Abstract: A solenoid actuator, adapted for use in an electronic control valve for a fuel injector, having an electrically-energizable electromagnetic device, such as a winding, a pole member associated with the electrically energizable winding, and an armature movable with respect to the pole member. The armature occupies a first position relative to the pole member when the winding is not electrically energized and a second position relative to the pole member when the winding is electrically energized. The actuator has an adjustment screw which is movable with respect to the pole member to form an air gap of variable width internal to the pole member to change the magnetic characteristics of the solenoid actuator, and thus the response of the actuator.

Abstract: An improved electronically-controlled heavy fuel oil (HFO) injection system comprises a pumping chamber for pressurizing fuel and a direct-operated check for controlling fuel injection. A control fluid different from the fuel is used to operate regulating apparatus for controlling the fuel injection pressure and fuel injection timing. The regulating apparatus isolate the HFO from sensitive mechanisms by appropriate exposure of the control fluid to flush intruding HFO from those mechanisms. Pressurization of fuel begins before the start of fuel injection. Fuel injection is initiated by exposing one end of the check to low pressure control fluid while the other end is exposed to high pressure fuel. Fuel injection is terminated by exposing the one end to high pressure control fluid to hydraulically balance the check and allow a biasing device to close the check.

Abstract: A variable displacement pump has a fluid passageway formed through a swash plate fluidly communicating a piston chamber with a drive shaft chamber not later than when the piston chamber comes into open fluid communication with a valve blcok resident inlet port to prevent erosion of the swash plate and the valve block about the inlet port. Secondary port portions of reduced flow area per unit rotation communicate with and circumferentially lead primary port portions of greater flow area per unit rotation.

Abstract: A reciprocating piston/barrel assembly, through which a fluid is capable of flowing, includes a piston having a pressure face separated from a downstream face by a side surface. A barrel has an interior wall surface defining a bore that is sized to slidably receive the piston. The bore is longer than the piston such that the bore includes an upstream volume adjacent the pressure face of the piston and a downstream volume adjacent the downstream face of the piston. The assembly includes some way for producing a pressure differential between the upstream volume and the downstream volume. The side surface and/or interior wall surface include at least one surface irregularity--indentation and/or protrusion--of sufficient size to increase flow resistance. In order to produce the axial force effect of the present invention, the fluid flow between the piston side surface and the barrel's interior wall surface must be faster than the speed of the piston.

Abstract: Load skidding vehicles commonly include a grapple assembly (42) which under load conditions can pivot rearwardly about its support point (52) resulting in disproportionate loading of the rear wheels and consequently instability of the vehicle. A connecting member (62) is pivotally attached between the grapple (42) and a hydraulic cylinder (74) which is attached to the skidder (2). Operation of the hydraulic cylinder (74) causes the grapple (42) to rotate about its support pivot (52). The hydraulic cylinder (74) may be locked causing the grapple (42) to be locked in relation to the boom assembly (26). During load hauling operations this mechanism is used to lock the load in a position near the vehicle resulting in increased stability. The mechanism is also of use in positioning the grapple assembly (42) with respect to the load prior to grasping it.

Abstract: An elastomeric seal apparatus (16) having an inner annular terminating portion (36) which is attachable to a first (12) member, an outer annular terminating portion (38) which is attachable to a second (14) member, and an annular convoluted flexible portion (40) which is disposed between the inner (36) and outer (38) terminating portions and has an inner (46) and an outer (48) margin which are respectively joined thereto. The thickness of the convoluted flexible portion (40) decreases from the relatively thicker inner margin (46) to the relatively thinner outer margin (48) in proportion to a radial distance (H) extending from the inner margin (46) to the flexible portion (40). A concentrically inner convolution (42) and a concentrically outer convolution (44) constitute the flexible portion (40) and have a relatively small (R.sub.1) and a relatively large (R.sub.2) radius of curvature.

Abstract: A tube guide-expander for guiding heat exchanger tubes through tube sheet apertures from a secondary to a primary side thereof and expanding those tubes into contact with the apertures' walls. The guide-expander includes relatively axially displaceable first and second compression structures and elastomeric O-rings which radially expand into contact with the tube's inner surface when axially compressed between the compression structures. The first compression structure is abuttable with the tube's end and has an axial opening therethrough. The second compression structure constitutes an elongated element which extends through the opening and has a ram element connected to the end inside the tube and a driving element connected to the end outside the tube. The ram and elongated elements are preferably threadably engaged so as to permit relative axial displacement therebetween when they are relatively rotated.

Abstract: A valve apparatus for controlling fluid flow therethrough. A valve support body attached to an elongated stem is housed in an internal opening of a valve body which is externally mateable with a valve seat. Mateable surfaces on the valve body and valve seat are spherical so as to ensure complete engagement therebetween for misalignments between the stem-supported valve body and the valve seat. An antivibration or stabilizing ring situated between the support body and the valve body within the internal opening permits rotation of the valve body about the support body during valve closure to compensate for large stem-valve seat misalignments while restricting relative oscillatory, vibrating motion between the support body and valve body when the valve is in the open, unengaged configuration. Maximum vibration resistance and free rotatability of the valve body is obtained by disposing the stabilizing ring to occupy a position in the plane formed by the contact line between the valve body and seat.

Abstract: The stator core of a dynamoelectric machine is end-supported by a flexible mounting which includes bore rings encircling the stator core at spaced-apart locations. Outer and inner plate springs extend independently along each exterior side of the stator core within the horizontal center plane thereof to independently interconnect the bore rings with end boxes. The outer springs are joined to one or more bore rings arranged between other bore rings at the middle part of the stator core and the inner springs are joined to at least one bore ring at the end of the stator core. A plate spring is used as a stabilizer to extend between the end boxes below the stator core within the vertical center plane thereof to join the bore rings to the end boxes. The bore rings have flat peripheral surfaces for attachment to each of the springs.

Abstract: A system for ensuring uniform axial expansion of a dynamoelectric machine's stator core subjected to elevated temperatures. The stator core constitutes axially adjacent ferromagnetic laminations held in axial compression by through-bolts axially extending through an intermediate portion thereof and building bolts situated in notches formed in the radially outer periphery of the laminations. The building bolts are secured to bore rings which circumferentially encircle and provide support for the stator core. The bore rings are rigidly secured in the axial direction by structural members connected to the bore rings and surrounding machine frame. Nuts disposed on each axial end of the through-bolts are torqued to allow at first axial expansion of the core while maintaining a selected degree of axial compression of the laminations during operation at elevated temperatures.

Abstract: Axial flow blowers for cooling the rotatable field winding on synchronous dynamoelectric machines. An axial flow blower is provided on each axial end of the dynamoelectric machine. Each blower includes an inboard and an outboard section. Each section is capable of forcing a gas coolant through interpolar spaces which separate the poles on synchronous motors and generators. A flow guide is arranged in each interpolar space to direct the gas coolant against the adjacent field winding. One inboard section causes axial flow of the gas coolant through the interpolar spaces when the shaft of the dynamoelectric machine is rotated in a first direction and the other inboard section causes axial flow of the gas coolant in the opposite direction when the shaft is rotated in the second direction.

Abstract: A rotor construction and end turn supporting arrangement for restraining field winding end turns within circumferential slots formed in dynamoelectric machine rotors. Longitudinal slots axially disposed along the rotor intersect the circumferential slots and provide an open-faced housing for disposal therein of the field winding between the axially separated circumferential slots. Wedges are provided for insertion in at least some of the slots for retention therein of the field winding during high-speed rotor rotation. Utilizing electrically conductive wedges in both the longitudinal slots and circumferential slots establishes a rotor cage for carrying undesired eddy currents which are often induced in the rotor material.

Abstract: A method for inserting a tube through a tubesheet aperture and expanding it into contact with the aperture's wall. A tube guide-expander device is assembled in an open end of a tube with a portion of the device protruding from the tube. The guide-expander includes a distally protruding tip portion tapered to diverge in a direction toward the tube so as to facilitate insertion of the guide-expander and engaged tube through apertures in spatially separated tube supports and tubesheet. The guide-expander and tube engaged therewith are axially displaced relative to the tubesheet until the desired relative configuration is obtained. Expansion of the tube results from expanding the assembled tube guide-expander and driving the housing tube in the radial direction against the tubesheet aperture's wall. Such guide-expander expansion obtains from relatively axially displacing two structural components and compressing an interposed, radially expansible structure.

Abstract: Apparatus that may be assembled inside the head of a steam generator and can perform various repair and inspection operations on the steam generator's tubes and tubesheet. Selective engagement of an included tool holder and associated tools with the tube and tubesheet is provided by a gear train which has a portion which houses a tool drive motor. The drive motor provides power to a tool holder-mounted tool chuck for driving the various tools insertable therein.

Abstract: Two sets of hinged control doors for regulating motive steam flow from an evaporator to a condenser alternatively through a set of turbine blades in a steam bypass around the turbine blades. The evaporator has a toroidal shaped casing situated about the turbine's vertical axis of rotation and an outlet opening therein for discharging motive steam into an annular steam flow path defined between the turbine's radially inner and outer casing structures. The turbine blades extend across the steam flow path intermediate the evaporator and condenser. The first set of control doors is arranged to prevent steam access to the upstream side of the turbine blades and the second set of control doors acts as a bypass around the blades so as to maintain equilibrium between the evaporator and condenser during non-rotation of the turbine. The first set of control doors preferably extend, when closed, between the evaporator casing and the turbine's outer casing and, when open, extend away from the axis of rotation.

Abstract: A generally mushroom-shaped, open cycle OTEC system and distilled water producer which has a skirt-conduit structure extending from the enlarged portion of the mushroom to the ocean. The enlarged part of the mushroom houses a toroidal casing flash evaporator which produces steam which expands through a vertical rotor turbine, partially situated in the center of the blossom portion and partially situated in the mushroom's stem portion. Upon expansion through the turbine, the motive steam enters a shell and tube condenser annularly disposed about the rotor axis and axially situated beneath the turbine in the stem portion. Relatively warm ocean water is circulated up through the radially outer skirt-conduit structure entering the evaporator through a radially outer portion thereof, flashing a portion thereof into motive steam, and draining the unflashed portion from the evaporator through a radially inner skirt-conduit structure.

Abstract: A system for liquidly cooling rotor coils whose end turns are embedded in the rotor. A distribution chamber and a discharge chamber are arranged on opposite axial ends of the rotor and constitute supply and return manifolds, respectively. The distribution and discharge chambers are fluidly connected to coolant conduits which promote heat transfer to coolant flowing therein from electrical coils disposed in slots formed on the surface of the rotor. The fluid connections include conduits with at least a portion thereof being disposed in longitudinal slots of the rotor. Each of the coolant conduits has at least one 90.degree. bend therein for alleviating conduit stresses imposed by thermal expansion of such conduits. Insulators for the conduits electrically isolate the distribution and discharge chambers from the rotor's electrical coils. Coolant conduits supplying coolant to and receiving coolant from electrical coils near each pole may be disposed in the slots radially inside or outside the coils.

Abstract: A dynamoelectric machine having a thermal protector held in intimate thermal contact with the machine's electrical winding by a spring inserted between the machine's enclosing frame and protector. The spring is generally a V-shaped member whose one leg mates with the protector and whose other leg is divided in two with each of those divided legs being engageable with the frame. The closed end of the V-shaped spring member is progressively inserted between the protector and frame with the open end following. The frame engageable legs are sharp and thus gouge into the relatively softer frame so as to resist relative movement between the spring member and frame in the direction opposite its insertion.

Abstract: A hollow, rotatable shaft bore heater assembly for heating a shaft from its inside to its outside. Rapid rotatable shaft heating is provided by a plurality of electrical heaters situated in slots formed on the inner surfaces of a plurality of foundation members which are insertable in the hollow shaft and are biased thereagainst by biasing structure. When assembled, the foundation members constitute a substantially cylindrical structure which has the slots formed on its inner surface and the electrical heaters are restrained within those axially extending and circumferentially separated slots by insulation disposed on the inner surface of the foundation members across the slots open mouths. The biasing structure provides biasing force between circumferentially adjacent foundation members so as to maintain contact between the shaft and foundation members during non-rotation of the shaft.

Abstract: A dynamoelectric machine utilizing stiff, multiple component phase leads for connecting potentially misaligned stator coils and parallel phase rings. The phase leads, when attached to stator coil and phase ring coolant headers, provide electrical communication therebetween. The first and second phase lead components have a hole and cylindrical portion respectively wherein the cylindrical portion is insertable in the hole. Such phase lead hole has a longitudinal axis perpendicular to both slot elongation directions. Intimate electrical contact between the phase lead components and their connected coolant headers is insured by disposidng solder between their mateable, plane surfaces. Intimate electrical contact between the phase lead components is insured by brazing the components together at the interface between the assembled cylindrical portion and hole.