Abstract: An adaptive noise cancellation system reduces undesired noise in a closed loop control system by injecting an adaptively constructed noise cancellation signal at an appropriate point in the closed control loop. The generation of a compensation filter N for adaptive noise cancellation loop error signal is disclosed by two methods. A first method is an inverse error rejection response (IERR) method. A second method optimally matches spectrums of a noise signal and a noise reference signal at the adaptive noise cancellation system. This second method is referred to as a spectral matching (SM) method.

Abstract: An electromagnetic projectile launcher with augmenting conductors and a circuit breaker at the breech which closes as the projectile is launched to recover inductive energy from the launching rails for successive shots and a launcher with coaxial conductors which greatly reduce external flux.

Abstract: An electromagnetic launcher system for small diameter high velocity penetrator projectiles and larger diameter, slower projectiles is provided with a single high current pulse power supply. At least two bores of substantially different cross section are connected to the power supply. Augmentation conductors are utilized adjacent the larger diameter bore to achieve the desired acceleration of the large diameter projectile with a smaller root mean square current than used for the acceleration of the small diameter projectile to a desired high velocity.

Abstract: Critical but inaccessible welds in a nuclear reactor system are monitored throughout the life of the reactor by providing small aperture means projecting completely through the reactor vessel wall and also through the weld or welds to be monitored. The aperture means is normally sealed from the atmosphere within the reactor. Any incipient failure or cracking of the weld will cause the environment contained within the reactor to pass into the aperture means and thence to the outer surface of the reactor vessel where its presence is readily detected.

Abstract: For the inspection of a reactor vessel (1) there is used a carriage (4) provided with wheels (15) to enable the carriage to be driven around a reactor opening (2). The carriage supports a mast (36), which is provided with inspection equipment (38) which can be driven along the mast. Known apparatus of this kind block the reactor opening, thereby to prevent other work from being carried out during an inspection period, for example such work as the change of fuel elements. According to the invention, the carriage with mast and inspection equipment are so formed that a geometric projection thereof onto a plane extending perpendicularly to the geometric axis of the cylindrical reactor vessel lies within a sector of less than 180.degree., with the exception of an area outside the geometric projection of the reactor hearth onto the same plane.

Abstract: A device for evacuating, filling and closing final storage containers for dioactive materials mixed with molten glass, comprising a suction pipe connected to the container, a meltable closure for said pipe and a closable evacuation connection fitting mounting in said meltable closure. The container is evacuated through the fitting whereupon the fitting is sealed closed to preserve the vacuum. When the suction pipe is dipped into the molten glass to fill the container, the closure melts and with the glass is sucked into the container.In another form the device also includes a protective sleeve surrounding the fitting, closed at its outer end with a meltable plate which also serves as a heat radiation shield. The shield prevents premature melting of the meltable closure, i.e. melting from the heat in the glass furnace prior to immersion of the suction pipe in the molten glass.

Abstract: An armature for conducting very large DC current between a pair of electrically conductive rails while being driven along the rails under the influence of electromagnetic forces generated by the application of the current includes a plurality of spiraled conductive fibers. These fibers pass through a sleeve and are compacted to a maximum packing density within the sleeve to form a single solidified connection. The brush assembly formed by the sleeve and fibers is mounted on an insulating support structure which is sized to slide between the rails of the electromagnetic launcher.

Abstract: An energy beam, particularly a neutrino beam or an optical radiation beam, is detected by irradiating a material with the beam in the presence of electromagnetic fields. The material is such that the beam is coherently scattered thereby, and the coherent scattering of the beam causes coherent stimulated emission of radiant energy fields in the material. Electric or magnetic fields adjust the scatterer energy levels so that energy and momentum are conserved overall, and for detection. The neutrino beam causes derivation of RF photons which are detected by a radio receiver. Alternatively, the neutrino beam irradiates a bulk material having nuclei with non-zero spin and non-zero magnetic moments and with sufficient stiffness to recoil as a single entity after absorbing momentum from each neutrino in the beam.

Abstract: An arrangement of square fuel assemblies in the first and subsequent cycles of a pressurized water nuclear reactor wherein shimmed feed assemblies and once-burned or equivalent assemblies occupy the same checkerboard component of alternating diagonals in an inner region of the core, and the highest burned or equivalent assemblies occupy the other checkerboard component. The remainder of the core consists of an outer region containing another checkerboard of feed assemblies wherein the feed assemblies occupy less than one-half the assembly locations on the core periphery.

Abstract: A fission chamber assembly for use in-core of a nuclear reactor with the fission chamber included within a small diameter tubular housing which is hermetically sealed at opposed ends. A signal cable end seal assembly is provided at one end of the tubular housing serving to hermetically seal the mineral insulated coaxial signal cable to the tubular housing. A second cable end seal assembly is included within the tubular housing between the signal cable end seal assembly and the fission chamber, with a hermetically sealed gas-filled reservoir defined between the spaced-apart cable end seal assemblies. These redundant seal assemblies provide an improved reliability detector for use in the reactor hostile environment.

Abstract: A fission chamber detector system for monitoring neutron flux density in a nuclear reactor includes a preamplifier and signal conditioning unit for amplifying and conditioning neutron signal pulses produced by fission chamber detectors located adjacent the reactor core. The preamplifier and signal conditioning unit are located outside of the containment vessel for the reactor. The amplifier and signal conditioning unit amplify and condition the neutron signal pulses to provide signals that can be transmitted by twisted shielded pairs to a remotely located signal processing unit. The preamplifiers include an input stage that enables the preamplifiers to be controlled remotely to either pass or inhibit neutron signal pulses to an amplifier stage from the fission chambers, and to pass test signals to the amplifier stage.

Abstract: A nuclear fusion device comprising a condensed phase fuel element and accelerated ion beams which ionize and compress the fuel element and initiate nuclear fusion reactions. In one of the embodiment beams comprising electrons in addition to ions are employed. A method is provided comprising synchronization, acceleration and focusing of the said beams on the fuel target. Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus and method for a continuous nuclear fusion process. Another object is a clean fusion process. A further object of the invention is to provide a neutron generator.

Abstract: A portable uranium analyzer employs a neutron source and a neutron detector for carrying out an uranium assay along the surface of the earth and a gamma ray detector for carrying out a natural gamma radiation assay along the surface of the earth. The neutron source irradiates the underlying earth formation along an exploration line in either a continuous scan mode or in a plurality of fixed assay points. Prompt or delayed neutrons resulting from neutron fission of any uranium present in the formation are detected and recorded during assaying. The uranium assay and the natural gamma radiation assay are correlated to identify formations suspected of containing uranium.

Abstract: Two parallel heat exchange tubes having that part of a support structure between them to be interrogated for defects. A pair of radiation sources are positioned in the one tube to straddle the interrogated support portion, and a radiographic film is positioned in the tube behind the interrogated portion.

Abstract: A hydrogen measuring apparatus comprising two gamma thermometers. Both gamma thermometers are mounted adjacent and parallel to each other. Each is provided with a plurality of annular enclosed spaces formed in an elongated rod. Each annular space is provided with a hot junction of a difference thermocouple. The annular spaces of one of the gamma thermometers is either filled with a gas other than hydrogen, or surrounded by a hydrogen blocking material to prevent hydrogen contamination of the annular spaces. The annular spaces in the other gamma thermometer are placed in a vacuum and become contaminated with hydrogen. By comparing the power generation readings of the two thermometers free hydrogen partial pressure can be calculated.

Abstract: Failed fuel detection apparatus for nuclear reactors cooled by liquid metal has a pump (11) for impelling coolant metal along sampling pipes (10) to outlet points (10a) in the pipes. A rotary collector (15) is provided to scan the outlet points with a gap between the outlet points and the collector across which coolant in the sampling pipes can be impelled. The pump (11) is preferably of the helical annular linear induction type with the pipes passing through the annulus of the pump while being wetted internally and externally by liquid metal.

Abstract: A method and system for quality control of nuclear fuel materials, said system including amplifier/integrator circuitry, signal processors, and drift control feedback circuitry. The invention permits the qualitative and quantitative measurement of paramagnetic additives such as gadolinium for example in a paramagnetic base nuclear fuel material including ferromagnetic impurities. Drift problems relating to temperature and other effects are solved electrically and mechanically. Analysis can be conducted irrespective of the form or composition of the nuclear fuel.

Abstract: A logic safety system is disclosed having four redundant channels with each channel constituted by a logic circuit for controlling the triggering of a protective action, a logic alarm circuit connected to the control circuit and a logic inhibition circuit which makes it impossible to simultaneously inhibit several alarm circuits. Any attempt at inhibiting the alarm circuit of a second channel while an alarm circuit of a first channel is already inhibited will result in the automatic appearance of a protective action control signal at the output of the second channel regardless of the signal received at the input of the alarm circuit of the second channel.

Abstract: A magnetic well reversed field plasma pinch method and apparatus produces hot magnetically confined pinch plasma in a toroidal chamber having a major toroidal axis and a minor toroidal axis and a small aspect ratio. A reversed magnetic field pinch current channel within the plasma and at least one hyperbolic magnetic axis outside substantially all of the plasma form thereby a region of average magnetic well in a region of nested closed magnetic surfaces surrounding the plasma current channel when the magnetic field component in the direction of the hyperbolic magnetic axis is also made to be substantially less than zero in the vicinity of the hyperbolic magnetic axis. The magnetic well reversed field pinch is operated so that reversal of the safety factor q and of the toroidal magnetic field takes place within the plasma, and the plasma so produced closely approximates known theoretical stability conditions.

Abstract: A communications system including a central station and a plurality of remote stations, for example, a mobile telephone system, is disclosed in which communications channel establishing signalling transmissions between the central and remote stations are conducted in a clear (unenciphered) mode and subsequent voice transmissions between the central and remote stations are conducted in a secure (enciphered) mode. Each remote station has a unique code assigned thereto which is used by it to at least decipher incoming enciphered voice transmissions from the central station and by the central station to encipher outgoing voice transmissions to the remote station. The unique code may also be used by the remote station to encipher outgoing voice transmissions and by the central station to decipher incoming voice transmissions from the remote station.