Abstract: A double lid arrangement, suitable for use in sealing irradiated fuel transport flasks, has inner and outer lids held together by securing members. If the securing members fail, the inner and outer lids operate individually, ensuring that the flask remains sealed.

Abstract: A storage arrangement for nuclear fuel has a plurality of storage tubes connected by individual pipes to manifolds which are connected, in turn, to a venting system for maintaining the tubes at supra-atmospheric, atmospheric, or subatmospheric pressure, and means for producing a flow of a cooling fluid, such as air, over the exterior surfaces of the tubes.

Abstract: An energy dissipator for downwardly discharged water utilizes a hollow cone valve located in a chamber open to the atmosphere and arranged to direct water emerging therefrom at an angle inclined downwards from the horizontal towards a region of a surrounding wall, and a pair of troughs around the inner surface of the wall above and below the region with the open mouths of the troughs facing each other. The troughs serve to reduce considerably the incoming energy of the water in a relatively small volume, the effect being enhanced by splitting the water emerging from the cone valve into a series of discrete jets, between which air can flow.

Abstract: Power generating plant comprising a pressurized fluidized bed combustor (PFBC) (11) in combination with a gas turbine (12,13) and associated compressor (14), is enabled to operate over an extended range of load and to respond rapidly to substantial load changes by arranging for such range and changes to be achievable while maintaining the PFBC at substantially constant temperature and varying, instead, the gas pressure in and mass flow rate through the PFBC. For effecting the required changes, the gas turbine and/or the compressor are provided with variable geometry, in the form of variable inlet or inter-stage guide vanes (34) and/or interstage bypass or blow-down valves (39,40).

Abstract: An alternating current electrical power generating system in which the generator is driven by a prime mover, such as a fluid-driven turbine, whose speed may vary, the generator rotor being coupled to the output shaft of a differential drive unit, one input of which is coupled to the prime mover and the other input of which is coupled to a synchronous generator whose output is fed to a thyristor controlled variable load.

Abstract: An alternating current electrical power generating system in which a generator (11) is driven by a fluid driven turbine (2), whose speed or torque may vary, which incorporates a differential drive unit (3) coupled to the turbine (2), the generator (11) and means, such as a reaction machine (6), arranged to control the torque on the respective input to the differential drive unit in response to changes in the speed of the turbine in the sense which tends to compensate for such speed variations and thereby reduce fluctuations of torque on the generator.

Abstract: This invention relates to turbines which are arranged to be driven by an oscillating flow of working fluid especially by movement of air above a naturally moving body of water. Conventional turbines require four valves to direct an oscillating flow of fluid to cause continuous unidirectional turning of a single rotor.

Abstract: An optical particle analyzer in which the size of a particle in a particle stream is determined from the intensity or the duration of light scattered from it. A laser beam is directed transversely onto the stream and scattering occurs at the beam focus. To ensure that only particles which traverse the center of the beam are considered, a smaller, validating beam concentric with the main beam also produces scattered light. A pulse from the narrow beam coincident with one from the broad beam confirms that the associated particle has passed through the center of the broad beam and warrants consideration and assessment.A further narrow beam spaced from the first provides a time delay, dependent on particle velocity, between interception of the two narrow beams by a particle. Particle velocity is thus measured.

Abstract: An electric fuse according to this invention incorporates metal end caps and an elongate fuse element having regions of reduced cross-sectional area and extending in electrical series between the metal end caps, wherein the fuse incorporates within each end a respective gasket of an absorbent material impregnated with an arc-inhibiting substance. Materials which have been found to be particularly effective for the gaskets are asbestos and absorbent types of paper, including strawboard and cardboard, impregnated with an arc-inhibiting compound constituted, suitably, by sodium silicate.

Abstract: A turbine or like rotary machine of the kind in which a fluid, either a liquid or gas, is arranged to act on a plurality of generally radially extending rotor blades, has each rotor blade fixed in position relative to the rotor hub and is substantially symmetrical about a plane perpendicular to the rotor axis, the blades having surfaces which are of generally aerofoil shape and being mounted with their leading edges facing in the same circumferential direction. The rotor of such a turbine can be driven by a generally axial flow of fluid, the direction of rotation being unchanged when the direction of flow of the fluid is reversed, so that it can be used to advantage in an oscillating or periodically reversing fluid flow. Such a flow may be provided or produced for example, by naturally occurring movement of air or water.

Abstract: An input circuit for use in the selection of one of n .times. m inputs signified by the closure of one of n .times. x m switch units. Each switch unit is a single pole switch connected between one of a first set of n terminals to which a first potential is applied and one of a second set of m terminals to which a second, different potential is applied. A circuit is provided for detecting the flow of current upon closure of a switch and for applying a potential to one of a third set of n terminals and one of a fourth set of m terminals dependent on the switch closed. Said circuit may comprise CMOS devices, allowing the input circuit to exhibit substantially zero quiescent power consumption.

Abstract: A coupling assembly, suitable for connecting pipes made from brittle materials comprises a tubular locating member and several collets securable to the locating member around a pipe. The aperture of the locating member receives the flanged end section of the pipe, and the collets urge the pipe into the aperture and against a co-operating surface of another pipe, held by a further set of collets. Instead of the further set of collets the locating member may have an integral flange to connect the pipe to a tank or pump.

Abstract: A joint between adjacent ends of two pipes arranged to convey liquid under pressure, and which permits relative movement of the pipes, has a first sealing surface of annular form associated with one of the pipe ends and a sealing member supported by the other pipe and movable axially relatively thereto, and having a second sealing surface of annular form which co-operates with the first sealing surface, the sealing member being urgeable away from the first sealing surface by the pressure of liquid within the pipes against a restraining force to provide a clearance between the sealing surfaces which is adequate to permit relative transverse movement of the sealing surfaces to take place without sliding contact, but at the same time provides a high resistance to the flow of fluid between them.

Abstract: A rotor of a dynamo-electric machine having the conductors forming an end-winding supported by an annular support arrangement interposed between an overhang region of the rotor body and the conductors forming the end winding. The annular support arrangement may comprise a single annular member or a plurality of separate members secured around the overhang region of the rotor body. The annular support arrangement may be formed from a non-magnetic metal of low density, for example, an aluminium alloy, or may be formed from a suitable insulating material, for example, a fibre reinforced composite material.

Abstract: A rotor of a dynamo-electric machine having the conductors of the rotor winding constrained against the effects of centrifugal force by a plurality of annular members which encircle the conductors at spaced positions along the body of the rotor and are prestressed to clamp the conductors to the rotor so that no further stretching of the annular members occurs at the maximum speed of the rotor. Preferably the annular members are prestressed in situ on the rotor by expansible devices interposed between the annular members and the conductors of the rotor winding. One form of expansible device comprises an inflatable bag into which is pumped synthetic resin under pressure, the resin being cured so that it becomes solid while in the pressurized condition.

Abstract: A multi-limbed manometer system adapted to detect and record the vertical displacement of different parts of a large structure, e.g., the pedestals and cylinders of a steam turbine installation. The datum level of the liquid in the system is adjusted by changing the pressure of a head of liquid connected to the system, for example, by raising and lowering a reservoir of the system or by moving a piston in a cylinder connected to the system. The floats comprise homogeneous structures having a multiplicity of small air-filled compartments, e.g. an epoxy resin containing air-filled hollow glass balls having a diameter of about 150 microns. A float in a reference limb provides a reference signal indicative of the actual liquid level which is compared with a signal indicative of the desired liquid level and a difference signal derived and used to raise and lower the reservoir or move the piston in the cylinder.

Abstract: In a fluid-flow control valve provided with jacking means (which may comprise a nut rotatable on a threaded shaft) operable to move a valve closure member into and out of seating engagement with a valve seat and to exert between the valve closure member and a reaction member, fixed in position relative to the valve seat, a thrust which holds the valve closure member on the valve seat, there is interposed between the jacking means and either the valve closure member or the reaction member a resiliently-deformable thrust-transmitting means (e.g. a pair of Belleville springs); and the jacking means is provided with stop means which limits the extent to which the jacking means can deform the thrust-transmitting means after the valve closure member has seated on the valve seat, thereby limiting said thrust to a safe maximum value dependent on the adjustment of the stop means.