Bellofram Corporation

The Boc Group, Inc.

Electric Power Research Institute Incorporated

Christos Athanassiu

Wilfred H St Laurent, Jr

Stephen C Jens

Robert A Lee

Paul F Viola

Michael W Osborne

Wilfred St Laurent

An apparatus (10) for the location and removal of foreign objects from a difficult to access geometry utilizes a flexible lance (12) formed of individual hose bar segments (14) strung on cables (16) to give a structure that is flexible along its length and fairly rigid in a direction transverse to its length. Extending from working channels (18) of nozzle block (20) of the lance (12) are a pair of multi-prong retrievers (22). A miniaturized Videoprobe camera (24) is provided in the nozzle block (20) between the two retrievers (22). The retrievers are each connected to an actuating cable (26), which extends through the flexible lance (12) to a manual control (28). The camera (24) is connected by a cable (30) to suitable video processing circuits for generation of images on a video display (32). The cable (30) also houses a fiber optic bundle which conveys light to the area being serviced by the lance (12). The flexible lance (12 ) extends through a transporter (34), which positions the nozzle block end of the lance (12) opposite a portion of a steam generator or other difficult to access geometry. The transporter (34) moves along a transport rail (36) to move the nozzle block end of the lance (12) into position. The lance (12) is then advanced through the transporter (34) to move the nozzle block end into the difficult to access geometry and retracted to withdraw the nozzle block end from the difficult to access geometry.

In bundle foreign object search and retrieval apparatus

The present invention provides a diaphragm valve including a housing having a chamber and an outlet opening within the chamber. A projecting valve seat, formed by a projection extending into the chamber, has a sloping, annular sealing surface surrounding the outlet opening. A valve body, preferably forming an armature of an electromagnetic coil, is also located within the chamber. The valve body has, at one end, a recess and a metal diaphragm covering the recess and chemically non-reactive with a flowing fluid passing through the chamber and out of the outlet opening. The valve body is adapted for movement towards and away from the valve seat between closed and open positions. In the closed position the diaphragm is flexed into the recess by the projection, conformingly and sealingly contacting the sealing surface and covering the outlet opening, to prevent the passage of flowing fluid. In the open position, the diaphragm is spaced from the valve seat and the outlet opening is uncovered to allow passage of the flowing fluid. The diaphragm is prestretched before attachment to the valve body so that the diaphragm conforms to the sloping sealing surface of the valve seat rather than creasing above the valve seat.

Diaphragm valve

A fluid operated pump comprising a housing including first and second cylinders. First and second pistons are rigidly fixed to each other and situated in their respective cylinders, the cylinders alternately receiving pressurized fluid for operating the pump. The pump includes novel valving means and novel seals.

Fluid operated pump

A switching valve for delivering fluids from different inlets to a pumping outlet utilizes a pressure responsive spool movable due to a pressure differential in the inlets to one position wherein one of the inlets feeds the outlet and a second position wherein the other of the inlets feeds the outlet. The spool carries a pair of umbrella valves for effectively controlling the flow of fluid to the outlets as well as a pair of biasing springs acting on each side of a piston diaphragm which has limited travel on the spool. An adjustable detent arrangement is provided on the end of the spool to keep the spool travel balanced and cooperates with the springs to furnish a snap acting valve.

Switching valve

A vacuum controller for maintaining a defined vacuum pressure to a remote location, including a housing which defines a cavity. The controller includes means for connecting the cavity to the remote location, to a high vacuum, and to a control signal pressure. There is a cup-shaped plunger, having an opening in its side wall, which is adapted to reciprocate in the cavity, and there is a flexible diaphragm which seals between the housing and the plunger. The diaphragm also operates as a valving mechanism, such that, when the plunger moves in one direction, the diaphragm closes off the opening in the side wall of the plunger, and when the plunger moves in the other direction, it opens the opening. There is a check valve in said controller to prevent inversion of the diaphragms.

Rolling diaphragm vacuum control with check valve

A vacuum controller for maintaining a defined vacuum pressure to a remote location, including a housing which defines a cavity. The controller includes means for connecting the cavity to the remote location, to a high vacuum, and to a control signal pressure. There is a cup-shaped plunger, having an opening in its side wall, which is adapted to reciprocate in the cavity, and there is a flexible diaphragm which seals between the housing and the plunger. The diaphragm also operates as a valving mechanism, such that, when the plunger moves in one direction, the diaphragm closes off the opening in the side wall of the plunger, and when the plunger moves in the other direction, it opens the opening.

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Winchester, MA, United States of America

Christos Athanassiu