Did You Know...
...that in 1800 ether was first used by partyers as a fun diversion? Sniffing the gas led to hilarious and raucous laughter as people watched each other become more and more intoxicated and silly. Several doctors independently realized the value ether would have to anesthetize surgery patients. Of those who claimed rights to the "discovery," none had a happy ending. One had a seizure and died defending his rights. Another spent his life in an asylum because he had been denied acclaim. A third became addicted to chloroform and, in a New York City jail, he soaked a cloth in the drug, severed an artery and bled to death.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8077823 | Jet pump riser clamp A clamp assembly for securing a thermal sleeve and an elbow in a pipe assembly in a nuclear reactor. The clamp assembly comprises a sleeve clamp adapted to be arranged surrounding the elbow at a first joint between the elbow and a thermal sleeve, and comprising a sl... | 12/13/2011 |
| 7272204 | Method and apparatus for clamping a riser brace assembly in nuclear reactor An apparatus and method are provided which are designed to structurally replace welds that attach a riser brace assembly to a jet pump riser pipe. The riser brace assembly may include an upper clamp assembly, a lower clamp assembly, and a plurality of mechanical fas... | 09/18/2007 |
| 6647083 | Method and apparatus for stiffening a riser brace in nuclear reactor A vibration mitigation clamp apparatus is provided, which is designed to stiffen a riser brace assembly in a nuclear reactor so as to increase the natural vibration frequency of the riser brace assembly. In an embodiment, the vibration mitigation clamp ap... | 11/11/2003 |
| 6567493 | Core spray sparger assembly A core spray sparger assembly for supplying coolant to a nuclear reactor. The nuclear reactor includes fuel assemblies, a top guide, coolant supply pipes and a shroud head. The core spray sparger assembly includes at least one coolant manifold, at least o... | 05/20/2003 |
| 6481757 | Core spray system attachment assemblies A core spray sparger for use in a nuclear reactor pressure vessel. The core spray sparger includes a plurality of core spray lines, a coupling apparatus, a bracket assembly, and an end clamp assembly. The core spray line includes a core spray line end cap... | 11/19/2002 |
| 6293593 | Collar clamp assembly for repairing core spray piping A collar clamp assembly is disclosed for repairing and providing a temporary seal around leaking pipe coupling areas of an internal core spray system of a nuclear reactor. The clamp assembly includes first and second housings having respective first and s... | 09/25/2001 |
| 6236700 | Downcommer coupling apparatus and methods Downcommer coupling apparatus and methods for replacing a core spray line downcommer pipe coupled to a shroud T-box are described. In one embodiment, the coupling apparatus includes a wedge flange, a wedge, a wedge housing, a pipe seal, a cylindrical pipe... | 05/22/2001 |
| 6011826 | Steam power station A steam power station, in particular a nuclear power station, includes a steam conduit leading through a wall and forming a fixed point with the wall for the introduction of forces and moments. A main valve is connected to the steam conduit at the fixed p... | 01/04/2000 |
| 5995575 | In-core guide tube restraint for a boiling water reactor A restraint assembly which is a bolted lattice structure for preventing the in-core guide tubes from experiencing excessive flow induced vibrations is described. In one embodiment, the restraint assembly includes upper and lower restraint brackets secured... | 11/30/1999 |
| 5912936 | Pipe connector assembly Pipe connector assembly for replacing a core spray line in a nuclear reactor without field cutting, measuring, or welding such line. In one embodiment, the pipe connector assembly includes a first coupling member, a second coupling member, and at least on... | 06/15/1999 |
| 5901192 | Core spray line riser apparatus and methods Core spray line riser repair apparatus and methods for axially restraining a reactor core spray line riser to a T-box are described. In one embodiment, the repair apparatus includes a sleeve, a threaded draw bolt extending through the axial bore, and a th... | 05/04/1999 |
| 5892806 | Pressure tube spacer A spacer for maintaining a pressure tube in spaced relation with a caland tube of a nuclear reactor. The spacer comprising a split ring adapted to be disposed about the outer surface of said pressure tube. The ring has a central annular body portion with... | 04/06/1999 |
| 5839192 | Method and apparatus for repairing cracked core spray supply piping in a boiling water reactor An apparatus for repairing cracked core spray supply piping in a boiling water reactor vessel includes a pair of clamps extending circumferentially around the piping on opposite sides of a crack and a preloading mechanism urging the clamps toward one anot... | 11/24/1998 |
| 5809098 | Method for sealing a stub tube in a nuclear reactor Methods for sealing cracks adjacent stub tube attachment welds in a reactor pressure vessel of a nuclear reactor are described. The reactor pressure vessel includes at least one stub tube through which a control rod housing extends. The control rod housin... | 09/15/1998 |
| 5737380 | Core spray line assembly A core spray line assembly for a nuclear reactor is described. In one embodiment, the core spray line assembly includes first and second core spray lines. Each of the core spray lines is substantially located within the reactor pressure vessel and has fir... | 04/07/1998 |
| 5392323 | Reactor pressure vessel in a nuclear power station The reactor pressure vessel comprises a pipe socket (2) connected to a feed-water supply line (3), in which is disposed a coaxial protective sleeve (5) (thermal sleeve) which expands with changes in temperature. With its outer end the protective sleeve (5... | 02/21/1995 |
| 5353319 | Removable feedwater sparger assembly A removable feedwater sparger assembly includes a sparger having an inlet pipe disposed in flow communication with the outlet end of a supply pipe. A tubular coupling includes an annular band fixedly joined to the sparger inlet pipe and a plurality of fin... | 10/04/1994 |
| 5209894 | Method for sealing a leak from a control rod drive stub tube in a nuclear power reactor A method for sealing a leak between a control rod drive (CRD) stub tube (3) arranged in a reactor wall (2) and a tubular CRD housing (1) extending through the CRD stub tube (3) and the vessel wall (2). According to the invention, this sealing is obtained ... | 05/11/1993 |
| 5167907 | Process for plugging a tube of a straight-tube heat exchanger The tube (4) to be plugged is cut at its ends adjacent to the first and to the second branch (14, 15) and the metal of the junction zones (16, 16') of the tube (4) with each of the branches (14, 15) is eliminated. At least one portion of the tube (4) adja... | 12/01/1992 |
| 5120488 | Sealing sleeve of memory metal The invention relates to a sealing sleeve for sealing a leak in, for example, a pipe, a pipe socket or the like in a nuclear reactor. The sleeve comprises a bellows-like mid-portion (1) with annular ends, at least these or part of these (2) being made of ... | 06/09/1992 |
| 5047201 | Seal for a vessel connection of a hot pipeline A hot pipeline is welded to a flange which is supported by brackets connected to a nozzle. The pipeline with a flange can expand freely radially. Welded to the other end of the flange is a pipe, which can withstand an axial temperature gradient between a ... | 09/10/1991 |
| 4859403 | Feedwater sparger restraint A restraint to enable temporary bracing and operation of a thermally cracked sparger nozzle mounted from a sparger manifold at the end of a pipe elbow is disclosed. The restraint includes a second and surrounding restraint elbow which is fitted over and c... | 08/22/1989 |
| 4848408 | Multi-layer compensator with spacers arranged between the layers Multi-layer compensator with spacers arranged between the layers and with the spacers having the shape of flat strips distributed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the compensator over the circumference, with a gap between spacers.... | 07/18/1989 |
| 4849159 | Coolant-pumping system for a nuclear reactor In a known design of liquid metal cooled fast fission nuclear reactor, the primary pumps (22) plug into the outboard ends of the high pressure pipes (28), leading to the development of a vertical load which has to be supported by substantial additional st... | 07/18/1989 |
| 4778646 | Gas cooled high temperature reactor charged with spherical fuel elements The invention relates to a gas cooled high temperature reactor located in the cavity of a pressure vessel, with spherical fuel elements, and removal apparatus for fuel elements. The latter is made of at least one ceramic pebble outlet tube extending throu... | 10/18/1988 |
| 4767593 | Multiple shell pressure vessel A multiple shell pressure vessel utilizes a number of spaced apart, concentrically disposed pressure vessel shells within and spaced apart from an outer pressure vessel shell, the spaces between each shell being filled with a low melting point, high boili... | 08/30/1988 |
| 4761261 | Nuclear reactor A novel liquid nuclear reactor is described which comprises a reactor vessel that is connected through upper and lower liquid conduit means to one or more satellite tanks that contain a heat exchanger means and pump means.... | 08/02/1988 |
| 4737338 | Nuclear reactor containing connecting means for connecting a reactor vessel and at least one receiver vessel Disclosed is a nuclear reactor employing a liquid metal and containing a reactor vessel, and at least one satellite vessel, and a hot and a cold leg connecting means which combine to form a continuous pathway for the flow of the liquid metal between the r... | 04/12/1988 |
| 4734248 | Conduit assembly for use in a nuclear reactor A metal conduit assembly for interconnecting the discharge duct of the pump and the inlet coolant duct or reactor core in a pool-type nuclear reactor. The conduit assembly comprises an upper section for connection to the discharge of a reactor pump, a low... | 03/29/1988 |
| 4649493 | Tube expansion apparatus An apparatus for expanding a tube against the walls of a circumscribing bore, or a sleeve within a tube to effect an interference joint therebetween, is described herein. The tube expansion apparatus generally comprises a fluid mandrel connected to a hydr... | 03/10/1987 |
| 4563326 | High temperature nuclear power plant with a hot-gas pipeline which can be separated from the reactor vessel A high-temperature nuclear power plant, includes a reactor, an inner vessel enclosing the reactor, an outer reactor pressure vessel disposed outside the inner vessel, a stub integral with the outer vessel, and a hot gas pipeline disposed in the stub, the ... | 01/07/1986 |
| 4562036 | Shock wave absorber having apertured plate The shock or energy absorber disclosed herein utilizes an apertured plate maintained under the normal level of liquid flowing in a piping system and disposed between the normal liquid flow path and a cavity pressurized with a compressible gas. The degree ... | 12/31/1985 |
| 4500487 | Pressure surge attenuator A pressure surge attenuation system for pipes having a fluted region opposite crushable metal foam. As adapted for nuclear reactor vessels and heads, crushable metal foam is disposed to attenuate pressure surges.... | 02/19/1985 |
| 4380084 | Nuclear boiler with dismountable water box The present invention relates to a nuclear boiler comprising a vessel whose top is closed by a dismountable cover, a cage bearing the core of the reactor and separating the vessel into an inner hot zone and an outer cold zone, at least one steam generator... | 04/12/1983 |
| 4328944 | Load supporting device A deflecting load supporting apparatus comprising a base; a load receiving lever element pivotably mounted onto said base; at least one buckling element disposed in engagement with said base and said load receiving lever element so as to undergo a predete... | 05/11/1982 |
| 4315528 | Support of fixing device for pipes A support or fixing device for pipes whose walls are thin in proportion to their diameter and which are subjected to great temperature variations and/or which must be protected against earthquakes. It includes a collar 3 which surrounds the pipe and is sp... | 02/16/1982 |
| 4298433 | Means for supplying feed water to a substantially cylindrical, vertical reactor tank A nuclear reactor assembly including a substantially cylindrically-shaped and vertically extending pressure vessel. A uniquely constructed bracket assembly is arranged for mounting a water distributor against an inner wall of the cylindrically-shaped pres... | 11/03/1981 |
| 4290853 | Protection of steam piping in a nuclear reactor In the protection of a portion of steam piping, e.g., live-steam piping, as it exits from the confinement chamber of a nuclear reactor, the portion of steam piping exits from the chamber in the direction of a mean radial plane of the passage through the c... | 09/22/1981 |
| 4280873 | Nuclear power installation with loop arrangement Nuclear power installation with liquid metal cooling, including a reactor cavity, a primary circulatory loop carrying heat from the reactor cavity, a secondary coolant loop, an intermediate heat exchanger for transferring heat from the primary loop to the... | 07/28/1981 |
| 4259156 | Device for coupling pipelines in reactor pressure vessels, preferably the pipelines of the feedwater manifold In a device for coupling pipelines in a pressure vessel of a nuclear reactor having a first piping section sealingly extending through the pressure vessel-housing wall and fastened thereto, and a second piping section sealingly connected to the first pipi... | 03/31/1981 |
