Abstract: An inspection and recording system for fluid flow testing of cooling passageways in gas turbine buckets provides readily observable visual determination of whether any blockages were formed during the manufacturing or refurbishing processes. The inspection apparatus includes a manifold block and manifold control valve mounted on a platform and adapted to engage the root end of a turbine bucket and supply liquid therethrough. The liquid exiting at the tip of the turbine bucket is visible and any blockages in the passageways will be easily discerned by the absence or paucity of liquid flow at the tip. The fluid flow test is recorded with at least one video camera to display both locally and possibly remotely the fluid flow through the article. The video images can be displayed remotely in real time over a computer network or can be stored on a suitable medium for time delayed display.

Abstract: An inspection and recording system for fluid flow testing of cooling passageways in gas turbine buckets provides readily observable visual determination of whether any blockages were formed during the manufacturing or refurbishing processes. The inspection apparatus includes a manifold block and manifold control valve mounted on a platform and adapted to engage the root end of a turbine bucket and supply liquid therethrough. The liquid exiting at the tip of the turbine bucket is visible and any blockages in the passageways will be easily discerned by the absence or paucity of liquid flow at the tip. The fluid flow test is recorded with at least one video camera to display both locally and possibly remotely the fluid flow through the article. The video images can be displayed remotely in real time over a computer network or can be stored on a suitable medium for time delayed display.

Abstract: A system for sealing a large diameter tube under vacuum including: a tube having a diameter greater than about 20 mm, a disk operatively positioned inside the tube and having a smaller diameter than the tube, a vacuum operatively connected to the tube, heating means, operatively positioned on the outside of the tube, for heating the tube to a temperature sufficient to collapse the tube onto the disk, means for positioning the disk inside the tube proximate the position of the heating means on the outside of the tube and means for cooling the tube proximate the disk sufficiently to formulate a seal between the tube and the disk where the disk collapsed onto the disk is disclosed.

Abstract: An improved high performance x-ray system having a rotating anode therein which includes an improved target/stem assembly comprising a metallic target and a large bore, thin-walled tubular metal stem which, when connected to a rotor body assembly, provides a rotating x-ray tube anode assembly is disclosed. An insert of an alloy, for example, tantalum alloy, is placed between the target layer and the large bore, thin-walled tubular stem and then bonded thereto to produce a composite x-ray tube target/stem assembly. The target/stem assembly is then connected to a rotor body assembly by fasteners, preferably threaded, applied through a plate connected to the tubular stem and preferably through a thermal washer to produce a rotating anode assembly having high bond strength that provides acceptable balance during x-ray tube operations.

Abstract: An improved method for forming fluid inflatable metal structures is taught. The improvement concerns the patterning of the portion of the structure to be inflated. Patterning is accomplished by first applying a strippable flexible mask coating and then scoring this coating so that a patterned portion may be removed therefrom. The parent portion is the portion of the sheet article to be inflated by subsequent processing. After the patterned portion has been removed, a stop-off is applied to the exposed surface of the first sheet. After the stop-off material has been applied, the remainder of the strippable mask is removed and washed with a detergent to remove the residue from the mask. The sheet having stop-off applied in the pattern to the first sheet is then superposed over a second sheet, and heat and pressure are applied to cause diffusion bonding between the exposed surfaces of the two sheets.

Abstract: A method is described which increases the critical current of triniobium tin by bonding thermal contraction control layers to the triniobium tin superconducting articles at a process temperature to form a composite, and subsequently cooling the composite to a test temperature.

Abstract: A method of making a high performance x-ray system having a rotating anode includes making target/tubular stem assembly and then assembling it to a rotor body assembly. This particular method reduces tube failure due to anode assembly imbalance and provides an improved rotating x-ray tube anode assembly.

Abstract: Methods of making an improved high performance x-ray system having a rotating anode therein which includes an improved target/tubular stem combination which, when combined with a rotor body assembly, reduces tube failure due to anode assembly imbalance and methods of bonding a metallic target and a metal tubular stem and connecting the combination to a rotor body assembly to provide a rotating x-ray tube target are disclosed. An insert of an alloy, for example, tantalum or its alloys, is placed between the target and the niobium-alloy tubular stem and then bonded thereto to produce the x-ray tube target/tubular stem assembly having a high remelt temperature and bond strength which, when connected, such as by bolting to the rotor body assembly, the resulting anode assembly retains proper balance during x-ray tube operations.

Abstract: A method for making triniobium tin foil is disclosed where the niobium-based foil with an oxide layer is passed continuously at a set speed into an enclosed chamber. The enclosed chamber has an inert atmosphere which is substantially oxygen free. Upon entering the chamber, the foil passes through a decomposition anneal furnace, a low temperature tin dip, and then a high temperature reaction anneal furnace before exiting the chamber as triniobium tin foil.

Abstract: A method of electroslag refining of metal is taught. The method starts with the introduction of unrefined metal into an electroslag refining process in which the unrefined metal is first melted at the upper surface of the refining slag. The molten metal in the form if droplets is refined as it passes through the molten slag. The refined metal droplets are collected in a cold hearth apparatus having a skull of refined metal formed on the surface of the cold hearth and protecting the cold hearth from the leaching action of the refined molten metal. A cold finger bottom pour spout is formed at the bottom of the cold hearth to permit dispensing of molten refined metal from the cold hearth.

Abstract: Two Nb.sub.3 Sn superconducting tapes are overlapped by an amount equal to about two times the width of the superconducting tapes. A filler material of material substantially similar to the tapes is placed between the two tapes in the overlapped region. A NdYAG laser (4) sends a 20-40 watt beam focused by a lens that heats the tapes to create a bridge of superconductivity material formed over the region where the tapes are joined.

Abstract: An apparatus for filtering a molten solder bath comprises, a housing having an entrance end and an exit end enclosing a channel means extending from the entrance end to a filter means adjacent the exit end. The channel means being configured for receiving molten solder at the entrance end and directing the solder to the filter means in a turbulent flow. The filter means being configured to filter particles from the flow and direct the filtered flow to the exit end. A cooling means is positioned on the housing for cooling solder flowing through the channel means without reacting with the solder. A method for filtering a molten solder bath comprises, directing solder from the bath in a turbulent flow and cooling the flow to form a precipitate of an impurity in the molten solder. The cooled flow is filtered to remove particles and form a high-purity solder, and the high-purity solder is returned to the bath. Preferably, the molten solder is protected by an inert atmosphere that does not react with the solder.

Abstract: An apparatus for filtering a molten solder bath comprises, a housing having an entrance end and an exit end enclosing a chanel means extending from the entrance end to a filter means adjacent the exit end. The channel means being configured for receiving molten solder at the entrance end and directing the solder to the filter means in a turbulent flow. The filter means being configured to filter particles from the flow and direct the filtered flow to the exit end. A cooling means is positioned on the housing for cooling solder flowing through the channel means without reacting with the solder. A method for filtering a molten solder bath comprises, directing solder from the bath in a turbulent flow and cooling the flow to form a precipitate of an impurity in the molten solder. The cooled flow is filtered to remove particles and form a high-purity solder, and the high-purity solder is returned to the bath. Preferably, the molten solder is protected by an inert atmosphere that does not react with the solder.

Abstract: A high performance x-ray tube rotating target having a reactive barier layer between the substrate and the emissive coating and, if desired, a protective layer of molybdenum between the reactive barrier and the emissive coating is disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for solder joining metal tapes to form laminated metal tapes comprises a channel means having a base, and sidewall means extending therefrom to a cover extending over the sidewall means. The sidewall means define converging channels having an entrance end for admitting the tapes spaced apart, and an exit end where facing tape surfaces can come into contact. The sidewall means separate the base and cover by a distance selected to align the tapes in the width dimension. The cover having a first section extending from the exit end, and a second section extending from the first section to the entrance end, the second section being formed with a cavity facing the channel that permits a solder flow therethrough that minimizes accumulation of particles in the channels. A solder duct means mounted on the channel means for directing molten solder into the channels to flow from the exit end to the entrance end. The solder duct means having a slot extending therethrough and aligned with the exit end.

Abstract: Superconducting tapes have an inner laminate comprised of a parent-metal layer selected from the group niobium, tantalum, technetium, and vanadium, a superconductive intermetallic compound layer on the parent-metal layer, and a reactive-metal layer that is capable of combining with the parent-metal and forming the superconductive intermetallic compound. A superconducting joint between contiguous tapes comprises, a continuous precipitate of the superconductive intermetallic compound fused to the tapes forming a continuous superconducting path between the tapes.

Abstract: An apparatus for solder joining metal tapes to form laminated metal tapes comprises an alignment box having a base and a sidewall means extending therefrom to define a tapered inner channel extending through the box. The tapered channel having an entrance end and narrowing to an exit end. At least one tapered wall extending from the base and within the inner channel to define subchannels that are spaced at the entrance end and converge into the inner channel before the exit end. The sidewall means and tapered wall extending from the base to respective wall tops, and a cover extending over the channel and subchannels is mounted on the wall tops. The base, sidewalls, inner wall, and cover being configured to form the channel and subchannels to have a first preselected distance between the base and cover that is greater than the width of the tapes.

Abstract: Superconducting tapes having an inner laminate comprised of a parent-metal layer, a superconductive alloy layer on the parent-metal, a reactive-metal layer, and an outer laminate soldered thereon are joined in a superconducting joint by the method of this invention. The outer laminate is removed to form exposed sections, and the tapes are positioned so that the exposed sections are in contact. A melt zone within the exposed sections where the exposed sections are in contact is melted. The melt zone is at least large enough to provide sufficient parent-metal, superconductive alloy, and reactive-metal to form a melt that resolidifies as a continuous precipitate of the superconductive alloy. The melt resolidifies as a continuous precipitate of the superconductive alloy that is continuous with the superconductive alloy on the superconducting tape.

Abstract: A ferrous metal body having a diffusion bonded coating which is corrosion resistant and free of any significant polarization, the bulk of said coating being comprised an alloy of at least about 70% by weight molybdenum, up to about 5% by weight iron balance chromium, the outside surface or surface portion of said coating being comprised of an alloy of at least about 30% by weight chromium, up to about 1% by weight iron, balance molybdenum, said outside surface or outside surface portion of said coating being significantly richer in chromium than said bulk portion, and a diffusion bonding layer comprised of MoCrFe alloy extending from said bulk portion into the surface of said ferrous body, said diffusion bonding layer being comprised of at least about 10% by weight molybdenum, at least about 5% by weight chromium and at least about 10% by weight iron.

Abstract: A ferrous metal body having a diffusion bonded coating which is corrosion resistant and free of any significant polarization, the bulk of said coating being comprised an alloy of at least about 70% by weight molybdenum, up to about 5% by weight iron balance chromium, the outside surface or surface portion of said coating being comprised of an alloy of at least about 30% by weight chromium, up to about 1% by weight iron, balance molybdenum, said outside surface or outside surface portion of said coating being significantly richer in chromium than said bulk portion, and a diffusion bonding layer comprised of MoCrFe alloy extending from said bulk portion into the surface of said ferrous body, said diffusion bonding layer being comprised of at least about 10% by weight molybdenum, at least about 5% by weight chromium and at least about 10% by weight iron.