This describes a fuel assembly for utilizing plutonium fuel in combination with other nuclear fuel in a nuclear reactor core. The plutonium fuel is placed in a separate zone in the fuel assembly to take advantage of the characteristics of the plutonium fuel. Fuel costs may be reduced by mixing the plutonium fuel with natural or depleted uranium. Fabrication costs can be minimized by placing the plutonium in less than all of the fuel elements of the assembly.

A booster utilizing fluid pressure which is provided with a power piston disposed between a constant-pressure chamber and a variable-pressure chamber for being actuated by the pressure difference between the two chambers, a control valve actuated by shifting operation of the input member for producing the pressure difference between the constant-pressure chamber and the variable-pressure chamber, a control member disposed, being in connection with the control valve, relatively movably to the pow...

An improved ejector utilizing a vortex flow for pumping a fluid. The ejector includes a funnel shaped fluid chamber circumscribing a longitudinal axis and converging from a wide end to a narrow end. A venturi-like throat circumscribing the longitudinal axis is in fluid communication with the narrow end of the funnel shaped chamber. A pair of diametrically opposed fluid inlets are disposed in the wide end of the chamber for directing a driver fluid tangentially into the wide end of the funnel sha...

In the manufacture of plastic articles, particularly thermoset plastic sheets having good optical properties, by a process which involves forming the article on a surface to which the article tends to adhere, numerous and important advantages are realized by using, as a release agent which facilitates removal of the article from the surface, a salt of an addition product of a lower alkylene oxide which can be prepared by the fixation of a lower alkylene oxide on an organic material having a grou...

A system for recovering and utilizing vapor from a source of vapor has a vapor holder for storing a quantity of vapor from the source of vapor. Also included is a condenser coupled to the vapor holder for receiving and condensing at least partially, vapor from the vapor holder. The system also has an engine and a generator driven by the engine for generating electrical power. The engine has an engine intake coupled to the condenser and an exhaust outlet. This engine is powered at least partially...

A filter apparatus includes an enclosure defining a plurality of cavities. A pair of resonators are located in a corresponding pair of the cavities. The filter apparatus further includes an elongated coupling structure operatively interposed between the pair of resonators. The elongated coupling structure is spaced from each of those resonators uniformly along its length.

A matrix is used to prepare a mold of an elastomeric material. A polymerizable compound is coated onto a flexible, thin substrate such as Mylar and is placed with compound side in intimate contact with the mold. The compound is cured and is bonded to the substrate. The cured combination is stripped from the mold and is given a metallic coating to improve reflectivity. A clear plastic coating may be applied to protect the metal surface.

A cryogenic fuel powered vehicle is disclosed. A cryogenic fuel, such as liquid nitrogen or other liquified gases, is stored in a container at a selected pressure. The apparatus includes a suitable container, a heat exchanger for adding heat to the cryogenic liquid to cause it to expand and convert to gas, a valving apparatus which controls the rate of flow of the expanded gas, and a power plant formed of at least one cylinder having a double acting piston. The double acting piston has inlet and...

An assay for the presence of an analyte or determining a biological or medical parameter comprising the steps of adding an assay component to a pH-sensitive material charged with magnetic particles, wherein the assay component causes a pH change which is a function of the analyte or parameter to be measured; subjecting the magnetic particles to an oscillating magnetic field; and measuring the effect of the magnetic field on the magnetic particles. The assay is an enzyme immunoassay. A kit for pr...

Ferrophosphorus is utilized. To this end, a melt of ferrophosphorus is reacted with a melt of calcium silicide so as to obtain ferrosilicon and calcium phosphide.