Abstract: The housing of a pump, compressor, heat exchanger or another part which is subjected to thermally and/or otherwise induced expansion and contraction has several spaced-apart legs or analogous portions movably secured to a base plate or the like so that the legs are movable along straight or arcuate paths intersecting each other at or close to a fixed reference point within or without the confines of the part. The base plate has discrete guides for the legs of the expandible and contractible part, and such guides are designed to allow the respective portions to move along the corresponding paths toward or away from the reference point, depending upon whether the part contracts or expands. The guides can be slotted or recessed, or they may constitute rotary components having eccentric sections extending into openings of the respective legs.

Abstract: The casing of a centrifugal pump has a shell with a cylindrical periphery having one or more recessed facets with flat or spherical surfaces which are welded to end portions of pipes by circumferentially complete machine-made seams each of which is intersected, in its entirety, by at least one imaginary plane that is normal to the axis of the respective pipe. This renders it possible to use automatic welding equipment and to readily inspect the quality of the connection between the shell and a pipe. The surface of the facet can be formed with a circumferentially complete groove to receive a transducer serving to generate signals denoting the intensity of penetrative radiation which has penetrated through the seam from a source of such radiation in the interior of the respective pipe and in register with the respective seam. The shell is suspended on the arms of a foundation and such arms extend into additional facets which are recessed into the periphery of the shell.

Abstract: An aggregate wherein a hollow support carries a multi-stage compressor and one or two heat exchangers. The outlet of the first stage of the compressor communicates with a first chamber of the support by way of a first passage, the first chamber communicates with the inlet of the second stage of the compressor, the outlet of the second stage communicates with the inlet of the next-following stage by way of a second passage and a second chamber in the support, and the outlet of the next-following stage communicates with an outlet opening of the support. Such outlet opening can admit compressed fluid medium to an aftercooler. Each heat exchanger is connected between the outlet of one of the first and second stages and the respective passage, and the next-following stage of the compressor is disposed between the first and second stages. The outlets of the stages are directly connected with channels which are machined into the support and diverge in the direction of flow of fluid medium therethrough.

Abstract: Erosion of parts owing to cavitation in the part-load region of operation of a centrifugal pump is reduced or eliminated by equipping the pump with an annular diffuser which is installed upstream of the annular intake of the impeller. The impeller portion immediately downstream of the inlet edge, where the vanes begin, is bounded by a surface which diverges at an angle of 8 to 20 degrees, as considered in the direction of fluid flow in the impeller. The diffuser has a smaller first cross section which is remote from and a larger second cross section which is nearer to the impeller. The area of the smaller cross section is between one-half and nine-tenths of the area of the larger cross section. If the diffuser has a conical internal surface, the angle of divergence of such conical surface (as considered in the direction of fluid flow toward the impeller) is between 5 and 15 degrees. If the diffuser is internally stepped, the ratio of its length to the diameter of the larger cross section is between 0.

Abstract: A valve for controlling the flow of hot fluids in nuclear reactor plants or similar institutions has a tubular body whose internal surface is welded to an annulus of metallic leaf springs each connected to the outer end of a radially inwardly extending metallic spoke. The inner ends of the spokes are adjustably connected with a metallic sealing ring which is movable axially by a bellows into and from sealing engagement with a plate-like sealing member forming part of a plug-shaped or spherical valving element which is turnable or shiftable between open and closed positions. The bellows is caused to disengage the sealing ring from the sealing member prior to movement of the valving element to open or closed position and to engage the ring with the sealing member when the valving element assumes the open or closed position.

Abstract: An explosion-proof canned electric motor for use at elevated temperatures wherein the upper portion of the motor housing contains the stator windings and the rotor and is connected with a terminal box by means of a tubular heat barrier. The terminal box is disposed at a level below the upper housing portion and has an annular venting orifice in the lowermost part thereof so that condensate which accumulates in the housing flows toward the orifice. Such condensate is absorbed by a cake of diatomaceous earth or another suitable porous desiccant which is placed into the path of condensate flow toward the orifice. The desiccant also removes moisture from air which flows into the terminal box, and the desiccant is relieved of accumulated moisture during starting of the motor when the air in the housing expands as a result of heating and flows through the pores of the desiccant on its way into the orifice.