Abstract: A method and apparatus for electrically heating fluid media with a bar shaped immersion heater is provided. The bar shaped immersion heater includes a thin strip heating element within a heat conductive bar. Electrical power is then connected to the thin heating element. The thin-strip heating element eliminates the hot spots found in coiled resistor wire immersion heaters. The heat conductive bar has a first bar and a second bar, the first bar and the second bar adjoin together, and the thin strip heating element is sandwiched between them. The heat conductive bar has fins to increase the surface area of the heat conductive bar. The fins project from the sides of the heat conductive bar to induce a convective flow around the heat conductive bar.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically releasing a gas from a pressurized cartridge of the gas is provided, especially for the purpose of inflating an emergency balloon. The apparatus includes an automatic signal balloon inflator, having a support structure, an upper surface and a bottom plate. The bottom plate has at least a single cartridge mount, each with a vent and a pin port. The pin port connects to the cartridge mount. At least a single pressurized cartridge, containing a gas stored under pressure, is received into each cartridge mount in the support structure. A spring loaded piston is mounted upon the support structure. A plunger with a piston contact surface and a puncture pin is forced by the spring loaded piston to depress and penetrate the pressurized cartridge, releasing the gas contents of the pressurized cartridge through the vent. A firing spring forces the piston to engage the plunger.

Abstract: A feeding apparatus for the loading of the spherical nuclear fuel into a fuel rod. The apparatus feeds fuel of three different diameters into a fuel rod so that the three different sized spheres are appropriately packed to achieve sufficient density of fuel to be used in a nuclear reactor.