Patents by Inventor Bob G. Smith

Bob G. Smith has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Inlet nozzle assembly
    Patent number: 4654194
    Abstract: An inlet nozzle assembly for directing coolant into the duct tube of a fuel assembly attached thereto. The nozzle assembly includes a shell for housing separable components including an orifice plate assembly, a neutron shield block, a neutron shield plug, and a diffuser block. The orifice plate assembly includes a plurality of stacked plates of differently configurated and sized openings for directing coolant therethrough in a predesigned flow pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1987
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: David W. Christiansen, Richard A. Karnesky, Donald R. Precechtel, Bob G. Smith, Ronald C. Knight
  • Nuclear reactor fuel assembly duct-tube-to-handling-socket attachment system
    Patent number: 4366116
    Abstract: A reusable system for removably attaching the upper end 10of a nuclear reactor duct tube to the lower end 30 of a nuclear reactor fuel assembly handling socket. A transition ring 20, fixed to the duct tube's upper end 10, has an interior-threaded section 22 with a first locking hole segment 24. An adaptor ring 40, fixed to the handling socket's lower end 30 has an outside-threaded section 42 with a second locking hole segment 44. The inside 22 and outside 42 threaded sections match and can be joined so that the first 24 and second 44 locking hole segments can be aligned to form a locking hole. A locking ring 50, with a locking pin 52, slides over the adaptor ring 40 so that the locking pin 52 fits in the locking hole. A swage lock 60 or a cantilever finger lock 70 is formed from the locking cup collar 26 to fit in a matching groove 54 or 56 in the locking ring 50 to prevent the locking ring's locking pin 52 from backing out of the locking hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1982
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: David W. Christiansen, Bob G. Smith
  • Nuclear reactor fuel assembly duct-tube-to-inlet-nozzle attachment system
    Patent number: 4348353
    Abstract: A reusable system for removably attaching the lower end 21 of a nuclear reactor fuel assembly duct tube to an upper end 11 of a nuclear reactor fuel assembly inlet nozzle. The duct tube's lower end 21 has sides terminating in locking tabs 22 which end in inwardly-extending flanges 23. The flanges 23 engage recesses 13 in the top section 12 of the inlet nozzle's upper end 11. A retaining collar 30 slides over the inlet nozzle's upper end 11 to restrain the flanges 23 in the recesses 13. A locking nut 40 has an inside threaded portion 41 which engages an outside threaded portion 15 of the inlet nozzle's upper end 11 to secure the retaining collar 30 against protrusions 24 on the duct tube's sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1982
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: David W. Christiansen, Bob G. Smith