thereof formed in the shape of a helix, of effective radius equal to the tube radius and the space between two adjacent tubes, to tangentially contact the straight sections of the tubes immediately adjacent thereto and thereby provide support, maintain the spacing and account for differential thermal expansion thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for lubricating the bearings associated with rotor mounted variable pitch type blades in axial flow fans.

Abstract: A function generator is provided which establishes an output signal according to a functional relationship determined by the preformed contour of an easily precut cam member. The function generator includes a variable gain controller section coupled to a proximity sensing motion balance servomechanism which varies the gain of the controller according to the sensed proximity of the servomechanism to the edge of the cam member without physical contact therewith. The cam member's position is in turn determined by an input signal which may be related to the controller input signals or may be an independent signal from a remote source. The gain and consequently the output of the controller is varied according to the functional relationship determined by the precut contour of the cam member.