Abstract: First and second pairs of rollers are adjustably positionable along a pair of guide tubes within a fluid-filled tank in aligned, end spaced relation. A cylindrical workpiece resting within the interstices of the two pairs of rollers is incrementally rotated by an electro-hydraulic step motor. A sonic transducer scans the workpiece longitudinally with the workpiece being rotatively indexed successively after each scan.

Abstract: A self-contained tensioner and tightener device for a threaded stud characterized in that an expandable hydraulic tensioning device is disposable between a locking nut and a foundation surface from which the stud projects, and the locking nut and the elements of the tensioning device when removed from the stud are necessarily displaced onto and retained by a take-up finger extending from the tensioning device coaxial with the stud, whereby the entire tensioning and tightening assembly is self-contained and none of its parts necessarily separate from the combination when the combination is removed from the stud.

Abstract: An optical fiber with a bare end portion is faced-off precisely at 90 degrees. With an unsecured ferrule loosely located on the fiber, the fiber is passed through oversize openings in a fiber holder and a crimping station. The bare fiber portion is located in the interstice of three rods having identical diameters and the assembly is releasably held by jaws in a holding station. The faced-off fiber end is positioned slightly inwardly from the end faces of the rods by a limit pin. The fiber holder is tightened onto the fiber to maintain it in straightened condition and the ferrule is then slid into place over the three rods and included fiber. The crimping station is moved along a track toward the holding station until crimping jaws are positioned about the ferrule, three rods and fiber. Crimping jaws deform the ferrule at several different places firmly securing it in place on the rods.

Abstract: A system of transducers and electrical circuitry connecting with the transducers detects and locates flaws in the metallic walls of vessels used for containing and transporting liquids. An array of transducers is carried by a sled having rollers for facile movement about the surface of the vessel which surface is submerged within the liquid to permit the liquid to provide a sound propagating medium between the transducers and the vessel wall. The transducers are arranged in sets of two transducers, one of which is a transmitting transducer and the other a receiving transducer, the two transducers being positioned in tandem for increased azimuthal coverage of the sonic radiation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for gently holding, lifting and rotating a drum which may contain hazardous waste and may be likely to rupture, characterized in that an open-ended overpack is lowered around the drum and held fixed in relation to the floor while a platform slides beneath the overpack and drum, the overpack then being clamped by a lid against the platform and then elevated and rotated so that the drum therewithin is disposed in an upside-down position.

Abstract: A pair of hollow cylindrical parts are received onto a shielded cable and can be threaded together to clampingly engage conductive rings pressing them into full circumferential contact with the cable shield. One of the cylindrical parts is secured to a suitable electrical ground point (e.g., welding to deck of ship).

Abstract: A self-locking electrical and mechanical connecting means and method between a helical curved end-portion of a self-supporting resilient, electrical wire-helix of a certain radius and a nominally straight-axis, metal socket-portion of an electrical terminal characterized in that the socket is plastically deformed to self-lock onto the elastically deformed and somewhat straightened wire-helix end-portion.

Abstract: A connector has a coupling ring received about a plug shell, the inner wall surfaces of the coupling ring having a coded arrangement of keyways to insure proper mating with similar coded keys on a proper receptacle. An opening in the coupling ring slidingly receives a metal ball. A notch is formed in a surface of a detent spring arranged such that when the plug shell and receptacle shell are fully mated, the ball is aligned with and can move into a notch in the detent spring. A retainer ring located over the coupling ring lies immediately opposite the opening containing the metal ball. The inner surface of the retainer ring has a groove which on receiving the ball leaves no obstructing part of the ball extending inwardly of the coupling ring. Rotation of the retainer ring can locate either the groove opposite to the metal ball opening or a smaller diameter surface which will cause the ball to lock the connector parts.

Abstract: A nozzle construction includes a housing having an elongated opening with an end that terminates in a reflector for redirecting ultrasonic signals along a desired direction of transmission. In the same housing, a sonic transducer directs sonic energy toward the reflector, which, after reflection, enters the conical nozzle and leaves the apparatus via a solid liquid stream for acting upon a test piece. Sets of fins are optionally located in the passageway for breaking up any tendency of the liquid to swirl which has been found to degrade the projected liquid column. A further set of fins located in the conical nozzle removes any swirling tendencies introduced between the cylindrical passage and the conical nozzle.

Abstract: To prevent possible misalignment of the various parts of a plug and receptacle connector, if the coupling ring is inadvertently rotated before the receptacle is in full position, there is provided an interlock sleeve. This sleeve is spring-loaded and positioned between the coupling ring and the plug outer surface. Internal and external keys incorporated within the sleeve prevent inadvertent rotation of the coupling ring until the receptacle has made entry into the plug sufficiently to key both the coupling ring and plug shell.

Abstract: To insure proper alignment of a plug and receptacle connector so that only a correct plug and receptacle are being mated, a set of similarly coded keyways and keys on the connector parts require respective alignment before mating is possible. More particularly, the coupling ring and enclosed plug shell both have a set of keyways (optionally, keys) which must be respectively aligned before the receptacle can be received within the plug shell. A spring biased pawl within a slotted cavity in the coupling ring has parts which upon correct orientation of the ring and plug extend into a recess in the plug shell effectively locking the two together and preventing inadvertent rotation of the coupling ring with respect to the plug shell when the connector parts are unmated. In this way the keyways on the inner surfaces of the coupling ring and plug shell are maintained in properly aligned relation so that they may receive the receptacle.

Abstract: A spring-loaded pin maintains the plug shell and coupling ring of a plug and receptacle electrical in predetermined relation lockingly aligning internal keyways when the connector parts are unmated. When a receptacle having an appropriately coded set of peripheral keys is received within the plug shell, certain of the keys act to release the locked alignment of coupling ring to plug shell enabling the coupling ring to be rotated and drive the plug and receptacle together into mated relation.

Abstract: A hand-held optical fiber cleaving tool has a shaft for receiving a fiber which has had the end portion of the protective cover removed. A reduced diameter section in the shaft acts as an abutment, and the exposed end of the fiber is held in a V-block clamp. The clamp is spring-biased to place the fiber in tension during a circumferential scoring by a pointed scoring tool which is journaled about the shaft. The applied tension causes the fiber to break upon completion of the scoring. In an alternate embodiment which is not hand-held, support is provided for the fiber opposite the scoring tool.

Abstract: A continuously advancing definite length mandrel device wherein a cylindrical mandrel surface is formed by helically wound closed-loop belt convolutions, improved in that a plurality of belts are employed to form the surface.

Abstract: The reinforced flexible duct consists of a single- or double-ply reinforcing fabric, a wire helix, and a continuous extruded liner. The fabric, wire helix, and extruded liner are continuously helically wound on a mandrel. The freshly extruded liner adheres to itself, to the helically wound wire, and to the reinforcing fabric to form a continuous reinforced flexible duct. Optionally, a narrower continuously extruded and wound scuff strip can be wound over the wire helix.

Abstract: High storage density for spent nuclear fuel assemblies in a pool achieved by positioning fuel storage cells of high thermal neutron absorption materials in an upright configuration in a rack. The rack holds the cells at required pitch. Each cell carries an internal fuel assembly support, and most cells are vertically movable in the rack so that they rest on the pool bottom. Pool water circulation through the cells and around the fuel assemblies is permitted by circulation openings at the top and bottom of the cells above and below the fuel assemblies.

Abstract: A preformed radiator hose and a method of manufacturing such a hose are disclosed herein. A long length of an uncured hose is first fabricated by alternately wrapping layers of an uncured elastomer and fiber reinforcements around a straight mandrel. The uncured hose is then removed from the straight mandrel and cut into shorter segments. Each of these segments is then placed on a contoured mandrel having a shape corresponding to the intended configuration of the final hose and cured by heating. Although the fully cured hose does have a permanent shape, because of the unique arrangement of the reinforcements, etc., it has sufficient deformability to be easily slipped off the mandrel.

Abstract: An electrical connector having a plug means with a plug shell and a receptacle means with a receptacle shell receivable within said plug shell in coaxial relation for interconnecting a plurality of electrical conductors; and an annular resilient member between said plug and receptacle shells for providing a low resistance electrical connection between said shells, bridging the annular space therebetween, and shielding against transmission of radio frequencies. An annular biased frequency interference shielding member having securement tabs for mounting said annular member in said plug shell, and having folded resilient fingers having base and distal portions respectively engagable with said plug and receptacle shells under resilient pressure engagement.

Abstract: A flexible vacuum cleaner hose is provided with a simple and inexpensive end fitting for use with various vacuum cleaner accessories and attachments. The hose is a corrugated plastic, i.e., it has annular rings or corrugations formed therein. Each section of hose has a predetermined length with a suitable cuff on each end thereof. Each of the cuffs includes a snap lock. The end fitting is a one piece molded member having a locking seat and a tapered end section or a threaded end section. The tapered section is adapted to be forced into the cuff so as to spread the snap lock on the cuff. The snap lock rides over the end section and drops into the locking seat formed therebehind. This is effective to lock the end fitting on the hose while allowing it to remain free to rotate inside the cuff.

Abstract: An electrical connector having a receptacle including a receptacle shell and a plug including a plug housing, a coupling nut threaded on the plug housing and engaged with a coupling ring, the coupling nut having threaded engagement with the plug housing and the coupling ring having locking flanges engageable with cooperable locking lands on the receptacle shell, the plug and receptacle being adapted to be fully electrically mated and locked by rotation of the coupling ring through about 90 degrees. An arcuate detent member subtending an angle of about 180 degrees is keyed to the plug housing for relative axial movement of the plug housing, and is received within an annular groove in the coupling ring for resilient forcible selective engagement of opposite radially outwardly enlarged ends of the arcuate detent member with two sets of radially outwardly formed recesses in the coupling ring.