Minutes, 31 Jan 2001 Gen Engineering Meeting

-A new position for the 500L helium dewar has been selected.  It will now
be positioned beam right of the target on the new lower platform.  This
position will avoid having to rotate the target 180 deg.

-All decking and support beams for the new lower platform are on order.
An order for the railing and legs for the platform is ready to go out.

-CAD studies show that the HMS can rotate to at least 35deg without
hitting anything.  By allowing part of the HMS to overhang the lower
platform, even greater angles are possible.  Just how large an angle is to
be examined.

-Work is progressing on a new stand for the neutron detector.  Two
H-shaped shims will be inserted between bars as they are stacked, and then
vertical beams (4 total) will clamp on to them (in the "troughs" of the H)
and support the entire plane.  To replace a bar, lay the plane flat and
unbolt the two beams on the side facing up.

-Current plans are to construct a beam dump in the hall upstream of the
tunnel that leads to the regular dump.  This new dump would consist of a
copper absorber inside a cave of 52" concrete blocks 5 high, 3 wide and 3
deep.  This approach is approved by radcon but was not what those present
at the meeting would prefer.  In addition, rails on the floor being
installed for the G zero experiment would complicate situating the
concrete blocks.  A discussion with radcon will be started to see if
alternative designs would satisfy their requirements.

-Discussion also turned to the hut for the neutron detector.  A plan was
presented for arranging the blocks to suit both q-squared points, and for
what parts of the existing hut may be preserved.  During this discussion,
it was realized that if the Q^2=1 position was run first, then the switch
to the Q^2=0.5 position, and resulting rearrangement of the neutron
detector hut, could take place during the october shutdown.  There are, of
course, many aspects determining the run plan, but this idea did attract
interest and will be investigated further.