Abstract: A method including forming a first metal wire in a first dielectric layer, the first metal wire including a first vertical side opposite from a second vertical side; and forming a second metal wire in a second dielectric layer above the first dielectric layer, the second metal wire including a third vertical side opposite from a fourth vertical side, where the first vertical side is laterally offset from the third vertical side by a first predetermined distance, and the second vertical side is laterally offset from the fourth vertical side by a second predetermined distance, where the first metal wire and the second metal wire are in direct contact with one another.

Abstract: A method including forming a first metal wire in a first dielectric layer, the first metal wire including a first vertical side opposite from a second vertical side; and forming a second metal wire in a second dielectric layer above the first dielectric layer, the second metal wire including a third vertical side opposite from a fourth vertical side, where the first vertical side is laterally offset from the third vertical side by a first predetermined distance, and the second vertical side is laterally offset from the fourth vertical side by a second predetermined distance, where the first metal wire and the second metal wire are in direct contact with one another.

Abstract: Systems and Methods for extracting concrete blocks or other materials cut from a surface is disclosed. An extraction apparatus typically includes a leveraging device connected to a vacuum cup and vacuum pump. The vacuum cup is placed on the material to be removed. A vacuum is pulled on the vacuum cup. The leveraging device is maneuvered to lift the material. The vacuum can be removed when the material is moved to the desired location.

Abstract: Systems and Methods for extracting concrete blocks or other materials cut from a surface is disclosed. An extraction apparatus typically includes a leveraging device connected to a vacuum cup and vacuum pump. The vacuum cup is placed on the material to be removed. A vacuum is pulled on the vacuum cup. The leveraging device is maneuvered to lift the material. The vacuum can be removed when the material is moved to the desired location.

Abstract: A clamp assembly prevents separation of a thermal sleeve penetrating a nuclear reactor pressure vessel wall and a jet pump riser elbow welded one to the other and lying within an annular space between the pressure vessel wall and core shroud. The clamp assembly includes a pair of heads having semi-cylindrical recesses. Pins project inwardly from each of the heads in the semi-cylindrical recesses and have axes which lie parallel to one another. By using actuators mounting multiple electrodes, holes may be formed in situ in the adjoining ends of the thermal sleeve and elbow. Once the holes are formed, the heads can be applied in situ with the pins being received through the holes and the heads clamped to one another. Thug, the pins in each of the sleeve and elbow prevent separating movement of the sleeve and elbow in the event of failure of the welded joint therebetween.

Abstract: In one embodiment (100), a combination is provided comprising a light shield (6) having a hollow cup-like configuration having an open-end (8) and a closed end (10) having a hollow open-end heat shield (12) nested or positioned therewithin and separated therefrom by an open air gap disposed thereabout such that light rays emitted from a heat and light emitting source (32) are able to pass through heat shield (12) and impact and upon closed end (10) of light shield (6) to reduce glare to a viewer while being cooled by the heat sink provided by heat shield (12).In another embodiment (200), a hollow heat shield (26) having an open-end (28) and a closed end (30) is supported within light shield (6) such that the light rays from the heat and light emitting source (32) impact upon closed end (30) of heat shield (26) rather than closed end (10) of light shield (6).

Abstract: Breaker valve assemblies for a simplified boiling water nuclear reactor are described. The breaker valve assembly, in one form, includes a valve body and a breaker valve. The valve body includes an interior chamber, and an inlet passage extends from the chamber and through an inlet opening to facilitate transporting particles from outside of the valve body to the interior chamber. The breaker valve is positioned in the chamber and is configured to substantially seal the inlet opening. Particularly, the breaker valve includes a disk which is sized to cover the inlet opening. The disk is movably coupled to the valve body and is configured to move substantially concentrically with respect to the valve opening between a first position, where the disk completely covers the inlet opening, and a second position, where the disk does not completely cover the inlet opening.

Abstract: The bypass opening of the tie plate of a fuel assembly of a nuclear reactor is provided with a flow restricting or check valve such that flow during normal operation upwardly through the tie plate and bypass opening is maintained. In the event of a loss of coolant accident, and degradation of a core spray sparger system, backflow leakage through the tie plate is minimized or eliminated by the valves, enabling the core spray sparger system to flood the core about the fuel assemblies and provide spillover coolant into the open top ends of the fuel assemblies. Additionally, because the fuel assemblies change in length over time, a uniform coolant flow distribution into the fuel assemblies upon loss of coolant accident is achieved by providing metering holes through the channels whereby each channel receives substantially the same flow of coolant from the flooded core.

Abstract: A series of pipe manipulating tools having an elongated handle and a pipe engaging portion that grips a pipe when a force in a single direction is applied to the handle. A pipe engaging portion of a first pipe rotating tool has a first pivotally mounted arcuate jaw with a hand grip secured thereto, and a second arcuate jaw fixedly mounted to the handle. A spring biases the jaw members into clamping engagement with a pipe during use. Pipe engaging portions of second, third, fourth, and fifth pipe turning tools each have an arcuate member fixed to a handle, and at least one engagement tooth fixed at an end of the arcuate member for engaging a hook-receiving recess or protrusion on a bell end of an irrigation pipe. A pipe engaging portion of a sixth pipe tool includes an engagement tooth extending axially from a handle to engage a groove recess on a bell end of an irrigation pipe. The sixth pipe tool can be used to pull apart irrigation pipelines without gripping the bell end of the pipe by hand.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for maintaining a compression force in a reactor pressure vessel (RPV) of a nuclear reactor are described. In one embodiment of the apparatus, a spring assembly facilitates applying compression force on the shroud head. The spring assembly, in one embodiment, includes two trusses and two torsion bars. The torsion bars extend between the trusses and are connected at opposite ends to the trusses. Each truss includes a truss support member, a hooking element, and a torsion converter element. The truss support member is configured to rest on the shroud head flange. The hooking element is pivotally coupled to the truss support member, and includes a hook adjacent a guide rod. The torsion converter element is coupled to the hooking element, and is vertically movable with respect to the truss support member. The converter element has two ends, each end splined to one of the torsion bars so that vertical movement of the converter element drives, e.g., rotates, the torsion bars.

Abstract: A system for calibrating a blood pressure transducer and monitor combination. The transducer assembly has a calibration resistor. The monitor cable has a housing which contains a switch and a shunt resistor. Electrical connections are provided to place the calibration resistor and shunt resistor in series with each other and in shunt across one leg of a transducer bridge to produce a reading of 100 mmHg on the monitor.

Abstract: Apparatus for detecting at least one metallic object in a series of metallic objects lying along a path in a repetitive pattern by a metallic detector mounted on a vehicle movable along the path with the movement of the vehicle controlled by the detector to position the vehicle over a detected metallic object and blocking detection of a previously detected object subsequent to the detection of the previously detected metallic object to prevent erroneous metallic object detections, and further controlled to initiate different travel modes of movement including a fast mode to move the vehicle in a forward direction along the path at an optimum speed and controlling deceleration of the vehicle for accurately positioning it at a detected one of the metallic objects. The apparatus has particular application to the tamping of crossties on railway tracks and includes programs for controlling the movement of the vehicle and the tamping operation.

Abstract: An electronic levelling apparatus using an inclinometer mounted to a platform for sensing deviations from the horizontal and generating an output signal representative thereof, filtering the inclinometer output signal to remove electromagnetic and radio frequency interference, level-shifting the filtered inclinometer output signal to establish both positive and negative threshold voltages, determining positive and negative voltage level shifts to generate a level control signal therefrom and transmitting the level control signal to an actuating mechanism for maintaining the platform level.