Abstract: An electrical contact avoidance device comprises an inductor plate directly or capacitively coupled to the user and coupled to a detector circuit which derives a DC signal corresponding to a voltage induced in the user's body by a radiated high voltage electrostatic field. A comparator compares the DC signal with a reference signal representing the potential difference between the inductor and reference plates, and activates an alarm if the detected signal exceeds a preselected reference level.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of preconditioning selected species of fish to associate characteristic acoustic signals with food, thereby to induce the fish to congregate towards a selected location in response to such acoustic signals.

Abstract: A method for the recovery of carbon-14 (C-14) from a mixture of inert gas and carbon-12 (C-12), carbon-13 (C-13) and C-14 dioxides. The mixture is cooled to a temperature below the solidification point of carbon dioxide to obtain solid carbon dioxide. The solid carbon dioxide is volatilized to provide substantially pure carbon dioxide gas which is reduced to carbon monoxide gas by reaction with metal. The carbon monoxide gas is cooled to obtain liquefied carbon monoxide. A feed of the liquefied carbon monoxide is subjected to fractional distillation and a bottoms rich in C-14 monoxide and poor in C-12 monoxide is collected and a distillate poor in C-14 monoxide and rich in C-12 monoxide is removed. The bottoms are oxidized to carbon dioxide rich in C-14 dioxide which is absorbed in a metal hydroxide solution and a carbonate salt rich in C-14 is obtained.

Abstract: A method for determining the efficiency and loading of an electric motor comprises affixing a strain gauge to the drive shaft, calibrating the strain gauge, measuring the input power of the motor, measuring the rotational speed of the drive shaft, transmitting an RF signal from the strain gauge through a rotary antenna to a stationary antenna and calculating the torque in the drive shaft under load. An apparatus for carrying out said method includes a device for determining the input power of the motor, a device for determining the rotational speed of the drive shaft, a strain gauge affixed to the draft shaft coupled to an RF transmitter transmitting a signal through a rotary antenna affixed to the drive shaft, and transmitting device coupled to the stationary antenna for transmitting an RF signal to the rotary antenna and receiving an RF signal from the rotary antenna proportional to the amount of strain experienced by the strain gauge.

Abstract: In order to determine the occurrence of a stator fault in an induction motor during operation of the motor, the axial leakage flux is monitored during operation of the motor. The occurrence of a stator fault is detected by observing a change in selected harmonic components of the axial leakage. The angular position of the fault with respect to a datum position is determined by noting and recording changes in the axial leakage flux at a plurality of positions distributed symmetrically around the axis of the motor and computing the angular position by triangulation. The axial leakage flux is detected by individual search coils located at said plurality of positions.

Abstract: An apparatus for calcining and/or sintering ceramic materials comprising a kiln having a heating chamber formed from a microwave impermeable material separated from abutting secondary chambers containing conventional heating means by perforated walls, permitting convectional/radiative heat transfer from the secondary chambers into the heating chamber while minimizing leakage of microwave radiation from the heating chamber. A method for processing ceramic materials in the apparatus comprises applying convectional or convectional/radiative heat to elevate the temperature of a material to increase microwave coupling, and then applying microwave radiation to further elevate the temperature of the material and maintain a desired temperature for a desired length of time.

Abstract: An energy absorber for a fall protection system employing a horizontal lifeline comprises an elongate, flexible strength component to opposite ends of which is transmitted the tension shock load produced in the lifeline by arresting a fall and a plurality of sequential energy components operatively connected to the strength component, so that tension applied at opposite ends of the strength component is borne by each of the energy absorbing components and only after its predecessor has broken. The breaking strength of each energy absorbing component, which may be a linear segment of stainless steel aircraft cable, is selected not exceed a desired maximum arrest load. The number of energy absorber components is selected so that not all of them will break when the fall protection system arrests the fall of an object of a predetermined mass falling freely a predetermined distance.

Abstract: In a lineman's pole strap assembly for use on utility poles and the like, the assembly comprising an outer strap and a cross strap attached at its ends to the outer strap so as to define a closed loop encircling the pole, the cross strap is connected to the outer strap by slide members which are interconnected by an elastic tensile member under tension. In normal ascent and descent the cross strap is manually held away from the pole, but is releasable so as to be pulled into tight frictional engagement with the pole and to pull gaffs which are mounted on the slide members into listing engagement with the pole.

Abstract: A ground source heat pump comprising an indoor coil circuit and an outdoor coil circuit utilizes a scroll compressor to pressurize the refrigerant. The outdoor coil may comprise ground coils formed from copper tubing into a spiral configuration. A charge control device controls the volume of refrigerant in the system in heating and cooling modes. A restrictor in parallel with a thermal expansion valve permits a base flow of refrigerant into the outdoor coil in heating mode. An accumulator is provided with a level switch controlling a solenoide value connected in parallel to a thermal expansion value feedig the indoor coil. The scroll compressor includes a discharge port operating in conjunction with a solenoid valve to trap high pressure refrigerant in the condenser circuit during compressor off cycles. Means for closing off one of the ground coils to reduce the effective length of the outdoor coil is provided.

Abstract: A reactor for use in the separation of tritium from tritiated water by the vapor phase catalytic exchange process comprises an evaporator section, a superheater section, a catalytic reactor section and a condenser section serially arranged within a common casing structure defining a unitary pressure vessel. In a multistage plant the reactors are interconnected to provide for countercurrent flow of the water and hydrogen gas from stage to stage, with co-current contact in the catalytic reactor section of each stage. By incorporating the components of each stage in a common casing structure, the external piping is minimized and the risk of leakage is reduced.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically sensing the configuration of a damaged surface area and wherein the apparatus is provided with an arc gouging tool, a welding tool, and a grinding tool to gouge damaged areas and fill them with weld material to at least the surface profile of the surface in the working environment and to grind the filled areas flush with the surface of the working environment. A track is bent to a profile enabling the apparatus to work without any collision with its environment while keeping full access to the work area. The geometry of the track is generally unknown to the control circuit of the robot. A motor-actuated robot member is connected to the track and is displaceable on the track by a motorized element. A working arm is displaceably coupled to the robot member and has one or more working tools connected thereto. A control circuit displaces the robot and operates the working arm and tool.

Abstract: Apparatus for repositioning garter springs around the pressure tubes of Candu-type nuclear reactors. A primary coil having a high permeability core is inserted into the pressure tube. The coil is energized by an alternating current of a frequency and amplitude sufficient to produce a primary alternating electromagnetic field that penetrates the wall and induces an eddy current in the garter spring. A secondary alternating electromagnetic field is also produced and is reactive with the primary field to produce a travelling electromagnetic field of sufficient intensity and of such direction that the resultant of the electromagnetic forces acting on the garter spring causes the spring to move along the tube.

Abstract: A method for repositioning garter springs around the pressure tubes of Candu-type nuclear reactors. A primary coil having a high permeability core is inserted into the pressure tube. The coil is energized by an alternating current of a frequency and amplitude sufficient to produce a primary alternating electromagnetic field that penetrates the wall and induces an eddy current in the garter spring. A secondary alternating electromagnetic field is also produced and is reactive with the primary field to produce a travelling electromagnetic field of sufficient intensity and of such direction that the resultant of the electromagnetic forces acting on the garter spring causes the spring to move along the tube.