Abstract: A system for the measurement of the length of the plenum chamber in a nuclear fuel rod, both before and after service in the nuclear reactor. The system basically comprises inserting the fuel rod into a casing having an eddy current sensing coil therein and advancing it until the coil output provides a signal indicative of the end of the plenum spring being centrally located within the coil. At an end of the casing is provided a plenum chamber length transducer of the displacement type, such as a linear variable differential transformer, which contacts the adjacent end cap of the fuel rod and when the coil provides an appropriate readout corresponding to proper location of the plenum spring end produces an output signal which is indicative of the length of the plenum chamber.

Abstract: Undesirable pollutants in automotive exhaust gas are reduced using an emission control reactor to oxidize hydrocarbons and CO, and recirculation of some exhaust gas to the engine intake system to reduce NO.sub.x content, the warm-up time of the reactor being reduced by delaying the ignition time until the minimum working temperature of the reactor is attained, and the performance of the engine being improved by interrupting exhaust gas recycle when the engine is choked, or at idling or operating with open throttle.

Abstract: A process for cooling and condensing natural gas in a plurality of convective heat exchange stages by means of multicomponent refrigerants. The first refrigerant cools the natural gas and the second refrigerant from ambient temperature in a first heat exchange stage. Then the second refrigerant cools the natural gas further in a second stage and afterward is compressed while still below ambient temperature to an intermediate pressure where it is joined by the first refrigerant for further compression and cooling to ambient temperature before separating the two refrigerants and repeating the refrigeration cycle.

Abstract: In a nuclear power reactor fuel bundle having tie rods fastened to a lower tie plate and passing through openings in the upper tie plate, the assembled bundle is secured by rotatable locking sleeves which engage slots provided in the upper tie plate. Pressure exerted by helical springs mounted around each of the fuel rods urge the upper tie plate against the locking sleeves. The bundle may be disassembled after depressing the upper tie plate and rotating the locking sleeves to the unlocked position.

Abstract: A berthing buoy for mooring ships which provides for remote controlled release of mooring lines in emergency situations and sinking of the buoy by opening special scuttling valves. The buoy is refloated by blowing its compartments with compressed air manually admitted to the compartments by a diver using a special control station.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for stopping a malfunctioning sealing device which is being propelled inside a pipeline by pneumatic pressure from being expelled out of the pipeline at the laybarge end. The apparatus comprises a plurality of normally retracted gripping jaws and a bumper at its rear end. When impact is made with the bumper by, for example, a sealing device such as a pig being propelled through the pipeline, the gripping jaws which are mechanically linked with the bumper are caused to expand against the inner pipe surface such that the apparatus is secured in place within the pipeline, thereby preventing the pig from being propelled out of the line onto the laybarge.

Abstract: A system for indicating engine speed without physically contacting the engine, including a tachometer comprising an inductive loop which may be buried in the ground and connected to an electrical amplifying system which picks up very low frequency radio frequency (RF) pulses from the ignition system of an automobile or other vehicle whose engine is located above the loop. The tachometer includes controls for selecting the number of engine cylinders corresponding to the vehicle being tested and a meter readout providing a visible or other suitable indication of the vehicle's engine speed. Undesirable background noises are substantially eliminated by the pickup loop design and its orientation, input signal filtering, power line filtering, base line signal rejection and automatic gain control.

Abstract: An ultrasonic apparatus and technique for rapidly and accurately measuring the inside and outside diameters and wall thickness of a tubular material. The tubes are passed between a pair of diametrically opposed ultrasonic transducers for obtaining the necessary data. A third transducer is employed to obtain a reference signal, which is used to automatically compensate for any temperature variations in the ultrasound couplant medium.