Abstract: A bathtub assembly that can be raised and lowered has a bottom and a lift plate with scissors-like guide frames positioned between them, which said frames guide the lift plate vertically. Two collapsible hoses or bellows, made of material that bends but does not stretch, are sealed at the ends, one end being attached to the lift plate and the other to the bottom. The hoses or bellows 20, are connected by means of connection hoses and a manual valve to the house water supply line.

Abstract: A hinge for opening a door up to an angle of about 180.degree. includes a mounting plate and a hinge casing connected by two hinge arms. The movement of the hinge arms with respect of each other is controlled by a rack and pinion arrangement. One hinge arm carries the pinion and this hinge arms is guided at two points of connection in guiding grooves in the mounting plate.

Abstract: A reclining platform for bathtub units has a rectangular-shaped reclining platform and four hinged plates joined to the side edges of said reclining platform by means of hinges. The hinges are equipped with springs that press the hinged plates into the same plane as the base plate. The hinged plates can pivot upwards against the tension of the built-in springs. The entire reclining platform has a mat, which forms wedges at the corner recesses between each two hinged plates. The mat consists of a flexible material.The reclining platform covers the entire length of the bathtub, without folds, when the unit is in raised position. When the unit is lowered, the hinged plates abut tightly against the tub walls, and the wedges are folded up and close off the rounded corners of the walls as well. The new unit ensures that handicapped persons cannot get caught.

Abstract: In an automatic bending machine, a plurality of bending tools are arranged around a central working station. Each bending tool is fastened at a slide unit which is operated for reciprocating motion by a driving device. All driving devices are provided with a driving shaft respectively and all driving shafts are in gear engagement with a common central wheel. Each driving device comprises a sealed housing filled with oil and the driving shaft is a crankshaft co-operating with a reciprocating slide via a connecting rod. The slide consists of a pair of slide pieces connected with one another by a lost motion arrangement, the stroke of which can be adjusted from the outside of the housing. The driving device can be used in high speed machines making for example 8,000 strokes per minute and more.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for shutting off liquid flow such as fuel in a carburetor during certain sensed conditions, in which an adjustment is provided for further controlling the liquid at times when the liquid is not shut off. When used on a carburetor, idle fuel or injection water is shut off by a needle valve. The needle valve may be retracted to an "on" position. The "on" position is adjustable so as to provide a flow adjustment. Such an arrangement may be provided as an original design feature of a carburetor or may be added to existing carburetor designs, for example, as a kit.When used as an idle fuel shut-off, the needle valve is adjusted in the "on" position in a manner similar to conventional idle mixture adjustment using idle mixture adjusting screws. Thus, fuel in the idle circuit may be interrupted during engine deceleration, as detected by a high manifold vacuum condition, or during engine shut-off, as detected by an interruption in the engine's ignition circuit.

Abstract: A typical embodiment of the invention provides structural support for the grids in a nuclear reactor fuel assembly. Illustratively, the external surfaces of water rods or instrument tubes in a fuel assembly are provided with annular recesses. A spacer grid retainer is engaged within the recesses by means of spring loaded fingers on the retainer, in which the spring loading forces are greater than anticipated vibration forces to reduce fretting corrosion. Notches formed in the retainer secure the grid to the retainer, all in a manner that simplifies fuel assembly construction and restricts grid movement at lower cost.

Abstract: This invention is directed toward a nuclear fuel assembly guide tube arrangement which restrains spacer grid movement due to coolant flow and which offers secondary means for supporting a fuel assembly during handling and transfer operations.

Abstract: An illustrative embodiment of the invention discloses a technique for disassembling a nuclear reactor fuel element without destroying the individual fuel pins and other structural components from which the element is assembled. A traveling bridge and trolley that span a water-filled spent fuel storage pool support a strongback. The strongback is under water and provides a working surface on which the spent fuel element is placed for inspection and for the manipulation that is associated with disassembly and assembly. To remove, in a non-destructive manner, the grids that hold the fuel pins in the proper relative positions within the element, bars are inserted through apertures in the grids with the aid of special tools. These bars are rotated to flex the adjacent grid walls and, in this way relax the physical engagement between protruding portions of the grid walls and the associated fuel pins.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved system of providing power having a unique generating means of the nuclear reactor variety adapted with a plurality of steam generators in the form of replaceable modular units of the expendable type for the attainment of the optimum in effective and efficient vaporization of fluid during the process of generating power.

Abstract: An ultrasonic search unit for locating defective fuel elements within a fuel assembly used in a water cooled nuclear reactor is presented. The unit is capable of freely traversing the restricted spaces between the fuel elements.

Abstract: The invention relates to an alumina based, phosphate bondable, dry refractory mix composition exhibiting an extended shelf life of up to eighteen months and longer. The mixture has the following preferred composition on a weight percentage basis: 40-70% sized tabular alumina, 15-35% calcined alumina, 2-10% hydrated alumina, 1-10% calcium aluminate cement and an acid ingredient such as 3 to 15 weight percent of an 115 percent concentration of polyphosphoric acid. The mix is prepared by a method which comprises the steps of formulating dry ingredients into a mixer, mixing the dry ingredients to a homogenous state, then adding a liquid acid ingredient to the mixture of dry ingredients, and subjecting the dry and acid ingredient mix to a high intensity mixing action for a predetermined period of time. The product is substantially dry to the touch.

Abstract: A typical embodiment has an end fitting for a nuclear reactor fuel element that is joined to the control rod guide tubes by means of a nut plate assembly. The nut plate assembly has an array of nuts, each engaging the respective threaded end of the control rod guide tubes. The nuts, moreover, are retained on the plate during handling and before fuel element assembly by means of hollow cylindrical locking cups that are brazed to the plate and loosely circumscribe the individual enclosed nuts. After the nuts are threaded onto the respective guide tube ends, the locking cups are partially deformed to prevent one or more of the nuts from working loose during reactor operation. The locking cups also prevent loose or broken end fitting parts from becoming entrained in the reactor coolant. A tool for selectively locking and unlocking the nuts is presented.

Abstract: A spacer grid for a nuclear fuel assembly is comprised of a lattice of grid plates forming multiple cells that are penetrated by fuel elements. Resilient protrusions and rigid protrusions projecting into the cells from the plates bear against the fuel element to effect proper support and spacing. Pairs of intersecting grid plates, disposed in a longitudinally spaced relationship, cooperate with other plates to form a lattice wherein each cell contains adjacent panels having resilient protrusions arranged opposite adjacent panels having rigid protrusions. The peripheral band bounding the lattice is provided solely with rigid protrusions projecting into the peripheral cells.

Abstract: A method of tube drawing a cold finished stepped internal diameter tube utilizing a novel mandrel plug having compound working surfaces designed to automatically adjust to the varying internal diameters formed in a tube hollow to be worked as it is drawn through a die.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving the interior or exterior surface smoothness of a tube shell during cold draw operations is disclosed wherein the final reduction of the tube shell is completed within the die land.