Patents by Inventor Vernon W. Mills

Vernon W. Mills 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).

  • Rod assembly for nuclear reactors
    Patent number: 9899107
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a multi-segment rod that includes a plurality of rod segments. The rod segments are removably mated to each other via mating structures in an axial direction. An irradiation target is disposed within at least one of the rod segments, and at least a portion of at least one mating structure includes one and/or more combinations of neutron absorbing materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC
    Inventors: Russell Patrick Higgins, Vernon W. Mills, David Grey Smith, Gerald Anthony Luciano, Roger Howard Van Slyke, William Earl Russell, II, Bradley D. Bloomquist
  • ROD ASSEMBLY FOR NUCLEAR REACTORS
    Publication number: 20170352437
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a multi-segment rod that includes a plurality of rod segments. The rod segments are removably mated to each other via mating structures in an axial direction. An irradiation target is disposed within at least one of the rod segments, and at least a portion of at least one mating structure includes one and/or more combinations of neutron absorbing materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Applicant: GE-HITACHI NUCLEAR ENERGY AMERICAS LLC
    Inventors: Russell Patrick Higgins, Vernon W. Mills, David Grey Smith, Gerald Anthony Luciano, Roger Howard Van Slyke, William Earl Russell, II, Bradley D. Bloomquist
  • Cross-section reducing isotope system
    Patent number: 9362009
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: GE-HITACHI NUCLEAR ENERGY AMERICAS LLC
    Inventors: William Earl Russell, II, Christopher J. Monetta, Russell Patrick Higgins, Vernon W. Mills, David Grey Smith, Carlton Wayne Clark, Michael S. DeFilippis
  • Placement of target rods in BWR bundle
    Publication number: 20090135990
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are directed to the placement of one or more isotope production rods in a fuel bundle. The placement may be based on any one of, or a combination of, numerous factors such as relative location of core-monitoring equipment, the type of radioactive isotope being produced, the half-life or length of decay of the radioactive isotope, the neutron absorption rate of the target isotope to produce the radioactive isotope, the desired specific activity of the radioactive isotope being produced, the amount of neutron flux in different areas of the fuel bundle, the duration that the target isotope/radioactive isotope is expected to remain in the reactor until removed (i.e., harvested), etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventors: Cindy Fung Poon, Vernon W. Mills, William Earl Russell, II
  • Cross-Section Reducing Isotope System
    Publication number: 20090135983
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC
    Inventors: William Earl Russell, II, Christopher J. Monetta, Russell Patrick Higgins, Vernon W. Mills, David Grey Smith, Carlton Wayne Clark, Michael S. DeFilippis