ng Magnesium alloys containing rare earths By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Magnesium alloys containing: Y: 2.0-6.0% by weight Nd: 0-4.0% by weight Gd: 0-5.5% by weight Dy: 0-5.5% by weight Er: 0-5.5% by weight Zr: 0.05-1.0% by weight Zn+Mn: Full Article
ng Thin film of copper—nickel—molybdenum alloy and method for manufacturing the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A Cu—Ni—Mo alloy thin film, including Ni as a solution element and Mo as a diffusion barrier element. Ni and Mo are co-doped with Cu. The enthalpy of mixing between Mo and Cu is +19 kJ/mol, and the enthalpy of mixing between Mo and Ni is −7 kJ/mol. The atomic fraction of Mo/Ni is within the range of 0.06-0.20 or the weight faction of Mo/Ni within the range of 0.10-0.33. The total amount of Ni and Mo additions is within the range of 0.14-1.02 at. % or wt. %. A method for manufacturing the alloy thin film is also provided. Full Article
ng Basic zinc cyanurate fine particles, and method for producing same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Basic zinc cyanurate fine particles are produced by subjecting a mixed slurry to wet dispersion using a dispersion medium at a temperature in the range of 5 to 55° C., the mixed slurry being formed by blending water, cyanuric acid, and at least one component selected from zinc oxide and basic zinc carbonate such that the cyanuric acid concentration is 0.1 to 10.0 mass % with respect to water. Full Article
ng Oxide sintered compact for producing transparent conductive film By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provides a sputtering target suitable for producing an amorphous transparent conductive film which can be formed without heating a substrate and without feeding water during the sputtering; which is easily crystallized by low-temperature annealing; and which has low resistivity after the crystallization. An oxide sintered compact containing an indium oxide as a main component, while containing tin as a first additive element, and one or more elements selected from germanium, nickel, manganese, and aluminum as a second additive element, with the content of tin which is the first additive element being 2-15 atom % relative to the total content of indium and tin, and the total content of the second additive element being 0.1-2 atom % relative to the total content of indium, tin and the second additive element. Full Article
ng Ni-based superalloy, and turbine rotor and stator blades for gas turbine using the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An object of the present invention is to provide a Ni-based superalloy, especially for a conventional casting, having a good balance among high temperature strength, corrosion resistance and oxidation resistance, as compared to a conventional material. The Ni-based superalloy comprises Cr, Co, Al, Ti, Ta, W, Mo, Nb, C, B, and inevitable impurities, the balance being Ni, the Ni-based superalloy having a superalloy composition comprising, by mass, 13.1 to 16.0% Cr, 11.1 to 20.0% Co, 2.30 to 3.30% Al, 4.55 to 6.00% Ti, 2.50 to 3.50% Ta, 4.00 to 5.50% W, 0.10 to 1.20% Mo, 0.10 to 0.90% Nb, 0.05 to 0.20% C, and 0.005 to 0.02% B. Full Article
ng Heteroleptic (allyl)(pyrroles-2-aldiminate) metal-containing precursors, their synthesis and vapor deposition thereof to deposit metal-containing films By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed are metal-containing precursors having the formula Compound (I) wherein: —M is a metal selected from Ni, Co, Mn, Pd; and —each of R-1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, and R10 are independently selected from H; a C1-C4 linear, branched, or cyclic alkyl group; a C1-C4 linear, branched, or cyclic alkylsilyl group (mono, bis, or tris alkyl); a C1-C4 linear, branched, or cyclic alkylamino group; or a C1-C4 linear, branched, or cyclic fluoroalkyl group. Also disclosed are methods of synthesizing and using the disclosed metal-containing precursors to deposit metal-containing films on a substrate via a vapor deposition process. Full Article
ng Copper alloy sheet, and method of producing copper alloy sheet By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Provided is one aspect of copper alloy sheet containing 4.5% by mass to 12.0% by mass of Zn, 0.40% by mass to 0.90% by mass of Sn, 0.01% by mass to 0.08% by mass of P, as well as 0.005% by mass to 0.08% by mass of Co and/or 0.03% by mass to 0.85% by mass of Ni, the remainder being Cu and unavoidable impurities. The copper alloy sheet satisfies a relationship of 11≦[Zn]+7×[Sn]+15×[P]+12×[Co]+4.5×[Ni]≦17. The one aspect of copper alloy sheet is produced by a production process including a finish cold rolling process at which a copper alloy material is cold-rolled. An average grain size of the copper alloy material is 2.0 μm to 8.0 μm, circular or elliptical precipitates are present in the copper alloy material, and an average particle size of the precipitates is 4.0 nm to 25.0 nm, or a percentage of precipitates having a particle size of 4.0 nm to 25.0 nm makes up 70% or more of the precipitates. Full Article
ng Gripper assembly for moving device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A gripper assembly for use with a moving device is disclosed. The moving device can be a mechanical device such as a robot. The gripper assembly includes a platform and an elongate arm extending from the platform. The elongate arm is in the form of least one elongate member. Each elongate member has a body which has a proximal end and an opposed distal end. A gripping mechanism is rotatably supported relative to the arm, and includes a holder having a pivoting arm pivotably joined to the body in the region of the distal end of the body. An actuator is in operable communication with the pivoting arm to impart pivotable movement to the pivoting arm and rotational movement to said gripping mechanism about a horizontal axis upon actuation of the actuator. The gripper assembly may have a center of mass substantially aligned with a vertical rotation axis of the gripper assembly. Full Article
ng Single handle post hole digger By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention is directed to a single handle post hole digger. The single handle of the post hole digger includes an outer elongated vertical handle and an inner elongated vertical shaft that is located within the outer handle. The post hole digger includes two blades used to cut into the ground and to loosen soil when open and then used to capture and remove soil when closed. The single handle configuration allows for deeper holes as the holes do not have to accommodate the opening action of the handles as in traditional diggers. Full Article
ng Removable specimen gripper fingers By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Systems and methods for gripper finger release assemblies for specimen gripper units are disclosed. Embodiments of the invention include release elements to enable replacement of gripper fingers without the need of tools or without the need to demount and mount the entire gripper unit for exchange of gripper fingers. A release element may comprise a first sliding element and a second sliding element coupled to a plate such that pressing the second sliding element enables the first sliding element to release a gripper finger coupled to the first sliding element. Full Article
ng Blowout preventer lifting apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A blowout preventer (BOP) lifting apparatus has a reinforced frame and a gate for securing a BOP stack. The frame has a central U-shaped recess for securing a collared portion of the BOP stack. The gate pivotally swings between a closed position on the frame and an open position for installation and removal of the lifting apparatus from the BOP stack. An actuator has a first end connected to a top surface of the frame and a second end connected to the gate for actuating the opening and closing of the gate to the frame. When the gate is in the closed position, three locking pins are inserted into three vertical pinning holes located on the frame, which are aligned with three pinning holes located on the gate. The apparatus may be lifted via cables or other lifting mechanisms attached via lifting eyelets located on each corner of the frame. Full Article
ng Kebob tongs By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Tongs for manipulating shish-kebob on a barbeque grill, the tongs having two arms, the two arms being in parallel relationship at an insulated handle end which includes the pivot point at one end, the arms diverging at the opposing end of the handle end, to form two opposing spaced apart arms having kebob engaging ends, each end having an aperture there through, the apertures engaging the ends of the skewer, the tongs then being compressed so that the kebob engaging ends engage the outer food items on the skewer preventing their rotation so that the kebob may be either flipped for even cooking on the opposing side, or removed from the grill for consumption without endangering the fingers of the user. Full Article
ng Combination support stand and carrying handle for portable electronic devices By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A combination support stand and carrying handle apparatus for use with an associated tablet device having a generally rectangular conformation with opposite front and back substantially planar surfaces. The apparatus includes a mounting member, a handle member, and a support stand for holding the associated tablet device on surfaces at selected angles for convenience of use of the tablet device. The carrying handle is grippable by the hand of an associated user. The support stand apparatus and carrying handle apparatus may be provided individually without the other. Full Article
ng Closure apparatus and method of using same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus for closing opened packaging includes a base having an upper surface and a lower surface, a strap attached to the base, and two complementary handle sections attached to the base. The handle sections extend upwardly from the upper surface of the base, and together form a grippable handle. A space exists between the handle sections to receive the strap therethrough. The handle sections can be releasably attached to each other. Full Article
ng Pigging pole By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A multi-sectional portable pigging pole configured to retrieve a pig from a pipe. The pigging pole includes a first shaft member and a second shaft member. The first shaft member and the second shaft member are configured to interlock so as to form a shaft. The shaft is configured to extend reach into the pipe to retrieve the pig from therein. Full Article
ng Switchable plate manufacturing vacuum tool By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided to enable a vacuum tool to have a switchable plate, such that a common vacuum tool may be adapted with different plates. A switchable plate may form the entirety of the vacuum tool's material contacting surface or a switchable plate may form a portion of the material contacting surface. The vacuum tool is effective for picking and placing one or more manufacturing parts utilizing a vacuum force. Full Article
ng Floating retrieval device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A floating retrieval device that can be either manually launched or automatically launched via a compression spring. Full Article
ng Apparatus and method for lifting a skimmer well lid and for cleaning and lifting a skimmer basket By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A multipurpose tool and method usable to remove debris and/or other retentate from a skimmer basket or a filter associated with a swimming pool, and/or to remove the skimmer well lid and the skimmer basket and/or filter from a skimmer well. The tool comprises two elongate members pivotally connected, each elongate member having a protrusion connected thereto at one end and a handle at the other. Each elongate member can have a scooping element connected thereto. The protrusions can point away from each other and can be adapted to move away from each other in response to the handles being moved towards each other. Full Article
ng Vacuum-lifting device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A vacuum-lifting device of variable configurations includes a first slat element, a second slat element, and four suction members. The first slat element is detachably fixed to the second slat element, and the first slat element intersects with the second slat element defining an intersection. A first slot is defined in the first slat element and a second slot is defined in the second slat element. Two of the four suction members are translatably secured in the first slot. The other two of the four suction members are translatably secured in the second slot. Full Article
ng System for lifting, moving and transporting a vehicle via multiple slings connected to a common lifting vertex, and method of retrofitting a vehicle to facilitate lifting By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system for lifting a vehicle via multiple slings comprises a vehicle not engineered with structural facility to withstand lifting forces, including a frame which unmodified will deform in response to vertically imposed lifting forces, frame reinforcing elements affixed to the frame at selected locations which are subject to lifting deformation, at least two lifting members at spaced-apart forward frame locations, at least two lifting members at spaced-apart rearward frame locations, and a plurality of elongate slings extending respectively between each lifting member and a common lifting vertex. Each lifting member has an enlarged lower base portion rigidly affixed to the frame and an upper lifting portion. The frame reinforcing elements resist deformation of the frame in response to vertically imposed lifting forces. The enlarged base portions of the lifting members apply forces over a correspondingly enlarged area of the frame and the reinforcing elements without deforming the frame. Full Article
ng Robot hand, robot device and method of manufacturing robot hand By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A robot hand includes a finger unit that is in contact with an object. The finger unit includes: a first member in which a tip portion and a base portion connected to the tip portion are formed as a single member; and a second member that covers a surface of the first member. Full Article
ng Chucking apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT According to one embodiment, A chucking apparatus includes an arm that is configured to hold a test tube, an opening/closing mechanism that opens/closes the arm, a motor that drives the opening/closing mechanism, and a supplying unit configured to supply electric power to the motor at two different supply voltages. Full Article
ng Cleaning tool assembly with a disposable cleaning implement By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A cleaning assembly including a disposable cleaning implement having a cleaning element mounted to a fitment having an elongated post. The cleaning assembly includes an elongated maneuvering wand having a handle portion and a distal implement attachment end thereof. A gripping mechanism is coupled to the wand attachment end, and is configured to releasably grip the fitment post to mount the cleaning implement. The gripping mechanism and the maneuvering wand cooperate to substantially limited pivotal movement of a longitudinal axis of the fitment post, relative a longitudinal axis of the gripping mechanism to not more than about 0 degrees to about 25 degrees when the fitment post is subjected to forces radial to the longitudinal axis of the fitment post. In another aspect, the frictional drag between the sliding components is significantly reduced, enabling a tool assembly with a high axial holding force for the cleaning implement, but with a significantly lower, consumer friendly release force for the Implement during release operation of the tool assembly. Full Article
ng Fishing guide for directing a skewed fish in a wellbore By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A guide has an open end and a finger structure preferably of a shape memory alloy. The guide is run in small-diameter configuration through a restriction with a fishing tool, such as an overshot, above it. Once through the restriction, power to heaters on the fingers takes the material past its transition temperature to allow the guide lower end to fan out and surround a skewed fish that is in a slanted position and leaning on a wall of a surrounding tubular that has a larger dimension than the restriction. The bottomhole assembly is then advanced until the fish is captured by the fishing tool and pulled out of the hole. The fingers are forcibly retracted as the assembly is pulled back through the restriction. The guide can use retained fingers with an outward bias to flare out after passing through a restriction, thus acting as a fish guide. Full Article
ng Clamping mechanism By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A clamping mechanism includes an adjusting assembly, a driving assembly and a plurality of clamping assemblies. Each clamping assembly includes a base body slidably sleeved on the driving assembly. The adjusting assembly includes a first adjusting member, and a second adjusting member parallel to the first adjusting member. The first adjusting member is fixed to a base body located on a first end of the plurality of clamping assemblies. Opposite ends of the second adjusting member are fixed to the driving assembly and a base body located on a second end of the plurality of clamping assemblies. Each of the first and second adjusting members respectively define a plurality of first and second steps. The first steps and the second steps slidable resist sidewalls of the base body. An upward direction of the plurality of first steps is reverse to that of the plurality of the second steps. Full Article
ng Transfer device comprising a gripper By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A gripper (42) for gripping an object (14), intended for a transfer device includes two jaws (64, 66). Each of the jaws includes: a recess (92), and a first clamping portion (94) and a second locking portion (96). The first clamping portion (94) of each jaw (64, 66) of the gripper (42) includes a supporting surface and, when the gripper (42) is closed around an object (14) occupying a predetermined reference position, the supporting surface is intended to engage with a portion of a bearing surface of a radial collar of the object. Full Article
ng Folding reach extender By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A tool to grasp objects, and to expand and/or retract while holding the objects, wherein the tool can include at least one handle disposed on a first end of an expandable assembly. At least one handle can be adapted to expand the expandable assembly when actuated or when there are a pair of handles and they are moved towards one another and retract the expandable assembly when they are moved away from one another. A gear assembly can be disposed on a second end of the expandable assembly. The tool can allow users to reach, grasp, move, and release remote objects. Full Article
ng Vacuum nozzle having back-pressure release hole By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A pick-and-place vacuum nozzle including a a nozzle body, a vacuum chamber within the nozzle body, a cavity formed in a lower surface of the nozzle body below the vacuum chamber, wherein the cavity is shaped to hold a head gimbal assembly, a back pressure relief hole passing through the nozzle body and connected to the vacuum chamber, the back pressure relief hole communicating with an exterior of the nozzle body, wherein a diameter of the back pressure relief hole is between 0.5 mm and 1 mm. The backpressure relief hole prevents light parts from sticking to the nozzle tip after vacuum is no longer applied. Full Article
ng Assembling apparatus and production system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT To enable positioning a robot arm and a workpiece with high accuracy while reducing vibrations of a camera. According to the claimed invention for this purpose, a robot station 100 includes a pedestal 103 to which robot arms 101 and 102 are fixed, a camera 106 which images an area including a working area 209 of the pedestal 103, and a booth 104 to which the camera 106 is fixed. The pedestal 103 is fixed to a floor surface, and the booth 104 is fixed to the floor surface without contacting the pedestal 103. The booth 104 is formed in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped having a short side parallel to a workpiece conveying direction T and a long side perpendicular to the workpiece conveying direction T in a plan view. In the booth 104, the length of the long side y of the booth 104 is set to not less than the sum of a maximum length by which the robot arms 101 and 102 protrude from the pedestal 103 in a direction perpendicular to the workpiece conveying direction T and the length in the direction perpendicular to the workpiece conveying direction T of the pedestal 103 in a plan view. Full Article
ng Method for replacing a transformer in a wind energy installation By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method of replacing a generator of a wind power installation. The generator is provided in the interior of a pylon of a wind power installation and the pylon has a door opening. An exchanging cross beam is fixed by way of a first fastening point to a crane hook of a mobile crane. A first end of the cross beam is introduced with a second fastening point through the door opening into the pylon. The transformer to be replaced is fixed to the second fastening point of the first end. A compensating weight is fixed at the second fastening point to the second end of the cross beam. The second end of the cross beam is tilted or inclined until the transformer is at the height of the door opening and the crane hook is moved until the transformer to be replaced is outside the door opening. Full Article
ng Disposable finger tongs for handling a food product By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A combination finger fold holder tong and surface texturizing set includes a set of tongs with finger pockets, whereby the pockets are movable towards and away from each other for grasping an article of food; plus a plurality of adhesively adherable sticker substrates having a first texture imparted side and an opposite adhesive bearing side with a release liner, whereby the texture containing adhesively adherable sticker is placed upon the food engaging surface for manual grasping of articles of food. Full Article
ng Holding aid for a personal, hand-held, tablet-shaped device and methods of use By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A securement device to make it much easier for a user to securely hold onto a personal, hand-held, tablet-shaped device such as an electronic reader, a tablet computing device, a cellular phone, a personal data assistant, and a common clipboard, including any of these items that are at least partially contained in protective housings—while minimizing the fatigue and discomfort on the user's hands: A typical device solves this problem by providing a system of one or more finger holds formed with a fabric or pliable material that are disposed on the back side of the personal, hand-held, tablet-shaped device. In many devices, the position and fit of the finger holds are easily adjustable by a user via hook-and-loop schemes. Full Article
ng Trash spearing tools with retractable spearing pins By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A trash spearing tool and method are provided. The tool includes a spearing pin, a trigger assembly, an inner tube, and an outer tube. The trigger assembly is movable between a normal position and an activated position. The outer tube is slidable between a storage position and a use position. The spearing pin is operatively coupled to the trigger assembly in such manner that, when the outer tube is in the use position and the trigger assembly is in the normal position, the spearing pin is normally biased to an extended position in which a portion of the spearing pin extends from the outer tube and, when the outer tube is in the storage position and the trigger assembly is in either the normal position or use position, the spearing pin to in a retracted position in which the spearing pin does not extend from the outer tube. Full Article
ng Gripper for a contact lens and process for transporting a contact lens By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A gripper (1) for a contact lens (CL) includes a gripper head (10) having a bearing surface (11), the bearing surface (11) having at least one opening (110) through which underpressure can be applied in order to suck the contact lens (CL) against the bearing surface (11) and through which overpressure can be applied in order to release the contact lens (CL) from the bearing surface (11). The gripper further includes a detection opening (111) in the bearing surface (11) through which a separate underpressure can be applied. Full Article
ng Apparatus and method for collecting and disposing waste By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Apparatus and methods for pet waste disposal include using a portable waste collection receptacle disposed on a handle. A heat source is mounted together with the waste collection receptacle, capable of incinerating waste disposed in the waste collection receptacle. Full Article
ng Load launching shovel By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A hand operated shovel system for moving materials that uses spring enhanced human power to increase force during the flinging part of shoveling. A user adds propulsive force to a shovel having a spring located between the handle and the blade. Motion of the handle and blade rotates the spring to store energy expended during the initial acceleration of lifting, and applies the stored energy back into the material during the deposition step, increasing the ballistic trajectory of the material. If material deposition can be accomplished without flinging, the shovel acts as a substantially rigid body for standard shoveling. Full Article
ng Clamp for a tensile implement and method of clamping a tensile implement By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A clamp for a tensile implement and method of clamping a tensile implement is disclosed. The clamp is portable and adaptable to different sizes of tensile implements. The clamp includes a cavity defined by side surfaces of a pair of blocks which are attached to a top surface of a grip base. A pair of mated reciprocal wedges, selected based on size of the tensile implement from a plurality of pairs of wedges, fits and slides within the cavity in order to grip the tensile implement. Each one of the wedges has a planar surface for sliding and a semi-cylindrical void which forms a cylindrical void through which the tensile implement passes when fully clamped around the tensile implement. Full Article
ng Vacuum-lifting device for assembling and testing optical connector By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A vacuum-lifting device includes a holding block and a nozzle. The holding block defines a holding hole and a threaded hole communicating with the holding hole. The nozzle includes a first section that is slidably received in the holding hole and a second section. The second section extends from the first section and has an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the first section. Full Article
ng Deposition of integrated protective material into zirconium cladding for nuclear reactors by high-velocity thermal application By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EST A zirconium alloy nuclear reactor cylindrical cladding has an inner Zr substrate surface (10), an outer volume of protective material (22), and an integrated middle volume (20) of zirconium oxide, zirconium and protective material, where the protective material is applied by impaction at a velocity greater than 340 meters/second to provide the integrated middle volume (20) resulting in structural integrity for the cladding. Full Article
ng Installation method of water-chamber working apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT According to an installation method of a water-chamber working apparatus of the present invention, the water-chamber working apparatus includes a base that holds heat transfer tubes on a tube plate surface and is fixed to the tube plate surface, and a manipulator that is coupled with the base, suspended in a water chamber and arranged therein, and has a separable configuration. In this case, a base installing step of installing the base on the tube plate surface and a manipulator coupling step of carrying the separated manipulator (a front stage and a rear stage) into the water chamber sequentially and individually and coupling the manipulator with the base (a coupling link) are performed. Full Article
ng Nuclear power plant using nanoparticles in emergency systems and related method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A nuclear power plant with an improved cooling system using nanoparticles in solid or fluid form is provided. The nanoparticles are delivered in locations such as the cold leg accumulator and high and low pressure pumps of an emergency core cooling system. Motor driven valves and pressurization can aid in the delivery. Methods for providing the nanoparticles are also provided. Full Article
ng Superwetting surfaces for diminishing leidenfrost effect, methods of making and devices incorporating the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT Textured surface for increasing Leidenfrost temperature. The texture comprises of surface features over multiple length scales—from micro to nanoscale—wherein the features at each length scale have a size, aspect ratio, and spacing selected to increase the Leidenfrost temperature. The structure includes an array of microscale structures disposed on the surface, the structure having size, aspect ratio and spacing selected to increase Leidenfrost temperature. The microscale structures may also include nanoscale structures on their surface to create a hierarchical structure. The structures result in an increased Leidenfrost temperature. Full Article
ng Apparatus, method and program for monitoring nuclear thermal hydraulic stability of nuclear reactor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus for monitoring nuclear thermal hydraulic stability of a nuclear reactor, contains: a calculation unit configured to calculate a stability index of a nuclear thermal hydraulic phenomenon based on nuclear instrumentation signals, the signals being outputted by a plurality of nuclear instrumentation detectors placed at regular intervals in a reactor core; a simulation unit configured to simulate the nuclear thermal hydraulic phenomenon based on a physical model by using information on an operating state of the nuclear reactor as an input condition; a limit value updating unit configured to update a limit value of the nuclear thermal hydraulic phenomenon based on a result of the simulation; and a determination unit configured to determine, based on the stability index and the limit value, whether or not to activate a power oscillation suppressing device. Full Article
ng Techniques for on-demand production of medical radioactive iodine isotopes including I-131 By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system for radioisotope production uses fast-neutron-caused fission of depleted or naturally occurring uranium targets in an irradiation chamber. Fast fission can be enhanced by having neutrons encountering the target undergo scattering or reflection to increase each neutron's probability of causing fission (n, f) reactions in U-238. The U-238 can be deployed as one or more layers sandwiched between layers of neutron-reflecting material, or as rods surrounded by neutron-reflecting material. The gaseous fission products can be withdrawn from the irradiation chamber on a continuous basis, and the radioactive iodine isotopes (including I-131) extracted. Full Article
ng Method and apparatus for an expanding split bushing pipe plug assembly By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method and apparatus for securely fastening a pipe collar or a bracket to a riser pipe of a boiling water reactor (BWR) jet pump assembly. A pipe plug assembly includes an angled pipe plug that acts as a wedge to expand a bushing assembly as the pipe plug is drawn into the overall pipe plug assembly. Expansion of the bushing assembly allows a tight tolerance to exist between an outer diameter of the pipe plug and an inner diameter of the collar/bracket and riser pipe. Expansion of the bushing assembly allows a straight hole to be match drilled into the collar/bracket and riser pipe, thereby avoiding a more complicated tapered hole to be drilled into the collar/bracket and riser pipe. An ensuing tight fit between the pipe plug assembly, the collar/bracket and the riser pipe mitigates vibration of components and minimizes leakage to acceptable levels for use in the flooded environment of the annulus region where the jet pump assembly exists in the BWR. Full Article
ng ***WITHDRAWN PATENT AS PER THE LATEST USPTO WITHDRAWN LIST***Pressurized water reactor with upper vessel section providing both pressure and flow control By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A pressurized water reactor (PWR) includes a vertical cylindrical pressure vessel having a lower portion containing a nuclear reactor core and a vessel head defining an internal pressurizer. A reactor coolant pump (RCP) mounted on the vessel head includes an impeller inside the pressure vessel, a pump motor outside the pressure vessel, and a vertical drive shaft connecting the motor and impeller. The drive shaft does not pass through the internal pressurizer. A central riser may be disposed concentrically inside the pressure vessel, and the RCP impels primary coolant downward into a downcomer annulus between the central ser and the pressure vessel. A steam generator may be disposed in the downcomer annulus and spaced apart from with the impeller by an outlet plenum, A manway may access the outlet plenum so tube plugging can be performed on the steam generator via access through the manway without removing the RCP. Full Article
ng Uranium dioxide nuclear fuel containing Mn and Al as additives and method of fabricating the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT UO2 nuclear fuel pellets are fabricated by adding additive powder comprising Mn compound and Al compound into UO2 powder. Full Article
ng Method of checking installed state of jet pump beam By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A jet pump beam (hereinafter, referred to as a beam) is fitted into a pair of projecting portions installed to a transition piece, and after the beam is arched, a beam bolt engaged with the beam is tightened. An end of the beam bolt comes in contact with a top surface of an insert member fitted into an elbow disposed between the pair of projecting portions. An ultrasonic sensor head is fixed to the beam bolt, and ultrasonic waves are sent to the beam bolt from the ultrasonic sensor in the ultrasonic sensor head. An ultrasonic measuring apparatus obtains echo intensity of each of reflected waves generated at the end of the beam bolt and a bottom surface of the insert member, and based on the echo intensities, an echo intensity ratio R is calculated. The installed state of the beam is checked using the echo intensity ratio R. Full Article
ng Control rod/fuel support handling apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A control rod/fuel support handling apparatus that is used in the case where a control rod and a fuel support are held, removed and lifted in a reactor and then are transported into the reactor in a periodical inspection of a BWR and in the case where the control rod and the fuel support are attached and mounted again into the reactor, the control rod/fuel support handling apparatus including: a fuel support gripper that holds the fuel support with a support gripping member; a control rod gripper that includes a vertically movable and rotatable elevating/rotating unit, holds the control rod with a control rod gripping member, disconnects and connects the control rod and a control rod drive mechanism, and allows removal and attachment of the control rod; and a control panel that controls automatically controls the control rod gripper in response to the instructions from an operation pendant. Full Article
ng System, method and apparatus for providing additional radiation shielding to high level radioactive materials By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system, method and apparatus for providing additional radiation shielding to a ventilated cask for holding high level radioactive materials. The invention utilizes a tubular shell that is ancillary to the ventilated cask that circumscribes the ventilated cask to add radiation shielding protection while improving heat removal by natural convective air flow. Because the tubular shell and cask are non-unitary and slidably separable from one another, crane lifting capacity is not affected. In one aspect, the invention is an apparatus for providing additional radiation shielding to a cask holding high level radioactive materials comprising: a tubular shell extending from an open bottom end to an open top end, the tubular shell having an inner surface that forms a cavity about a longitudinal axis; a plurality of primary apertures forming passageways through the tubular shell and circumferentially arranged in a spaced-apart manner about the tubular shell; a plurality of secondary apertures forming passageways through the tubular shell and circumferentially arranged in a spaced-apart manner about the tubular shell; and an annular seal coupled to the tubular shell and extending from the inner surface of the tubular shell; wherein the secondary apertures are located at an axial height above the annular seal and the primary apertures are located at an axial height below the annular seal. Full Article