Patents by Inventor Donald S. Rampolla

Donald S. Rampolla 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).

  • Patent number: 5062186
    Abstract: A quick-sealing assembly and method for forming an adhesive seal on opposite sides of a mechanical seal for a flexible containment bag of the type used for working with radioactively contaminated objects. The assembly includes an elongated mechanical fastener having opposing engaging members affixed at a predetermined distance from each of the elongated edges, with an adhesive layer formed between the mechanical fastener and the elongated edge such that upon engagement of the mechanical fastener and adhesive layers to opposing containment fabric, a neat triple hermetic seal is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1991
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Donald S. Rampolla, Elmer Speer
  • Patent number: 4344912
    Abstract: A process of recycling protactinium-231 to enhance the utilization of radioactively hot uranium-232 in nuclear fuel for the purpose of making both fresh and spent fuel more resistant to proliferation. The uranium-232 may be obtained by the irradiation of protactinium-231 which is normally found in the spent fuel rods of a thorium base nuclear reactor. The production of protactinium-231 and uranium-232 would be made possible by the use of the thorium uranium-233 fuel cycle in power reactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1982
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Donald S. Rampolla