Abstract: A method and cutting device makes incisions in an elongated food product, like a hot dog or sausage, to form a pattern or character after the product is cooked. One form of the cutter includes a hinged housing into which the food product is positioned. The housing includes blades that contact and cut the food product as the housing is closed. Another form of the cutter includes a wheeled cutter and a rack. The wheeled cutter includes gear teeth that permit the rack to be drawn under the wheel as the wheel engages gear openings formed in the rack as the wheel rotates. A food product positioned on the rack is cut by blades on the wheel as the rack travels under the wheel.

Abstract: An anchoring system for a three dimensional animal target includes a means for attaching the anchoring system to the three dimensional animal target. The means for attaching may include a pipe, a shaft or stabilization member, at least one screw, or combinations thereof. The anchoring system also includes a first member or metal plate for providing a step for a person to apply force to the anchoring system during the mounting of the three dimensional animal target. A second member or metal shaft is attached to the first member and is inserted into the ground or other supporting surface as force is applied to the first member during mounting of the animal target. The anchoring system may additionally include a stabilization member or metal shaft attached to the first member for providing an additional member which is inserted into the ground during mounting of the animal target.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing and installing a control rod drive includes a first chain and a second chain. Each chain has a plurality of links, which have a pivotable portion and a rigid portion, for allowing the first chain to bend in a single direction and the second chain to bend in a single direction. The rigid portion of the second chain is positioned adjacent to and contacts the rigid portion of the first chain for providing a rigid column. An end block retains the first ends of the first and second chains and a drive mechanism draws the first and second chains through the drive mechanism, for moving the control rod drive. The control rod drive handling equipment may also include at least one first, at least one second, and at least one third chain guide for supporting the first and second chains, at least one wheel attached to the second chain guide, and a plurality of pins positioned through apertures of adjacently positioned links of the first and the second chains.

Abstract: A method for recovering contaminants and the organic solvents used to extract the contaminants from an aqueous solution containing soap liquors comprises extracting the aqueous solution with an organic solvent having a density sufficient to extract the contaminants and to subsequently separate the organic solvent from the aqueous solution containing the soap liquors. The method further comprises shaking the aqueous solution for providing intimate contact between the organic solvent and the aqueous solution, adding an inorganic salt after shaking the aqueous solution for separating the aqueous solution into a plurality of layers, reextracting at least one layer with an organic solvent for producing a second plurality of layers, and separating a layer substantially including the organic solvent and the contaminants for recovering the organic solvent and the contaminants from the aqueous solution containing the soap liquors.

Abstract: The removal of organics and volatile metals from soils using thermal desorption comprises moving contaminated materials, positioned on a belt conveyor, through a chamber under oxygen conditions, temperature conditions, and residence time effective to substantially avoid incineration of the contaminants. The method further comprises heating the contaminated material for volatilizing the contaminants and for producing a processed material that is substantially decontaminated. To carry the volatilized contaminants from the chamber, a transport gas may be passed through the chamber counter-current to the movement of the contaminated material. A gas stream including the volatilized contaminants and the transport gas may be passed through a condenser and through a scrubber for producing a substantially cleaned gas and a contaminated liquid concentrate. The cleaned gas may be recycled back into the chamber as the transport gas or passed through a gas cleaning system prior to discharge into the atmosphere.

Abstract: A steam generator comprises a distribution means, positioned between the shell and the wrapper in the annular downcomer region of the steam generator, for uniformly mixing the colder feedwater with the warmer recirculating water in the downcomer region of the steam generator so that the colder feedwater is not introduced directly into any steam regions of the steam generator and does not contact any pressure boundaries for preventing water hammer and thermal shock to the steam generator. The distribution means has a downwardly directing means for discharging the substantially evenly distributed feedwater from the distribution means into the downcomer region in a descending direction and away from any pressure boundaries for minimizing flow resistance and for preventing thermal shock to the pressure boundaries.

Abstract: A plugging device, such as a tube plug, and method for plugging a tubular member, such as a nuclear steam generator tube, comprises a locking cup for securing together the plurality of members comprising the tube plug. The plugging device may comprise a first member, such as a shell of a tube plug, a second member, such as bolt means of a tube plug and an annular locking cup disposed in a bore of the first member and having outside diameter threads. The outside diameter threads of the locking cup have a deformed portion with a wave-like pattern for providing resistance during threading and unthreading of the locking cup into and out of the first member. At least one of the second member and the locking cup has at least one recess for receiving a deformable portion of the other of the second member and the locking cup for securing the first member, the second member, and the locking cup together.

Abstract: A superconducting magnetic energy (SMES) system having an axially sectioned multilayered solenoid coil immersed in a liquid helium bath contained in annular helium vessel includes as an interface between each section of the inner and outer layers of the coil and the helium vessel a finger plate assembly comprising a plurality of electrically nonconductive finger plates clamped at one end with spacers between adjacent finger plates to hanger plates welded to the helium vessel walls. The other ends of the finger plates are interleafed with the turns of the coil and clamped together with the coil turns by clamping assemblies which clamp the turns in adjacent layers of the coil. Loading bars between the layers transmit the radial loads generated by the magnetic and thermal forces acting on the coil to the finger plates.

Abstract: A method for repairing a rotor includes severing the rotor into two or more rotor segments. After removing a portion of material including the crack from the rotor, weld metal is deposited onto the rotor until the removed portion is replaced with weld metal. A built-up portion is welded onto a surface positioned adjacent a bore of each of the rotor segments. One of the built-up portions is machined into a female spigot and the other build-up portion is machined into a male spigot for engagement of the rotor segments. The female and the male spigots are engaged for alignment of the rotor segments. The rotor segments are welded together with weld metal, which is deposited in a welding groove formed between the rotor segments and the spigots. After the rotor segments are joined together, the male spigot, the female spigot, and a portion of the weld metal positioned near the root fusion area are removed to restore the bore of the rotor to its original diameter.

Abstract: A door handle for breaking a vacuum seal and opening a door in a single operation includes a handle and a latch cam, attached to the door, and a pin, attached to a frame of the door. The pin is engageable with a slot positioned on the latch cam. The slot extends circumferentially around at least a portion of the diameter of the latch cam. Due to the configuration of the slot, as the pin travels within the slot to a closed end of the slot, the pin progresses from a position farther from the door to a position closer to the door, causing the pin to exert pressure on a second surface of the slot, which pulls the door toward the frame to close the door. As the pin travels within the slot away from the closed end of the slot, the pin progresses from a position closer to the door to a position farther from the door, causing a first surface of the slot to exert pressure on the pin, which breaks the vacuum seal and unlatches the door to open the door of a housing.

Abstract: A strainer assembly for removing solid particulates from a fluid has a housing shaped as an elbow-shaped conduit and a support member for supporting a screen adjacent a forwardly extending flange on an inlet conduit section of the housing, the housing also comprising an enlarged intermediate section, in which the support member is disposed, and an outlet conduit section. The support member is threadedly engaged in a wall of the enlarged intermediate section of the housing and preferably has a base and a plurality of posts extending from the base, with the screen seated on the distal ends of the posts. Fluid entering the housing through the inlet section passes through the screen and then through passageways between the posts of the support member and is then discharged from the housing through the outlet conduit section.

Abstract: The runout or profile of parts is measured without the need for precision supports by rotating the part generally about an axis of rotation. The changes in position of one or more reference surfaces on the part along first and second tracking axes are measured for a plurality of rotational positions of the part. The change in position of the target surface for which the runout or profile is to be determined is measured along a third tracking axis which lies substantially in a common plane with the first and second tracking axes. The change in position of the rotational axis of the part along the third tracking axis is determined from the changes in position of the one or more reference surfaces and the distances between the tracking axes, and is subtracted from the measured change in position of the target surface along the third tracking axis to determine the runout or profile.

Abstract: The grounding stud assembly for grounding electrical equipment comprises a grounding stud having one end for connection to a grounding clamp and an opposite end for connnection to a bus system at either a bus splice joint or cable termination. A cover is positioned over the grounding clamp receiving end and over an insulated elongated portion of the grounding stud for insulating the grounding stud to prevent inadvertent discharge into the environment. The cover comprises an annular ring for engagement with an annular retaining collar positioned on the elongated portion for securing together the cover and grounding stud. The cover includes an eyelet for facilitating removal of the cover from a safe working distance.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for cutting a groove in a structure are disclosed. Large structures such as steam turbines have pumping grooves or similar features which may be machined using the simplified methods and apparatus disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a milling head affixed to a magnet which may be selectively activated is provided. Additional clamping means are also provided which are affixed to the magnet and engage the structure to further affix and align the apparatus in place. The milling head is positioned at the location of the groove and held fast by the magnet; the additional clamping means ensure the apparatus stays in place while the groove is being cut. The apparatus disclosed may be operated by a single operator using conventional power sources and without the need for extensive set up, fixturing and the like normally associated with milling operations of this nature.