Abstract: A system and method for monitoring a pilger mill having a crankshaft driving rolls with a reciprocating motion to reduce a tube over a mandrel. A linear sensor coupled to the mandrel supplies a mandrel position signal. A rotary sensor coupled to the crankshaft supplies a crankshaft angle signal. A processor for combining the mandrel position signal and the crankshaft angle signal provides a mandrel motion signal characteristic of the tube reduction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a crucible support heater for the control of a melt flow pattern within a crucible, and more specifically to controlling a temperature gradient or distribution during crystal growth by the Czochralski method through the use of a heater located in the crucible lift rod.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for monitoring and controlling cure cycles of composite structures utilize specialized NMR sensor (14) embedded into critical regions in the interior of composite structures (18) to provide in-situ cure state information. Signals developed by the NMR sensors (14) during the curing cycle are processed by an NMR spectrometer (30) to determine selected NMR parameters including T.sub.1, T.sub.2, T.sub.1D, and T.sub.2 * of the materials in the vicinity of the sensor, from which the rigidity of the materials are deduced. Experimental data show clear trends in values of particular NMR parameters taken as time series during cure cycles. Cure cycle control is accomplished using output data from an enhanced NMR spectrometer (30*) to drive temperature and pressure controllers (38, 42) of a curing oven (20*) for real time process control.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for aiming an ultrasonic transducer is disclosed. A tubular member having an axial bore with the transducer extending therein has an upper section, and a lower section with a threaded outer surface and an inner receiving surface. A ferrule assembly includes a compression nut mating with the threaded surface, and a ferrule biased by the compression nut against the receiving surface to form a waterproof seal with the transducer. A collar having a first annular section is detachably mounted coaxially on the tubular member. The first annular section extending to a second annular section having cut-outs suitable for providing access to manipulate the compression nut. The second annular section extending to a third annular section having a positioning members facing a section of the transducer extending from the tubular member.

Abstract: An ultrasonic gauging apparatus is disclosed suitable for dynamic ultrasonic gauging in the harsh environment of a tube forming operation. An ultrasonic transducer is positioned in a tubular member by a ferrule mount. The tubular member is attached to a platform having spring biasing that permits limited motion of the transducer while maintaining a preselect orientation of the transducer relative to the tube.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring flaws in an object, such as a tube, having both an erratic motion, e.g. a back and forth oscillation, and a net axial motion has an idler wheel engaging the tube, and a digital rotary shaft encoder attached to the wheel. A POP circuit is coupled to the encoder. A pair of coils disposed around the object make up the active elements in an eddy current bridge. An ADC is coupled to both the bridge and POP circuit and corrects the signal from the bridge for motion complications. A method for doing same comprises sensing only the net motion of the object, detecting flaws in the object, providing an erratic motion complicated flaw signal, and correcting the flaw signal for the erratic motion.

Abstract: A method for operating a computer to control the manufacture process of zirconium tubes in a pilger mill operation, the computer including an electronic memory and being coupled to the pilger mill to receive, as input, data related to the operation of the mill. The method comprising, in one embodiment, the steps of storing in the computer memory respective test signals, each test signal corresponding to a signal obtained by inspecting a tube manufactured by the mill with a respective, known defective operation condition, inspecting a zirconium tube finished by the manufacture process and generating a signal representative of the physical dimensions and material configuration of the tube, comparing the generated representative signal of the zirconium tube with the stored test signals, alerting an operator if the generated representative signal of the zirconium tube correlates to a stored test signal, and identifying the defective operation condition which corresponds to the correlated stored test signal.

Abstract: A two dimensional mosaic scintillation X-ray or Gamma ray detector has many mosaic elements. A reflecting means, e.g., an epoxy with TiO.sub.2, is disposed between the elements to reduce optical cross-talk. The elements have wide narrow ends and either the wide ends or the narrow ends can receive the incident X-rays. A photodetector is optically coupled to the remaining ends either by being directly secured thereto or by way of a lens or optical fibers. The detector has communicating wide and narrow grooves and can be made by first forming the wide grooves from a first side and then forming the narrow grooves from the second side.

Abstract: A microfocus X-ray tube has an anode that emits X-rays and, a biproduct of its waste heat, visible and near infrared light. This invention uses the biproduct light to adjust and maintain the focus of the electron beam and enhance the performance of the X-ray tube as a point source of X-rays. Only the light is reflected by a mirror along a path in which a viewport is placed in the tube envelope. An sensor, e.g., a photodiode, or television camera, is placed in the path. A display means, e.g., a television display, meter, etc., can be connected to the sensing means to display the emitting spot of the anode or the amplitude of the emission. The focus of the X-ray tube is assured by observing the biproduct light and adjusting the electron beam to either minimize the size of the glowing spot or maximizing its apparent brightness. A method for use with an emitter of first and second types of radiation comprises reflecting only the second type of radiation, and sensing the reflected radiation.

Abstract: An imaging X-ray sensor is composed of a linear array of microscopically small bars of polycrystalline ceramic scintillator material bonded at the bar ends to an integrated circuit photodetector array. The scintillator bars are the basic resolution elements of the detector and are less than 50 microns in width. Each bar produces a flash of light with intensity related to the X-ray flux penetrating the bar. A reflective coating covering five surfaces of the bars isolates each detector element and channels the light into the photodetector bonded to one end of the bar. A method of fabricating the detector array utilizes the machineability and good mechanical strength of scintillators such as rare earth oxides doped with rare earth activators.

Abstract: In an automated first weld apparatus, a transporter conveys nuclear fuel cladding tubes successively to a welding station where a separate end plug is welded to an open end of each tube. Thereafter, the transporter indexes the tubes successsively through a cooldown station where the weld is cooled, to a reader station where a unique end plug serial number is read, and then to a succession of inspection stations where the internal and external weld characteristics are automatically examined. The resulting inspection data is correlated with the associated serial number for record purposes and tested against quality assurance standards pursuant to sorting the tubes into accepted and rejected lots.

Abstract: Coated carbon composite parts to be tested for oxidation resistance are heated in a closed oven filled with an oxidizing atmosphere. During the heat cycle the carbon dioxide content of the oven atmosphere is measured by an analyzer such as a gas chromatograph. These measurements on the amount of CO.sub.2 emitted by the part provide information on the onset of oxidative failure. It forms a nondestructive test when detection of excessive carbon dioxide concentration is used to reduce the temperature and flood the oven with inert gas so the part may be saved and reprocessed. This technique can be combined with conventional weight measurements before and after oxidation to identify the part constituent, carbon composite or protective coating, that failed.

Abstract: The quality of a percussion weld is sensed by measuring and analyzing certain features of the weld current signature. Instantaneous current is measured by a Hall sensor and permits isolation of the welder from the monitoring system. Weld quality is strongly correlated to the time to vaporize the nib separating the parts, and the dwell time to forge the parts together after nib explosion. A weld is assumed defective if nib time is too short or dwell time is too long. These quality parameters may be supplemented by weld and forge timing, line voltage, and acoustic information; a weld is rejected if any of these are outside of acceptance limits. Experiments on the percussion welding of silver-cadmium oxide to brass show that cadmium-oxide is decomposed and expelled by the forge pressure and the joint is a silver to brass weld.