Patents by Inventor Earl F. Saito

Earl F. Saito 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: 11437159
    Abstract: Casks shield materials and passively remove heat via heat transport paths from deep inside to outside the cask. The transport path may be heat pipes and conductive rods that are non-linear so that radiation is always shielded by the cask. A damper may surround an end of the heat transport path to control heat loss from the cask. A jacket of fluid or meltable material that conducts heat by convection may surround stored materials ensure an even temperature within the cask, and the heat transport path may absorb heat from the jacket. Casks are useable to safely store, transport, and dispose of any sensitive or heat-generating material. Casks may be opened or closed to simultaneously load and offload materials at a consistent operating temperature provided by heaters in the cask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. Kmiec, Earl F. Saito, Eric Paul Loewen, David L. Major, Shirly Rodriguez Rojas, Kenneth E. Karcher
  • Publication number: 20210225542
    Abstract: Casks shield materials and passively remove heat via heat transport paths from deep inside to outside the cask. The transport path may be heat pipes and conductive rods that are non-linear so that radiation is always shielded by the cask. A damper may surround an end of the heat transport path to control heat loss from the cask. A jacket of fluid or meltable material that conducts heat by convection may surround stored materials ensure an even temperature within the cask, and the heat transport path may absorb heat from the jacket. Casks are useable to safely store, transport, and dispose of any sensitive or heat-generating material. Casks may be opened or closed to simultaneously load and offload materials at a consistent operating temperature provided by heaters in the cask.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Christopher P. Kmiec, Earl F. Saito, Eric Paul Loewen, David L. Major, Shirly Rodriguez Rojas, Kenneth E. Karcher
  • Patent number: 9330798
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods produce radioisotopes in instrumentation tubes of operating commercial nuclear reactors. Irradiation targets may be inserted and removed from instrumentation tubes during operation and converted to radioisotopes otherwise unavailable during operation of commercial nuclear reactors. Example apparatuses may continuously insert, remove, and store irradiation targets to be converted to useable radioisotopes or other desired materials at several different origin and termination points accessible outside an access barrier such as a containment building, drywell wall, or other access restriction preventing access to instrumentation tubes during operation of the nuclear plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC
    Inventors: Yogeshwar Dayal, Earl F. Saito, John F. Berger, Martin W. Brittingham, Stephen K. Morales, Jeffrey M. Hare
  • Patent number: 9196390
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an irradiation target encapsulation assembly, includes a container, at least one first irradiation target disposed in the container, at least one second irradiation target disposed in the container, and a positioning structure configured to position the first irradiation target closer to an axial center of the container than the second irradiation target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: GE-HITACHI NUCLEAR ENERGY AMERICAS LLC
    Inventors: Bradley D. Bloomquist, Christopher J. Monetta, Earl F. Saito
  • Publication number: 20130315361
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods produce radioisotopes in multiple instrumentation tubes of operating commercial nuclear reactors. Irradiation targets may be inserted and removed from multiple instrumentation tubes during operation and converted to radioisotopes otherwise unavailable during operation of commercial nuclear reactors. Example apparatuses may continuously insert, remove, and store irradiation targets to be converted to useable radioisotopes or other desired materials at several different origin and termination points accessible outside an access barrier such as a containment building, drywell wall, or other access restriction preventing access to instrumentation tubes during operation of the nuclear plant. Example systems can simultaneously maintain irradiation targets in multiple instrumentation tubes for desired irradiation followed by harvesting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Inventors: John F. Berger, Earl F. Saito, Yogeshwar Dayal, Martin W. Brittingham, Jeffrey M. Hare
  • Publication number: 20130170927
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods produce radioisotopes in instrumentation tubes of operating commercial nuclear reactors. Irradiation targets may be inserted and removed from instrumentation tubes during operation and converted to radioisotopes otherwise unavailable during operation of commercial nuclear reactors. Example apparatuses may continuously insert, remove, and store irradiation targets to be converted to useable radioisotopes or other desired materials at several different origin and termination points accessible outside an access barrier such as a containment building, drywell wall, or other access restriction preventing access to instrumentation tubes during operation of the nuclear plant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Inventors: Yogeshwar Dayal, Earl F. Saito, John F. Berger, Martin W. Brittingham, Stephen K. Morales, Jeffrey M. Hare
  • Publication number: 20130077725
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an irradiation target encapsulation assembly, includes a container, at least one first irradiation target disposed in the container, at least one second irradiation target disposed in the container, and a positioning structure configured to position the first irradiation target closer to an axial center of the container than the second irradiation target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: GE-HITACHI NUCLEAR ENERGY AMERICAS LLC
    Inventors: Bradley D. Bloomquist, Christopher J. Monetta, Earl F. Saito