In this section, the following term is used with the meaning indicated:
"variable" (as a noun) means a feature or property (e.g., a dimension, a physical condition such as temperature, a quality such as density or colour) which, in respect of a particular entity (e.g., an object, a quantity of a substance, a beam of light) and at a particular instant, is capable of being measured; the variable may change, so that its numerical expression may assume different values at different times, in different conditions or in individual cases, but may be constant in respect of a particular entity in certain conditions or for practical purposes (e.g., the length of a bar may be regarded as constant for many purposes).
Attention is drawn to the definitions of terms or expressions used, appearing in the notes of several of the classes in this section, in particular those of "measuring" in class Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G01 and "control" and "regulation" in class Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G05.
Classification in this section may present more difficulty than in other sections, because the distinction between different fields of use rests to a considerable extent on differences in the intention of the user rather than on any constructional differences or differences in the manner of use, and because the subjects dealt with are often in effect systems or combinations, which have features or parts in common, rather than "things", which are readily distinguishable as a whole. For example, information (e.g., a set of figures) may be displayed for the purpose of education or advertising (Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G09), for enabling the result of a measurement to be known (Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G01), for signalling the information to a distant point or for giving information which has been signalled from a distant point (Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G08). The words used to describe the purpose depend on features that may be irrelevant to the form of the apparatus concerned, for example, such features as the desired effect on the person who sees the display, or whether the display is controlled from a remote point. Again, a device which responds to some change in a condition, e.g., in the pressure of a fluid, may be used, without modification of the device itself, to give information about the pressure (Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G01L) or about some other condition linked to the pressure (another subclass of class Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G01, e.g., Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G01K for temperature), to make a record of the pressure or of its occurrence (Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G07C), to give an alarm (Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G08B), or to control another apparatus (Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G05).
The classification scheme is intended to enable things of a similar nature (as indicated above) to be classified together. It is therefore particularly necessary for the real nature of any technical subject to be decided before it can be properly classified.
by a combination of a variable derived from neutron flux with other controlling variables, e.g. derived from temperature, cooling flow, pressure
G21D 3/12
· ·
by adjustment of the reactor in response only to changes in engine demand
G21D 3/14
· · ·
Varying flow of coolant
G21D 3/16
· · ·
Varying reactivity
G21D 3/18
· ·
by adjustment of plant external to the reactor only in response to change in reactivity
P:20
G21D 5/00
Arrangements of reactor and engine in which reactor-produced heat is converted into mechanical energy
G21D 5/02
·
Reactor and engine structurally combined, e.g. portable
G21D 5/04
·
Reactor and engine not structurally combined
G21D 5/06
· ·
with engine working medium circulating through reactor core
G21D 5/08
· ·
with engine working medium heated in a heat exchanger by the reactor coolant
G21D 5/10
· · ·
Liquid working medium partially heated by reactor and vaporised by heat source external to the core, e.g. with oil heating
G21D 5/12
· · ·
Liquid working medium vaporised by reactor coolant
G21D 5/14
· · · ·
and also superheated by reactor coolant
G21D 5/16
· · · ·
superheated by separate heat source
P:10
G21D 7/00
Arrangements for direct production of electric energy from fusion or fission reactions (obtaining electric energy from radioactive sources Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G21H 1/00)