Abstract: A prosthetic joint including a socket-carrying member and a ball-carrying member both of which have stems for insertion into the medullary canals of the bone. The socket has a downwardly extending cylindrical passageway which terminates in a hemispherical bottom surface and a slot which intersects the passageway. The stem of the ball member has generally flat side surfaces and is proportioned to fit through the slot, and the ball has a curvature matching the spherical bottom surface. A shank portion between the ball and stem has a recess where a retainer is snapped onto the shank to lock the members in hinged relationship.

Abstract: Hydrogen is produced from water by first reacting I.sub.2, SO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O to make hydrogen iodide and sulfuric acid. A substantial molar excess of SO.sub.2 and I.sub.2 in the reaction zone creates a lighter sulfuric acid-bearing phase and a heavier polyiodic-acid-bearing phase. The heavier phase is separated, degassed and then contacted with phosphoric acid to permit distillation of HI of low water content and recovery of I.sub.2 as a separate fraction. Hydrogen is recovered from HI vapor, as by thermal decomposition.

Abstract: Pyrolytic carbon artificial socket prostheses for permanent or prolonged implantation in a living body, and methods for making such prostheses. The prostheses comprise a suitably shaped socket element substrate having a hemispherical socket cup, a compression-loaded hemispherical carbon shell mounted in said cup, and a vapor deposited carbon coating (including carbon-carbon alloys) on the substrate-carbon shell assembly.

Abstract: A nuclear reactor is described in which a core having a plurality of columnar fuel regions with coolant passages therein and valve means for each fuel region regulating, separately, the flow of coolant therethrough, is provided with collecting means at the downstream ends of the passages. The collecting means define a plurality of discharge orifices and a plurality of intake means, one for each of the discharge orifices. Each of the intake means commingles a portion of the coolant from each of a plurality of adjacent fuel regions in a respective one of the discharge orifices.

Abstract: Apparatus for coating particles with a substance contained in a reactant gas, the particles being suspended in a fluidized bed within a coating chamber, an elongated nozzle extending upwardly from the coating chamber base with an outlet for reactant gas being substantially above the base to direct the reactant gas into a dilute phase region of the particles. With the base of the chamber being an inverted conical member, coated particles are preferably removed from the chamber by means of a movable plug forming the apex of the conical member, the elongated nozzle preferably being mounted upon the unloading plug.

Abstract: An orifice tip for a plasma arc welding and cutting torch is described wherein the tip is comprised of an isotropic graphite of substantially uniform thermal conductivity and with a very small particle and pore size, thereby providing substantially superior operating life.

Abstract: A metering system is described for metering quantities of particles, such as fissile, fertile and shim particles for nuclear fuel elements. Predetermined volume discharges from three particle reservoirs are collected and two of them are weighed in comparison with a predetermined standard. A small amount of particulate material is added to each of the two weighed containers dependent upon the difference between the weight of the volumetrically dispensed particles therein and the predetermined standard. All three intermediate containers are then discharged into a volumetric chamber which is then brought to a standard volume by the addition of further particles. The resultant charge in the volumetric chamber is comprised of a fixed volume in which the weight of particles from two of the three reservoirs is standardized.

Abstract: A device to provide access to the circulatory system of a living body includes at least one tubular conduit and a housing integrally associated with the conduit and having fluid communication therewith through an aperture in the conduit wall at the point where the wall intersects the housing. Inside the housing is a rotatable valve adapted to receive a catheter to extend the fluid communication outside the living body. The valve is rotatable in the housing to selectively establish fluid communication between the circulatory system and the outside of the living body by means of a cannula receptacle provided in engaging relation with the valve. The cannula receptacle is adapted to engagingly receive the catheter. Structural restrictions, however, allow insertion and withdrawal of the catheter only when the valve is closed. Rotation of the valve occurs through the rotation of the catheter when the catheter is engagingly inserted in the cannular receptacle.

Abstract: A device to provide access to the circulatory system of a living body for simultaneous withdrawal and return of blood to the system includes a tubular conduit and a housing integrally associated with the conduit and having fluid communication therewith through at least one aperture in the conduit wall located at the point where the conduit adjoins the housing. The relation between the housing and the conduit is such that the axes of both intersect at right angles. The housing extends the fluid communication to a point outside the living body. Inside the housing is a movable valve body which has a pair of ports alignable with the aperture. The valve body is movable in the housing between positions of alignment and nonalignment of the apertures and the port to selectively establish fluid communication between the circulatory system and the outside of the living body.

Abstract: A shock absorber is described for use in a hostile environment at the end of a blind passage for absorbing impact loads. The shock absorber includes at least one element which occupies the passage and which is comprised of a porous brittle material which is substantially non-degradable in the hostile environment. A void volume is provided in the element to enable the element to absorb a predetermined level of energy upon being crushed due to impact loading.

Abstract: Three embodiments of apparatus for gas coating particles suspended in a fluidized bed within a coating chamber are illustrated, each having a base plate with a center opening, an extension nozzle assembly arranged in the opening and mounted on a movable two-piece internally cooled gas probe for supplying reactant gas to the nozzle and an annular unloading passage surrounding the probe and in communication with a side unloading chute. In the three embodiments, different means are provided for raising and lowering the nozzle assembly to permit unloading of coated particles and provide access to the nozzle assembly.

Abstract: A device to provide access to the circulatory system of a living body for simultaneous withdrawal and return of blood to the system includes a pair of parallel tubular conduits and a housing integrally associated with the conduits and having fluid communication therewith through apertures in the conduit walls located at points where the conduits adjoin the housing. The housing extends the fluid communication to a point outside the living body. Inside the housing is a movable valve body which has a pair of ports alignable with the respective apertures. The valve body is movable in the housing between positions of alignment and nonalignment of the apertures and respective ports to selectively establish fluid communication between the circulatory system and the outside of the living body. At least the surfaces of all parts of the device that contact blood and tissue are made of biologically compatible material.

Abstract: A spacer structure is described for maintaining a spaced relation between a plurality of generally parallel fuel rods within a housing in a nuclear reactor. The spacer structure is comprised of a grid pattern of ribs slotted to interlock with each other. The slots are arranged in such a way that when the ribs are welded to each other, the weld shrinkage is distributed uniformly in all directions to reduce or eliminate the amount of rework necessary in manufacturing the spacer structure.

Abstract: Hydrogen is produced from water by reacting I.sub.2 SO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O to make hydrogen iodide and sulfuric acid. SO.sub.2 is present in a substantial molar excess with respect to the available H.sub.2 O and I.sub.2 is also present in excess to cause the formation of a lighter sulfuric acid-bearing phase and a heavier hydrogen iodide-bearing phase. The heavier phase is separated from the lighter phase, degassed to remove SO.sub.2 and then treated with additional HI and I.sub.2 to cause the formation of a light immiscible fraction containing sulfuric acid and water which is removed to substantially reduce the sulfur content of the degassed phase. Finally, the hydrogen iodide product is separated and decomposed to produce hydrogen.

Abstract: Hydrogen is thermochemically produced from water in a cycle wherein a first reaction produces hydrogen iodide and H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 by the reaction of iodine, sulfur dioxide and water under conditions which cause two distinct aqueous phases to be formed, i.e., a lighter sulfuric acid-bearing phase and a heavier hydrogen iodide-bearing phase. After separation of the two phases, the heavier phase containing most of the hydrogen iodide is treated, e.g., at a high temperature, to decompose the hydrogen iodide and recover hydrogen and iodine. The H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 is pyrolyzed to recover sulfur dioxide and produce oxygen.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for supporting and protecting the coaxially disposed helical coils of a heat exchanger arranged with its axis in the vertical direction. The system includes saddle-shaped vertical spacers secured on selected adjacent convolutions of each coil at selected angular positions about the axis of the coils. The vertical spacers are selectively axially aligned to axially support the convolutions of the respective coils, and are cooperable with axially disposed spacer bars between the radially spaced coaxial coils to transfer horizontal and tangential loads between the coils. The tube support system provides vibration damping and facilitates subassembly of different diameter helical coils prior to coaxial assembly thereof into a coil bundle.

Abstract: A method for refueling a nuclear reactor core inside a pressure vessel is described. The method is used with a core which has at least one region comprised of a plurality of layers, each layer being comprised of a plurality of individual fuel elements with the corresponding fuel elements in respective layers forming columns extending transversely of the layers. Unspent fuel elements are first removed from the pressure vessel to expose at least one but not all of the spent fuel elements. The exposed spent fuel elements are then removed and the unspent elements are shuffled within the reactor core without being removed therefrom to expose additional spent fuel elements. These are removed and the shuffling process is repeated until all of the spent fuel elements have been removed. The initially removed unspent elements are then returned to the pressure vessel and placed in the core. New unspent fuel elements are then placed in the pressure vessel to complete the core.

Abstract: A method and multiple embodiments of apparatus for coating particles with a substance contained in a reactant gas, the particles being suspended in a fluidized bed within a coating chamber. In the method and each embodiment of the apparatus, the reactant gas is introduced into the coating chamber through an elongated nozzle closed at its upper end and including multiple lateral orifice openings for directing the reactant gas radially outwardly into the coating chamber. Means are preferably arranged about the base of the nozzle for introducing levitating gas radially and spirally outwardly into the chamber to further promote circulation of the particles and to accomplish more uniform coating.

Abstract: A shutdown system is described for a nuclear reactor wherein a gate, which allows poison to pass to the reactor core, is allowed to move to an open position upon the severing of a fuse link by electric current passed therethrough.

Abstract: A spring pack for supporting a sprung mass relative to an unsprung mass includes a relatively low-rate spring unit and a relatively high-rate spring unit interconnected with each other and arranged between the sprung and unsprung masses, the relatively low-rate spring unit tending to respond to initial limited movement between the sprung and unsprung masses, a mechanical stop limiting the spring response of the relatively low-rate spring unit with relative movement beyond that limit tending to be absorbed by the relatively high-rate spring unit. A plurality of the spring packs are employed in a lateral restraint assembly for laterally supporting a reactor core relative to a vessel within a nuclear reactor, the relatively low-rate spring units absorbing initial multi-axial movement between the core and vessel with excessive movement of the core being absorbed by the relatively high-rate spring units.