Patents by Inventor Carlton Wayne Clark
Carlton Wayne Clark 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).
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Patent number: 9362009Abstract: An isotope production target rod for a power generating nuclear reactor is provided. The isotope production target rod can include at least one rod central body including an outer shell that defines an internal cavity and a plurality of irradiation targets within the internal cavity. The irradiation targets can be positioned in a spatial arrangement utilizing a low nuclear cross-section separating medium to maintain the spatial arrangement.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2007Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: GE-HITACHI NUCLEAR ENERGY AMERICAS LLCInventors: William Earl Russell, II, Christopher J. Monetta, Russell Patrick Higgins, Vernon W. Mills, David Grey Smith, Carlton Wayne Clark, Michael S. DeFilippis
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Patent number: 9202598Abstract: A fuel bundle for a nuclear reactor core is provided. The fuel bundle may include a plurality of rods comprised of nuclear fuel rods and/or isotope production rods. Each rod includes a plurality of interconnected rod segments, wherein at least two of the rod segments of at least one rod have different outside diameters. The fuel bundle may additionally include a plurality of rod spacer grids securely retained between axially adjacent, interconnected rod segments. The rod spacer grids interconnected between axially adjacent rod segments form an array of substantially equally spaced rods. The fuel bundle may further include an elongate tubular channel in which the arrayed rods are housed.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2007Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: GE-HITACHI NUCLEAR ENERGY AMERICAS LLCInventors: William Earl Russell, II, Christopher J. Monetta, John D. Fuller, Lukas Trosman, David Grey Smith, Carlton Wayne Clark, Robert Bryant James
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Patent number: 8385497Abstract: A method to confine a nuclear reactor fuel bundle assembly including: inserting a lower portion of the fuel bundle assembly into an open end of a lower fuel particle barrier; supporting the lower portion of the fuel bundle with the lower fuel particle barrier; grasping the lower portion of the fuel bundle assembly with the lower fuel particle barrier; lowering an upper fuel particle barrier over an upper tie plate of the fuel bundle assembly; moving at least a portion of a handle fixed to the upper tie plate through an open slot in the upper fuel particle barrier; closing the open slot with a closure device after the handle passes through the slot, and preventing fuel particles being released from the nuclear reactor fuel bundle assembly by the upper and lower fuel particle barriers.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2011Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: Global Nuclear Fuel Americas, LLCInventors: Paul Everett Cantonwine, Andrew K. Langston, Charles B. Patterson, Jr., Johnny R. Skipper, Alexander Michael Hay, Carlton Wayne Clark, David Grey Smith
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Patent number: 8208597Abstract: A nuclear reactor fuel bundle confinement system including: a fuel bundle with an upper tie plate; a channel enclosing the fuel bundle; a handle for the fuel bundle extending above the fuel bundle; an upper fuel particle barrier positioned over the upper tie plate and above the fuel rods, wherein the fuel particle barrier has a permeable panel at least co-extensive with an open area of the upper tie plate; a slot in the permeable panel through which passes the handle, and a closure device on the fuel particle barrier having a closed position which covers the slot and an open position that leaves the slot open; a lower fuel particle barrier positioned over the lower tie plate and below the fuel rods, wherein the lower portion of the fuel bundle assembly is grasped by the lower fuel particle barrier.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2008Date of Patent: June 26, 2012Assignee: Global Nuclear Fuel - Americas, LLCInventors: Paul Everett Cantonwine, Andrew K. Langston, Charles B. Patterson, Jr., Johnny R. Skipper, Alexander Michael Hay, Carlton Wayne Clark, David Grey Smith
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Publication number: 20120093274Abstract: A method to confine a nuclear reactor fuel bundle assembly including: inserting a lower portion of the fuel bundle assembly into an open end of a lower fuel particle barrier; supporting the lower portion of the fuel bundle with the lower fuel particle barrier; grasping the lower portion of the fuel bundle assembly with the lower fuel particle barrier; lowering an upper fuel particle barrier over an upper tie plate of the fuel bundle assembly; moving at least a portion of a handle fixed to the upper tie plate through an open slot in the upper fuel particle barrier; closing the open slot with a closure device after the handle passes through the slot, and preventing fuel particles being released from the nuclear reactor fuel bundle assembly by the upper and lower fuel particle barriers.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2011Publication date: April 19, 2012Applicant: GLOBAL NUCLEAR FUEL - AMERICAS, LLCInventors: Paul Everett Cantonwine, Andrew K. Langston, Charles B. Patterson, JR., Johnny R. Skipper, Alexander Michael Hay, Carlton Wayne Clark, David Grey Smith
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Patent number: 8109400Abstract: Example embodiments are directed toward industrial packages. Example embodiments may meet several packaging requirements for different modes of transport, including both roadway and flight regulations such as Department of Transportation (DOT) Class 7 requirements for ground transport of radioactive materials and International Air Transport Association (IATA) Regulations for air transport of radioactive materials. Example embodiments may include integrated bumpers, specialized bottom tube skids, lid lattice support, multiple gasket pressurization seal, corner reinforcement, and/or multiple shielding and modular interior components.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2007Date of Patent: February 7, 2012Assignee: Global Nuclear Fuel-Americas, LLC.Inventors: Andrew K. Langston, Carlton Wayne Clark, David Grey Smith, Thomas C. Ware, William A. Scott
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Publication number: 20100027733Abstract: A nuclear reactor fuel bundle confinement system including: a fuel bundle with an upper tie plate; a channel enclosing the fuel bundle; a handle for the fuel bundle extending above the fuel bundle; an upper fuel particle barrier positioned over the upper tie plate and above the fuel rods, wherein the fuel particle barrier has a permeable panel at least co-extensive with an open area of the upper tie plate; a slot in the permeable panel through which passes the handle, and a closure device on the fuel particle barrier having a closed position which covers the slot and an open position that leaves the slot open; a lower fuel particle barrier positioned over the lower tie plate and below the fuel rods, wherein the lower portion of the fuel bundle assembly is grasped by the lower fuel particle barrier.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2008Publication date: February 4, 2010Applicant: GLOBAL NUCLEAR FUEL - AMERICAS, LLCInventors: Paul Everett Cantonwine, Andrew K. Langston, Charles B. Patterson, Jr., Johnny R. Skipper, Alexander Michael Hay, Carlton Wayne Clark, David Grey Smith
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Publication number: 20090145907Abstract: Example embodiments are directed toward industrial packages. Example embodiments may meet several packaging requirements for different modes of transport, including both roadway and flight regulations such as Department of Transportation (DOT) Class 7 requirements for ground transport of radioactive materials and International Air Transport Association (IATA) Regulations for air transport of radioactive materials. Example embodiments may include integrated bumpers, specialized bottom tube skids, lid lattice support, multiple gasket pressurization seal, corner reinforcement, and/or multiple shielding and modular interior components.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2007Publication date: June 11, 2009Inventors: Andrew K. Langston, Carlton Wayne Clark, David Grey Smith, Thomas C. Ware, William A. Scott
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Publication number: 20090135983Abstract: An isotope production target rod for a power generating nuclear reactor is provided. The isotope production target rod can include at least one rod central body including an outer shell that defines an internal cavity and a plurality of irradiation targets within the internal cavity. The irradiation targets can be positioned in a spatial arrangement utilizing a low nuclear cross-section separating medium to maintain the spatial arrangement.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2007Publication date: May 28, 2009Applicant: GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLCInventors: William Earl Russell, II, Christopher J. Monetta, Russell Patrick Higgins, Vernon W. Mills, David Grey Smith, Carlton Wayne Clark, Michael S. DeFilippis
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Publication number: 20090135989Abstract: Example embodiments are directed to a fuel rod design using segmented fuel rods that mechanically confine spacer plates to constant axial positions. Example embodiment spacer plates may be placed at axial connection points between fuel rod segments, and, when the fuel rod segments are mated, example embodiment spacer plates may be mechanically held by the mating.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2007Publication date: May 28, 2009Inventors: William Earl Russell, II, Christopher J. Monetta, Carlton Wayne Clark, Robert Bryant James, David Grey Smith
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Publication number: 20090135988Abstract: A fuel bundle for a nuclear reactor core is provided. The fuel bundle may include a plurality of rods comprised of nuclear fuel rods and/or isotope production rods. Each rod includes a plurality of interconnected rod segments, wherein at least two of the rod segments of at least one rod have different outside diameters. The fuel bundle may additionally include a plurality of rod spacer grids securely retained between axially adjacent, interconnected rod segments. The rod spacer grids interconnected between axially adjacent rod segments form an array of substantially equally spaced rods. The fuel bundle may further include an elongate tubular channel in which the arrayed rods are housed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2007Publication date: May 28, 2009Applicant: GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLCInventors: William Earl Russell, II, Christopher J. Monetta, John D. Fuller, Lukas Trosman, David Grey Smith, Carlton Wayne Clark, Robert Bryant James