140 patents
Page 3 of 7
Utility
Functionally Graded Lattice Cermet Fuel Structure with Shape Corresponding to a Mathematically-based Periodic Solid, Particularly for Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Applications
3 Nov 22
Nuclear propulsion fission reactor structure has an active core region including fuel element structures, a reflector with rotatable neutron absorber structures (such as drum absorbers), and a core former conformal mating the outer surface of the fuel element structures to the reflector.
Benjamin D. FISHER, John R. SALASIN, Craig D. GRAMLICH, Jonathan K. WITTER
Filed: 29 Jun 22
Utility
Space Nuclear Propulsion Reactor Aft Plenum Assembly
27 Oct 22
An aft plenum assembly for use with a nuclear thermal reactor including a pressure vessel and a nozzle assembly having a top plenum plate disposed within the pressure vessel, the top plenum plate defining a first plurality of fuel flow apertures, a bottom plenum plate disposed within the pressure vessel, the bottom plenum plate being parallel to the top plenum plate thereby defining a plenum space therebetween, the bottom plenum plate defining a second plurality of fuel flow apertures, and a plurality of tubular connections extending between the first plurality of fuel flow apertures of the top plenum plate and the second plurality of fuel flow apertures of the bottom plenum plate, wherein the aft plenum assembly is disposed between the pressure vessel and the nozzle assembly.
Matthew W. Ales, Emily D. Fleming, Ted L. Thome
Filed: 27 Apr 22
Utility
Metal Carbide/nitride Precipitation Control In Fusion Welding
13 Oct 22
Properties and performance of weld material between metals in a weldment is controlled by modifying one or more of the nitrogen content and the carbon content to produce carbide (e.g.
Frank A. ARGENTINE
Filed: 23 Jun 22
Utility
Space reactor gas assist control rod release mechanism
11 Oct 22
A control rod assembly for a nuclear reactor having a reactor core and a pressurized fluid source, including a control rod disposed within a control rod sleeve, a lead screw that is selectively secured to the control rod, a trip latch that is secured to a bottom end of the lead screw, the trip latch being selectively securable to a top end of the control rod, a control rod drive motor that is operably connected to the lead screw, and a valve that is in fluid communication with the pressurized fluid source of the nuclear reactor and is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the second position of the gas valve the trip latch is in an open position.
James Brian Inman, Gary W. Neeley
Filed: 21 May 20
Utility
Tube support system for nuclear steam generators
20 Sep 22
Apparatus for a steam generator that employs tube support plates within a shroud that is in turn disposed within a shell.
Richard G. Klarner, Robert S. Horvath, Ghasem V. Asadi, Paul W. Shipp
Filed: 29 Aug 16
Utility
Universal inverted reactor
6 Sep 22
Fission reactor has a shell encompassing a reactor space within which are a central longitudinal channel, a plurality of axially extending rings with adjacent rings defining an annular cylindrical space in which a first plurality of primary axial tubes are circumferential located.
William E. Russell, II, Joshua J. Bergman, Jonathan W. Cirtain, Craig D. Gramlich, James B. Inman, Matthew P. Levasseur, Joseph K. Miller, Ryan Z. Ziegler
Filed: 20 Jun 19
Utility
Pressurized Water Reactor with Upper Vessel Section Providing Both Pressure and Flow Control
1 Sep 22
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 integral pressurizer.
Scott J. Shargots
Filed: 11 Jan 21
Utility
Functionally graded lattice cermet fuel structure with shape corresponding to a mathematically-based periodic solid, particularly for nuclear thermal propulsion applications
23 Aug 22
Nuclear propulsion fission reactor structure has an active core region including fuel element structures, a reflector with rotatable neutron absorber structures (such as drum absorbers), and a core former conformal mating the outer surface of the fuel element structures to the reflector.
Benjamin D. Fisher, John R. Salasin, Craig D. Gramlich, Jonathan K. Witter
Filed: 31 Mar 20
Utility
Defective fuel bundle location system
23 Aug 22
A defective fuel bundle location system for use with a heavy water moderated nuclear fission reactor having a fueling machine, including a test tool defining an internal volume, the test tool being configured to be received within both the fueling machine and a corresponding fuel channel of the reactor, and a test container defining an internal volume, wherein the test container is configured to be received within the internal volume of the test tool and the internal volume of the test container is configured to receive primary fluid from the reactor when the test tool is disposed within the corresponding fuel channel of the reactor.
Thomas G. Onderwater
Filed: 8 Oct 20
Utility
Metal carbide/nitride precipitation control in fusion welding
16 Aug 22
Properties and performance of weld material between metals in a weldment is controlled by modifying one or more of the nitrogen content and the carbon content to produce carbide (e.g.
Frank A. Argentine
Filed: 4 Dec 19
Utility
Apparatus for desuperheating high temperature, high velocity steam
2 Aug 22
A desuperheating spray chamber for use in a rocket exhaust recovery system for a nuclear thermal propulsion rocket, including a substantially-cylindrical outer tank with an upper end including an entrance port and two exhaust ports, a substantially-cylindrical shroud extending downwardly from an inner surface of the upper end of the tank, an annular inner spray ring that is both disposed within and concentric with the shroud; and an annular outer spray ring that is disposed between a side wall of the outer tank and the shroud, the annular outer ring being concentric with the shroud.
Robert Paul Martin, Jeremy Leslie Gustafson, Ryan Z. Ziegler, Charles Larry Fisher, James Brian Inman
Filed: 13 Jan 20
Utility
Control drum system for use with nuclear reactors
5 Jul 22
A control drum system for a nuclear reactor including a reactor core, including an ex-core reflector including a plurality of cylindrical apertures, a plurality of control drum assemblies, each control drum assembly including a drive shaft, a drum cylinder affixed to a bottom end of the drive shaft, and a planetary gear attached to a top end of the drive shaft, wherein each drum cylinder is rotatably received in a cylindrical aperture, a first control drum drive motor operably connected to a first control drum assembly, and an annular ring gear that is operably connected to the planetary gear of each of the control drum assemblies so that all the control drum assemblies rotate simultaneously.
James B. Inman, Scott J. Shargots, Gary W. Neeley
Filed: 17 Sep 20
Utility
Lower End Fitting Locating Pins
23 Jun 22
A nuclear reactor has a core installed on a lower core plate and formed from multiple fuel assemblies, each fuel assembly including a structural cage assembly.
Julius M. Ullmann, Lewis A. Walton, Mary W. Johnson
Filed: 9 Mar 22
Utility
Passive techniques for long-term reactor cooling
7 Jun 22
In a pressurized water reactor (PWR), emergency core cooling (ECC) responds to depressurization due to a vessel penetration break at the top of the pressure vessel by draining water from a body of water through an injection line into the pressure vessel.
John D. Malloy, III, Billy E. Bingham, Ronald C. Watson, Jason G. Williams, Matthew W. Ales, James B. Inman, Sean M. Boyle
Filed: 20 Jul 20
Utility
Deep Learning Based Image Enhancement for Additive Manufacturing
2 Jun 22
A method is provided for enhancing image resolution for sequences of 2-D images of additively manufactured products.
Simon MASON, Ryan Scott KITCHEN, Travis MCFALLS
Filed: 26 Nov 21
Utility
Spacer grid welding fixture
24 May 22
A spacer grid welding fixture comprises a frame sized to receive an assembled spacer grid comprising a first set of parallel straps and a second set of parallel straps oriented orthogonally to the first set of parallel straps, the first and second sets of parallel straps interlocked together by slots cut into the straps.
Roger D. Ridgeway, Jeffrey W. Austin, Jeffrey T. Lee
Filed: 20 Aug 20
Utility
Control rod drive mechanism (CRDM) mounting method for pressurized water reactors
24 May 22
A standoff supporting a control rod drive mechanism (CRDM) in a nuclear reactor is connected to a distribution plate which provides electrical power and hydraulics.
Scott J. Shargots
Filed: 14 Apr 20
Utility
Photon Propagation Modified Additive Manufacturing Compositions and Methods of Additive Manufacturing Using Same
5 May 22
Additive manufacturing compositions include low-absorbing particles or non-absorbing particles that have an absorbance for wavelengths of 300 nm to 700 nm that is equal to or greater than 0 Au and is less 1.0 Au, such as 0.001 Au≤absorbance≤0.7 Au.
John R. SALASIN, Benjamin D. FISHER
Filed: 1 Nov 21
Utility
Fission Reactor with Segmented Cladding Bodies Having Cladding Arms with Involute Curve Shape
5 May 22
Plurality of layers form a nuclear fission reactor structure, each layer having an inner segment body, an intermediate segment body, and an outer segment body (each segment body separated by an interface).
James B. INMAN, Joshua J. BERGMAN
Filed: 19 Jan 22
Utility
Lower end fitting locknut for nuclear fuel assembly
19 Apr 22
An apparatus including a lower end fitting having a top planar surface, a bottom planar surface, a counterbore defined therebetween, an opening extending from the counterbore to the top planar surface, and a lock recess that extends both radially outwardly from the counterbore and extends inwardly into the lower end fitting from the bottom planar surface.
Julius M. Ullmann, Lewis A. Walton, Mary W. Johnson
Filed: 27 Sep 18