Abstract: The invention pertains to a lightweight reinforced firearm stock. The stock being internally reinforced by an epoxy resin and reinforcing fiber composition. Further, the internal reinforcement is displaced in certain areas by macroscopic displacement members, such as expanded styrene pellets or gelatin capsules.

Abstract: A pressurized water nuclear reactor comprises a normally vertical main vessel externally duplicated by a confinement enclosure. The main vessel contains a simplified primary circuit essentially incorporationg the reactor core and an annular steam generator arranged in such a way that the circulation of water, pressurized once and for all during the sealing of the vessel, takes place by natural convection. All the auxiliary circuits, conventionally ensuring cooling on shut down of such a reactor are eliminated, said cooling being ensured by a special arrangement of the space formed between the vessel and the enclosure and by the fact that the latter is immersed in an external cooling liquid, no matter what the slope of the reactor. The shut down of fission reaction in the core is ensured by systems of absorbing elements and by the automatic displacement of part of the reflector in the case of a slope of the reactor.

Abstract: Injection device used when a reactor is shut down to remove radioactive substances from within the gap between the internal piping and the inside of the nozzles of a RPV by injecting fluid towards the inside of these nozzles. The injection device is equipped with an injection nozzle that injects fluid towards the end of the gap, a casing that supports this injection nozzle, a suspension mechanism whereby the casing is movably suspended from above the RPV, a water feed device that supplies high-pressure fluid to the injection nozzle, a sensor or the like that senses when the casing is positioned directly above the internal piping and a fixing mechanism that temporarily fixes the casing to the inside wall of the RPV.

Abstract: A nuclear power plant (heating plant) with a helium cooled high temperature reactor with spherical fuel elements, located in a cylindrical prestressed concrete pressure vessel, suitable for supplying heat (for local or remote heating or the generation of process steam) with a capacity of approximately 50 to 300 MWth. The high temperature reactor core is located out of center in the prestressed concrete pressure vessel, with at least two heat exchangers installed adjacent and offset in the upward direction relative to it. The heat exchangers are each connected on the secondary side to an intermediate circulation loop including an intermediate heat exchanger and circulating pump, and have an auxiliary circulation loop with a recooling system connected in parallel with them for the removal of decay heat. The auxiliary loops are closed in normal operation.

Abstract: A single loop nuclear power plant with a helium cooled high temperature reactor for generation of electric current, designed for a capacity of 1-5 MWe. The plant, which in addition to the high temperature reactor includes a gas turbine assembly and a heat exchange apparatus, is housed in two pressure vessels located above each other and connected in a releasable manner. The lower pressure vessel contains the high temperature reactor and is charged with the primary gas. The other circulation components are located in the upper pressure vessel which is filled with a protective gas. The gas turbine, the radiators, the high temperature compressor, the intermediate radiators, and the low pressure compressor, are arranged above each other in this sequence and aligned with the high temperature reactor. the recuperator is laterally arranged. A generator may also be located in the upper pressure vessel or in a container set upon the upper pressure vessel.

Abstract: A thermionic energy conversion system assembly is described which comprises a fissionable nuclear fuel which surrounds a cylindrical arrangement of thermionic emitter electrodes which surround corresponding collector electrodes, which in turn surround a cylindrical container of a heat sink material, such as lithium hydride, which can absorb large amounts of waste heat energy through a phase change. The heat sink material may also act as a nuclear moderator to reduce the amount of required nuclear fuel. A heat pipe is enclosed within the container of heat sink material to remove waste heat stored in the material. A thermionic energy conversion module is described which comprises 100 stacked-in-series thermionic converter assemblies. A complete space-based thermionic nuclear reactor is described which comprises an array of 91 thermionic converter modules wherein the heat pipes connect to a lithium hydride radiation shield which acts as a further heat sink.

Abstract: An apparatus and process utilizing a large water rod of a fuel bundle in a boiling water reactor fuel assembly as a radiation heat sink during a loss of coolant accident. Core cooling spray is collected at the top end of the bundle's large water rod by a collector and distributed by a distributor to coat the inside wall surfaces of the water rod. In the case of a water rod which is not bottom vented, the water rod body is modified so as to separate the downward flow of liquid water from the upward flow of steam. During normal plant operation, the large water rod serves as a water-filled moderator tube to provide a more uniform power distribution across the fuel bundle.

Abstract: A bolt and keeper secure nuclear steam generation isolation dam segments in assembled relation. The bolt is rotated into locked position with its handle in a slot as a transverse projection on the bolt end is moved along a ramp into a securing notch against the bias of a compressible rubber spring.

Abstract: In order to seal an opening formed in a vertical wall, a removable partition is formed, which is constituted by at least two dry-stacked brick layers. Each layer is formed from several rows of bricks, each constituted by bricks which, in cross-section, are shaped like a parallelogram, arranged in opposite directions on either side of a central locking brick which, in cross-section, is shaped like an isosceles trapezium. Each row of bricks behaves like a fictitious funicular arc when exposed to a horizontal force normal to the partition. Thus, the earthquake resistance is ensured without adding a reinforcing framework to the two faces of the partition.

Abstract: The assembly comprises fuel elements carried and retained by a structure comprising tie rods and end parts. Dismantable holding devices for the plug of at least one element are provided at one end part and comprise a threaded connection. They are actuatable without applying a high torque to the sheath of the fuel element and enable the element to be extracted across an end part.

Abstract: The shock or energy absorber disclosed herein utilizes an apertured plate maintained under the normal level of liquid flowing in a piping system and disposed between the normal liquid flow path and a cavity pressurized with a compressible gas. The degree of openness (or porosity) of the plate is between 0.01 and 0.60. The energy level of a shock wave travelling down the piping system thus is dissipated by some of the liquid being jetted through the apertured plate toward the cavity. The cavity is large compared to the quantity of liquid jetted through the apertured plate, so there is little change in its volume. The porosity of the apertured plate influences the percentage of energy absorbed.