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 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: 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 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 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: 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.