Abstract: A device for closing off the space defined between an inner pipe and an outer shield tube comprises a sleeve of flexible resilient material having one end portion whose internal diameter is substantially equal to the external diameter of the inner end, a second end portion whose internal diameter is substantially equal to the external diameter of the shield tube, and an intermediate portion of substantially frusto-conical form joining the first and second end portions. The sleeve also has a tubular appendix which is joined to the intermediate portion of the sleeve and extends substantially parallel to the axis of the inner pipe and the shield tube for accomodating a signal transmitting cable. Angle plates are provided, with each having an axial portion extending over the extension of the shield tube at one end thereof and a radial portion extending at least part of the way from the axial portion across the clearance between the shield tube and the inner pipe.

Abstract: A nozzle and thermal sleeve arrangement whereby the thermal sleeve maintains sealing contact with component parts of the nozzle during thermal expansion and contraction without giving rise to stress causing restraints.

Abstract: Thermoplastic multi-walled pipe which has at least two tubular members different in inside diameter and concentrically arranged, these tubular members being spaced and supported by a plurality of ribs so as to provide hollow portions therebetween. The bond strength between the inner end surface of the rib and the tubular member supported thereby is less than that between the outer end surface of the rib and the tubular member supported thereby, so the exposure of the inner tubular member is easily achieved by means of an external force.

Abstract: A tube ferrule for a heat exchanger such for example as a condenser, a boiler, a refrigeration unit, or the like, having the shape of a longitudinally or axially split generally tubular or cylindrical ferrule having radially outwardly extending edge flanges adapted to be compressed and inserted so as to surround the portion of a tube occupying a circular opening in a support plate somewhat larger than the tube.

Abstract: A tubular element having structural members disposed thereon at selected axial locations for supporting thermocouples inside the bore of a hollow shaft. Each of the structural members constitutes a generally "X"-shaped configuration which is substantially divided in half to form separated sections. Thermocouples placed in the legs of each X-shaped structural member are biased into contact with the shaft's interior surface by spring members which are disposed in openings formed in both sections on opposite sides of the X member's division at low or zero speed and by the springs and centrifugal force at high speed. Relative axial movement of the sections constituting each X member is restrained by dowels set into the sections and across the space separating them. Wires from the thermocouples extend radially into and axially within the tubular member. At one axial end of the tubular member the thermocouple wires are connected to a rotatable transmitter which broadcasts signals received from those thermocouples.

Abstract: An underground high temperature conduit is intermittently anchored against axial displacement in concrete blocks by means of radially extending metallic anchor plates. The central conduit includes an adjacent insulation layer and a non-continuous reinforced fiber plastic outer casing which is connected through first an insulating flange, and second a metal sleeve to the oppositely disposed sides of the intermittent anchor plates. Surrounding the outer casing at each anchor station is an annular outer housing which extends beyond the width of the concrete block. Additional insulating flanges are placed at the respective conduit end locations. Each insulation flange includes a steel flange plate which faces a reinforced fiber plastic flange plate and is secured by an insulated fastening means through an intermediate asbestos gasket.

Abstract: An evacuated, double-walled, tubular housing contains a sheet metal fin which is biased against the inner tube. A metal tube carrying the fluid to be heated is placed in heat transfer relationship with the fin. A plurality of collectors can be placed in an array with the fluid carrying tubes the only connection.

Abstract: A corrugated flexible thin copper tube filled with sodium has a resilient flexible core along the axis thereof so arranged that it will contract and expand to take up the force of thermal expansion and contraction of the sodium. Since the coefficients of expansion of the sodium and copper are different, the absorption of this differential in force by the core prevents rupture of the copper tube and the formation of voids and hot spots within the copper tube.

Abstract: The invention consists of a method and apparatus for laying a pipeline, such as an oil duct or a gas duct, in a body of water, wherein the pipeline, or a section thereof, is enclosed within a ballast tube such that an intermediate space is formed between the pipeline or pipeline section and the ballast tube, said space being filled with a liquid less dense than water, such as a light hydrocarbon, while the pipeline is being laid, but may be filled, after the pipeline has been laid, with soft water or with a liquid heavier than water such as a grouting having a base of a hydraulic or hydrocarbon binder. The invention also comprises the provision of a plug at one end of an assembly of pipeline section and ballast tube whereby a free end of said assembly may be secured as by welding to a second assembly of pipeline section and ballast tube at a position remote from the liquid contained in the intermediate space in said first assembly.

Abstract: An elongated cryogenic envelope includes a support-spacer for locating a plurality of refrigeration tubes at selected radial and circumferential locations within a vacuum chamber formed between inner and outer coaxial tubes. The support-spacer includes a high-thermal-conductivity ring surrounding the inner tube and a plurality of hollow epoxy-fiberglass, titanium-tipped spokes extending between the outer tube and the high-thermal-conductivity ring surrounding the inner tube.

Abstract: A superconducting power transmission line is comprised of sections of rigid cryogenic envelope and sections of flexible cryogenic envelope. The rigid sections are comprised of rigid inner and outer tubes having a refrigeration shield located in a vacuum chamber therebetween. The flexible sections are comprised of flexible inner and outer tubes surrounded by reinforcing braid. The rigid and flexible inner and outer tubes are joined together and a refrigeration tube which is in contact with the rigid section's shield is coiled about the inner flexible tube.

Abstract: A hot air duct is formed from thin walled metal tubing. The duct is provided with a plurality of linearly spaced reinforcing rings. Each reinforcing ring is formed from sheet metal and is channel-shaped in cross-section. The rings are rigidly secured to the outer surface of the duct and positioned so they project radially outwardly from the duct with the channel portion inwardly open and facing the outer surface of the duct. With this arrangement the channel portions are closed off, defining ring shaped chambers around the duct. Each ring shaped chamber surrounding the duct is provided with holes to provide communication between the ring-shaped chamber and the ambient air around the external surface of the duct.

Abstract: The invention concerns the centering and the fixing of a long thin object inside a tubular body. It has as its object a means consisting in a filling in of the space left free by the long thin object inside the tubular body with a granular substance at least a part of which is agglomerated by means of a resinous isocure compound hardening when cold in a very short time on coming into contact with a gaseous catalyst. It applies more particularly to the centering of a wave guide in a metallic tube.

Abstract: A pipeline system for low temperature liquid or hot gas/vapor transfer including a triple pipe arrangement wherein the low temperature liquid or hot gas/vapor is transferred through an inner pipe with a vapor or condensate return respectively being provided by an annulus between the inner pipe and a middle pipe. Thermal insulation is situated in the annulus between the middle pipe and the outer casing or pipe and the outer casing is welded to the inner double pipe system at ambient temperature in order to restrain any thermal movement of the inner pipes during cooldown or heatup to operating temperature.

Abstract: A condensation reducing shroud assembly positionable around the inlet pipe of a water heater or the like. The assembly consists of a sleeve element which is positioned in a spaced-apart relationship about the portion of the water heater inlet pipe where condensation normally occurs. A spacing element is utilized to hold the sleeve in proper position, preferably by frictional force. By providing such a shroud assembly on the inlet pipe of a water heater, the accumulation and dripping of condensate which results from the temperature differential between the pipe and the heated air within the heater is eliminated or reduced by various thermal and evaporative processes. In an alternative embodiment, means are provided for trapping the condensate which forms and subsequently eliminating it through evaporation or drainage.

Abstract: An elongated cryogenic envelope including an outer tube and an inner tube coaxially spaced within said inner tube so that the space therebetween forms a vacuum chamber for holding a vacuum. The inner and outer tubes are provided with means for expanding or contracting during thermal changes. A shield is located in the vacuum chamber intermediate the inner and outer tubes; and, a refrigeration tube for directing refrigeration to the shield is coiled about at least a portion of the inner tube within the vacuum chamber to permit the refrigeration tube to expand or contract along its length during thermal changes within said vacuum chamber.

Abstract: A catalytic converter, and method of assembling same, adapted for use in the exhaust systems of internal combustion engines comprises a housing including as a part thereof a tubular shell having a differentially hardened, annular fibrous lining to resiliently support, insulate, and secure a monolithic type catalyst element. The ends of the tubular shell extend beyond the fibrous lining, which in turn extends beyond the upstream and downstream ends of the catalyst element. The ends of the shell and the ends of the fibrous lining are angularly deformed inwardly to protect the corners of the catalyst, to minimize gas impingement on the fibrous material, and to mechanically retain the catalyst in position.

Abstract: Hollow body or structure for heated gases and under high pressure having an insulating intermediate space between an external wall and a perforated partition wall; the insulating space being provided with perforated intermediate walls situated parallel to the external wall and the partition wall; the throttling effect of the perforated partition wall and of the perforated intermediate walls increases from wall to wall outwardly from the inside of the hollow body.

Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to a solar energy collector in a conversion system. The collector is made from common glass tubing lengths of different diameters and comprises a first outer clear glass cylindrical tube having approximately a semi-cylinder surface portion mirror coated for reflection and a collector tube inside the first tube having an energy absorbing coating on its exterior surface. The tubes resemble over-sized test tubes in that one end is closed. The collector is held in place inside the outer tube by a spacer-support element snapped on the closed end of the collector. The open end of the outer tube is sealed to the wall of the collector, and the space is evacuated. An open-ended fluid handling tube of glass is inserted into the collector tube and has a spiral or helical baffle along its length to guide working fluid issuing into the collector near its closed end along the wall thereof and absorb collected heat.

Abstract: A laminated composite pipe is produced by employing a pre-formed pipe as a core and applying a layer of reinforcing fiber onto the outer surface of the pipe core which is being lowered vertically in the direction of its length through a hopper and a tubular outer mold. Resin supplied to the hopper is drawn into an annular space between the wound pipe and the outer mold and forms a layer on the wound pipe core. A flexible pipe may be used as the core, together with a resin that can be subsequently cured, thereby forming a flexible laminated composite pipe which can be covered with a parting tape, stored in reel form, and given a permanent set after installation by curing the resin. Depending upon the nature of the resin employed and upon the number of resin layers applied to the pipe core, reinforcing, insulating and stiffening properties, or any combination of such properties, may be imparted to the composite pipe.

Abstract: What follows is a description of a unique arrangement forming safety equipment for installations containing a medium under pressure. The safety equipment includes a wall of the installation whose thickness is reduced in a predetermined region relative to the remaining region of the wall and an element disposed within the installation which extends over and beyond the reduced thickness region of the installation wall. The element is provided with bulges at its ends which define along with the inner surface of the installation wall a reduced flow cross section. This reduced flow cross section is chosen so that the pressure prevailing during normal operation in the space defined by the inner surface of the installation wall and that portion of the element between the bulges is the same as the pressure prevailing in the installation.

Abstract: A telescopic structure comprises an inner and an outer member telescopic relative to each other, and means for supporting and/or guiding one member relative to the other member, comprising a pair of wheels mounted on each member and positioned between the members, the wheels on one member bearing on parallel runways fixed to the other member, the runways each having an at least partly circular section with the peripheral surfaces of the wheels bearing on the runways being correspondingly toroidally shaped to have geometric projections in a plane perpendicular to the direction of extent of the runways extending parallel and perpendicular to the rotational axes of the wheels.

Abstract: A duct for the circulation of a hot fluid under pressure and formed in a cold structure of concrete is lined with rigid heat-insulating material such as pumice concrete. A corrugated lining membrane is applied in close contact with the heat-insulating material by means of radial members which are disposed in uniformly spaced relation and anchored in the cold structure.