Abstract: An elongated stud has an axial bore down which an inspection probe is rotated and translated on the end of a shaft which is moved through gearing with a pair of motors. Encoders on the motors coordinate the signal from the probe at a single station which manifests the sensed conditions of the stud at positions within the bore.

Abstract: An apparatus for sealing a joint between two substantially collinear tubes (12,14) is provided. Particularly useful for repairing a welded joint which has developed a crack (20) in the area of the weld (18), the apparatus provides a sleeve (26) which fits closely over the cracked joint. A housing (32), surrounding the sleeve (26), and a thrust ring (38) act to compress packing rings (28,30) against the sleeve to form a fluid-tight seal over the leaking joint. The sealing nut (40) maintains compression on the packing rings (28,30) when the installation apparatus (50,60,70) is removed. A method for installing the sealing apparatus is also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A coal and char burner (10) is formed of three concentric cylinders (14,16,18). The central passage (32) conveys char particles into the interior (20) of a coal gasifier. Fresh coal and secondary air enter the gasifier through concentric passageways (24,27) surrounding the central passageway (32). The coal and air form a high temperature reaction envelope (30) which surrounds the char stream (22) and rapidly heats the char particles.

Abstract: An economizer (16) located in the rear pass (12) of a steam generator having a vertical tube panel containing a plurality of parallel, vertically spaced horizontal tube portions (22) and a support therefor including a pair of plates (32, 34), one positioned on either side of the tube panel. First tabs or bars (46) which are integral at one end (50) with the first plate (32) extend horizontally beneath and support every other, or alternate horizontal tube portions (22), and are welded (52) to the second plate (34) at their other ends. Second tabs or bars (44) which are integral at one end (48) with the second plate (34) extend horizontally beneath and support the remaining, alternate horizontal tube portions (22) not supported by the first bars (46), and are supported at their other ends by ledges (54) contained on the first plate (32).

Abstract: A mill recirculation system (10, 40) that is operative for purposes of effecting the pulverization and firing of solid fuels, while yet possessing all of the desirable features of a direct fired system. The subject system (10, 40) includes pulverizer means (14, 48), classifier means (12, 44) and burner means (16, 68) as well as a preestablished fluid flow path by which the pulverizer means (14, 48) and the classifier means (12, 44) are interconnected in fluid flow relation with the burner means (16, 68). In accord with the mode of operation of the subject mill recirculation system (10, 40) a stream of solid fuel is made to flow along the fluid flow path such that the solid fuel is pulverized in the pulverizer means (14, 48), classified according to particle size in the classifier means (12, 44) and fired in the burner means (16, 68).

Abstract: An automatic voltage control system controls the voltage delivered to the primary winding (12) of a step-up transformer (10) and hence the power delivered to a dehydrator (40) so as to prevent the step-up transformer (10) from exceeding rated power when a current limit occurs. The automatic voltage control system controls the voltage applied to the primary winding (12) so as to maximize the voltage applied to the grid elements (38) of the dehydrator (40). Upon encountering a current limiting condition, the automatic voltage control system reduces to zero the voltage applied to the primary winding (12) and hence the power applied to grid elements (38) of the dehydrator (40) to dissipate the cause of the current limiting condition. The voltage is reapplied to primary winding 12 at a voltage level below where the current limit occurred. The voltage is then increased to maximize the voltage applied to the grid elements (38) of the dehydrator (40).

Abstract: A centrifugal spreader type feeder that supplies a mixture of particulate limestone and coal to the top of a fluidized bed reactor having a flow of air upward therethrough. Large particles of particulate matter are distributed over the upper surface of the bed to utilize the natural mixing within the bed, while fine particles are adapted to utilize an independent feeder that separates them from the large particles and injects them into the bed.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding solids into the bed of a fluidized bed furnace (18). The feed solids are separated into a fine fraction and a coarse fraction. The coarse fraction is supplied to fluidized bed (16) in an in-bed pneumatic transport feed system or in an over-the-bed feed system. The fine fraction as well as fluidizing air are supplied to fines admission zone (24) wherein the fine fraction and fluidizing air are thoroughly mixed. The mixture of the fine fraction of feed solids and the fluidizing air is then passed upwardly through air distribution means (38) into fluidized bed (16).

Abstract: A maintenance platform is provided for gaining access to the upper area of the furnace (10) of a steam generator that can be quickly and easily assembled during a maintenance shutdown. The main beams (26) forming the framework of the platform are supported both from the furnace walls (42, 44) and also from the furnace roof (32, 34, 38). These beams, which are of considerable length, are stored outside of the furnace in a nearly vertical position when not in use, and are guided into the furnace by a plurality of rollers (40), so as to keep the beams in a single plane close to the outer furnace wall while they are being moved into the furnace.

Abstract: A maintenance platform for reaching the upper area of the furnace (10) of a steam generator that can be quickly and easily assembled during a maintenance shutdown. The grid or frame of the platform is made up of a plurality of beams (22) extending into the furnace from opposite furnace walls (19). Cables (50) from the roof (60) support one end of the beams. Planking (66, 68) that interlocks (62, 64, 70) with the beams (22) completes the platform.

Abstract: Steam-water separators are comprised of a single vertical shell mounted over a hole in a horizontal deck within a steam drum. Vanes within the cylinder imparts centrifugal force to the upwardly flowing mixture of saturated steam and water. The saturated water is thrown to the internal wall of the shell and skimmed over the upper edge of the shell to descend in flowing over the surface of a series of downwardly spiraling trays while evolved steam disengages from the saturated water.

Abstract: The shell of a cylindrical vessel, horizontally extended, contains three compartments through which emulsions of polar and non-polar liquids are sequentially passed for separation. The heating and the electric field in the first two compartments are optional. The third compartment contains an inclined plate separator connected to an electrical system to generate electric fields within the passages of the separator to coalesce and separate the polar liquid from the non-polar liquid.

Abstract: An apparatus for inserting cleaning plugs into the ends of tubes to be cleaned including a tool, a handle on the tool capable of being held by an operator, a chamber having an open end capable of being aligned with the open end of the tube to be cleaned, a first ram opposite the open end, a first piston-cylinder capable of moving the ram through the chamber and retracting it therefrom thereby forcing a cleaning plug into the tube, a magazine opening laterally from the first ram and open end into the chamber, a second ram positioned so as to move cleaning plugs from the magazine into the chamber, a second piston-cylinder capable of moving the second ram through and retracting it from the magazine, a housing for a chain of cleaning plugs, the housing opening into the magazine, a gas source maintaining a constant pressure on the chain of cleaning plugs so as to force a cleaning plug into the chamber when nothing else occupies it, and a trigger on the handle which in a first position pressurizes the second piston

Abstract: A heat exchanger is mounted in the upper portion of a fluidized combusting bed for controlling the temperature of the bed. The supported heat exchanger may be fed by or be a part of water-cooled tubes formed into support pillars extending up from the water-cooled plate by which the combusting bed is supported.

Abstract: A direct fired system (10, 10') includes pulverizer means (14, 24) classifier means (12, 26, 28, 48, 76), burner means (16, 16') as well as a defined fluid flow path that serves to interconnect the pulverizer means (14, 24) and the classifier means (12, 26, 28, 48, 76) in fluid flow relation with the burner means (16, 16'). In accord with the mode of operation thereof, at the classifier means (12, 26, 28, 48, 76) a separation is had of the stream of the gaseous medium such that a portion of the gaseous medium is recirculated along with the oversize solid fuel particles back to the pulverizer means (14, 24) while the remainder of the gaseous medium is operative to convey the solid fuel particles that are of the desired size from the classifier means (12, 26, 28, 48, 76) to the burner means (16, 16') for burning, i.e., firing, in the latter.

Abstract: A hanger collet (10) for a mudline casing suspension system in the form of a hollow cylinder. Vertical slots (32,34) create a serpentine form which is radially collapsible. Flow space behind the legs (30) permits a flowpath for running and cementing.

Abstract: A fluid cooled heat exchanger molten core retention and solidification apparatus (10) is a vertically oriented array of tube assemblies located beneath a reactor vessel. Water under forced circulation flows through inlet tube (18) into an inlet plenum (20) beneath the heat exchanger (10) up through the inner vertical tube (22), down through the annular space between the outside of the inner tube (22) and the inside of the outer tube (24) into an outlet plenum (28), then through tube (30) to a heat exchanger outside containment building (16) where heat is released. The array of vertical tube assemblies provides heat transfer surface within a few centimeters of all molten material and sufficient volume between the exterior surface of outer vertical tubes (24) to accommodate all expected molten material in the event of a meltdown of the core of the nuclear reactor.

Abstract: Element insertion location apparatus (60) is connected to a completed first end (79) of a cable (80) to locate the position for inserting an element (82) attached to a conductor of the cable (80) in a cable connector (84) at the second end (81) of the cable (80). A power supply (64) energizes a plurality of electrical circuits each containing a light emitting diode (1 through 52). Each of the circuits is connected to one element of a cable connector (76,78). The completed first end (79) of a cable (80) is also connected to the cable connector (76,78). Upon placing an element (82) attached to a conductor at the second end (81) of a cable (80) into an element insertion tool (62) grounded (66) to a power supply (64) one of the circuits is completed illuminating a light emitting diode (1 through 52). The light emitting diodes (1 through 52 ) are in an array (86) that represents the physical arrangement of the element insertion locations in a cable connector (84).

Abstract: There is provided a choke having an adjustable stop for absolutely limiting its degree of openness and a pressurized fluid-operated piston connected to the valve stem which normally is acted-on by differential pressure to maintain the valve open to the full extent permitted by engagement of the stem with the stop. A mechanical assistance device is provided for tending to close the valve and this device may be provided with a visual indicator from which, by inspection, one may tell the degree of openness of the valve. Remotely operable and on-site mechanical devices are shown provided for adjusting the absolute stop.

Abstract: A coal pulverizer is connected to the burner nozzles of a tangentially-fired furnace with conduits of varying lengths through which air-entrained coal is supplied for combustion within the furnace. An externally adjustable orifice assembly is mounted in each connecting conduit to equalize the flow of coal/air through the conduits to nozzles in the windboxes. Each orifice assembly comprises pivotable plates which move transverse the axis of the conduit to form an orifice in controlling the coal/air flow.