Abstract: A target irradiation system for irradiating a radioisotope target in a vessel penetration of a fission reactor, including a target delivery assembly including a body defining a central bore, a basket that is slidably receivable within the central bore of the body, and a winch that is connected to the basket by a cable, the target delivery assembly being affixed to the vessel penetration of the reactor, and a target passage that is in fluid communication with the target delivery assembly, wherein the basket is configured to receive the radioisotope target therein via the target passage and be lowered into the vessel penetration of the reactor when irradiating the radioisotope target, and the target delivery system forms a portion of the pressure boundary of the reactor when in fluid communication with the reactor.

Abstract: A vibration minimization towing hitch includes a shank attachable into the receiver tube the towing vehicle, and a separately formed head, such as for supporting a tow ball. The head is pivotable through a partial range of motion relative to the head, such as allowing the tow ball to pivot up to 7° downward or up to 3° upward. One or more compressible inserts are disposed in a pocket between the shank and the head, for resisting the limited pivotal motion of the head relative to the shank. A user performs a part of the assembly using two insertable pins or bolts, with insertion of the second pin compressing a compressible bumper which is separate from the insert(s).

Abstract: A target irradiation system including an irradiated target removal system having a body defining a central bore, an elevator received within the central bore, and a docking surface for placing the irradiated target removal system in fluid communication with a vessel penetration of a reactor. A target canister slidably receives the radioisotope target therein, and the elevator is configured to receive the target canister. The elevator is lowered into the reactor when irradiating the radioisotope target, and the irradiated target removal system forms a portion of a pressure boundary of the reactor during target irradiation.

Abstract: A sludge lancing system for use in a steam generator including a no tube lane disposed between a first bank of tubes and a second bank of tubes that are transverse to a horizontal reference plane, having a rail that extends through the no tube lane and includes a longitudinal center axis that lies in a first plane that is parallel to the reference plane, and a first lancing head, having a body portion a conduit, a nozzle assembly that is mounted to the body portion and is pivotable with respect to the body portion about an axis of rotation, the nozzle assembly including a manifold defining a conduit that is in fluid communication with the conduit of the body portion, at least a first nozzle that is mounted to the manifold and defines a conduit that generates a lancing fluid jet, wherein the conduit of the first nozzle lies in a first plane that is transverse to the longitudinal center axis of the rail so that the lancing fluid jet of the first nozzle is disposed in the first plane when the manifold is pivoted

Abstract: A sludge lancing system for use in a steam generator including a no tube lane disposed between a first bank of tubes and a second bank of tubes that are transverse to a horizontal reference plane, having a rail that extends through the no tube lane and includes a longitudinal center axis that lies in a first plane that is parallel to the reference plane, and a first lancing head, having a body portion a conduit, a nozzle assembly that is mounted to the body portion and is pivotable with respect to the body portion about an axis of rotation, the nozzle assembly including a manifold defining a conduit that is in fluid communication with the conduit of the body portion, at least a first nozzle that is mounted to the manifold and defines a conduit that generates a lancing fluid jet, wherein the conduit of the first nozzle lies in a first plane that is transverse to the longitudinal center axis of the rail so that the lancing fluid jet of the first nozzle is disposed in the first plane when the manifold is pivoted

Abstract: A method of a method of irradiating a target material in a heavy water reactor for the production of an isotope, including the steps of providing a target comprised of a material suitable for producing the isotope by way of a neutron capture event, placing the target in a primary fluid side of the heavy water reactor, and irradiating the target.

Abstract: An irradiation target for the production of radioisotopes, comprising at least one plate defining a central opening and an elongated central member passing through the central opening of the at least one plate so that the at least one plate is retained thereon, wherein the at least one plate and the elongated central member are both formed of materials that produce molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) by way of neutron capture.

Abstract: A bolt repair platform includes a frame and a tool module. The tool module includes a tool having a first end configured to rotationally engage a bolt. The tool module also includes an actuator disposed between the tool and the frame so that actuation of the actuator moves the tool with respect to the frame. The frame is removably disposed on the structure, and the tool is movable with respect to the frame, so that, at each of a plurality of positions, the second end of the tool is capable of engagement with a respective bolt disposed in an internal support structure of a nuclear reactor vessel.

Abstract: A pipe scanning apparatus includes a scanner collar fitted around the outside of a pipe with tools for inspecting or modifying the pipe, a tubular fabric pipe sheath fitted around the outside of the pipe and connected at an end to the scanner collar, and a powered winch or manually operable reel configured to draw in the tubular fabric pipe sheath so as to scan the scanner collar connected to the end of the tubular fabric pipe sheath over the pipe. The tubular fabric pipe sheath may include inelastic warp fibers running parallel with the pipe and elastic weft fibers running around the pipe. The pipe sheath may include at least one longitudinal slit with a slit fastener, and may include two such slits on opposite sides so that the pipe sheath is separable into two sheath halves.

Abstract: A display unit for ball mount hitches includes hitch ball hangers and ball mount hangers received on a horizontal support beam. Each hitch ball hanger has two vertically-spaced cantilevered forks to support six hitch balls by their necks. Each ball mount hanger has a cantilevered bar to hang three ball mounts by their hitch ball post holes. Both the hitch ball hangers and the ball mount hangers have slide brackets to toollessly attach to the horizontal support beam.

Abstract: A pipe scanning apparatus includes a scanner collar fitted around the outside of a pipe with tools for inspecting or modifying the pipe, a tubular fabric pipe sheath fitted around the outside of the pipe and connected at an end to the scanner collar, and a powered winch or manually operable reel configured to draw in the tubular fabric pipe sheath so as to scan the scanner collar connected to the end of the tubular fabric pipe sheath over the pipe. The tubular fabric pipe sheath may include inelastic warp fibers running parallel with the pipe and elastic weft fibers running around the pipe. The pipe sheath may include at least one longitudinal slit with a slit fastener, and may include two such slits on opposite sides so that the pipe sheath is separable into two sheath halves.

Abstract: A bearing guide for a hitch allows lateral movement of the hitch. The bearing guide is elevated relative to the bearing surface. Two trucks roll on wheels each about their own elevated guide for fore-and-aft rolling of the hitch point. The bearing guide also provides a keyway which receives a locking key. The locking key is supported on both sides of the keyway by a plunger control rod, and can be unlocked by pulling and rotating a handle. When the towing vehicle is driven to relocate the hitch point, the locking key reengages itself into a different keyway on the bearing guide.

Abstract: A bearing guide for a hitch allows lateral movement of the hitch. The bearing guide is elevated relative to the bearing surface. Two trucks roll on wheels each about their own elevated guide for fore-and-aft rolling of the hitch point. The bearing guide also provides a keyway which receives a locking key. The locking key is supported on both sides of the keyway by a plunger control rod, and can be unlocked by pulling and rotating a handle. When the towing vehicle is driven to relocate the hitch point, the locking key reengages itself into a different keyway on the bearing guide.