Abstract: An improved electrolytic cell, the electrodes of which can be readily cleaned, and resensitized by the application of fresh electrolyte upon the electrodes. The cell includes a cleaning assembly integral with the cell body, and the electrodes of the cell are integrated with a plunger reciprocably mounted within the cell body. In operating position, the electrodes are extended by actuation of the plunger into a thimble insert which, with the components provided by the thimble insert provide the essential components of an operative cell. The plunger, when the cell has become insensitive due to desensitization of the electrolyte, can be withdrawn from the thimble insert, aligned with the cleaning apparatus, the electrodes cleaned and a fresh electrolyte installed upon the electrodes, and the electrodes returned to operative position by mere reactuation of the plunger.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to apparatus for tightening and slackening bolts by hydraulic tensioning. The apparatus comprises a tightening system (60) applied to the bolts to be tightened and/or slackened, controlled by a central unit (24), via the intermediary of a control device (26) and a hydraulic pump (28). Transducers (19 and 18) permit respectively measurement of the effective strain of the bolt and the pressure effectively applied to the tightening system (60). A correlation between the effective strain of the bolt and the pressure effectively applied is thus effected for obtaining a very good precision of the strain. Application is to mechanical construction in the nuclear environment.

Abstract: A retainer is provided for holding a printed circuit card between spaced surfaces which comprises a plurality of wedge-shaped members mounted end-to-end on a rod, with at least select ones of those members being each urged in a corresponding transverse direction relating to the adjacent member upon effective shortening of the rod to hold the printed circuit card between the spaced surfaces. A spring is attached to each of the select members to bias those members each in a direction opposite the transverse direction for that member.

Abstract: A pressure balanced sealing ring having a substantially S-shaped, resilient cross section including two oppositely facing convolutions, a central leg coupling the convolutions and a pair of outer legs, each extending from one of the convolutions. The ring is advantageously formed of metal and seals against opposed axially facing but offset surfaces in an annulus between two concentic pipes or opposed axially facing surfaces at the interface formed by two aligned pipes. Each outer leg has a substantially circular sealing line, these sealing lines being radially offset from one another, adjacent the free distal edge of each leg, and spaced from the convolutions, In a modified embodiment, the sealing ring has more than two convolutions and additional legs to connect them. In another series of modified embodiments, the sealing ring has one or two restraining rings rigidly coupled to one or both of the outer legs to ensure the desired direction of torsional deflection under the action of the differential pressure.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring the spatial characteristics of color CRTs includes the scanning of an image of a white vertical line with a knife edge aperture and integrating the intensity values at each position of the knife edge. The centroids of the beams of the CRT are found by determining the X coordinants of the 50% points of the Y axis of the integral data, and the spatial line profiles are determined by differentiating the integral data. The integral data may be fitted to a Gaussian curve prior to analysis.

Abstract: A joint for rigidly coupling first and second pipes having high temperature fluid flowing therethrough. The joint comprises first and second annular members including mating spherical segments which are rigidly coupled, respectively, to the pipes; a coupling assembly to couple the annular members in telescoped engagement and to radially inwardly compress these members to resist relative angular movement therebetween; an annular cavity defined by the telescoped annular members and communicating with the interface of the engaged annular members; and an annular, metallic and torsionally flexible seal located in the cavity to resist fluid escape from the joint through the interface of the annular members. The joint accepts annular misalignment of the pipes as the pipes are being connected, but thereafter the coupling assembly applies the radially inwardly directed compression to the mating spherical segments to resist further relative angular movement therebetween.

Abstract: A split ring seal assembly including a split ring seal having a first and a second free end and a connecting member in the shape of a ring segment having first and second ends. The split ring seal and the connecting element have mating E-shaped transverse cross sections such that the connecting element fits within the split ring seal. The E-shaped cross section includes a middle arm portion formed by a curved loop and two outer arms formed by sinuous flanges. The first end of the connecting member is fixedly attached to the first end of the split ring seal. The second end of the connecting member is slidably received within the second end of the split ring seal. This enables the split ring assembly to expand and contract relative to its housing groove as it is exposed to varying temperatures and pressures and to compensate for the accumulation of tolerances in the members forming the joint. The connecting element has a thickness less than the thickness of the split ring seal.

Abstract: A turbopump sealing device is mounted in a case concentric with the rotary shaft between the turbine and the pump, the case defining a cavity for pressurizing gas, defined on the turbine side by a bearing ring which is integral therewith, in contact with a first floating ring secured against rotation and, on the pump side, by an applied shell one face of which is in contact with a second floating ring secured against rotation, itself bearing on a friction ring integral with the shaft, such rings being mounted on a socket concentric with the shaft, the shell being further connected to the cavity by a bellows.

Abstract: An electrolytic hygrometer is provided which comprises a hollow cylinder having first and second shoulders and a ceramic substrate containing an electrolytic cell circuit pattern mounted on the second shoulder of the hollow cylinder and extending upwardly inside the hollow cylinder toward the first shoulder. A permeable membrane is provided which is removably mounted on the first shoulder by means of a sandwiched configuration comprising a first mounting ring, a first porous stainless steel protective disk, the membrane, a second porous stainless steel protective disk, and a second mounting ring. A ring nut is employed to removably fasten the membrane's sandwiched configuration against the first shoulder of the hollow cylinder.

Abstract: The output of an alkali vapor lamp for use in an optical pumping system is stabilized by use of a feedback circuit which regulates current flow from a power supply to an electronic power oscillator used to excite the alkali vapor lamp. Starting of the alkali vapor lamp is facilitated by increasing supply current to the oscillator until the alkali vapor lamp is lit.

Abstract: A system for concurrent, non-destructive evaluation of partially completed welds for use in conjunction with an automated welder. The system utilizes real time, automated ultrasonic inspection of a welding operation as the welds are being made by providing a transducer which follows a short distance behind the welding head. Reflected ultrasonic signals are analyzed utilizing computer based digital pattern recognition techniques to discriminate between good and flawed welds on a pass by pass basis. The system also distinguishes between types of weld flaws.

Abstract: A seal assembly for sealing a rotatable shaft to a housing includes a flexible bellows member and a removeable insert which are sealed against each other along complementary tapered sealing surfaces. A rigid restraint is located in the flexible bellows member so as to be isolated from corrosive fluid contained by the bellows to stabilize the sealing area of the sealing surfaces and prevent expansion in that area.

Abstract: A handling system supports a closure member, e.g. a manway cover or tensioner ring, for maintaining it in position when opening or closing operations are performed thereon and for moving it conveniently into or out of engagement with a mating member without damage to supporting studs. Gimbaling means include first and second attachable connections each vertically supported to a pneumatic cylinder assembly whose internal pressure is set to generate an upward force equal to the weight supported. An operator may provide a force to overcome damping forces at each support point to move the closure member in all degrees of freedom, and the member appears essentially weightless to the operator. The vertically movable connections are supported for translational movement on a cart which is also movable. Reliable movement of a closure member with respect to a pressure vessel is provided without the need for alignment or calibration of a path defined by the closure member support means.

Abstract: Circuit for measuring the relative change in conductivity between two cells which include a test biorigion and a control biorigion as the test cell biorigion conductivity changes as a result of analyte modecules binding to receptor sites in the test cell biorigion. The invention includes circuitry for driving a current through each of the cells and for measuring the voltage drops across the test and control cells as a function of time. A novel two-stage ac analog-to-digital convertion circuit in which the initial conductivities are measured via a successive approximation process, while the relative conductivities are monitored during a test interval via a tracking technique is included. The circuitry is controlled by a digital controller which can vary the parameters of the measurement processes so as to make the circuit adaptable to the measurement of a wide variety of substances using different cell configurations and/or electrolytes.

Abstract: A radiation source directs light at a mirror which reflects to a first photosensor. As a dew point is reached, scattered light is reflected to a second photosensor to indicate dew point. Rather than periodically interrupting operation to test reflectivity of the mirror or to perform a heating cycle, operation is monitored continuously. The common mode output of both the first and second photosensors is monitored. When below a threshold level, the output indicates the need for cleaning the mirror. It may also be used in a closed loop to increase light source intensity as mirror reflectivity decreases.

Abstract: A weight carrier rests on a floating ceramic ball supported within a nozzle by flow-regulated air. The air flows in an inlet path within the nozzle to support the ball and then exits through an outlet path downstream of the ball. A pressure regulator maintain a selected pressure in correspondence with a given weight on the ball. Dampening is provided in the nozzle itself rather than in a canister external thereto. Helical input and output paths wind around the axis of the nozzle to and from the ball. The cross section of the exit path increases with distance from the ball. The path may comprise an thread of increasing depth in an adjustment screw received in a cylindrical bore along the axis of the nozzle.

Abstract: A double insulating protected system for use in coupling an instrumentation system to a remote power source so as to test an experimental system without posing life-threatening hazards. Connection between the instrumentation system and power source is accomplished by a pair of cascaded isolating transformers, with the connections between the two transformers being inaccessable, such as by a separate housing. The instrumentation system equipment ground is coupled to the experimental system equipment ground via a drain conductor so as to reference the former system to the same potential as that of the latter. The system provides a double insulation system such that a primary-to-secondary, primary-to-frame, or secondary-to-frame fault occurring in either of the transformers, or similar faults in the instrumentation system, will not result in a life-threatening situation to the system user.

Abstract: An optical-physics package used in an atomic frequency standard is miniaturized and the performance thereof improved. The optical-physics package includes a microwave cavity in which is positioned a filter cell and an absorption cell, preferably located in close physical proximity to one another. The microwave cavity may double as an oven, and is preferably designed to operate in the TE111 mode with "E" probe microwave coupling. Dielectric loading is provided by the filter cell and absorption cell to reduce the internal dimensions of the microwave cavity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining lane count error in a conventional navigational system which gives the position of a vessel in an integer and fractional lane count format but has an inherent integer lane count ambiguity. A second navigational system capable of determining the distance between the vessel and a surveyed transponder or other fixed element is placed on board the vessel. Readings are taken from both the conventional and the second navigational system at at least two separate positions of the vessel. By combining and comparing the data obtained from both systems, an operator can determine the lane count error in the conventional system.