Abstract: A monitor connected to an automotive engine, suitably monitoring pulses in the ignition system thereof electronically, and a flyball-type governor connected to the final drive train of an automotive engine transmission driven thereby, respectively operate switches for independently causing an engine-throttle-closing fixed-rate drive to run in throttle-closing direction to override the manual throttle control whenever the engine exceeds a predetermined engine speed or the vehicle approaches or exceeds a predetermined vehicle speed. Whenever both engine and vehicle are below their respective predetermined speeds and the vehicle speed is neither constant nor accelerating in the aforementioned approach range, the unoperated switches cause the throttle drive to run in throttle-opening direction to allow, but not to cause, full-throttle operation, which may be achieved by operating the manual throttle control to open the throttle to obtain full power.

Abstract: A liquid metal cooled fast breeder nuclear reactor has power setback means for use in an emergency. On initiation of a trip-signal a control rod is injected into the core in two stages, firstly, by free fall to effect an immediate power-set back to a safe level and, secondly, by controlled insertion. Total shut-down of the reactor under all emergencies is avoided.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for flushing the core of a nuclear reactor after a loss-of-coolant accident. A pump causes flow of liquid-phase fluid from the containment-vessel sump. This flow is used to provide the motivating force for an eductor that causes suction at the hot leg of the reactor. The eductor suction can draw gas-phase coolant out of the hot leg. As a result, it can reduce pressure which may be preventing the flow of liquid-phase coolant out of the hot leg. By causing liquid-phase flow through the reactor, the system ensures that particles and boric acid are flushed out of the core. The system thereby eliminates the build-up of particles and the concentrations of boric acid in the core that could result if the coolant were to leave the pressure vessel exclusively in the gas phase.

Abstract: A candle holder for candles formed from glass containers having wax and a wick therein. The candle is placed on a base which is relatively wide to provide stability. A cover is placed over the candle which partially covers the top opening of the candle. The cover is formed from a ring having a chimney extending upward from the inner diameter of the ring and a conical flange extending downward and outward from the outer diameter of the ring. The chimney has a plurality of holes spaced around its base. A pair of holding rods connect the cover to the base so that the candle is held between the cover and base to form a semi-rigid stable assembly.The cover, which may be used separately from the base, functions to prevent air currents over the top of the candle from causing the flame to flicker and smoke the inside of the glass container. The cover also keeps heat contained in the candle to melt the wax evenly across its surface.

Abstract: A closure head for a nuclear reactor includes a stationary outer ring integral with the reactor vessel with a first rotatable plug disposed within the stationary outer ring and supported from the stationary outer ring by a bearing assembly. A sealing system is associated with the bearing assembly to seal the annulus defined between the first rotatable plug and the stationary outer ring. The sealing system comprises tubular seal elements disposed in the annulus with load springs contacting the tubular seal elements so as to force the tubular seal elements against the annulus in a manner to seal the annulus. The sealing system also comprises a sealing fluid which is pumped through the annulus and over the tubular seal elements causing the load springs to compress thereby reducing the friction between the tubular seal elements and the rotatable components while maintaining a gas-tight seal therebetween.

Abstract: There is provided an improved lamp bulb guard having a circular tubular body portion, an inwardly flared portion and a circular tubular neck portion. Circumferentially spaced ventilating towers are provided. Each tower has a top portion, a front wall portion, and side wall portions. Vertically extending slots are provided, and each slot is protected by a baffle located radially inwardly thereof.

Abstract: A line-actuated fishing rod light includes an electrically conductive bracket, a battery therein, a threaded-base, bulb, and a spring wire trigger arm coiled to provide a socket for the bulb and extending beyond the socket to form a trigger finger. A fishing line is wrapped around the finger and, upon a fish strike, pulls the arm and socket toward a battery terminal. The bulb lights on contact of its terminal with the battery, through the circuit provided by the battery's rear terminal, a rear wall of the bracket, the bracket, the spring wire arm, the coil socket, and the bulb base. The line disengages from the trigger arm upon playing the fish, so that the light does not interfere with the line during such time. Also, the bulb can be rotated into and out of the coil socket to adjust the light's sensitivity to differing forces exerted on the line.

Abstract: A system for enabling homing by a missile onto a target which is marked by beacon at some other location. A radio frequency beacon is located remotely from the intended target. Target coordinates relative to the beacon are obtained and relayed by conventional means to the launch site and are stored in missile memory. During flight the missile seeker acquires, interrogates and tracks the beacon. The missile borne equipment generates guidance signals which alter the trajectory to the target location.

Abstract: A method for eliminating boresight error in a beamrider missile guidance tem wherein moving parts may disrupt alignment of a nutated beam. Periodic strobing of a light emitting source directs beams of light to form an optical reticle which may function as either the boresight alignment check source or as the telescope aiming reticle.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a self locking drive system for rotating the plugs on the head of a nuclear reactor which is able to restrain plug motion if a seismic event should occur during reactor refueling. A servomotor is engaged via a gear train and a bull gear to the plug. Connected to the gear train is a feedback control system which allows the motor to rotate the plug to predetermined locations for refueling of the reactor. The gear train contains a self locking double enveloping worm gear set. The worm gear set is utilized for its self locking nature to prevent unwanted rotation of the plugs as the result of an earthquake. The double enveloping type is used because its unique contour spreads the load across several teeth providing added strength and allowing the use of a conventional size worm.

Abstract: An apparatus for correcting the terminal portion of the ballistic trajectory of a projectile. The projectile is initially fired at a target in a manner to cause the projectile to rotate in flight. At least one detector is mounted on a front surface of the rotating projectile to rotate with the projectile and scan the target area in a spiral pattern. A laser beam is directed to hit the target and a reflected portion of the beam energizes the scanning detector. The energized detector transmits an ignition signal to activate a trajectory correction motor and an associated nozzle having a plug that is weakened in response to the signal. The activated motor operates during the terminal portion of the trajectory to generate a thrust pulse that is passed through the nozzle having the weakened plug. The thrust pulse is directed by the nozzle to correct the trajectory of the projectile.

Abstract: Additional air is supplied through an additional air passage having a bypass valve into the main air passage of an internal combustion engine downstream of the throttle valve, and the amount of the additional air is controlled in accordance with the opening of the bypass valve. The direction of rotation of a bypass valve driving pulse motor is controlled in accordance with the output signal of an air-fuel mixture ratio sensor mounted in the exhaust system of the engine. Also the rotational speed of the pulse motor is varied in accordance with the operating conditions of the engine during warm-up operation.

Abstract: An improved light adapted to be connected to a wheel of, e.g., a bicycle. In preferred form, the light is fixed to the wheel in a manner that orients the light's battery on an axis positioned substantially radially of the wheel, and that orients the light's battery radially inward of the light's bulb relative to the wheel's axis. A switch spring is provided in the light's housing that normally biases the battery out of electrical contact with the bulb when the wheel is not rotating, i.e., when the bicycle is not in use, but which permits the battery to be biased into electrical contact with the bulb in response to centrifugal force when the wheel is rotating, i.e., when the bicycle is in use. Thus, the light turns off automatically when the bicycle is not being ridden, and turns on automatically in response to centrifugal force when the bicycle is being ridden, when the light is mounted on a bicycle's wheel.

Abstract: Positioning means for locating inspection apparatus used to volumetrically examine a nuclear reactor vessel is disclosed. The positioning means is provided with a support ring having an annular key positioned longitudinally about its periphery. Three support legs are attached to the support ring by brackets adapted to fit the annular key. In addition, the support ring also carries three guide stud bushings which are movably mounted thereon by clamps adapted to engage the support ring key. Prior to lowering the inspection apparatus into the vessel, the guide stud bushings are each moved to a point of alignment with one of three guide studs extending upwardly from the vessel. After alignment has been verified, the guide stud bushings are clamped in position.The inspection apparatus is now lowered towards its fully seated position within the vessel and is coarsely circumferentially positioned with respect thereto by the engagement of the guide studs within the guide stud bushings.

Abstract: An illustrative embodiment of the invention discloses a technique for disassembling a nuclear reactor fuel element without destroying the individual fuel pins and other structural components from which the element is assembled. A traveling bridge and trolley that span a water-filled spent fuel storage pool support a strongback. The strongback is under water and provides a working surface on which the spent fuel element is placed for inspection and for the manipulation that is associated with disassembly and assembly. To remove, in a non-destructive manner, the grids that hold the fuel pins in the proper relative positions within the element, bars are inserted through apertures in the grids with the aid of special tools. These bars are rotated to flex the adjacent grid walls and, in this way relax the physical engagement between protruding portions of the grid walls and the associated fuel pins.

Abstract: A missile is guided onto a target by means of a laser beam, so that the missile can determine and correct its displacement from the boresight of the laser beam. This leads to greater accuracy of guidance, and avoids the need for very narrow beams which could be lost by the missile.

Abstract: Nuclear reactor with a MHD driven gas-core vortex, that may be preceded by an enrichment section and followed by a reprocessing section, both sections based on gas-cores that are MHD driven gas-vortexes, in which the nuclear reactor functions with a mixture of e.g. UF.sub.6 and one or more light gases such as H.sub.2, DT, He.

Abstract: A hub for bucking horizontal forces of a fusion reactor is formed of a plurality of horizontal pancake elements. A coolant flow-path is formed between adjacent surfaces of the pancakes, and interconnection of these is by a limited number of vertical openings through the pancakes.

Abstract: An ultrasonic search unit for locating defective fuel elements within a fuel assembly used in a water cooled nuclear reactor is presented. The unit is capable of freely traversing the restricted spaces between the fuel elements.

Abstract: Apparatus for remotely testing radioactive components, for example, the components of a nuclear reactor, by determining and recording the neutron transmission characteristics of the component.