Abstract: A pass-through vacuum includes a mixing tube and separate and removable housing extending along a mutual central longitudinal axis. The housing contains at least one location for retaining a nozzle which extends along a nozzle axis and has an inlet configured to be in fluid communication with a compressed gas source and an outlet in fluid communication with the hollow interior of the mixing tube via an aperture. The nozzle axis of the nozzle extends at an acute angle with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the mixing tube. The at least one nozzle accelerates gas from the compressed gas source to create an improved performance to entrain gas and material to flowing through the mixing tube from the entrance end to the exit end. The mixing tube and the housing can each be independently configured to optimize their function and performance.

Abstract: An air powered vacuum apparatus for use in an air vacuum excavation system creates a fluid flow under vacuum and reduces the sound level of the exhausting air. The apparatus comprises an injector assembly and a container for collecting spoil, i.e., dirt, sand, gravel, etc. drawn in from the excavation site. The vacuum is produced by an injector and a supersonic nozzle assembly in fluid communication with the container. The injector has converging, straight and diverging sections, and the supersonic nozzle assembly extends into the converging section. The supersonic air ejected from the nozzle assembly mixes with the air drawn up from the container, and the air mixture travels through the diverging section and out of the injector assembly and creates a vacuum in the container.

Abstract: An excavation system includes a shroud having a first opening and a second opening, a nozzle for directing an air stream in a first direction through the first opening of the shroud, wherein the nozzle is surrounded by the shroud, a first pump configured to apply a suction within the shroud in a second direction through the second opening of the shroud, and a collection area in fluid communication with the second opening of the shroud for receiving contaminated material. The collection area includes a collector for separating the contaminated material via an impact plate and a filter. The contaminated material is then deposited into a bag supported by a box. A method for excavating the contaminated material from the ground is also disclosed.

Abstract: An electromagnetic flow control valve for an electrically conductive liquid having a plurality of coils and yokes surrounding a non-metallic, such as alumina, tube through which an electrically conducting liquid, such as liquid metal, flows. Direct current applied to the coils causes retarding forces to be imposed on the flowing liquid. The electromagnetic flow control valve can be used in conjunction with a continuous caster where the electromagnetic flow control valve is in fluid communication with a tundish. Built-in galvanomagnetic probes measure changes in the applied magnetic field to determine the rate of flow of liquid metal through the device.

Abstract: A portable excavator having a tube to point a supersonic gas stream at a buried object. The excavator includes a movable member disposed within the conduit to pulse gas passing through the conduit and a supersonic gas nozzle at the exit of the conduit. Compressed gas delivered to the conduit exits the nozzle in a pulsed manner at two to three Hz. The movable member includes a piston which blocks gas from flowing through the conduit by the biasing force of a spring. When the force to the pressure differential across the piston exceeds the biasing force, the piston moves and allows gas to flow through the conduit until the force from the pressure differential across the piston is less than the biasing force.

Abstract: An electromagnetic flow control valve for an electrically conductive liquid having a plurality of coils and yokes surrounding a non-metallic, such as alumina, tube through which an electrically conducting liquid, such as liquid metal, flows. Direct current applied to the coils causes retarding forces to be imposed on the flowing liquid. The electromagnetic flow control valve can be used in conjunction with a continuous caster where the electromagnetic flow control valve is in fluid communication with a tundish.

Abstract: A portable excavator having a tube to point a supersonic gas stream at a buried object. The excavator includes a movable member disposed within the conduit to pulse gas passing through the conduit and a supersonic gas nozzle at the exit of the conduit. Compressed gas delivered to the conduit exits the nozzle in a pulsed manner at two to three Hz. The movable member includes a piston which blocks gas from flowing through the conduit by the biasing force of a spring. When the force from the pressure differential across the piston exceeds the biasing force, the piston moves and allows gas to flow through the conduit until the force from the pressure differential across the piston is less than the biasing force.

Abstract: An integrated safe excavation apparatus utilizing supersonic air jets coupled with high flow, pneumatic vacuum transport and a unique separation system to excavate earth and other like material for the purpose of repairing, replacing or installing buried utility lines, remediating contaminated soils, uncovering buried objects containing discarded hazardous waste, safely exposing unexploded ordnance and other like operations.

Abstract: A nozzle for accelerating compressed gas, preferably air, to supersonic speeds comprising converging, expansion, and straightening portions defined by a simple combination of arcs and a line segment for the general purpose of producing a supersonic jet to excavate or dislodge soil or other like material.

Abstract: An excavation head, mounted on one end of a telescoping hollow boom, has nozzles for directing jets of high speed air at an excavation face to loosen soil. A vacuum transport pipe extends from the excavation head through the hollow of the boom to a spherical joint. The spherical joint movably joins the other end of the boom to a primary separator. The primary separator is a chamber for disentraining loosened soil from air flowing through the primary separator. A primary air lock is fixed to the lower portion of the primary separator for expelling soil from the primary separator. A secondary separator is joined to the primary separator by way of a separator connector pipe. A secondary air lock is fixed to the lower portion of the secondary separator for expelling soil from the secondary separator. A positive displacement vacuum pump has its vacuum side pneumatically connected to the secondary separator.

Abstract: A "soft excavator" utilizes supersonic jets of air to loosen and remove soil and the like without damage to utility lines and other "hard" buried objects. A pair of digger nozzles, each mounted at an angle to the axis of the tubular support shaft which in turn is mounted for planetary motion on a drivehead rotating about a tubular member, trace a epitrochoidal path around the inlet to the tubular member which advances with each rotation of the drivehead to uniformly loosen soil across the cutting face and to gather the lossened soil toward the tubular member. Injector nozzles direct supersonic jets of air into the tubular member in the direction of the discharge end to generate a secondary air flow which sucks lossened soil aerated by the digger nozzles into the inlet end of the tubular member. The entrained soil is decelerated by a diffuser and flexible bag at the discharge end of the tubular member and deposited in a pile.

Abstract: An improved discrete excitation coil is provided in a continuous casting machine for generating an electromagnetic levitating and stabilizing force which acts upon the meniscus of the molten metal in a mold cavity of the machine at the region of an upper inlet to the cavity. The force counteracts the head pressure of the molten metal contained within a pouring tube which extends through the upper inlet from above the cavity and thereby providing a seal in an area of separation between the mold inlet and the pouring tube which prevents overflow of molten metal through the inlet. The excitation coil includes an outer electrical conductor which defines multiple electrical conductor turns disposed in series and being capable of carrying an electrical current of adequate density to generate the electromagnetic force. The coil also includes plural inner fluid channels which define fluid flow paths being surrounded by, and in contact with, the outer electrical conductor.

Abstract: A heat exchanger and pump assembly comprising a heat exchanger including a housing for defining an annularly shaped cavity and supporting therein a plurality of tubes. A pump is disposed beneath the heat exchanger and is comprised of a plurality of flow couplers disposed in a circular array. Each flow coupler is comprised of a pump duct for receiving a first electrically conductive fluid, i.e. the primary liquid metal, from a pool thereof, and a generator duct for receiving a second electrically conductive fluid, i.e. the intermediate liquid metal. The primary liquid metal is introduced from the reactor pool into the top, inlet ends of the tubes, flowing downward therethrough to be discharged from the tubes' bottom ends directly into the reactor pool. The primary liquid metal is variously introduced into the pump ducts directly from the reactor pool, either from the bottom or top end of the flow coupler.

Abstract: A liquid metal pump assembly is disclosed as being adapted to be disposed as one of a plurality of like pump assemblies in a continuous, closed array about a core of a nuclear reactor system. Each pump assembly comprises a pipe for receiving and directing a pumped, intermediate liquid metal through the pump assembly, and first and second duct modules disposed on either side of the pipe. Each duct module comprises primary ducts for receiving and directing a primary liquid metal in a first direction, and intermediate ducts in communication with the pipe for directing a first flow of the intermediate liquid metal therethrough in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

Abstract: A heat exchanger and electromagnetic pump assembly is disclosed as comprising a heat exchanger including a housing for defining an annularly shaped cavity and supporting therein a plurality of tubes. An electromagnetic pump is disposed beneath the heat exchanger and is comprised of a plurality of flow couplers disposed in a circular array. Each flow coupler is comprised of a pump duct for receiving primary liquid metal, and a generator duct for receiving an intermediate liquid metal. A downcomer tube is disposed centrally of the assembly and passes through the annularly shaped cavity and the array of flow couplers to discharge the intermediate fluid into a first plenum chamber. The first plenum chamber is disposed in communication with the generator ducts of all of the flow couplers, thus permitting the intermediate liquid metal to flow upward therethrough.

Abstract: In a continuous casting vessel, the gap between the feed column of molten metal and the mold inlet port is electromagnetically sealed by applying polyphase current on the edge of the inlet port to form therewith an intergral inductor effective to contain the metal in the pool about the meniscus at the base of the feed column in the sunk nozzle.

Abstract: A flow characteristic regulating electromagnetic flow coupler is disclosed as comprising a pump duct and a generator duct for connection in separate flow circuits containing electrically conductive fluid. Circuit means electrically connect the separate fluid in each of the pump and generator ducts for conducting electric current through the fluid in each of the pump and generator ducts transversely of the fluid flow therethrough. Means are provided for applying respectively first and second magnetic fields through the fluids of the generator and pump ducts transversely of the current and fluid flow therethrough, whereby the fluid driven through the generator duct forces the fluid to flow through the pump duct.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system for the casting of thin strips or strips of metal upon a moving chill block that includes an electromagnet located so that molten metal poured from a reservoir onto the chill block passes into the magnetic field produced by the electromagnet. The electromagnet produces a force on the molten metal on said chill block in the direction toward said chill block in order to enhance thermal contact between the molten metal and the chill block.