Abstract: A method for removing metallic plugs from conduits such as the heat exchanger tubes in a nuclear steam generator is disclosed herein. In such tubes, plugs formed from a cylindrical shell of Inconel are radially expanded in sealing engagement with the open end of an Inconel tube mounted in a tubesheet by pulling down a cork-shaped expander element disposed in wedging engagement with the shell. The method of the invention removes such plugs by pushing the expander element from the open end back to the closed end of the shell, and then heating the shell to a temperature which substantially lessens its tensile yield while applying a tensile force along the longitudinal axis of the plug shell sufficient to elongate it. In the method, an electrically conductive push-rod is utilized which simultaneously conducts a substantial current of electricity through the plug shell while pushing against the closed end thereof.

Abstract: A safety glove bag system for the removal of hazardous materials from elongated pipes or the like without danger or exposure of the operator to the hazardous material. The system utilizes a series of disposal pouches connected to a manifold which surrounds the pipe, and each of the disposal pouches may be removed from the assembly without disrupting the removal process.

Abstract: A clip-like, C-shaped sheet-metal nut and an assembly device therefor, the nut having a thread leg with an embossed thread portion and a clip leg having a through hole, with the forward end of the thread leg having an upwardly and forwardly inclined insertion plate. A pair of guide webs are integrally formed on the two lateral edges of the thread leg that extend upwardly at right angles to the leg with the upper edges of the webs protruding above the insertion plate and running parallel to the clip leg and with their side surfaces being in a line with the lateral edges of the clip leg to provide a substantially outer rectangular perimeter to the nut.

Abstract: A tool for setting threaded anchors, having an elongated body with a longitudinal bore and a threaded shaft received in the bore and projecting beyond both ends of the body to form a nut engaging end and an anchor engaging end. The anchors to be set include an anchor frustum having a longitudinal threaded bore, surrounded by a soft sleeve. A pinway is formed in the body communicating with the bore, and a retaining pin, in engagement with the threaded shaft, projects laterally through the pinway, for preventing relative rotational motion between the threaded shaft and the body while allowing relative longitudinal motion. A nut engages with the nut engaging end of the shaft. The method of setting such an anchor is to insert the anchor, attached to the end of the tool, into a hole where the anchor is to be set. The nut is then rotated with respect to the shaft, while preventing the rotation of the shaft and the body, so as to draw the frustum into the soft sleeve until the anchor is affixed within the hole.

Abstract: A method for assembling heat exchanger plate pairs by snap fitting with counter-rotating rotors move heat exchanger plates two at a time through paths which converge in a vertical mating plane. Arcuate guides engage the plate ends to control the plate path. The rotors are servomotor controlled to synchronously index the rotor in increments separated by dwell periods. After assembly the merged pairs drop between spaced guides into an assembly fixture. At a subsequent brazing operation each plate pair becomes a tube for carrying refrigerant.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the oxygenation of both the bearing lubrication oil and the hydraulic oil used for actuating the roll shell support elements in a controlled deflection roll, such as used in the papermaking industry, includes a seal at either end of the controlled deflection roll which establishes a gas-impervious seal between the roll shell support and rotation bearings at either end of the roll and the interior of the roll. A source of pressurized inert gas is linked to both the interior of the roll and to the reservoir of hydraulic oil used to actuate the roll shell support shoes. This prevents oxygen from interfacing with the hydraulic oil at the only two points in the closed system where the hydraulic oil and the atmosphere would otherwise come into contact. A separate bearing oil lubrication system having its own reservoir is maintained to supply bearing lubricant to the bearings and return it to a sump while maintaining the bearing lubricant separate from the hydraulic oil.

Abstract: A method for selectively transportable equipment support system is provided for operative association with an invalid transport vehicle such as a hospital bed. The system includes a transport bracket for selective secured association with a hospital bed or a service column. Various patient care items are secured to the transport bracket. Such items preferably comprise infusion pumps with associated fluid bags that are typically transported with the patients and employed in surgical rooms or intensive care units. The transport bracket includes a pivot post for reception in a service column latching assembly which allows pivotable movement of the transport bracket when it is secured to a service column support arm. The service columns are pneumatically powered for powered lifting and positioning of the transport bracket.

Abstract: A method for on-site maintenance of a guardrail consisting of a continuous strip of metal section segments supported on posts at joints between adjacent segments, the guardrail is split at one of joints and the segments of one of the resulting two portions of the guardrail are detached successively from the posts and fed, still connected to adjacent segments, into an apparatus traveling along the strip and inside which the segments are subjected continuously to cleaning, metal facing and protective processes. Once processed, the segments come out successively from one end of the apparatus, as the latter travels along the guardrail, and are reconnected successively to the posts.

Abstract: Plain bearings, particularly thin-walled plain bearing liners, are provided with radial projections for fixing and as an aid to assembly, e.g. with lugs, on the outer side of the outer part of the bearing, without using the whole thickness of the outer part of the bearing, so that the inner surface of the outer part of the bearing, which carries the functional layer, remains along its whole length cylindrically curved and smooth. Such outer projections are formed on a part of the thickness of the outer part of the bearing by radial shaping of the material. This is made on the joint face of bearing liners or on one or the other of the axial end faces of bearing liners or bushes or also on any desired place of the outer peripheral surface of the outer part of the bearing.

Abstract: Apparatus for the production by powder metallurgy of a heat exchanger block in which two spaced concentric half shells are provided with holes in which profiled pipes are inserted. The profiled pipes are internally supported by pins when metal powder is injected into the hollow space between the half shells for forming a wall section of a header. The radially outer half shell is formed by a plurality of half rings arranged with their side faces in contact with one another and the half rings are individually removed after the wall section is formed.

Abstract: A refrigerator cabinet includes an outer shell having a transverse flange terminating in a channel generally parallel with the flange and opening transversely inwardly. A liner is disposed within the shell and defines a storage space which is divided into two compartments by a compartment separator. A center rail defines a forward wall for the separator. A pair of brackets each has a first portion shaped to conform to the channel and a second portion shaped to conform to ends of the center rail. An adhesive material is disposed in opposite sides of the channel adjacent the compartment separator and adheres the brackets to the cabinet. Fasteners are provided for securing brackets to the opposite ends of the center rail. Accordingly, a refrigerator cabinet is provided which utilizes an adhesive as the sole means for retaining the center rail brackets to the cabinet structure.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for the production by welding of a heat exchanger pipe starting with a round metallic pipe onto which external metallic fins are secured so as to be perpendicular to the axis of the pipe. Each metallic fin is produced in two halves in such a manner each fin has a coxial semicircular recess or bay whose radius mateches the external diameter of the metallic pipe and on each side of such recess there are two side surfaces so that after mounting the fin halves on the pipe there is a small gap at the parting line between the two halves. After mounting the two fin halves on the metallic pipe the respectively radially outer and parts of the gap are spot welded together and on cooling down the fin the fins shrinkage at the weld spots causes the two fin halves to pressed on the pipe with their recess boundaries engaging the outer surface of the pipe.

Abstract: In the formation of finished slide surfaces for slide rails on a track for an electromagnetically levitated vehicle, the track is constructed as a girder-like beam with the slide rails located on cantilevered parts of the upper surface of the beam. The beam can be formed of prestressed concrete. Initially the slide rails are provided with a height oversize. The height oversize part of the slide rails is removed and the slide surface of the rails are finished to the desired degree. The height oversize part is removed by cutting and grinding devices mounted on a machine frame movable over the upper surface of the track. The machine frame is adjustable in the vertical direction from a datum plane formed by the lower surfaces of support stators secured to the undersides of the cantilevered parts of the track. The machine frame rides on the upper surface of the beam and is in contact with the lower surfaces of the support stators.

Abstract: An elevated floor panel is disclosed in which a lower sheet metal element is formed with a plurality of projections extending from the lower plane of the panel to the upper planar surface. The projections are formed in sequential die drawing operations. In the first die drawing operation, square truncated pyramids of intermediate height are drawn so that the upper surfaces of the intermediate projections provide substantially unworked material. In the second drawing operation, four symmetrically arranged, semispherical projections are drawn from the unworked material at the tops of the preliminary projections. In one embodiment, the tops of the semispherical projections are flattened. In another embodiment, the semispherical projections formed in the second drawing operation are fully curved. In such embodiment, a third operation is performed to produce a flattened extremity.

Abstract: A half-round bearing including a locating tab for establishing the positioning of the bearing shell when being mounted within a bearing housing. Generating tabs according to the prior art leave a radially outwardly projecting channel in the bearing crown surface which has been found to create slivers during finishing of the bearing shell wall thickness which can adversely influence bearing life. According to this invention, the bearing material is upset by coining in a manner such that the excess material is removed during the parting line broaching operation without causing a burr to be formed on the tab. The burr can prevent proper seating of the bearing shell in the bearing housing which reduces bearing life.

Abstract: There is disclosed a thermal hand-held labeler which can be converted to a table top printer by using method and apparatus according to the invention. The labeler has modular components which can be detachably connected to each other, and the modular components can be detachably connected to a base unit to provide a table top printer.

Abstract: In a rotary tube locking mechanism, the rotary tube itself is bent to form a controlled bulge. The guide plate cooperates with this controlled bulge to provide an anti-racking function.

Abstract: An earring clutch defined by a hollow metallic shell filled with an elastomer material. An axial bore extends diametrically through the shell, with each end of the bore terminating at a respective flanged opening. The bore receives the post of an earring in frictional, releasable engagement. To form the clutch, a hollow, apertured shell is submerged in a liquid elastomer material. A vacuum is drawn on the liquid causing the liquid to replace the air in the shell. The shell is removed from the liquid, the liquid elastomer material allowed to harden, and an axial bore then drilled through the hardened elastomer material.

Abstract: A method of providing on a surface of a furnace a refractory covering including the steps of affixing to the surface of the furnace a fiber blanket layer formed such as mineral wool, fiber glass and ceramic fibers and then spraying on the blanket layer either pneumatically or hydraulically, a castable refractory, the fiber blanket absorbing the kinetic energy of the castable refractory causing an increased proportion of the sprayed material to adhere thereto, and permitting the refractory to harden into a continuous refractory covering.

Abstract: A basket weaving form and method for use in conjunction with the contouring and weaving of a domed basket base. The invention includes a spider support having a contoured surface shaped similar to that of the under side of a desired basket base configuration. The spider support is adapted to receive a pin or nail previously pierced through the overlapping mid-point of a plurality of uniformally arranged, radially extending weaving spokes. Once thus temporarily afixed atop the basket weaving form, the spokes then forming a basket spider may be securely shaped over the spider receiving surface as lengths of weavers are woven back and forth around the weaving spokes to form the basket base.