Abstract: An ultrasonic level measuring system includes a transducer mounted on the bottom of a pipe which launches acoustic pulses up through the pipe wall into the water. The pulses are reflected from the water surface and received by the transducer along with pulses reflected by the pipe wall and reverberations within the pipe wall. The system has a monitor mode in which a variable threshold for the reflected pulses is set by dividing the time after a trigger pulse into time bins and automatically establishing a threshold level for each time bin. In a signal search mode, the time bin containing the liquid level is identified from a histogram recording reflected pulses which exceed the threshold levels for the various time bins. In a normal operating mode, foreground calculations precisely calculating the liquid level in the identified bin alternate with background calculations which reassess the identification of the time bin containing the liquid level.

Abstract: A system for simulating human performance of a predefined procedure for operating equipment uses operator characteristics defining how human operator performance will be simulated. The operator characteristics include at least one among decision making rules, execution accuracy rules and rules defining operator response speed. The rules are weighted by a probability function having a randomized factor to produce a specified result a given percentage of the time when the simulation is repeated using the same operator characteristics. The results of the simulation are recorded and analyzed to evaluate performance of a human operator having the defined operator characteristics.

Abstract: A device for preventing melt-through of a reactor vessel comprising a first spray nozzle means disposed adjacent a bottom of the reactor vessel for spraying between 50 and 375 gpm of cooling water onto the lower bottom of the reactor vessel and for cooling and preventing melt-through of the reactor vessel; a second spray nozzle means disposed adjacent a body of the reactor vessel for spraying between 100 and 750 gpm of cooling water onto the body of the reactor vessel and for cooling and preventing melt-through of the reactor vessel; and a third spray nozzle means disposed adjacent an upper head of the reactor vessel for spraying between 50 and 375 gpm of cooling water onto the upper head of the reactor vessel and for cooling and preventing melt-through of the reactor vessel.

Abstract: A nuclear reactor reflector is disclosed that comprises a stack of reflector blocks with vertical water flow passages to cool the reflector. The interface between blocks is opposite support points for reactor fuel rods. Water flows between the reflector and the reactor barrel from passages in a bottom block. The top block contains a flange to limit this flow and the flange has a slot to receive an alignment pin that is welded to the barrel. The pin is held in the slot by two removable shims. Alignment bars extend the length of the stack in slots machined in each block when the stack is assembled.

Abstract: Calibration arrangement and method for calibrating an inspection instrument, such as an ultrasonic inspection instrument of the kind typically used to inspect nuclear reactor pressure vessels. The calibration arrangement comprises a frame, the frame having a slot therethrough for receiving a sonic coupling medium therein. A plurality of channels extend through the frame and are in communication with the slot. A plurality of solid reflector rods matingly extend through respective ones of the channels and into the slot for reflecting sonic energy produced by a pulsed ultrasonic transducer mounted on the frame and spanning the slot. A pulser stimulates the transducer so that the transducer transmits pulsed sonic energy through the coupling medium which resides in the slot. The sonic energy is reflected by the rods that pass through the slot. The reflected sonic energy or echoes are received by the transducer, which generates transducer output signals that are received by a receiver.

Abstract: A retractable handle mechanism for controlling the operating handle of a circuit breaker. The handle mechanism consists of a housing which may be mounted on an electrical enclosure in which the circuit breaker may be disposed. Pivotally attached to the housing is a first lever which is movable between an on position and an off position. Retractably attached to the first lever is a second lever which is movable between a first position substantially adjacent the first lever and a second position substantially extended away from the first lever. The retractable handle mechanism may also be equipped with a lever restraining mechanism which allows the second lever to be non-movably disposed in either its first position or its second position. The retractable handle mechanism may also be equipped with a lever off locking mechanism which prevents the first lever from being moved from the off position to the on position.

Abstract: A bifunctional gas diffusion electrode used in an electrochemical energy cell wherein a multi-ply composite layer containing an embedded metal screen current collector provides electrical power via the reduction of oxygen from air in the presence of an electrolyte and a catalyst. The electrode stores electrical power via the evolution of oxygen in the presence of an electrolyte and another catalyst. More than one composite layer may be used. Each ply of any particular composite layer is made of carbon-containing material of varying wettability and a fluorocarbon material. Each hydrophobic central ply contain a metal screen current collector. These central plies are prepared in a way to foster fissuring throughout the ply. Such fissuring, along with a hydrophilic impregnate forced into these fissures, permits controlled electrolyte penetration of the hydrophobic ply.

Abstract: An overwidth slitting method slits a metal strip into two lengthwise pieces while trimming the side edges from the strip. The metal strip is placed on parallel spaced apart conveyors adjacent a slitter for conveying the strip to the slitter. The conveyors are raised above a plurality of vacuum cups which are disposed between the conveyors and are spaced along the length of the strip. The raised metal strip is aligned with respect to the slitter and the raised conveyors are lowered to a position where the bottom surface of the aligned strip engages the vacuum cups between the conveyors. A vacuum is applied to the vacuum cups for holding the strip in alignment relative to the slitter and then the metal strip is advanced on the conveyors into the slitter while sequentially releasing the vacuum from each vacuum cup engaged with the bottom surface of the metal strip as it advances. The advancing metal strip is simultaneously slit into two lengthwise pieces while the side edges are trimmed therefrom.

Abstract: A pump controller coupling the electric motor of a cyclically operating well pump to a power line is arranged to measure instantaneous power consumption of the motor, to integrate the power consumption over pump cycles, and to assess the performance of the well and/or pump by using the total power consumption to estimate fluid flow. The controller determines a phase reference in the cycle of the pump by monitoring for a peak or zero crossing in the instantaneous power level, specifically the point at which the pump changes over from a power stroke to regenerative operation due to pump momentum. The integrated total power consumption is reduced by an offset factor representing frictional losses, and scaled to obtain an approximate fluid volume determination for the pump and well. The factors used for offset and scaling can be adjusted by calibration using at least intermittent measurements of actual fluid flow and fluid density.

Abstract: The present invention provides an APLC which has improved common-mode disturbance rejection capability when compared with similarly-sized devices constructed according to current teachings. The need for an isolation transformer is, in many cases, eliminated by the invention. The invention alters the coupling transformer of the series parallel APLC or the isolation inductor of the newly-proposed inductor-parallel APLC to create a balun effect in the high and low conductors of the electrical supply network. Particularly, first and second windings are substituted for the single winding of the transformer primary or the isolation inductor. These two windings are serially-connected on the high and low conductors, respectively, with appropriate polarity such that self-inductance values of each are additive. Low pass capacitors and surge protectors may also be added to further protect the APLC and the load.

Abstract: An electrohydraulic fluid system monitors the fluid line 1, reservoir 2, motor pumps 4 and 6, accumulators 10 and drain line 13 in an electrohydraulic fluid system. The electrohydraulic fluid monitor system includes sensors 14-40 to detect temperature, pressure, fluid level and motor pump current in the electrohydraulic fluid system. Signals from these sensors are converted 54 by an analog to digital converter into digital signals read by a processor unit 58 and stored by the processor unit as data for diagnostic analysis. In one embodiment of the present invention, the processor unit 58 stores the information and compares the information to predetermined threshold amounts or to previous values and outputs a malfunction indication to a status display, responsive to results of these comparisons, which indicates the presence or nonpresence of a malfunction in the electrohydraulic fluid system.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved active power line conditioner which achieves a significant improvement in peak voltage regulation capability when compared with a similarly-sized device of the prior art. Enhanced peak voltage regulation capability is achieved by reducing the number of turns on the transformer winding connected to the series inverter. As a result, the AC regulation voltage induced across the transformer primary and added to or subtracted from the AC supply voltage will be capable of achieving higher peak levels of short duration. When a reduced-turns-ratio transformer is utilized according to the invention, variations of the AC supply voltage which are within the sinusoidal regulation range of a prior art active power line conditioner having a similarly-sized transformer, the output voltage will remain sinusoidal.

Abstract: An imaging system utilizes a plurality of sensors capable of sensing objects within a field of view about a sight line. At least two sensors have different sight lines with the sight lines having known relative positions. Each sensor produces signals corresponding to positions of objects within a field of view over time. At least one sensor signal memory receives those signals and stores them in a manner enabling concurrent access to signals received from any selected combination of sensors. The processing unit and associated memory contain at least one program for selecting sensor signals from a sensor signal memory. Preferably motion detectors are provided for determining vibration, flexure or movement of each sensor. A normalizing means is preferably provided to adjust the sensor or make an appropriate modification of the signal received from the sensor.

Abstract: A dual mode electronic identification system using a tag which has a RF receiver and transmitter contained therein. In the first mode the tag responds to an interrogation signal by transmitting identification data to the interrogator. In the second mode the tag periodically transmits an identification beacon signal to a directional sensing antenna which uses the signal to compute the position of the tag. The power supply for the tag operates from an internal battery or from power received from a portal signal via a tag receiving antenna. The battery can be automatically turned off when the tag is in the portal area and the unit can be shifted into the battery operated beacon mode when the tag is removed from the portal area.

Abstract: A modular fuel assembly for a nuclear thermal engine includes a plurality of fuel elements each having a fueled, truncated conical shell and an unfueled peripheral lip at the base of the shell with radial passages there-through. The fuel elements are nested with the lips seating one on top of another to form a stack of fuel elements with frusto-conical flow passages between the shells of adjacent fuel elements which are divided into channels by ribs on the conical shells. The stack of fuel elements is mounted in a cylindrical housing with the bases of the shells facing a central inlet opening at one end of the housing. Propellant enters the central inlet opening, is deflected radially outward by a deflector into an annular flow distribution channel from which it flows radially inward through the passages in the fuel element lips, through the flow channels of frusto-conical passages between the fueled shells where it is heated, and out through a central exhaust passage.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for holding and inverting cylinder halves of steam turbines is disclosed. The device includes an adjustable base member having a temporary cylinder half support platform. The support includes a jacking mechanism for raising and lower the cylinder half when placed thereon. A rotatable carriage assembly is supported above the base member and securable to the cylinder half flange, the carriage being rotated by a rotation drive unit which is controlled to rotate the cylinder half at a constant rate. After a cylinder half is placed on a support platform, the jacks are activated to raise the cylinder half flange to the level of the rotatable carriage and the flange secured to the carriage. A support is then lowered and removed, and the cylinder half rotated about either its longitudinal or quadrature axis. The axis of rotation is chosen such that the center of gravity of the cylinder half passes therethrough.

Abstract: Both a system and method are provided for remotely heating a polymeric material to a selected temperature. The system generally comprises particulate ferromagnetic material dispersed throughout the polymeric material to form a composite, wherein the particulate material has a Curie temperature that corresponds to the selected heating temperature, and a source of microwave energy for remotely applying a beam of microwave energy to the polymeric composite material. Preferably, the particulate ferromagnetic material comprises only about 2 percent of the total composite by weight. The polymeric material may be compliant, thermosettable plastic, and the Curie temperature of the particulate ferromagnetic material dispersed therein may advantageously be above the curing temperature of the polymer, such that the beam from the source of microwave energy may be used to remotely join surfaces or construct joints in composite structures.

Abstract: A two-way communication system is provided having a stationary device and a portable passive device. The portable passive device has circuitry for storing and transmitting coded information. The stationary member transmits a signal at a first frequency via magnetic field and the portable passive device transmits coded information stored on circuitry provided therein at a second frequency also via a magnetic field. An antenna circuit is provided in the portable passive device having a parallel resonant circuit and a series resonant circuit. The parallel resonant circuit derives operating power from the signal at a first frequency for use in the circuitry provided in the portable passive device. The series resonant circuit transmits coded information at a second frequency.

Abstract: A seal for a large annular opening between a launch tube and a missile comprising a suspended hoop composed of a pair of cylindrical rings spaced apart by axially disposed chevron-shaped struts, the inner cylindrical ring having a frustoconically shaped lip extending from its lower margin and a foot cylindrical ring is disposed below the suspended hoop with a frustoconically or half-toroid shaped membrane having a fibrous cloth embedded therein extending between and into the inner cylindrical ring and the lip portion to provide a stabilizing seal.

Abstract: Particulate material such as for example soil contaminated with heavy metals, radioactive species and organics, singly or in combination, is treated by first washing the contaminated material with a contaminant mobilizing solution comprising a leaching agent, a surfactant or a mixture thereof. Large particles, typically greater than 5 mm are mechanically separated, washed with water and returned to the site as recovered soil. Fines, along with contaminants dissolved or dispersed in the contaminant mobilizing solution are separated from intermediate sized particles by a countercurrent flow of the contaminant mobilizing solution, preferably in a mineral jig. The intermediate sized particles are then abraded in an attrition scrubber to dislodge attached mineral slimes or fines. These additional fines are separated from the intermediate sized particles with a countercurrent flow of wash water in a second mineral jig.