Abstract: Lap beam connectors for allowing two beams to be joined together without having to use external fasteners such as screws. Each beam has at least one internal pair of receptacles for slidably receiving each end of a plate therein. The plate can be secured to inner walls of the beams by a crimping tool, and the like. The plate allows the weight of the beams and any structure being built to be distributed over the length of the beam instead of just being directly on the ends of the beams. The receptacles can be substantially U-shaped with triangular shaped sidewalls. Another part of the invention allows for attaching two U-shaped beam half sections together by having a nesting ledges/receptacles on at least one of the legs of one beam half sections. While the legs of each beam half overlapped against each other, the nesting ledges/receptacles hold the beam half legs to be held to fixed locations.

Abstract: An improved end tank-to-header joint is disclosed. An end tank is formed with a flange portion that has at least one groove therein. A gasket having a predetermined cross-sectional shape is provided with at least one tongue portion that is adapted to engage the groove in an interference fit, thereby integrating the gasket with the end tank. A header is crimped to form a channel. The channel has a shape the corresponds to the shape of the gasket, such that the gasket is fully seated within the channel. A distal end of the header is then crimped around the flange of the end tank to ensure a fluid-tight seal at the joint.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for determining the integrity of coated nuclear fuel particles by evaluating acoustic parameter measurements of the particles during controlled loading.

Abstract: A device for measuring a load on a part such as a bolt, comprises a socket having walls defining an interior space wherein the socket engages the bolt for transmitting a load to the bolt. An electromagnetic acoustic transducer comprising a magnet and a coil is located in the interior space of the socket near the bolt. The coil provides a current while the magnet provides a magnetic field such that the magnet and the coil generate an ultrasonic signal within the bolt. A detector is used to detect and measure a change in the ultrasonic signal at the bolt.

Abstract: An ultrasonic method and apparatus for measuring liquid level in a vessel employing an acoustic waveguide (16) connected to an ultrasonic transducer (14) and the vessel (18). Guiding means (24) situated inside a vessel (18) directs the acoustic energy pulse to a surface (22) of the liquid. The acoustic energy pulse is reflected from the surface (22) and returned along the guiding means (24) to the acoustic waveguide (16). A pulser/receiver (10) connected thereto measures the reflected acoustic energy pulse for determining liquid level from the transit time.

Abstract: A method for inspecting the surface of a workpiece for the presence of flaws using a ferrofluid as a penetrant which is applied to the surface of the workpiece and then scanning the surface of the workpiece with electrical detection means placed adjacent to the surface for providing responses indicative of the presence of flaws in the surface of the workpiece. If desired, a magnetic field can be used to induce the flow of the ferrofluid into any flaws prior to inspection, and for post-inspection cleanup as well. By the use of a ferrofluid, the sensitivity of the electrical detection means, advantageously of the eddy current type, is enhanced in typical applications, and also allows the use of an eddy current probe to inspect workpieces made of nonconductive and/or nonferromagnetic materials.

Abstract: An ultrasonic apparatus and method for testing a material comprises an oscillator which generates a selected frequency in the ultrasonic range. A transducer is connected to the oscillator for applying an ultrasonic signal to the material and for receiving an echo signal back from the material. Two phase detectors are utilized one of which receives the echo signal and an in-phase oscillator signal to generate a first display signal, and the other of which receives a quadrature signal which is 90.degree. out of phase from the oscillator signal, as well as the echo signal to generate a second display signal. The first and second display signals are utilized in a visual display such as a cathode ray tube, to generate an image. The image changes according to the phase shift between the ultrasonic signal transmitted into the material and the echo signal, which, in turn, can be utilized to determine the presence and depth of a flaw or boundary in the material.

Abstract: An ultrasonic testing method and apparatus stores the reflected ultrasonic signals from each of a plurality of locations along a scan path over a piece of material to be tested. For each individual location, the reflected signal at that location is added to contributing signals from each other location to produce a composite signal which has a good signal-to-noise ratio. The contributing signals from each other location is formed by multiplying the signal of those other locations by a corrective phase shift factor which is a characteristic of a time delay for a reflected signal from the other locations to the individual location of interest. The contributing signal from each other location thus represents a rotated reflected signal from the other locations.