Abstract: To prevent possible misalignment of the various parts of a plug and receptacle connector, if the coupling ring is inadvertently rotated before the receptacle is in full position, there is provided an interlock sleeve. This sleeve is spring-loaded and positioned between the coupling ring and the plug outer surface. Internal and external keys incorporated within the sleeve prevent inadvertent rotation of the coupling ring until the receptacle has made entry into the plug sufficiently to key both the coupling ring and plug shell.

Abstract: A hand-held optical fiber cleaving tool has a shaft for receiving a fiber which has had the end portion of the protective cover removed. A reduced diameter section in the shaft acts as an abutment, and the exposed end of the fiber is held in a V-block clamp. The clamp is spring-biased to place the fiber in tension during a circumferential scoring by a pointed scoring tool which is journaled about the shaft. The applied tension causes the fiber to break upon completion of the scoring. In an alternate embodiment which is not hand-held, support is provided for the fiber opposite the scoring tool.

Abstract: A spring-loaded pin maintains the plug shell and coupling ring of a plug and receptacle electrical in predetermined relation lockingly aligning internal keyways when the connector parts are unmated. When a receptacle having an appropriately coded set of peripheral keys is received within the plug shell, certain of the keys act to release the locked alignment of coupling ring to plug shell enabling the coupling ring to be rotated and drive the plug and receptacle together into mated relation.

Abstract: A preformed radiator hose and a method of manufacturing such a hose are disclosed herein. A long length of an uncured hose is first fabricated by alternately wrapping layers of an uncured elastomer and fiber reinforcements around a straight mandrel. The uncured hose is then removed from the straight mandrel and cut into shorter segments. Each of these segments is then placed on a contoured mandrel having a shape corresponding to the intended configuration of the final hose and cured by heating. Although the fully cured hose does have a permanent shape, because of the unique arrangement of the reinforcements, etc., it has sufficient deformability to be easily slipped off the mandrel.

Abstract: One connector part has an end face with openings aligned with the contacts. A transferable metal plate has openings which can be aligned with the contacts and the end face openings, the plate and end face openings being sufficient to receive a pin contact without shorting out. The plate is located in front of the socket contacts and spring-loaded to urge an edge outwardly of the connector part or shell. With the connector parts disconnected, the metal plate partially blocks off the end face openings. On mating of the connector parts, the shell of the other connector part engages the protruding plate edge camming the plate to align the plate openings with the openings of the socket contacts.

Abstract: A helically fabricated electrically conductive flexible hose having a self-supporting electrically conductive helical reinforcing element of non-circular cross-section with a flat side facing inwardly and defining the outermost element of the hose bonded to a flexible plastic hose wall.

Abstract: An optical fiber has an insulative coating portion stripped leaving an extent of bare fiber. A fiber contact housing has an opening within which the fiber is located in the interstice of three cylindrical pins arranged parallel and contacting each other. The inner end portions of the pins are ridged to clamp onto the insulative material covering the fiber adjacent the bare fiber. A shield is placed around the inner ends of the pins and crimped about the pins and fibers. By use of a fixture the faced-off end of the fiber is located just inwardly of the outer ends of the pins, this assembly constituting a "contact" and a second fiber is assembled into a second "contact". An alignment sleeve has a leaf spring wall to resiliently retain and align the two fiber contacts received within the sleeve ends in proper fiber end spacing relation.

Abstract: In the forming of flexible tubing of at least one wire helix covered by a helically wrapped tape, an apparatus and method for making such tubing wherein an endless belt of a width a plurality of times the pitch of the wire helix is passed against a rotating mandrel surface to draw the wire helix and tape wrapping together.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for decontaminating a nuclear reactor pressure vessel. It comprises a buoyant annular frame which descends into the vessel as the water level within it is lowered. Spray nozzles move around the frame on trolleys in a reciprocating fashion and spray water under high pressure on the inner surface of the vessel wall, resulting in automatic washdown of the reactor vessel.

Abstract: A removable plugging device for a pipeline, and particularly for pressure testing a steam pipeline in a boiling water reactor, wherein an inflatable annular sealing member seals off the pipeline and characterized by radially movable shoes for holding the plug in place, each shoe being pivotally mounted for self-adjusting engagement with even an out-of-round pipeline interior.

Abstract: For cable termination, a metal plate is fit into the open cable-receiving end of either a connector plug or receptacle. One or more openings in the plate include hollow metal tubes conductively secured to the plate. A set of cable wires within a grounded shield have a shield end portion peeled back preliminary to the wires being passed through one of the tubes and connected to an appropriate connector contact. The peeled-back shield end portion extends over the tube. A ring of solder about the shield affixes it to the tube. Optionally, an aluminum ring may be clamped over the shield sleeve by an electric current operated cryo ring. In another shield connection technique, an oversized ferrule is crimped onto the shield. An elongated tapered cylindrical adapter has one end of a diameter enabling fitting receipt onto the connector open end and a recessed shoulder for engaging edge portions of the connection plate to secure it in place.

Abstract: A multi-wire cable grommet constructed of a pliable material has a plurality of apertures extending therethrough and wire-sealing wall portions, one for each cable wire. Centrally located and extending angularly inwardly from the aperture wall is a generally cone-shaped wall portion which terminates in an opening smaller than the wire diameter. The opening in the cone-shaped portion lies on the aperture axis and is encompassed by a bead with wall thickness being relatively thin so that any wire movements transversely of the aperture axis will be taken up by bending of the conical wall rather than by any tendency of the conical member opening bead to be stretched away from sealing relationship with the wire.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a shielded plug and socket in which the socket is provided with a fixed and a movable shield to protect the socket against magnetic electromagnetic interference when the socket is disconnected from the plug.

Abstract: A plug and receptacle electrical connector has incorporated within one of its parts an insulative enclosure maintaining the pin or sockets contacts, as the case may be, in an electrically insulated relation, which enclosure also has cavities formed about each of the pin contacts for receiving inductors and/or one or more specially formed capacitors therein.Each inductor is an elongated hollow cylinder formed of a magnetic material (e.g., sintered ferrite), one such inductor being received within a member cavity and the pin (or socket) contacts on being assembled in the connector part extending through the respective inductor openings. A capacitor consists of an insulative cylinder with an axial opening therethrough and has select portions coated with first and second electrically conductive film electrodes.

Abstract: A wire frame aid is received over the cable and the connector part that carries the coupling housing. At one end of the frame coded keys interlockingly engage keys and keyways on the outer surface of the coupling housing. The aid is gripped by one or both hands when it is desired to rotate the housing providing greater purchase of the hand and additional leverage for opening or closing the connector, as the case may be. An elongated slot-like opening enables the aid to be slipped on and off the cable and connector, as desired. In a second version, an elongated hollow metal body having a bore sufficient to permit receipt onto the cable has an enlarged threaded end which is received onto a similarly threaded portion of the coupling housing. The end portion of the metal body opposite the threaded end is provided with transversely extending parts which can be gripped with the hand or fingers, or with a suitable tool during use.

Abstract: The plug of a plug and receptacle connector has a hollow cylindrical shell of such internal diameter as to permit its receipt onto and over a cylindrical receptacle shell during mating. A groove formed circumferentially about the inner wall of the plug includes a pair of intertwined continuous helically wound springs secured within the groove which wipes along the external wall of the receptacle as it is fitted within the plug. One of the wire springs has a cross-sectional dimension less than that of the other. At crossover points of the springs, they are bonded to one another. When received within the internal groove of the plug part, the large diameter helically wound part of the spring means is secured to the inner wall of the groove by use of a conductive material.

Abstract: There are disclosed method and apparatus for plugging the underwater recirculating nozzle of a boiling water reactor vessel. The method includes the lowering of a plug by a secondary cable into the annular space between the vessel sidewall and the nuclear fuel shroud. The cable is displaced outwardly, permitting the plug to enter the space between the sidewall and the jet pumps. Cable and plug are then shifted laterally into position over the nozzle, the weight of the plug being taken by a primary cable which lowers the plug into position. A special apparatus is provided which rests upon the core shroud and performs the steps of displacing and laterally shifting the cable.

Abstract: A canister for holding loose nuclear fuel rods for containment within a cell of a pool storage rack. The canister is designed with lateral restraints at both its bottom and its top to substantially prevent impact with the sides of the cell during an earthquake.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for decontaminating the wall of a boiling water reactor cavity. A chassis on wheels is rollable on the refueling floor along the cavity curb. A pair of horizontal wheels roll against the curb. A support member extends upwardly and laterally from the chassis to clear the personnel handrail. A mast depends from the support member into the cavity and includes a horizontal reaction wheel bearing against the cavity wall. A vertically positionable carriage is mounted on the mast and carries water spray nozzles directed against the wall.