Abstract: A water-degradable welding purge dam for purging a weld zone of a pipe assembly comprising first and second pipes having respective first and second ends to be welded together at a root gap. The purge dam includes a blocking plate comprising one or more plate members. The one or more plate members include a friction plate member having a plurality of flexible members on its periphery adapted to flexibly engage an inside wall of one of the first or second pipe ends in a self-retaining manner. The purge dam comprises one or more water degradable materials so that it can be flushed from the pipe assembly following welding.

Abstract: A purge plug for welding applications is provided that can be interchangeably used to seal tubing, pipes, or the like of various diameter or cross-sectional area. The purge plug has a central body with a male connector and a diffuser disposed on the end portions. The purge plug also includes one or more flexible seals annularly disposed around the central body. In some implementations, the diameter of the flexible seals is slightly larger than the diameter of the tubing or pipe. When the purge plug is inserted into the tubing or pipe, the resiliency of the seal allow the seal to expand mechanically and flex against the inner walls of the tubing, thus sealingly engage with the inner walls.

Abstract: Bonding and interconnect techniques including a spacer for use with semiconductor die for the creation of thermally efficient, physically compliant Ultra High Vacuum Tubes and the tube resulting therefrom.

Abstract: A novel positive traction permeate tube and fittings therefore are described for use in spirally wound membrane filtration elements for filtration and separation applications. Membrane filtration elements incorporate the novel permeate tube. Methods of making the novel positive traction permeate tube are also disclosed as are the preferred sanitary stainless steel materials used for the sanitary tube and fittings. The novel permeate tube involves a sanitary tubing having two open ends, each with an end fitting. The end fittings engage a positive traction drive for high tension spiral winding of a membrane element spirally around the novel permeate tube. Membrane filtration elements made with the novel permeate tube are less subject to slippage and breakage during manufacture and can withstand higher pressure drops and flow rates during use without failure of the spiral wound membrane element. The positive traction permeate tube facilitates membrane replacements.

Abstract: A welding apparatus is disclosed for use during welding of a tubular metal nozzle to a tank's metal domed cap. The nozzle extends longitudinally between a base end for mating to the tank's cap at an aperture therein and a spaced-away terminal free end. Typically, the nozzle's longitudinal axis is aligned oblique to a normal axis for the domed cap through the aperture thereof. Such welding apparatus involves a clamping arrangement having an actuator extending between a lid and a spaced, opposed backup plate. The backup plate seats against at least a marginal periphery of the domed cap's inner concave surface surrounding the aperture thereof. The lid covers the nozzle's terminal free end. Releasably actuating the actuator increases clamping pressure between the lid and backup plate, thereby clamping the backup plate opposite the weld seam for at least purge purposes, and perhaps light-duty heat-sink purposes.

Abstract: A reformer that includes a housing including a tubular member and an end plate member hermetically joined to the tubular member. The housing defines within it a first fluid flow path and a second fluid flow path in a heat exchanging relationship with each other. A reforming catalyst is disposed within the first fluid flow path. The tubular member has a tubular end, and the end plate member has an abutting rim that contacts with and extends along the tubular end of the tubular member and that is folded together over an entire circumference thereof to define a folded hermetic seam between the tubular member and the end plate member. The reformer can be low-priced and its manufacture is easy and efficient.

Abstract: In a method for welding closed one end of each of a multiplicity of open-ended tubes suitable for use as brachytherapy capsules (100), each tube is loaded into a holder (52), brought to a welding station (80), has one end welded closed and is then released from the holder (52). A number of holders can 2 be arranged on the periphery of a rotatable member (50), each holder being loaded with a tube at a first station, and then carrying the tube to a welding station (80) and an ejection station (90). The tubes can be loaded into the holders individually by means of an escapement mechanism (40). The invention also extends to apparatus for carrying out the method.

Abstract: A configuration for forming a gastight space is prevented from being projected from a housing, so that a projection is not formed on the housing. A sealed contact device includes a housing including a container body having an opening end portion, the container body being made of ceramics, a metal lid connected to the opening end portion to form a gastight space, a stationary contact and a movable contact disposed in the container body, and a sealed vent portion formed in the metal lid, in which the sealed vent portion is formed by sealing a vent hole formed in the metal lid after exhausting a gas in the gastight space and supplying a desired gas into the gastight space, via the vent hole.

Abstract: A method for permanently sealing an ultra-high vacuum within a glass enclosure. This is accomplished by first forming a hole, either in one of the flat plates that form the enclosure or in one of the standoffs that separate the plates, and then sealing a metal tube to the glass. In one embodiment, the metal tube is positioned so as to be partly inside the hole while in another a flange at the end of the tube is positioned to cover the hole. In both cases, a glass frit paste is then applied all around the glass metal interface. This is followed by heating so that the frit softens and becomes a glass-to-metal seal. Once the structure has cooled down the attached metal tube is used as a pumping port to evacuate it and, while still under vacuum, the metal tube is pinched off to form a permanent seal.

Abstract: A motor-vehicle latent-heat storage unit is made by first positioning an elongated rectangular sheet-metal blank over a longitudinally extending slot formed in a die and then pressing an elongated anvil bar forming one of a pair of ultrasonic welding tools down against the blank over the slot to push the bar and the blank into the slot. This imparts to the blank a U-section and leaves longitudinally extending edge regions of the blank projecting out of the slot past the anvil bar. These edge regions are then folded transversely one after the other inward over the bar to form the blank into a tube with the edge regions overlapping each other. The other of the ultrasonic welding tools is subsequently pressed against the overlapped edge regions and therethrough against the anvil bar to ultrasonically weld together the overlapped edge regions along a full length of the tube. Finally the welded tube and the bar are moved longitudinally relative to each other to separate the tube from the bar.

Abstract: In an automated final weld apparatus, a transporter conveys nuclear fuel-loaded cladding tubes successively to a check station to verify the presence of a plenum spring in the open end of each cladding tube, a reader station where a unique first end plug serial number is read, an evacuation/backfill station where the cladding tube is backfilled with helium, a seam welding station where a final end plug is welded to the cladding tube open end, and a seal weld station where the tube is pressurized with helium through a pressurization hole in the final end plug, whereupon the pressurization hole is welded closed. After checking for helium leakage, the seam weld is inspected in a succession of inspection stations, and, depending on inspection results, the finished nuclear fuel rods are sorted into accepted and rejected lots.

Abstract: A sheet of work-hardenable, non-heat-treatable, corrosion-resistant steel is cold rolled into a tube (12) and welded (10). The cold rolling strengthens the material. The welding causes the weld area (10) to revert to its annealed condition, but the ends (24, 30) of the tube (12) are then swaged into open domes (14, 16) to form a symmetrically-swaged tube having further work-hardened ends which overcome the apparent weakness of the weld (10). A spherical disk (20) is then welded on to one end to form a bottom and a port section (26) is welded on to the other end to complete the bottle construction.

Abstract: A plug and method for plugging a penetration in a pressure vessel wall having a sleeve protruding through the penetration. The sleeve is cut at a point between the interior and exterior surfaces of the pressure vessel wall. The cut portion of the sleeve extending beyond the exterior surface of the pressure vessel wall is removed. A plug sized to fit within the penetration is inserted into the penetration so that one end of the plug is flush with the exterior surface of the pressure vessel wall. A weld pad is deposited on the end of the plug and the exterior surface of the pressure vessel wall.

Abstract: An automotive steering system hydraulic cylinder and method for making the cylinder are disclosed. The cylinder is attached to a rack and pinion gear assembly housing so that a piston from the assembly creates a variable displacement chamber within the cylinder. The cylinder features a smooth interior surface to provide a sealing surface with the piston and an end that has been closed by spin-forming. The method provides a means of easily fabricating such a cylinder.

Abstract: A push rod is manufactured by projection-welding a bottom surface of an end element to a tapered annular end surface of a pipe. To prevent some inclination from arising between the bottom surface of the end element and the annular end surface of the pipe when they are tightly pressed against each other, the bottom surface is formed integrally with a plurality of rose seats of wedge shape in cross section that extend radially with respect to the axial center of the end element. Projection-welding is performed after the rose seats are brought into confronting contact with the tapered annular end surface of substantially triangular shape in cross section.

Abstract: Apparatus for welding and testing a weld on a cover for a container for radioactive material. Two carriages are mounted on a bridge extending across and above the container. Gas shielded arc welders are mounted on the carriages. The carriages move across the bridge to accurately locate the welder with respect to the joint being welded. The container is mounted on a rotating platform to move the weld area past the welder and the test devices which are fixed when in working position.

Abstract: The device comprises a sleeve (1) and a stopper (5). The inside bore of the sleeve (1) comprises a part having a diameter smaller than the outside diameter of the stopper (5) and ending in a shoulder (2c), against which the stopper (5) comes to bear. Swaging (9) enables the stopper (5) to be fixed in the sleeve (1). The fastening is completed by three sealing welds (10a, 10b, 10c), between which are provided an aperture (4) passing through the side wall of the sleeve (1) and an aperture (8) passing through the side wall of the stopper (5). The device is used in particular for closing holes in a tubular plate of a steam generator of a pressurized water nuclear reactor.

Abstract: The method allows the sealing of metal tubes, particularly of stainless steel, for example, tubes for filling containers for gas at high pressure or evacuation tubes for vacuum vessels. It includes the steps of locally squashing the portion of the tube to be sealed with a pressure capable of achieving the sealed clamping of the tube, freeing part of the squashed portion of the tube, the remaining part being maintained under the clamping pressure, cutting the freed part of the squashed portion of the tube, welding the lips of the part which is still clamped, and finally removing the clamping pressure.

Abstract: An end cap assembly for a fluid resistant electrical device includes a solderable insulating tube end cap and an insert having a solderable cylindrical body portion positioned within a tubular opening of the end cap. The body portion of the insert has a circumscribing groove containing a quantity of solder. During assembly, the walls of the end cap defining the tubular opening are magneformed inwardly to tightly engage the body portion and thus provide limited frictional resistance to movement of the insert relative to the end cap. Next, the end cap and insert are heated until the solder melts. The end cap assembly provides a strong, torque resistant connection between the insert and the end cap while also maintaining a highly effective seal to preclude fluid leakage when the device is immersed.

Abstract: An apparatus (20) for closing the end of a tube section includes a rotary means (180, 190) for rotating the tube section about the longitudinal axis of the tube section. A forming wheel (54) is mounted relative to the end of the tube section. The forming wheel (54) is freely rotatable about an axis substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the tube section. Structure (26) is provided for moving the forming wheel in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the tube section and into engagement with the end of the tube section to close the end thereof.

Abstract: A starter solenoid for electric starting apparatus and its method of manufacture. The solenoid has hold-in and pull-in coils and a cap formed of insulating material that carries a start switch terminal and a motor terminal. Both terminals have axially extending internal bores and when the cap is moved into engagement with the case of the solenoid to secure it thereto end lead wires of the coils are inserted into the bores of the terminals. The terminals are radially crimped into engagement with the wires and the crimped portions are then welded to the wires. The ground connection for one end of the hold-in coil is made by inserting an end lead wire of the hold-in coil into the bore of a hollow metallic terminal that is carried by a metallic plate member, crimping the terminal to the wire and then welding the crimped portion to the wire.

Abstract: The open ends of a flat tube are closed by rolling together the edge portions of the wide, opposing sidewalls of the tube by means of two flanging rolls successively guided over these edge portions in opposite directions. One of the flanging rolls makes a longer pass than the other. The edge portions thus rolled closed are then welded to one another in a semi- or fully-automatic TIG process. The result is a clean, symmetrically shaped radiator element.

Abstract: The use of thermally insulated bodies is determined by their insulative properties, on the one hand, and by the economy of their fabrication on the other hand. A particularly simple method for manufacturing a thermally insulated body, e.g. a pipe, with inner and outer shells, especially with metallic inner and outer shells, forming an intermediate space which is filled with porous particulate and/or porous powdered insulating material, evacuated and hermetically sealed consists in first evacuating the intermediate space between the inner and outer shell, maintaining the space under vacuum and then introducing the insulating material from a reservoir maintained under vacuum and sealing the intermediate space.

Abstract: An enclosure for sealing components is sealed by a tubulation member having narrowed cross-sectional width in one dimension. The narrowed dimension serves to minimize stresses at the tubulation interface when the enclosure is sealed by pinching the tubulation member. This allows a large tubulation member to be used and pinched-off closer than possible with a rounded tube.

Abstract: A unitary tubular axle (12) is formed to include an end (18) having a support section (22) of a completely solid cross section located between a generally vertical kingpin bore (24) and a tubular intermediate portion (16) of the axle. Both ends (18) of the tube are formed with such an end construction to provide a unitary front axle for both wheels. Forming proceeds by initially reducing the size of the outer tube diameter at an end thereof while maintaining roundness. Axial forging of the tube end preferably by a closed die having a semispherical closed end then provides an axle end having a solid cross section and a distal semispherical shape. Subsequent axial forging of the solid tube end by another closed die then provides upper and lower projections (26, 28) in which upwardly and downwardly facing holes are then forged to increase the width thereof while leaving a web between inner ends of the holes.

Abstract: A method of closing an end portion of a metallic capillary tube. In this method, the tube is crimped to form at least a temporary seal adjacent the end portion thereof, and the tube is then fused at the end portion thereof at least adjacent the at least temporary seal so as to perfect the closure of the end portion.

Abstract: A metallic body is formed to have a clearance fit up into a reamed and spot faced tube extended through, and welded to a tubesheet. The form of the body provides a lip which functions to limit the distance the body can be inserted into the tube and supply filler material at the weld zone between the body and the tube.

Abstract: An improved method for sealing off the refractory metal exhaust tubulation of the ceramic arc tube employed in the high pressure sodium discharge lamp. The method involves a single four-directional crimp of the tubulation to form an X-shaped cross-section and the subsequent electrical resistance tip-off of the tubulation while it is disposed in an inert gas atmosphere at a pressure which is higher than the pressure of the rare gas atmosphere within the arc tube and tubulation and is also above atmospheric to insure all oxygen is flushed from the area of the melting.

Abstract: A method of producing a hermetically sealed, preferably sphere-shaped end in a tubular workpiece, residing, according to the invention, in that an end of a tubular workpiece is heated to a forging temperature and is then reduced until a portion is obtained with a diameter equal to that of a sphere to be obtained. Afterwards, a semi-sphere is subjected to spinning applied to the end of said reduced portion until a hermetically sealed end is formed. This is followed by spinning of a necking portion until a sphere is obtained, the spinning of the constricted portion being carried out as starting from the conjugating line running between the semi-sphere obtained and the reduced portion along the sphere generatrix towards the main portion of the workpiece.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for automatically sealing insulation tubes comprising a turn table intermittently turned through a part of a revolution and having a plurality of tube holders disposed in a circle about its central axis, a friction wheel disposed below the turn table and engaging the tube holders for rotating them about their respective vertical axes, a mechanism for stopping the rotation of a predetermined number of the tube holders at predetermined positions along the path of revolution of the turn table, a device for heating the tubes at predetermined positions along the path of revolution of the turn table and a mechanism for supplying a molten solder to the holders being rotated about their axes at a predetermined position in the revolution of the turn table whereby the molten solder is distributed to the peripheral parts of the tube.

Abstract: A spin lathe embodying novel means to deliver pressurized fluid to means controlling operation of the work holding chuck, and a manually adjustable hydraulically actuated switch element for limiting travel of the work piece forging tool for "necking" operations. Also embodied in the structure is a novel turntable mounting for the forging tool and the method and means to blow out the hole in the partially closed end of the work piece prior to final closing of said end.