Abstract: A combination step bolt and harness attachment for use with transmission structures and the like comprising a rod member having a threaded end portion and nut that is bolted to the tower to form a projecting step bolt, and a flange member, which may be formed integrally with the wall member or as a separate element, that is disposed between the step bolt and the surface of the transmission tower, such flange member including an opening positioned to receive a hook attached to the harness of a line technician, and including a brace portion projecting downwardly from the step bolt so as to be in abutment with the tower when the combination step bolt and harness attachment is mounted to the transmission tower.

Abstract: The present invention provides a locking assembly for locking in place an upper support plate above a nuclear fuel bundle. The locking assembly includes several different components, including one rotatable member that is movable between a first position for locking the support plate in place and an unlocked position for releasing the support plate so that it can be removed from the guide tubes in the fuel bundle assembly. The rotatable member is resiliently maintained at its locked and released positions, and the entire locking assembly is an integral unit without any loose parts regardless of the position of the rotatable member.

Abstract: An electronic device for compensating voltage fluctuations in an electrical power distribution circuit controls operation of a transformer of the type having a TCUL voltage regulator by automatically calculating the voltage bandwidth of the transformer based upon a stored value for peak current in the distribution circuit. The peak current value is automatically updated when the actual current in the circuit exceeds the stored peak current value for a predetermined sustained period of time indicating a change in overall loading patterns in the circuit but, regardless of increases in actual current in the distribution circuit, the apparatus prevents the output voltage from exceeding a preset absolute maximum.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing a sample from a material conveying conduit and delivering the sample to a remote testing or other deposit location without any manual handling of the sample, including a valve having a tubular housing fixed to the conduit to extend interiorly therethrough transversely of the material flow path and interiorly defining a collection chamber, a port in the housing facing upstream of the material flow path and opening to the collection chamber, a truncated piston arranged rotatably within the collection chamber with its truncated end at the port to close the port in one rotational position and open the port in another, corresponding passageways formed off-center axially through the piston and through an adjacent interior wall of the tubular housing to be in alignment in the closed conditon of the valve and out of alignment in the open condition thereof, a compressed air source connected to the passageways in the interior wall and a conduit extending from the collection chamber outwardly thro

Abstract: A beta radiation particle detector having a housing that is substantially impervious to beta radiation particles and which surroundingly encompasses an ionization chamber which is defined by electrically conductive walls is disclosed. The walls terminate in an edge which defines an opening into the ionization chamber with the opening being covered by a beta radiation pervious electrically conductive window that entraps, within the ionization chamber, a quantity of gaseous molecules which are adapted to ionize upon impact with a beta radiation particle. An electrode is disposed within the ionization chamber and has a generally shallow concave surface having a width which is substantially greater than its depth and which faces the electrically conductive window.

Abstract: An automatic testing system for testing the operability of transmission line carrier units using timers that periodically activate a signal for energizing local carrier unit transmitters with a delayed energization of local carrier unit receivers, and a signal stepping circuit that connects the transmitter and receiver signal sequentially to the carrier units in a series of transmission lines. The absence of a signal being received by the local carrier unit receiver indicating a fault that is detected in latches that provide an indication of the carrier in which the fault has occurred and an indication at a remote computer when there has been at least one failure in the testing sequence, which failure indication remains activated at the end of a testing sequence to assure attention by the operator. The sequencing occurs automatically with a capacitor-delayed spike signal that provides sufficient time for the indication of the absence of a signal without requiring separate circuitry.

Abstract: A liquid-to-liquid heat pump is utilized for supplying sufficient heat to generate steam from the condensate of a steam turbine. A liquid coolant is circulated through the condenser of the steam turbine for absorption of heat from the steam as the steam forms condensate. The liquid coolant is then circulated through the heat pump for recovery of the heat absorbed by the coolant during condensation of the steam. Sufficient transferred heat is transferred to the coolant to permit the heat pump to extract sufficient heat from the coolant to regenerate steam from the condensate. The transferred heat is supplied by a plurality of heat sinks buried in the earth to a sufficient depth so as to be in heat exchange relationship with the subterranean water system of the earth.