Abstract: A deployment door assembly (30) covers an inflatable air bag (12) in a vehicle. The deployment door assembly (30) is a part which has a panel portion (32) and a base portion (36). The panel portion (32) has a peripheral edge surface (74), and includes a deployment door (34) which is spaced fully from the peripheral edge surface (74). The base portion (36) directs the inflating air bag (12) to move outward toward the deployment door (34). The base portion (36) includes corrugated walls (180-186) which surround the deployment door (34) and project inward from the panel portion (32).

Abstract: A process for preparing a preserved rice product is disclosed. Here rice is treated at a pH of 4.5 or below with a polymeric acid food acceptable acid and placed in a microorganism-impermeable container.

Abstract: A stable rice product is disclosed which is acid-pasteurized. The rice is treated with a polymeric food acceptable acid to a pH of 4.5 and lacks an acid flavor. Alginic acid, pectic acid, carageenic acid and carboxymethylcellulose acid are indicated to be suitable acids.

Abstract: The present invention is a removable side bumper which is designed to be placed on the vehicle in a removable fashion when the vehicle is parked so that the vehicle is protected when people in neighboring vehicles open their doors. The present invention provides a shielding, by means of cushioned segments with an inner core tubing for support and a foam outer tubing for a cushioning, connected by a flexible cord which anchors to the wheel wells or the door wells of a vehicle and will prevent the side of the vehicle from being scratched or dented.

Abstract: A soil moisture sensor to be implanted in soil. The sensor has a conductive metal housing, perforated to pass moisture to and through a filter liner which lines an internal cavity. A transfer matrix is confined in the liner and is abutted by a buffer tablet of compacted gypsum. An electrode matrix abuts the tablet and bridges a pair of spaced-apart electrodes. Water, or absence of water, in the electrode matrix provides a measure of moisture in the soil as a function of electrical conductivity between the electrodes.

Abstract: A glass fibre reinforced composition of a settable mix of plaster, a water-based phenol formaldehyde resin, an acid hardener and a reinforcement of glass fibres. A product of this composition can be produced by spraying the fluid mix and fibre component separately but simultaneously onto a surface.

Abstract: A vessel is provided having a first chamber 1 open to atmospheric pressure for receiving liquid metal and a second chamber 2 from which the metal is dispensed interconnected with the first chamber. The second chamber is sealed and coupled to means 4, 6 for reducing the pressure therein to sub-atmospheric whereby to create a higher level of metal in said second than said first chamber.The first and second chambers may be interconnected via a refractory filter.

Abstract: A glazing bar comprises sealing means for sealing against one side of each of two glazing units arranged in end by end relationship in a non-horizontal plane. An internal passage is provided in the glazing bar and this passage communicates with an end of the glazing bar. A condensation trap is provided along one edge of the glazing bar for collecting condensation running down the one side of the, in use, upper glazing unit, and an opening communicates the condensation trap with the internal passage, whereby condensation collected in the trap passes into the internal passage, from where it can drain away. A glazing assembly including such a glazing bar is also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus for stowing and deploying stores from air and marine craft (FIG. 2) in which the stores 28 are stowed on a modular stowage structure, such as pallets 32, with releasable locking devices 10 securing the pallets to the craft. Further releasable locking devices 29 and restraining means 30 are arranged to secure the stores to cradles 14 on respective associated pallets. The pallets and cradles are adapted to permit, upon release of the respective further releasable locking devices 29, movement by the effect of gravity of the stores to effect deployment of the stores. The stowage structure may be mounted on a ramp on the deck of the craft or the pitch of the vessel may be adjusted to effect deployment. The structure may be releasably slung beneath a sub-surface craft and provided with a fiberglass casing to make it floatable.

Abstract: A laser welding system is disclosed in which a high power laser produces the laser beam for delivery to a weld site. A transmitter is optically coupled to the laser and directs the laser beam to a spatially separated receiver. The receiver has an input alignable for receiving the directed laser beam and including optics for delivering the laser beam to the weld site. A pair of directable beam deflectors are employed for aligning the transmitter and the receiver. A pair of steering deflectors introduce the laser beam into the transmitter. A selectable mounting allows the laser to be secured at various orientations relative to the steering mirrors and the weld site. The transmitter and the receiver each have a detector positioned for receiving an alignment laser beam at a point which indicates alignment. The transmitter and the receiver include steppable drives for positioning their respective deflectors. The alignment laser is aligned at a starting block on the receiver detector and the transmitter detector.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a laser welding head is formed of a hollow tubular housing, and includes multiple focusing means for refocusing and realigning the laser beam if it is misaligned relative to the axis of the housing. In another embodiment, the housing is formed of a plurality of flexibly interconnected segments having at least one focusing means in each segment for realigning the beam and for directing the laser beam along interconnected linear paths.

Abstract: An inspection system and process for inspecting a plurality of conduits mounted in a manifold is disclosed herein. The system generally comprises a probe carrier for driving an eddy current or ultrasonic probe throughout the conduits to be inspected, and a delivery assembly detachably mountable within the manifold for remotely delivering and inserting the probe carrier into the open ends of the conduits. The delivery system includes an insertion and pusher mechanism for selectively inserting and pushing the probe carrier through the open ends of the tubes, a rail assembly which is removably mountable within the manifold, and a carriage slidably mounted on the rail assembly for supporting and axially positioning the insertion and pusher mechanism. Angular and axial electric drive motors are also provided for rotating and moving the insertion and pusher to a selected angle around and point along the longitudinal axis of the manifold.

Abstract: Apparatus for severing primary tubes of steam generator of a nuclear reactor. The tubes are under water because they are radioactive and also because it is undesirable to expose the tubes to oxidation. The tubes are in a confined region of the steam generator affording limited access for cutting. The apparatus includes a file whose cutting surface is cylindrical. The file is located wholly in the region where the tube is clamped within the cooperative clamps which secure the tube for cutting. The file is rotated in cutting engagement with the tube by an air motor. The file is mounted on a slider which is pulled by a cable causing the file to cut through the tube.

Abstract: The tube plug removal machine removes any type of tube plug by drilling into a plug portion with a tap drill bit, engaging that plug portion with a threaded section of the tap drill bit after the drilled hole has been threaded by a tapping section thereof, and removing a portion of the tube holding the plug in the tube with a counterbore drill bit mounted concentrically about the tap drill bit. A trip pin and trip spline enable the tap drill bit to be automatically disengaged from the motor once the tap drill bit has been threaded into engagement with the plug. The conterbore drill bit is thereafter self-centered with respect to the tube and plug about the now stationary tap drill bit. After a portion of the plug has been removed by the counterbore drill bit, pulling on the tap drill bit will remove the remaining plug portion from the tube.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for aligning a high-power laser apparatus to transmit a high-power beam along an optimum beam path to an adjustable remote beam receiver and for aligning the beam receiver for optimum reception of the high-power beam. A low-power visible laser is directed along the path to be followed by the high-power laser and a viewer such as a video camera is used for rough alignment. A pellicle, a partially reflecting mirror, and three low-power beam detectors are used with the low-power laser to align the beam transmitter with the beam receiver. Alignment of the beam receiver with the beam transmitter is checked by a high-power laser beam alignment checking system. This alignment checking system employs an annular beam detector mounted near the beam transmitter and a second beam detector mounted near the beam receiver.

Abstract: An endstopless incremental control provided by parallely connecting and ganging at least two potentiometer wipers without mechanical endstops, selectively switching, converting and sampling the individual output on the potentiometer wipers and utilizing only the valid outputs for feeding to a control system.

Abstract: A battery connector for mechanically and electrically connecting an external battery to a piece of equipment has two plates which mate face to face. On each are complementary, elongated mechanical engagement portions. One engaged first, forms a hinge; the other forms a locking device. Electrical connections are made when the two plates are locked together.

Abstract: A laser welding head for welding a sleeve within a tube by fusing the interface between the sleeve and tube with a laser beam. The laser welding head has a cylindrical housing adapted to be inserted inside of the sleeve, a focusing lens for focusing a laser beam transmitted through the housing, and a welding mirror for directing the focused beam out of the housing and into contact with the sleeve. The welding mirror is maintained a predetermined distance from the inside surface of the sleeve and a motor and drive assembly are used to rotate the welding head within the sleeve. Shield gas is supplied to the welding head and passes about the periphery of the focusing lens for cooling the focusing lens and the welding mirror before being discharged into contact with the weld area. A recessed aperture is provided within the discharge outlet to prevent molten material from the weld site from splattering into the housing and onto the mirror or lens.

Abstract: A rotopeening apparatus utilizing a flexible spindle for rotopeening the inside wall of tubes of limited access is disclosed herein. The spindle is formed from a flexible, rotatable housing and includes a mandrel having eighteen peening flappers connected thereto along its axis of rotation. The mandrel is rotatably mounted within the housing in an off-center orientation relative to the longitudinal axis of the spindle in order that the peening flapper may rotate and orbit within the tube when the mandrel and the housing are rotated. The apparatus includes a frame plate for detachably mounting the flexible spindle within the open end of the tube to be rotopeened. The spindle is mounted in cantilever off the side of the frame plate to maximize its manipulability in areas of limited access. Additionally, the drive motors of the apparatus are remotely coupled to the peening spindle by means of flexible shafts in order to maximize portability.

Abstract: A rolling tool for both expanding and reforming the dented end of a tube within the tubesheet of a nuclear steam generator is disclosed herein. Generally, the tool comprises a rotatable roller cage having a diameter which is approximately the same as the minimum diameter across the dented tube end, a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted within pitched slots in the roller cage, a tapered mandrel slidably movable within an opening in the cage for rotating, orbiting and radially extending the rollers, and a ring which circumscribes at least a substantial portion of the cage for providing a surface around and against which the rollers may rotate when the roller-driving mandrel is rotated. In the preferred embodiment, the cage is rotatably mounted within a collar and the ring is detachably mountable around the proximal end of the roller cage.