Abstract: The disclosure of the invention is directed to a site survey ground vehicle based apparatus and method for automatically detecting source materials, such as radioactivity, marking the location of the source materials, such as with paint, and mapping the location of the source materials on a site. The apparatus of the invention is also useful for collecting and analyzing samples. The apparatus includes a ground vehicle, detectors mounted at the front of the ground vehicle, and individual detector supports which follow somewhat irregular terrain to allow consistent and accurate detection, and autolocation equipment.

Abstract: A method for replacing a vessel in a piping system utilizes a template to determine the relative spatial positions of the pipe connections to the vessel in the existing system. The template is then removed from the existing system and reassembled on the new vessel in a remote location to determine the relative spatial position of the new pipe connections to the new vessel to ascertain if alignment will exist between those new pipe connections and the existing pipes in the system. If not, the pipe connections on the new vessel are initially reworked in the remote location to achieve alignment within connection tolerances. The pipes are then cut at their respective connections to the old vessel, the old vessel is removed, the new vessel is put in place in the system and the cut ends of the pipes are connected to new connections on the new vessel to complete the installation of the new vessel in the piping system.

Abstract: The invention provides a portable welding or cutting shield to assist in preventing welding or burning by-products from contaminating or damaging the inside surfaces of a pipe. The portable welding shield comprises a shield assembly for capturing the by-products released within and traveling along the length of the pipe, a leg assembly for supporting the shield assembly within the pipe and a splatter target that extends upwardly from the shield assembly. The leg assembly includes fixed first and second legs, and an adjustable third leg. The adjustable leg includes a screw actuator that allows the length of the leg to be radially adjusted so as to allow the leg assembly to be brought in and out of engagement with the inside diameter of the pipe. The shield assembly includes multiple flexible pieces of flame resistant fabric sandwiched between a top and a bottom pair of semi-circular plates.