Abstract: The barrier proposed by the invention consists of gate elements or components which move on inclined planes, characterized by the fact that in the rest position on the edge of the waterway, preferably on the shore, the gate elements or components can be inserted inside one another in telescope fashion. With suitable lengths of the foundations forming the inclined planes, the gate elements which can be moved in tracks independently of one another can be removed completely from the water and pushed together above the average high water level.The cross section of the gate elements has a triangular shape, whereby the ocean-side supports the dam wall and the inland side primarily absorbs the bracing forces.

Abstract: An apparatus for recognizing and approaching a target in a space not directly visible within the maximum range of an industrial robot with camera on the end of a boom. The camera is used to observe an environment of the space including the target and to send images to a monitor at a remote control station. The apparatus includes an industrial robot with a plurality of axes having degrees of freedom and a camera with a lens having an optical axis which can be selectively rotated 360 degrees around a first axis and selectively pivoted 180 degrees around a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. The rotating and pivoting motions are used to move the camera and the optical axis until the target can be seen in the monitor. A system is used to control various movements of the robot while sensing and maintaining the camera position and the target direction during movement of the end of the boom from the robot to the target.

Abstract: Process for recovering nitrate from surface and ground water, in particular drinking water, by means of biological denitrification, in which the nitrates contained in the water are reduced to gaseous nitrogen in a reactor by means of a biocatalyst having immobilized cells trapped in a gel or polymer. The "micrococcus denitrificans" that is preferably used requires for its metabolism added hydrogen and carbon that is present in the water in the form of dissolved carbon dioxide. Using a biocatalyst of immobilized cells and of the bacterial strain used, expensive after-purification is unnecessary because of increased bacterial count in the pure water outlet, and no undesirable by-products are formed.

Abstract: A manipulator for a nuclear reactor is disposed about the upper region of the reactor case. A horizontal guide rail is supported by a slewing track ring mounted on the reactor vessel. A slide is movable along and guided by the horizontal guide rail and a rotatably and vertically movable gripper is attached to the slide where the parts surrounding the gripper are provided with a vertical slot. The gripper can comprise a rotatable post tiltable around a horizontal axis, a vertical slide disposed on the post and vertically movable and a material pick-up device attched to the vertical slide. The vertical slide and the materials pick-up can be moved from below to above the level of the guide rail and vice versa.

Abstract: Means for controlling pivotal doors in nuclear plants, more specifically to control doors separating storage basins for nuclear materials. Instead of providing the control means on the wall structure of juxtaposed door openings, the control means are mounted on the door panels. They include a pair of fluid-operated cylinder-and-piston motors, the direction of operation of the pistons being parallel to an edge of the door panel. The cylinder-and-piston motors are preferably mounted on an edge of the door panel. Each motor operates a linkage that includes two rods, of which one is raised when the other is lowered. One of the two rods controls abutment means precluding the door from pivoting about one of its edges, and allowing the door to pivot only about the other of its edges.

Abstract: A load pick up system is provided or picking up for, respectively, delivering and storing of formed articles such as profile girders at low time consumption and at minimal use of the storage space available for the materials to be stored. A traverse is connected to tiltable clamping jaw pairs, which are connected among each other by a synchronizing mechanism. This system allows to pick up and deliver profile girders individually or as a group rapidly and without requiring an auxiliary labor force. It is possible to store the materials in smallest space areas at low costs and at free of accident hazards.

Abstract: A container is disclosed for storing refrigerated liquids, in particular for liquefied gases, which comprises a steel reinforced concrete outer container and a steel inner container inserted into the outer container, where the steel inner container rests on an insulation and where an annular interspace is present between the outer circumference of the inner steel container and the inner circumference of the outer container. The interspace can be fully or in part of its thickness filled with insulating materials.

Abstract: A device for manufacturing containers for storing nuclear materials. The purpose of the device is to maintain angular sheet metals in the precise position required during the welding operation which is performed along the outer edges of their flange portions. The device includes a core, a thrust bearing and a counter-pressure bearing. The core is sub-divided into two separate core portions. Spring means tend to draw the core portions toward each other. Fluid operated cylinder-piston units tend to separate the core portions against the action of said spring means. Adjustment screw means provided with abutment means and screwed into one of said core portions project into the other of said core portions with the abutment means thereof. The second core portion has abutment means cooperating with the abutment means on said adjustment screw means.

Abstract: A storage device for nuclear plants for storing spent fuel elements in such a way as to preclude relative movement between the walls of the element storing chamber and the fuel element. The invention contemplates storing chambers whose cross-section is square and fuel elements in the shape of four sided prisms. At least two opposite guide surfaces are arranged obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the storing chamber and to the longitudinal axis of the fuel element to be stored therein. These guide or guiding surfaces are positioned near the bottom of the storing chamber. The guiding surfaces are adapted to engage the lower edge of the fuel element placed in the storage chamber and to impart a rotary motion to the former so that its four longitudinal edges engage the wall of the storage chamber. In this position no impact between the walls of the storage chamber and the spent fuel element can occur.

Abstract: A storage device for receiving spent nuclear fuel elements comprising a plurality of chambers which are separated by partitions from each other. The partitions form arches in such a way that relatively large arches alternate with relatively small arches. Each arch of relatively large size engages physically an arch of relatively small size, and vice versa. Considering two contiguous identical partitions, this implies that the partitions are arranged out of registry.

Abstract: A hoist for lifting appliances, and more specifically a block-and-pulley arrangement, or a block-and-tackle arrangement. A plurality of pulleys is arranged between two pulley-housing parts. Each of said plurality of pulleys is supported by its own relatively short shaft. Half of the pulley-supporting shafts is supported in the upper pulley-housing part, and the other half of the pulleys is supported by partitions in the lower pulley-housing part. Pairs of partitions in the upper pulley-housing part and pairs of partitions in the lower pulley-housing part are interleaving or out of registry. The load-supporting hook has a shaft which projects vertically through both pulley-housing parts by a bearing, so that it is rotatable relative to the upper pulley-housing part. A load supporting cross-member is arranged in transverse relation to the hook-bearing shaft and the latter projects through its center.

Abstract: A device for use in handling nuclear elements, such as control rods, fuel elements and blind rods in a nuclear energy plant, comprises, a hoist having a gripper rod assembly, which includes a tubular column structure into which is engaged a top movable part which is adapted to be connected to a lifting cable. The top movable part carries a crossbar which is engaged by engaging members which are pivotally mounted within the tubular column structure of the gripper rod assembly and which have pin elements thereon which, when the engaging members are positioned inwardly, engage in recesses between teeth defined on the crossbar.

Abstract: A bearing support for receiving used fuel elements of nuclear power stations includes a plurality of chambers which have square cross-sections and each include inner and outer spaced apart walls with screening plates therebetween for screening the radiating fuel elements. Each chamber is detachably secured at its underside to a common foot plate and is held in position at its upper side by spacer elements. The outer wall comprises two equal-sided angle sheets and the inner wall comprises a closed square tube. The thickness of the outer wall is smaller than that of the inner wall and the outer walls are held in spaced relationship to each other at their upper sides by detachable bar grates.