Abstract: An aluminide coating for a fuel cladding tube for LMFBRs (liquid metal fast breeder reactors) such as those using liquid sodium as a heat transfer agent. The coating comprises a mixture of nickel-aluminum intermetallic phases and presents good corrosion resistance to liquid sodium at temperatures up to 700.degree. C. while additionally presenting a barrier to outward diffusion of .sup.54 Mn.

Abstract: A magnetically insulated article is described, together with the composition and method of applying the same which is characterized by a curing temperature within the range between about 220.degree. F. and about 350.degree. F.

Abstract: A method for improving the post-irradiation ductility is described which prises a solution heat treatment following which the materials are cold worked. They are included to demonstrate the beneficial effect of this treatment on the swelling resistance and the ductility of these austenitic precipitation hardenable alloys.

Abstract: It has been discovered that a series of grooves in the surface of amorphous magnetic alloy strip can significantly reduce core losses if the grooves are generally transverse to the direction of magnetization. The grooves are between 0.1 and 10.0 of the strip thickness in depth and are preferably on both sides of the strip and spaced about 0.02-2 centimeters apart.

Abstract: This is a method for making a low alloy iron having desirable magnetic characteristics suitable for electrical applications such as transformer cores. The ingot alloy has a relatively high (more than 50 ppm) sulfur and relatively high manganese (0.01-0.15%) and thus can be prepared from commercially available materials without further purification. While the sulfur in such a manganese containing alloy is not removed during final annealing (due to generally less than about 950.degree. C. final annealing temperatures of the primary recrystallization process) the use of a tensile stress (at least 200 psi) inducing glass coating provides for very low losses. The material contains significant amounts of both sulfur and manganese. Both the sulfur and manganese contribute towards the meltability of the alloy and the manganese contributes towards the workability (especially for cool rolling) of the sulfur containing material.

Abstract: This is a method of producing grain-oriented, iron sheet for electrical applications. The process utilizes relatively pure iron which is deoxidized to have less than 50 ppm of oxygen. The carbon content is adjusted to 0.01-0.02 wt. % (preferably 0.010-0.015 wt. %). The material is hot rolled at a temperature of at least 800.degree. C., cold rolled with a 60-75% reduction, recrystallized in an non-oxidizing atmosphere at 700.degree.-820.degree. C., cold rolled a second time with a 60-75% reduction, annealed at 700.degree.-825.degree. C. in a non-oxidizing atmosphere and cold rolled a third time with a 60-75% reduction and final annealed at 850.degree.-900.degree. C. for 50-200 hours in a reducing atmosphere.

Abstract: This is a low-alloy iron having desirable magnetic characteristics suitable for electrical applications such as transformer cores. This material has improved texture and reduced core losses. The alloys contain 0.6-1.0% silicon and 0.4-0.8% chromium along with controlled levels of manganese, sulfur, carbon and oxygen. These alloys are preferably processed to about 0.006 inch (0.015 cm) final gauge using schedules with three coldrolling steps. B.sub.10 values above 19 kG and 17 kG losses below 0.72 watts per pound are obtained with these alloys.

Abstract: This invention is a system of automatically classifying defects both for sorting defective products (metallic surfaces, especially tube surfaces) as to the reworking operation required for correcting the defect, and for classifying the defect as to the preceding manufacturing operation which is the most probable cause of that defect and sending a signal to that operation to provide for adjustments to minimize future defects. The system uses a source of electromagnetic radiation (typically a laser beam which is scanned across the surface) and at least two sensors (adjusted such that the radiation is reflected from a defect-free surface principally received by one of the sensors but that there is a measured amount of radiation in the other sensor). An average signal of the principal sensor is developed as a function of scan position. Threshold circuitry detects when the ratio of sensor signal to average signal varies by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: This invention is of a process and an intermediate alloy for making an oriented-low-alloy iron (primarily recrystallized) which obtains maximum (110) [001] texture and improved magnetic properties by controlling the sulfur, carbon, manganese, and oxygen contents in the intermediate alloy to certain critical narrow ranges. With alloys containing the 0.01-0.15 percent manganese normally found in commercially available iron, the optimum intermediate (prior to final anneal) sulfur level has been found to be 0.004-0.008 percent. This sulfur level is appropriate for such manganese contents for a wide variety of silicon and chromium content. Similarly an intermediate carbon level of between 0.002 and 0.020% has been shown to give the maximum texture and best properties. The oxygen level must be 0.005 percent or lower and should be held as low as practicable. With these levels of sulfur, carbon, manganese, and oxygen, the alloy can be processed by hot rolling at 900.degree.-1200.degree. C. (usually between 1000.

Abstract: This is an ingot alloy composition and method suitable for making a low-alloy iron having desirable magnetic characteristics suitable for electrical applications such as transformers cores. The ingot alloy has relatively high (0.012-0.020%) sulfur and thus can be prepared with reduced melting cost (as compared to ingot alloys which are to have low sulfur content). To provide for good sulfur removal during processing, however, the manganese content of the ingot alloy must be kept very low (less than 0.01%, if the final annealing is to be performed at about (800.degree.-1000.degree. C.). The ingot alloy also contains 0.1-2% silicon, 0.1-2% chromium, 0.005-0.030% carbon, less than 0.004% oxygen and the balance essentially iron. The method provides for hot-rolling the above described ingot alloy at 900.degree.-1200.degree. C., annealing for 3-10 hours at 750.degree.-900.degree. C., cold-rolling with a 50-75% reduction, annealing for 3-10 hours at 750.degree.-900.degree. C.

Abstract: This is a nickel-base superalloy with excellent weldability and high strength. Its composition consists essentially of, by weight percent, 10-20 iron, 57-63 nickel, 7-18 chromium, 4-6 molybdenum, 1-2 niobium, 0.2-0.8 silicon, 0.01-0.05 zirconium, 1.0-2.5 titanium, 1.0-2.5 aluminum, 0.02-0.06 carbon, and 0.002-0.015 boron. The weldability and strength of this alloy give it a variety of applications. The long-time structural stability of this alloy together with its low swelling under nuclear radiation conditions, make it especially suitable for use as a duct material and controlling element cladding for sodium-cooled nuclear reactors.

Abstract: This invention is an improved method for scanning for flaws on a surface utilizing dynamic correction. Each individual scan signal is divided into a large number of increments, each increment representing a predetermined position in the scan. A dynamic average is computed for each of the scan positions and flaws are detected by comparing the increment signals to the dynamic average signal for the same position. This technique is especially useful to detect flaws on high quality tubing, such as used for nuclear reactor fuel rods or for nuclear reactor steam generator tubing.

Abstract: A densified silicon nitride-silicon carbide composite material formed by hot-pressing a mixture of silicon nitride (Si.sub.3 N.sub.4) powder, which forms the matrix up to 40 volume percent and preferably from 5-30 volume percent silicon carbide (SiC) powder, and a densification aid such as magnesium oxide (MgO). The average size of the silicon carbide particles is to be less than about 5 microns. The densified composite material is characterized by higher thermal conductivity and strength at high temperatures relative to silicon nitride. The flexural strength at 1400.degree. C. of the composite material being at least double that of sintered silicon nitride.

Abstract: A densified silicon nitride-silicon carbide composite material formed by hot-pressing a mixture of silicon nitride (Si.sub.3 N.sub.4) powder, which forms the matrix, up to 40 volume percent and preferably from 5-30 volume percent silicon carbide (SiC) powder, and a densification aid such as magnesium oxide (MgO). The average size of the silicon carbide particles is to be less than about 5 microns. The densified composite material is characterized by higher thermal conductivity and strength at high temperatures relative to silicon nitride. The flexural strength at 1400.degree. C. of the composite material being at least double that of sintered silicon nitride.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to ceramic materials formed from powder, and more particularly to hot-pressed structural materials comprising silicon nitride (Si.sub.3 N.sub.4) wherein the oxygen content is controlled by maintaining the molar ratio of MgO and SiO.sub.2.

Abstract: This apparatus is for use in the launching of battered leg jackets for offshore platforms. The jacket is transported on at least one barge resting on its lower battered legs and, during launching, the apparatus guides the jacket by its lower battered legs to maintain the center line of the jacket on the launching center line. The apparatus uses a pair of dollies on a beam, and at least two beams on a barge. The beams are mounted transverse to the launching center line. The dollies can move along the transverse beam and position coordinating means are used to control the relative positions of the dollies on each beam such that the two dollies are maintained essentially the same distance from the launching center line with one dolly on either side of the launching center line. When either dolly is moved, the other dolly on the same beam will move the same distance in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A multiple well platform is described for producing hydrocarbons, preferably using a free-standing single riser caisson. Although the wells are connected up to the surface, the largest casings (and preferably most of the other casings) are terminated at about the mudline. The apparatus uses a guide located at a level about the ocean floor which can be oriented to direct well installing apparatus to any of several exit holes and enables multiple wells to be installed through a riser caisson only slightly larger than the diameter of the largest size well casing. The apparatus preferably has a single riser caisson to extend from about the marine bottom to above the water level with at least one buoyancy chamber attached to its upper portion, and an enlarged bottom section. The bottom section contains the guide means to direct apparatus such as drills and casing into appropriate exit holes.

Abstract: An erosion-resistant sand screen assembly is described for use in petroleum wells of the type in which sand tends to become entrained in the stream of petroleum entering the wellbore. The assembly is especially useful in cased holes in formations which consist of very find sand, such as have been encountered in the Gulf Coast region of the United States and off the east coast of Trinidad. The assembly uses a sleeve with an erosion-resistant wall at least one-fourth inch thick, positioned around the outside layer of wire screen. Preferably, the assembly has an outer surface of a resilient elastomeric material.

Abstract: A method is described for gathering information for the determination of the adequacy of placement of sand consolidating plastic for sand control in oil and gas wells. The method uses a high neutron cross-section tracer which becomes part of the plastic and uses pulsed neutron logging before and after injection of the plastic. Preferably, the method uses lithium, boron, indium, and/or cadmium tracers. Boron oxide is especially useful and can be dissolved in alcohol and mixed with the plastic ingredients.

Abstract: This is a method and apparatus for a control system for a well-fluid hydraulic pumping unit. The system senses level in the suction vessel and operates an underflow throttling valve to control both the level in the suction vessel and the flows of the cyclone separator. The system maintains the level in the horizontal suction vessel and simultaneously maintains flows to the cyclone in a range for effective cleaning of the fluid and for self-cleaning of the underflow. The cyclone and its associated hardware are sized based on the above-ground pump flow and any bleed flow from the suction vessel. The system is generally applicable to hydraulic units in which the speed of the above-ground pump is not varied over a wide range.