Patents Assigned to United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
  • Ore sorting apparatus
    Patent number: 4702379
    Abstract: An apparatus for ore sorting includes a neutron irradiator (12), and a detector assembly (14) for detecting gamma radiation emitted by irradiated lumps (21) of the ore. The irradiated lumps (21) after discharge from the irradiator (12), are divided into two channels (30) by at least one bifurcating device (28) held above a relatively high speed conveyor (26) transporting the lumps (21). Each channel (30) is subsequently divided into three streams (37, 38, 39) by diverting selected lumps (21) from the channel (30) as the lumps (21) are projected from the end of the high speed conveyor (26). The diverted lumps (21) in each stream (37, 38, 39) are allowed to fall on to a relatively low speed conveyor (50) which then presents the lumps (21) to the detector assembly (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1987
    Assignee: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
    Inventors: Colin G. Clayton, Ramon Spackman
  • Preparation of dispersible cerium compound
    Patent number: 4699732
    Abstract: The invention provides a process for the preparation of a dispersible cerium compound (i.e. a cerium compound which may be dispersed in a liquid to give a colloidal dispersion (i.e. a sol)).The process involves replacing a first species of ions associated with the cerium compound by a second species of ions (e.g. hydroxyl ions) and subsequently replacing the second species of ions of the cerium compound with a third species of ions (e.g. counter-ions).The replacing of the ions may be effected, for example, by ion-exchange.Cerium (IV) oxide hydrate is an example of a cerium compound which can be made dispersible in accordance with the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1987
    Assignee: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
    Inventor: James L. Woodhead
  • Ore irradiator
    Patent number: 4696782
    Abstract: An irradiator for irradiating lumps of ore, to activate a selected substance in the ore by neutron activation, consists of a cylindrical chamber 10, a vibrated conical base 20 to control passage of the lumps through the chamber 10, and at least one coaxial annular neutron source 30 at one end of the chamber 10. The neutron source 30 is arranged so that all the lumps of ore are activated uniformly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1987
    Assignee: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
    Inventors: Colin G. Clayton, Ramon Spackman
  • Fluidic contactors
    Patent number: 4693822
    Abstract: A fluidic contactor comprising a vortex stage and a separator stage. The vortex stage is in the form of a vortex chamber whereby fluids of different densities when introduced into the chamber through one or more tangential inlets are caused to swirl through the chamber before passing into the separator stage which is in the form of a column forming an extension of an axial outlet from the vortex chamber. In passing along the column the fluids become separated and emerge through separated outlets at the end of the column remote from the chamber. The fluids can be mixed together before entry into the chamber or separate fluids can be intimately mixed together in swirling through the chamber, in each case to permit mass transfer of constituents between the fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1987
    Assignee: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
    Inventors: Michael J. Bowe, Samuel N. Oruh, Jaswant Singh
  • Ultrasonic probe
    Patent number: 4683752
    Abstract: An ultrasonic probe for measuring the velocity of sound in a liquid consists of a tube (12), closed at its lower end, and arranged to extend into the liquid, a reflector (20) alongside the tube but spaced away from it, and a source (30) of ultrasonic waves in the tube. The source is arranged so as to cause an ultrasonic beam to propagate through the tube wall (16), to traverse the liquid occupying the space between the tube (12) and the reflector (20), and to be reflected back. The source (30) can be scanned along the length of the tube to ascertain the variation of liquid properties, the position of the liquid surface, and the presence of emulsion layers and precipitates. The wall of the tube through which the ultrasonic beam emerges may be plano-concave in cross-section to enhance the ultrasonic beam intensity in the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1987
    Assignee: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
    Inventor: Leslie Bradshaw
  • Cold trap apparatus
    Patent number: 4683056
    Abstract: Cold trap apparatus for the purification of liquid metal such as sodium comprises a cooled vessel (20) within which a number of concentric cylinders (23) are located such that the liquid metal flow takes place downwardly in the gap between the vessel (20) and the outermost cylinder (23) and upwardly along the gaps between the cylinders (23). The cylinders (23) present extended surfaces across which the liquid metal flows with deposition of solute (24) along such surfaces. The surfaces of the cylinders (23) may be of a roughened nature with respect to the liquid metal flow, e.g. they may be covered with a single layer mesh (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1987
    Assignee: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
    Inventors: John Humphries, Neil S. Morrison
  • Ultrasonic imaging
    Patent number: 4682296
    Abstract: Ultrasonic imaging equipment comprising ultrasonic transducers (A, B, etc.) which are sequentially and repetitively triggerable by equally spaced triggers (Z) to give echoes which can be read, stored and processed in a computer-based recording device is characterized in having means to inhibit the triggers under control of the recording device so that, after one transmission, further transmissions do not take place prior to the recording device reading the echo from said one transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1987
    Assignee: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
    Inventor: John A. Parker
  • Ultrasonic liquid interface detector
    Patent number: 4679430
    Abstract: A sensor for detecting an interface of a liquid in a container comprises a transmitter and a receiver of ultrasonic waves, each situated outside the container, and coupled to the wall of the container by a strip waveguide. The transmitter is arranged to cause surface acoustic waves to propagate through a portion of the wall, and the receiver is arranged to detect waves derived from the transmitter. When the liquid is adjacent to the portion of the wall, mode conversion of the surface acoustic waves in the wall of the vessel into compression waves in the liquid causes a change in the energy of waves reaching the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1987
    Assignee: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
    Inventors: Colin B. Scott-Kestin, Roger B. Pike, Roger D. Watkins, Arthur B. Gillespie, Michael O. Deighton
  • Corrosion monitoring probe
    Patent number: 4675527
    Abstract: A corrosion monitoring probe consisting of a housing for mounting a piece of radioactive material in a surface of a body the corrosion of which is to be measured so that the radioactive material is exposed to the same corrosive environment as the surface of the body, and means for measuring the intensity of ionizing radiation emitted by the radioactive material. The housing also contains a reference source of ionizing radiation and means for exposing a radiation detector which forms part of the means for measuring the intensity of ionizing radiation emitted by the radioactive material alternately to the radioactive material and the reference source of ionizing radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1987
    Assignee: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
    Inventors: James Asher, Bruce C. Tofield, Malcolm R. Wormald, George B. Huxtable, Thomas W. Conlon
  • Metal product fabrication
    Patent number: 4674554
    Abstract: A metal matrix composite (e.g. of SiC in a metal alloy) is made by the steps of atomizing a stream of molten metal to form a spray of hot metal particles by subjecting the stream to relatively cold gas directed at the stream, applying to the stream or spray relatively cold solid particles of a material of different composition from the metal, and depositing the metal having the particles incorporated therein. The deposit is made into a shaped metal matrix composite by reheating it to a controlled temperature substantially above the liquidus of the metal at which it flows under pressure and casting the fluid deposit to give the shaped product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1987
    Assignee: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
    Inventor: Eric A. Feest
  • Directional gamma ray monitor
    Patent number: 4675523
    Abstract: A directional gamma ray monitor is based on a method for measuring the gamma ray flux within a small solid angle. The method entails measuring the flux incident on a detector 36, measuring the flux incident on the detector 36 when behind a shielding block 50, which is arranged to subtend the said small solid angle with the detector 36, and determining the difference between the two measurements. In an apparatus for carrying out the method, the shielding block 50 is moved between a position when it is on the axis of a gamma ray detector 36 and a position where it is displaced from the axis of the gamma ray detector 36.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1987
    Assignee: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
    Inventor: David R. Garlick
  • Coating method for preparing composite material
    Patent number: 4670303
    Abstract: The present invention relates to materials and more particularly to composite materials in which a selected substance is supported by a support material.A composite material in accordance with the present invention comprises porous hollow particles of an inorganic material in which there is supported a selected substance (such as chromagraphic organic gel, or a liquid for use in two-phase separation processes).The porous hollow particles may be formed from, for example, a material such as kieselguhr and/or an inorganic oxide.The porous hollow particles may be formed by coating a fugitive core material (e.g. organic beads) with inorganic material and heating to remove the fugitive core material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1987
    Assignee: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
    Inventor: Brynley J. Miles
  • Pipeline inspection
    Patent number: 4667515
    Abstract: The nature of the flow pattern in a pipeline carrying both a liquid and a gas depends on the flow rates of the two phases. The flow pattern is characterized by measuring the void fraction or the average density along at least one chord across the pipeline (12) and by determining the distribution of liquid around the periphery of the pipe wall. The void fraction may be measured by the absorption of gamma rays from a source (14); while the peripheral distribution may be determined from the attenuation of ultrasonic plate waves propagating through sectors of the wall between transmitters (18) and receivers (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1987
    Assignee: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
    Inventors: John Farren, Roger D. Watkins
  • Nuclear reactor fuel assemblies
    Patent number: 4663117
    Abstract: A nuclear reactor fuel of the kind comprising multi-pins (10) located in a hexagonal wrapper (11) and stabilized by a series of spacing grids (12) has an internal grid support cage (13) formed by six vertical limbs (20) inside the wrapper. The limbs of the cage have upturned parts (14) which engage into the cellular structure of the grids such as lying between two adjacent unit cells (16). The cells have tabs (21 in FIG. 3 and 52 in FIG. 5) which can be welded to the upturned parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1987
    Assignee: Secretary of State for United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
    Inventors: Robert Jolly, Colin E. Butterfield
  • Gauging apparatus
    Patent number: 4658254
    Abstract: Apparatus for gauging physical dimensions of solid or tubular bodies. Apparatus comprises a capacitive transducer having electrodes forming diametrically arranged pairs of capacitors and means for connecting the pairs, preferably sequentially, in an arm of a four arm electrical network. For circumferential scanning of a solid body along its length, the body is moved along a path of travel through a head assembly including the transducer with the axis of the body being coincident with the axis of the transducer. As the body moves through the transducer the diametrically arranged pairs of capacitors scan the surface to result in a surface profile of the body. For scanning the bore of a pipe or tube the transducer is inserted as a probe and moved along the bore of the pipe or tube, means being provided for maintaining the probe coaxial with the pipe or tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1987
    Assignee: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
    Inventor: Hyman Walton
  • Remote temperature measurement
    Patent number: 4655992
    Abstract: Temperature, or temperature noise, is measured by employing an ultrasonic beam which strikes at least one pair of points (10A, 10B) which are a known distance apart and the time interval between the two points is resolved and related to the distance to give a measure of temperature of the medium between the two points. The point pairs may be naturally occurring, such as the diametrically opposed edges of a fuel element channel in a sodium-cooled nuclear reactor, or specifically provided. The beam may be at glancing incidence on a number of point pairs in line and, in this situation, the beam is wider in the direction transverse to its path than it is along its path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1987
    Assignee: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
    Inventors: James A. McKnight, Iain D. Macleod, Eric J. Burton
  • Fabrication of nuclear fuel pellets
    Patent number: 4643873
    Abstract: Uranium dioxide powder produced by a gas phase process in which uranium hexafluoride is reacted with dry steam and then with steam and/or hydrogen at a higher temperature is subjected to mechanical treatment, e.g. milling, to break down its structure and increase its packing density. Other powders may be included with the uranium dioxide. The treated powder is mixed with a limited quantity (e.g. 0.5% by weight) of binder, preferably a high strength adhesive, to produce a free flowing powder and formed into pellets by pressing. The pellets are then sintered. Optionally the free flowing powder is spheroidised by tumbling prior to pressing into pellets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Assignee: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
    Inventor: Michael R. Hayes
  • Superimposition of non-visual signals upon an image signal in a video display system
    Patent number: 4642687
    Abstract: A signal is generated for producing a video display carrying superimposed images, at least one of which is derived from a system for detection of non-visual signals, such as an ultrasonic inspection device or a backscatter detector of penetrating radiation. Accurate registration of the superimposed images is achieved by providing for the system for detection a moveable probe indicating the location of inspection by the detector system, a point source of light or other radiation to which a video camera responds on the probe which point source is `on` when the detector response is positive, and a comparator and memory system in which is built up a store of all those image locations where the camera observed the point source `on`. Output from the memory system is mixed with the camera video signal so that a bright point is produced at each of those locations thereby to produce the superimposed image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1987
    Assignee: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
    Inventors: Francis A. Wedgwood, Peter F. Peck, Michael P. Stevens
  • Monitoring system
    Patent number: 4639882
    Abstract: A system for monitoring data signals representing a number of parameters of a plant or apparatus, periodically superimposes test signals on to some of the data signals so as to produce combined signals representing unacceptable states of the parameters. The selection of the data signals on which the test signals are superimposed is changed at each periodic examination in a predetermined sequence, so that a pattern of acceptable and unacceptable signals is produced as an output to be compared with a reference pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1987
    Assignee: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
    Inventor: Albert B. Keats
  • Solid state cell manufacture
    Patent number: 4631810
    Abstract: A unitary polymer electrolyte/polymer-based cathode film component for use in a solid state electrochemical cell is manufactured by solution casting onto one of the electrolyte or cathode, a solution of the other of the electrolyte or cathode.The solution is prepared at elevated temperature (e.g. 40.degree.-50.degree. C.) and cooled to a lower temperature, e.g. ambient, before carrying out the casting. The solvent (e.g. methanol) is such that the polymer (e.g. poly (ethylene oxide)) is only sparingly soluble therein at the lower temperature and relatively readily soluble therein at the elevated temperature. Also, immediate precipitation of the polymer does not occur on cooling the solution from the elevated temperature to the lower temperature. In this way, dissolution of said one of the electrolyte or cathode is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1986
    Assignee: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
    Inventors: Alan Hooper, John M. North