Abstract: In a method and apparatus for cleaning nuclear fuel elements to remove carbonized pitch residue and the like, the cleaning operation preferably being conducted within an enclosure to permit containment of the removed residue, each fuel element being introduced into the enclosure through an airlock, the end surfaces and lateral surfaces of the fuel element being cleaned and one or more longitudinal passages within the fuel element being cleaned by means of a probe unit for initially determining the configuration and position of the longitudinal passages and causing cleaning elements to be aligned with the respective longitudinal passages and extended therethrough, the flow resistance of those longitudinal passages designed for gas flow being monitored by a gauging unit, clean fuel elements being removed from the enclosure through another air-lock.

Abstract: A high voltage switching system switches large load currents in short periods. Gas is contained within an envelope at a pressure of the order of magnitude of at least 0.1 atmosphere. The gas provides a relatively high electron drift velocity at a relatively low electric field strength. A pair of electrodes are spaced apart within the envelope and are connected to respective switch terminals for connecting to a load. The voltage gradient between the electrodes so spaced is insufficient at rated voltage to produce any substantial secondary ionization. The gas is ionized by a beam of high energy electrons introduced into the gas through the envelope. Means is provided for turning the beam on and off, thereby closing and opening the current path through the gas and effecting the switching of current through the load.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is described for the countercurrent washing of particulate solids, especially nuclear fuel particles, in a washing tower including a sequential series of washing sections each having a recirculation loop for drawing fluid from an upper portion of the washing section and introducing it adjacent a restricted opening in the bottom of the same washing section in order to control the downward flow of solids from the section, an outlet section of the washing tower being arranged beneath the lowermost washing section and including a restricted passage for regulating flow of washing fluid in the washing tower, additional fluid being introduced into the outlet section of the tower in order to minimize the flow of washing solution through the restricted passage of the outlet section.

Abstract: A heating system including a fireplace and hood means interposed in substantially free standing relationship between the top opening of the fireplace and the bottom opening of a cooperating chimney, the hood means being dimensioned to be withdrawable through the top opening of the fireplace and having detachable flange means about its bottom peripheral edge to engage the top opening of the fireplace and provide support for the hood above the top opening of the fireplace. Housing means exterior to the hood is provided to enclose the space between the fireplace and the chimney to provide an air flow passageway exteriorly of the hood means. Duct means are provided to convey air through the passageway for heating and, thereafter, distribution to a remote location.

Abstract: A humidifier-nebulizer apparatus is disclosed which includes a liquid reservoir having a sterile liquid such as water contained therein, the liquid reservoir having a sealed wall portion adapted to be pierced by the piercing element of an adapter head when mounted on the liquid reservoir. The adapter head may be attached to a source of pressurized gas, such as oxygen, and includes control valve means movable to discharge a nebulized gas-liquid mixture from the adapter head during a nebulizing mode of operation. The control valve means is also adjustable to a position to introduce oxygen into the liquid reservoir in a manner to effect discharge of humidified oxygen through a discharge port on the liquid reservoir.

Abstract: Thermorecording sheet, thermorecording method and method of manufacture of a thermally responsive recording paper comprising a reversibly reduced cyclic polyketo compound such as hydrindantin and a thiuram compound having a sulfur chain linkage of at least two sulfur atoms.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for the manufacture of a colored chip or colored swatch bearing sheet, i.e. a color chart, comprising a base sheet bearing an array of adhesively attached colored chips in rows with indicia identifying the color of each chip with a particular paint. The base sheets are fed automatically from a stack of sheets to an adhesive applying means which applies spots of adhesive to the sheet at swatch receiving areas on the sheet. Narrow webs or ribbons of swatch material are severed to form the individual swatches or color chips which then are transferred automatically to a passing sheet and applied thereto. The sheets pass through a series of swatch forming and applying stations with a row of swatches being applied to each sheet at each of the respective stations. Preferably, the sheets are fed continuously and at a relativey fast rate of speed. The arrangement and size of the swatches may be easily changed to allow the apparatus to be used for various types of color charts.

Abstract: Thermorecording sheet, thermorecording method and method of manufacture of a thermally responsive recording paper comprising a reversibly reduced cyclic polyketo compound, such as hydrindantin and an N,N' polythiodiamine having a sulfur chain length of at least two sulfur atoms.

Abstract: A nuclear fuel element and a method for making the fuel element are described. The fuel element comprises a graphite block in which elongated holes are filled with nuclear fuel. The nuclear fuel in each of the holes comprises a plurality of fuel rod segments which are, before firing, spaced from each other by a plurality of spacers. Upon firing, the spacer material gasifies, leaving unfilled gaps between the fuel rod segments.

Abstract: An auxiliary jet sump pump, particularly for use with a main conventional electrical sump pump or the like, as a substitute pump in the event the main pump is inoperative, or as a supplemental pump in the event the capacity of the main pump is exceeded. The auxiliary pump is adapted to be mounted in the sump, and discharges into the discharge pipe of the main pump. The auxiliary pump is powered by water under pressure, for example water from the usual municipal water supply. A float-actuated valve is provided which admits water into the auxiliary pump when the water level in the sump rises to a first predetermined level above normal, and which shuts off the water when the water level reaches a second predetermined level lower than the first predetermined level.

Abstract: A closure for covering and providing access to the interior of a cylindrical pipe or the like is disclosed. The closure has a cap portion and a cover portion, the cap portion being secured to the end of a pipe to which access is desired and the cover is adapted to be releasably attached to cover the aperture in the cap portion. By removing the cover, special tools or the like can be inserted through the aperture of the cap portion for the intended purpose. The closure is preferably made of a nonmetallic material and has a ferromagnetic member attached to the interior of one of the cap and cover portions to enable a metal detector to find the same when the closure is applied below grade.

Abstract: A collapsible item of furniture such as a chair is disclosed as having a back-rest portion connected by a serrated means in continual meshed engagement with a serrated means connected to posterior leg portions so that the back-rest and posterior leg portions rotated concurrently with one another and relative to a seat or lying base. The serrated means are part of an articulating means comprising a pair of bowl-shaped housings encompassing the serrated means which rotate about stub shafts in the bowl-shaped housings. Anterior leg portions are connected at central locations to the front of the seat base and at upper ends to an arm rest means which, in turn, is connected to the back rest.

Abstract: Particulate nuclear fuel material, particulate carbon and pitch are combined with an additive which is effective to reduce the coke yield upon carbonization to mold a green fuel body. The additive may be polystyrene, a styrene-butadiene copolymer, an aromatic hydrocarbon having a molecular weight between about 75 and 300 or a saturated hydrocarbon polymer. The green fuel body is inserted in a complementary cavity within a porous nuclear fuel element body and heated in situ to decompose the pitch and additive, leaving a relatively close-fitting fuel body in the cavity.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing blocked isocyanate curing agents in which a polyisocyanate and a blocking agent for the polyisocyanate are separately and continuously metered into a reaction zone in stoichiometric proportion under reaction conditions, and in which the reaction mixture is continuously withdrawn from the reaction zone to provide a blocked isocyanate curing agent product.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing partially blocked isocyanate curing agents in which a polyisocyanate and a blocking agent for the polyisocyanate are separately and continuously metered into a reaction zone in predetermined nonstoichiometric proportion under reaction conditions, and in which the reaction mixture is continuously withdrawn from the reaction zone to provide a partially blocked isocyanate curing agent product. The partially blocked isocyanate curing agent product may be continuously reacted with a polyhydroxy resin coating precursor at a temperature below the unblocking temperature of the blocking agent in respect of the polyisocyanate to provide a heat curable powder coating composition.

Abstract: An annular composite two-piece seal is described for sealing engagement with a reciprocating member. The composite seal includes a soft, flexible, annular sealing ring having an annular sealing lip with a chamfered portion facing the high pressure side of the seal and inclined toward the reciprocating member, and having an axially and circumferentially extending wall for sealing engagement with an axially directed circumferential wall of a groove in a stationary member receiving the seal. A second annular sealing ring of harder and lower friction material is formed with a circumferentially extending sealing lip for engaging the reciprocating member. Both of these sealing lips seal with the reciprocating member at a low pressure loading of the seal. The sealing lip on the second ring is deflected into tighter sealing engagement with the reciprocating member with increased pressure on the first ring.

Abstract: A child safe closure of the kind which is secured to a container by interengagement of locking lugs within locking recesses is provided with a sealing member which provides a moisture tight seal with an internal wall of the container. The sealing member has a sealing bead which is inserted deeply within the container opening to a location adjacent or below the lower ends of integrally formed locking lugs or recesses on the container to avoid any depressions made in the interior wall of the container during cooling of thicker cross sectional portions of the container wall. A tapered lead-in surface on the container guides and centers the sealing bead as it travels downwardly toward its sealing position. Preferably, the sealing member is in the form of a separable, flexible sealing fitment retained within the closure cap and formed with an annular flange connected through an annular transverse V-shaped web to a circular planar crown.

Abstract: A composite reinforced structural panel includes upper and lower skin members with a flexible arched member arranged therebetween and secured in place by means of an adhesive, insulating material such as structural grade polyurethane foam, the ends of the flexible arched member being fixed to the lower skin member. Preferably, a solar energy collecting array is disposed upon each structural panel with means for interconnecting the solar arrays on adjacent panels. In a method of producing the panel, the upper and lower skin members and the flexible arched member are arranged in the manner described above whereupon the foam is injected therebetween to maintain the flexible member in its arched configuration.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a drawn container from a metallic blank are disclosed wherein the blank is drawn over the outer surface of a stationary forming ring by an annular forming die to form a tubular wall portion which is thereafter completely redrawn by a forming punch in co-operation with a forming die, a reverse redrawn annular wall portion of the blank being positioned for engagement by a curling ring to form an inwardly curled rim at the peripheral edge of the open end of the container.

Abstract: A mattress or cushion spring assembly includes aligned rows of coil springs connected together within each row and between rows and additional reinforcing springs which are interspersed around the periphery of the spring assembly and are held in place by border helicals or other means.