Patents by Inventor John L. Lyons
John L. Lyons 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: 11923099Abstract: An igniter apparatus which generates a high speed buoyancy induced vortex to funnel hydrogen and air from the surrounding onto the “igniter core” where an “igniter core” heats up to the auto ignition temperature by the exothermic catalytic oxidation of hydrogen on its surface. Water (vapor) is formed as the product, which inhibits the oxidation reaction, if not stripped away from the catalyst surface. The high velocity of the vortex ensures the stripping of the boundary layer of steam that is formed by the reaction, thus ensuring more active sites are available for hydrogen oxidation. The vortex is formed by channeling an upward draft into a vortex by guided fins. The upward draft is formed by a plate, which is also coated with a hydrogen recombination catalyst. The plate becomes hot by the same catalytic oxidation reaction in the presence of air containing hydrogen.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2020Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Yasir Arafat, John L. Lyons
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Patent number: 11373766Abstract: A rotation apparatus is usable with a control drum in a nuclear environment. The control drum is situated on a shaft that is rotatable about a horizontal axis of rotation, and the control drum includes an absorber portion and a reflector portion. The rotation apparatus includes a rotation mechanism that is structured to apply to the shaft in an operational position a force that biases the shaft to rotate toward a shutdown position, with the force being resisted by a motor to retain the shaft in the operational position when the motor is powered. The force is not resisted when the motor is unpowered. The rotation apparatus further includes a rotation management system that controls the rotation of the shaft.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2020Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: John L. Lyons, Yasir Arafat, Jurie Van Wyk, Luke D. Czerniak, James L. Yankel, Matthew R. Heisel
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Publication number: 20210354993Abstract: Methods and systems for separation of thorium from uranium and their decay products are provided. The method comprises combining a nuclear fuel feedstock comprising thorium and uranium with a first acid to form a first solution. The first solution is contacted an ion exchange resin that is selective for thorium or uranium. The thorium or uranium is at least partially removed from the first solution by binding the thorium or uranium to the ion exchange resin thereby forming a second solution. The second solution is combined with oxalic acid to precipitate uranium or thorium from the second solution to form a precipitate. The precipitate is separated from the second solution.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2020Publication date: November 18, 2021Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: John L. LYONS, Edward J. LAHODA, Michael R. ICKES, Daniel C. FLAHIVE, Frank C. GIFT, JR., William F. LENZKE
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Publication number: 20210082588Abstract: An igniter apparatus which generates a high speed buoyancy induced vortex to funnel hydrogen and air from the surrounding onto the “igniter core” where an “igniter core” heats up to the auto ignition temperature by the exothermic catalytic oxidation of hydrogen on its surface. Water (vapor) is formed as the product, which inhibits the oxidation reaction, if not stripped away from the catalyst surface. The high velocity of the vortex ensures the stripping of the boundary layer of steam that is formed by the reaction, thus ensuring more active sites are available for hydrogen oxidation. The vortex is formed by channeling an upward draft into a vortex by guided fins. The upward draft is formed by a plate, which is also coated with a hydrogen recombination catalyst. The plate becomes hot by the same catalytic oxidation reaction in the presence of air containing hydrogen.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2020Publication date: March 18, 2021Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Yasir ARAFAT, John L. LYONS
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Publication number: 20200395134Abstract: A rotation apparatus is usable with a control drum in a nuclear environment. The control drum is situated on a shaft that is rotatable about a horizontal axis of rotation, and the control drum includes an absorber portion and a reflector portion. The rotation apparatus includes a rotation mechanism that is structured to apply to the shaft in an operational position a force that biases the shaft to rotate toward a shutdown position, with the force being resisted by a motor to retain the shaft in the operational position when the motor is powered. The force is not resisted when the motor is unpowered.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2020Publication date: December 17, 2020Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: John L. LYONS, Yasir ARAFAT, Jurie VAN WYK, Luke D. CZERNIAK, James L. YANKEL, Matthew R. HEISEL
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Patent number: 10839966Abstract: An igniter apparatus which generates a high speed buoyancy induced vortex to funnel hydrogen and air from the surrounding onto the “igniter core” where an “igniter core” heats up to the auto ignition temperature by the exothermic catalytic oxidation of hydrogen on its surface. Water (vapor) is formed as the product, which inhibits the oxidation reaction, if not stripped away from the catalyst surface. The high velocity of the vortex ensures the stripping of the boundary layer of steam that is formed by the reaction, thus ensuring more active sites are available for hydrogen oxidation. The vortex is formed by channeling an upward draft into a vortex by guided fins. The upward draft is formed by a plate, which is also coated with a hydrogen recombination catalyst. The plate becomes hot by the same catalytic oxidation reaction in the presence of air containing hydrogen.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2017Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Yasir Arafat, John L. Lyons
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Patent number: 10790066Abstract: A rotation apparatus is usable with a control drum in a nuclear environment. The control drum is situated on a shaft that is rotatable about a horizontal axis of rotation, and the control drum includes an absorber portion and a reflector portion. The rotation apparatus includes a rotation mechanism that is structured to apply to the shaft in an operational position a force that biases the shaft to rotate toward a shutdown position, with the force being resisted by a motor to retain the shaft in the operational position when the motor is powered. The force is not resisted when the motor is unpowered. The rotation apparatus further includes a rotation management system that controls the rotation of the shaft.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2017Date of Patent: September 29, 2020Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: John L. Lyons, Yasir Arafat, Jurie Van Wyk, Luke D. Czerniak, James L. Yankel, Matthew R. Heisel
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Publication number: 20190172594Abstract: A rotation apparatus is usable with a control drum in a nuclear environment. The control drum is situated on a shaft that is rotatable about a horizontal axis of rotation, and the control drum includes an absorber portion and a reflector portion. The rotation apparatus includes a rotation mechanism that is structured to apply to the shaft in an operational position a force that biases the shaft to rotate toward a shutdown position, with the force being resisted by a motor to retain the shaft in the operational position when the motor is powered. The force is not resisted when the motor is unpowered.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2017Publication date: June 6, 2019Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: John L. Lyons, Yasir Arafat, Jurie Van Wyk, Luke D. Czerniak, James L. Yankel, Matthew R. Heisel
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Publication number: 20180330834Abstract: An igniter apparatus which generates a high speed buoyancy induced vortex to funnel hydrogen and air from the surrounding onto the “igniter core” where an “igniter core” heats up to the auto ignition temperature by the exothermic catalytic oxidation of hydrogen on its surface. Water (vapor) is formed as the product, which inhibits the oxidation reaction, if not stripped away from the catalyst surface. The high velocity of the vortex ensures the stripping of the boundary layer of steam that is formed by the reaction, thus ensuring more active sites are available for hydrogen oxidation. The vortex is formed by channeling an upward draft into a vortex by guided fins. The upward draft is formed by a plate, which is also coated with a hydrogen recombination catalyst. The plate becomes hot by the same catalytic oxidation reaction in the presence of air containing hydrogen.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2017Publication date: November 15, 2018Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Yasir Arafat, John L. Lyons