Patents by Inventor Joshua C. Walter

Joshua C. Walter 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: 8529713
    Abstract: Illustrative embodiments provide systems, methods, apparatuses, and applications related to annealing nuclear fission reactor materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, LLC
    Inventors: Charles E. Ahlfeld, John Rogers Gilleland, Roderick A. Hyde, David G. McAlees, Jon David McWhirter, Ashok Odedra, Clarence T. Tegreene, Joshua C. Walter, Kevan D. Weaver, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., George B. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 8488734
    Abstract: Illustrative embodiments provide a nuclear fission reactor, a vented nuclear fission fuel module, methods therefor and a vented nuclear fission fuel module system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, LLC
    Inventors: Charles E. Ahlfeld, Pavel Hejzlar, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, David G. McAlees, Jon D. McWhirter, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Ashok Odedra, Clarence T. Tegreene, Joshua C. Walter, Kevan D. Weaver, Thomas Allan Weaver, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., George B. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 8453330
    Abstract: Embodiments include electromagnetic flow regulators for regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid, systems for regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid, methods of regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid, nuclear fission reactors, systems for regulating flow of an electrically conductive reactor coolant, methods of regulating flow of an electrically conductive reactor coolant in a nuclear fission reactor, and methods of fabricating an electromagnetic flow regulator for regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jon D. McWhirter, Ashok Odedra, Joshua C. Walter, Kevan D. Weaver, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8430129
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include electromagnetic flow regulators for regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid, systems for regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid, methods of regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid, nuclear fission reactors, systems for regulating flow of an electrically conductive reactor coolant, and methods of regulating flow of an electrically conductive reactor coolant in a nuclear fission reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jon D. McWhirter, Ashok Odedra, Joshua C. Walter, Kevan D. Weaver, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8397760
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include electromagnetic flow regulators for regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid, systems for regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid, methods of regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid, nuclear fission reactors, systems for regulating flow of an electrically conductive reactor coolant, and methods of regulating flow of an electrically conductive reactor coolant in a nuclear fission reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jon D. McWhirter, Ashok Odedra, Joshua C. Walter, Kevan D. Weaver, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20120257707
    Abstract: A nuclear fuel includes a volume of a nuclear fuel material defined by a surface, the nuclear fuel material including a plurality of grains, some of the plurality of grains having a characteristic length along at least one dimension that is smaller than or equal to a selected distance, wherein the selected distance is suitable for maintaining adequate diffusion of a fission product from a grain interior to a grain boundary in some of the grains, the nuclear fuel material including a boundary network configured to transport the fission product from at least one grain boundary of some of the grains to the surface of the volume of the nuclear fuel material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventors: Charles E. Ahlfeld, William W. Bowen, Roderick A. Hyde, Ronald L. Klueh, Sean M. McDeavitt, Joshua C. Walter, Steve R. Kirkendall
  • Publication number: 20120138179
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include electromagnetic flow regulators for regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid, systems for regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid, methods of regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid, nuclear fission reactors, systems for regulating flow of an electrically conductive reactor coolant, and methods of regulating flow of an electrically conductive reactor coolant in a nuclear fission reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jon D. McWhirter, Ashok Odedra, Joshua C. Walter, Kevan D. Weaver, Lowell L. Wood, JR.
  • Publication number: 20120131007
    Abstract: Computer implemented system and method for publishing evaluated information comprising collecting one or more sets of data from one or more users, generating one or more sets of augmented collected data by augmenting the one or more sets of data collected from the one or more users, wherein the augmenting the one or more sets of data includes implementing a typesetting function configured to associate identifier information with the collected one or more sets of data, detecting a request from the one or more users, providing at least one additional user at least a portion of the augmented collected data, wherein at least a portion of the provided augmented collected data includes identifier data associated with the one or more users, and assigning a recognized number to the augmented collected data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventors: Anton A. Bougaev, Aleksey Urmanov, Eugene Kolinko, Joshua C. Walter
  • Publication number: 20120085423
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include electromagnetic flow regulators for regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid, systems for regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid, methods of regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid, nuclear fission reactors, systems for regulating flow of an electrically conductive reactor coolant, and methods of regulating flow of an electrically conductive reactor coolant in a nuclear fission reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jon D. McWhirter, Ashok Odedra, Joshua C. Walter, Kevan D. Weaver, Lowell L. Wood, JR.
  • Publication number: 20120087455
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include electromagnetic flow regulators for regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid, systems for regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid, methods of regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid, nuclear fission reactors, systems for regulating flow of an electrically conductive reactor coolant, and methods of regulating flow of an electrically conductive reactor coolant in a nuclear fission reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jon D. McWhirter, Ashok Odedra, Joshua C. Walter, Kevan D. Weaver, Lowell L. Wood, JR.
  • Publication number: 20120085447
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include electromagnetic flow regulators for regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid, systems for regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid, methods of regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid, nuclear fission reactors, systems for regulating flow of an electrically conductive reactor coolant, and methods of regulating flow of an electrically conductive reactor coolant in a nuclear fission reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jon D. McWhirter, Ashok Odedra, Joshua C. Walter, Kevan D. Weaver, Lowell L. Wood, JR.
  • Publication number: 20120085448
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include electromagnetic flow regulators for regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid, systems for regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid, methods of regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid, nuclear fission reactors, systems for regulating flow of an electrically conductive reactor coolant, and methods of regulating flow of an electrically conductive reactor coolant in a nuclear fission reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jon D. McWhirter, Ashok Odedra, Joshua C. Walter, Kevan D. Weaver, Lowell L. Wood, JR.
  • Publication number: 20120085419
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include electromagnetic flow regulators for regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid, systems for regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid, methods of regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid, nuclear fission reactors, systems for regulating flow of an electrically conductive reactor coolant, and methods of regulating flow of an electrically conductive reactor coolant in a nuclear fission reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jon D. McWhirter, Ashok Odedra, Joshua C. Walter, Kevan D. Weaver, Lowell L. Wood, JR.
  • Publication number: 20120084970
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include electromagnetic flow regulators for regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid, systems for regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid, methods of regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid, nuclear fission reactors, systems for regulating flow of an electrically conductive reactor coolant, and methods of regulating flow of an electrically conductive reactor coolant in a nuclear fission reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jon D. McWhirter, Ashok Odedra, Joshua C. Walter, Kevan D. Weaver, Lowell L. Wood, JR.
  • Publication number: 20120082284
    Abstract: A method for determining a state of operational readiness of a fuel cell backup system of a nuclear reactor system includes monitoring a readiness state of a fuel cell system associated with a nuclear reactor system, and providing a readiness determination of the fuel cell system by comparing the monitored state of readiness of the fuel cell system to an established operating readiness state, the established operating readiness state a function of at least one characteristic of the nuclear reactor system. An apparatus includes a fuel cell monitoring system configured to monitor a readiness state of a fuel cell system associated with a nuclear reactor system, and a readiness determination system configured to provide a readiness determination of the fuel cell system by comparing the monitored state of readiness of the fuel cell system to an established operating readiness state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Clarence T. Tegreene, Joshua C. Walter
  • Publication number: 20120082911
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for maintaining or establishing a readiness state in a fuel cell backup system of a nuclear reactor system are disclosed. A method includes maintaining a readiness state of a fuel cell system within a set of readiness parameters, the readiness parameters a function of a characteristic of the nuclear reactor system. Another method includes monitoring a nuclear reactor system characteristic and, responsive to the monitored nuclear reactor system characteristic, establishing a readiness state of a fuel cell system. An apparatus includes a fuel cell system associated with a nuclear reactor system and a fuel cell control system configured to maintain a readiness state of the fuel cell system. Another apparatus includes a fuel cell system associated with a nuclear reactor system, a nuclear reactor characteristic monitoring system, and a fuel cell control system configured to establish a readiness state of the fuel cell system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Clarence T. Tegreene, Joshua C. Walter
  • Publication number: 20120082912
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for maintaining or establishing a readiness state in a fuel cell backup system of a nuclear reactor system are disclosed. A method includes maintaining a readiness state of a fuel cell system within a set of readiness parameters, the readiness parameters a function of a characteristic of the nuclear reactor system. Another method includes monitoring a nuclear reactor system characteristic and, responsive to the monitored nuclear reactor system characteristic, establishing a readiness state of a fuel cell system. An apparatus includes a fuel cell system associated with a nuclear reactor system and a fuel cell control system configured to maintain a readiness state of the fuel cell system. Another apparatus includes a fuel cell system associated with a nuclear reactor system, a nuclear reactor characteristic monitoring system, and a fuel cell control system configured to establish a readiness state of the fuel cell system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Clarence T. Tegreene, Joshua C. Walter
  • Publication number: 20120082913
    Abstract: A method for determining a state of operational readiness of a fuel cell backup system of a nuclear reactor system includes monitoring a readiness state of a fuel cell system associated with a nuclear reactor system, and providing a readiness determination of the fuel cell system by comparing the monitored state of readiness of the fuel cell system to an established operating readiness state, the established operating readiness state a function of at least one characteristic of the nuclear reactor system. An apparatus includes a fuel cell monitoring system configured to monitor a readiness state of a fuel cell system associated with a nuclear reactor system, and a readiness determination system configured to provide a readiness determination of the fuel cell system by comparing the monitored state of readiness of the fuel cell system to an established operating readiness state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Clarence T. Tegreene, Joshua C. Walter
  • Publication number: 20110200159
    Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for the thermal storage of energy generated by multiple nuclear reactor systems including diverting a first selected portion of energy from a portion of a first nuclear reactor system of a plurality of nuclear reactor systems to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir, diverting at least one additional selected portion of energy from a portion of at least one additional nuclear reactor system of the plurality of nuclear reactor systems to the at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir, and supplying at least a portion of thermal energy from the auxiliary thermal reservoir to an energy conversion system of a nuclear reactor of the plurality of nuclear reactors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Clarence T. Tegreene, Joshua C. Walter, Lowell L. Wood, JR., Victoria Y.H. Wood
  • Publication number: 20110200156
    Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for the thermal storage of nuclear reactor generated energy including diverting a selected portion of energy from a portion of a nuclear reactor system to an auxiliary thermal reservoir and, responsive to a shutdown event, supplying a portion of the diverted selected portion of energy to an energy conversion system of the nuclear reactor system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Clarence T. Tegreene, Joshua C. Walter, Lowell L. Wood, JR., Victoria Y.H. Wood