Patents Represented by Law Firm Fitch, Even, Tabin & Luedeka
  • Method for axially shuffling fuel elements in a nuclear reactor
    Patent number: 4040902
    Abstract: A method for axially shuffling fuel elements in a nuclear reactor is disclosed wherein column vacancies are created in a manner to allow substantially lateral transfer of a selected number of fuel elements from another adjacent column to a vacated column, the remaining fuel elements of the partially transferred column are removed and discarded whereby to create a new column vacancy, fresh fuel elements are added to the transferred fuel elements to establish a full new column of fuel elements and continuing such shuffling throughout the entire active core of the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1977
    Assignee: General Atomic Company
    Inventor: Karol J. Mysels
  • Deposition method
    Patent number: 4040870
    Abstract: A method of depositing a hard metal alloy is described wherein a volatile halide of titanium is reduced off the surface of a substrate and then reacted with a volatile halide of boron, carbon or silicon to effect the deposition on a substrate of an intermediate compound of titanium in a liquid phase. The liquid compound on the substrate is then reacted in the presence of hydrogen to produce a hard deposit containing titanium and boron, carbon or silicon. Also described are products which may be produced by the above method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1977
    Assignee: Chemetal Corporation
    Inventor: Robert A. Holzl
  • Prosthetic devices having a region of controlled porosity
    Patent number: 4038703
    Abstract: An improved prosthetic device having its exterior surface formed to provide a region of controlled porosity to promote the ingrowth of bone and/or tissue. A metal coil spring is secured to a metal substrate at a plurality of points, as by being disposed in a groove having a depth about equal to the loop diameter of the spring. Adjacent loops of the spring are preferably spaced apart from one another, and adjacent side-by-side spring sections may be interleaved with one another, with the interleaved loops being affixed to each other by common bonds at their points of junction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1977
    Assignee: General Atomic Company
    Inventor: Jack C. Bokros
  • Ophthalmic solution
    Patent number: 4039662
    Abstract: Ophthalmic solution suitable as an artificial tear material of low viscosity containing a polysaccharide and benzalkonium chloride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1977
    Assignee: Alcon Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald Hecht, Charles D. Shively
  • Compacted grated cheese
    Patent number: 4039695
    Abstract: Hard grated cheese is comminuted to provide a grated cheese product. The grated cheese product is then subjected to pressure to provide a compact of grated cheese which may be readily packaged and stored. The compact is easily crumbled by hand to provide a grated cheese product for use when desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1977
    Assignee: Kraftco Corporation
    Inventor: John D. Johnson
  • Heat radiation closure
    Patent number: 4039017
    Abstract: Radiation shielding for limiting the transfer of heat by radiation is provided for a ceiling closure having a curtain wall shiftable from an open position allowing air flow through an opening in the ceiling to a closed position in which the curtain wall blocks air flow through the opening. The radiation shielding comprises a plurality of radiation shields formed of air impermeable, heat resistant, flexible fabric sheets folded for storage and for unfolding into generally planar sheets with shifting of the curtain wall into the closed position wherein the fabric sheets define and confine a dead air space. The sheets are preferably made of tightly woven asbestos coated to retain asbestos fibers against liberation into an air stream. Reflective coatings act to retard the radiation of heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1977
    Assignee: Air Balance, Inc.
    Inventor: Sherwin S. Tarnoff
  • Delivery bicycle-trailer
    Patent number: 4037853
    Abstract: A delivery trailer adapted to alternatively be pulled by a bicycle, to be operated as a hand truck or to be collapsed for compact mounting upon the bicycle when not in use. In order to adapt the bicycle-trailer combination for carrying substantial loads, the bicycle has a structural portion of its frame extending rearwardly above its back wheel to provide a mount for the trailer, the collapsible trailer including a parallelogram linkage with associated bracing as well as other features to adapt it for carrying heavy loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1977
    Inventor: Carl K. Sparks
  • Method of making a valve
    Patent number: 4038358
    Abstract: A valve includes a central valve component with an integral housing molded therearound. During the molding of the housing a seal is held against the valve component by spaced fingers of a tool. After molding is complete and the tool is withdrawn, plastic gripping fingers formed from plastic injected between the fingers of the tool during molding hold the seal against the valve component and the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1977
    Inventor: Thomas J. Wrasman
  • Heat exchanger tube bundle support system
    Patent number: 4036289
    Abstract: A heat exchanger is described wherein a tube bundle comprising a plurality of tubes having convolutions of different radii on a common axis is provided with at least one spacer structure for supporting the tubes in spaced relation. The spacer structure comprises a plurality of parallel bars arranged in pairs and in which semi-circular recesses are formed in abutting surfaces to accommodate the convolutions of the tubes. The bars in adjacent pairs have facing surfaces in an interfitting configuration with clearances therein sufficient to accommodate thermal expansion differences in the adjacent tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1977
    Assignee: General Atomic Company
    Inventors: Shih-che Cheng, Jay Stephen Kaufman
  • Syringe
    Patent number: 4034755
    Abstract: A syringe is described in which the needle assembly thereof is manually adjustable axially with respect to the body of the syringe to line up one end of the needle assembly with a reference mark on the transparent hollow barrel. Means are provided for locking the position of the needle assembly with respect to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1977
    Assignee: Hamilton Company
    Inventor: Harold R. Schultz
  • Split attachment
    Patent number: 4035095
    Abstract: A split attachment is provided from two substantially identical half pieces each having projections and slots adapted for wedgedly joining the respective halves together for securing tightly about an article. Means on the split half pieces may be deformed against the surfaces of the article to prevent sliding of the attachment or a loose movement between the gripped articles when the attachment is used to join two articles together such as the rods of a brass bed headboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1977
    Assignee: EF & EF Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Hughes, Jr.
  • Process for making an oxide-layer
    Patent number: 4035200
    Abstract: A blackening process of producing an oxide layer consisting predominantly of Fe.sub.3 O.sub.4 on an iron surface in an oxidizing atmosphere and at a temperature of from 500.degree. to 650.degree. C, whereby the oxidizing atmosphere is produced by understoichiometrically burnt fuel gas without removal of water from the combustion gases. In the combustion chamber, the apparent reaction temperature is controlled by cooling to provide an apparent reaction temperature of from 500.degree. to 800.degree. C. The combustion products are conducted into a heated blackening chamber at a temperature substantially above the dew point of the combustion products. The CO characteristic of the combustion gases is monitored and is used to control the air and fuel supplies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1977
    Assignee: Smit Ovens Nijmegen B.V.
    Inventor: Jaques Hubert Valentijn
  • Background correction in spectro-chemical analysis
    Patent number: 4035083
    Abstract: Various methods and apparatus are disclosed for providing a background corrected measure of the concentration of a sample element in absorption and emission spectro-chemical analysis using the principles of the Zeeman effect and certain other related effects using a magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1977
    Inventors: Ray A. Woodriff, Daniel T. Woodriff
  • Closure system
    Patent number: 4035232
    Abstract: A gas-cooled nuclear reactor system is described having a pressure vessel with a penetration therein for accommodating a heat exchanger. A closure system is used in which a restrainer ring is positioned between a tube sheet and the interior of the pressure vessel to restrain movement of the tube sheet toward the interior of the pressure vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1974
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1977
    Assignee: General Atomic Company
    Inventor: Leonard J. Kube
  • Method of making nuclear fuel bodies
    Patent number: 4035452
    Abstract: Particulate graphite having a particle size not greater than about 1500 microns is impregnated with a polymerizeable organic compound in liquid form. The impregnated particles are treated with a hot aqueous acid solution to at least begin the polymerization reaction and remove excess impregnant from the outer surface thereof. The treated particles are heated to complete the polymerization and then blended with particulate nuclear fuel. A nuclear fuel body is formed by joining the blend into a cohesive mass using a carbonaceous binder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1977
    Assignee: General Atomic Company
    Inventors: Dwight E. Davis, David F. Leary
  • Method and apparatus for use in approaching thermonuclear temperatures using turbulent thermal insulation
    Patent number: 4035656
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for insulating a plasma using turbulent thermal insulation for the purpose of approaching thermonuclear temperatures. It includes a hollow cylinder of a metallic hydride of predetermined size which is encapsulated by an outer metallic cylinder which seals the hollow cylinder, including the ends thereof. A mixture of deuterium and tritium gas is placed within the hollow cylinder at a pressure of about 11/2 atmospheres and auxiliary and main power supplies are sequentially applied to the cylinders to respectively form a plasma and inject an electron beam into the plasma. The thermal conductivity is reduced by the resulting electron turbulence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1977
    Assignee: General Atomic Company
    Inventor: Tihiro Ohkawa
  • Assay for myasthenia gravis
    Patent number: 4033722
    Abstract: A serum assay system for diagnosis of myasthenia gravis. The assay system includes a complex of acetylcholine receptor protein and a toxin labeled with a radioactive isotope. The complex is incubated with a serum sample from a patient. During incubation, antibodies engendered by myasthenia gravis bind to receptor sites in the complex. The resulting complex containing the antibodies is precipitated by addition of anti-immunoglobulin. Radioactivity in the resulting precipitate is measured and compared with a control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1977
    Assignee: The Salk Institute for Biological Studies
    Inventor: Jon M. Lindstrom
  • Collimated beam electron gun system for shaped beam cathode ray tube
    Patent number: 4032815
    Abstract: An electron gun system is described for generating a high current collimated beam of electrons for use in a shaped beam cathode ray tube system. The electron gun includes a cathode having an electron emitting surface for generating free electrons, a collimating grid axially spaced from the cathode and having a central aperture, and a control grid axially spaced from the collimating grid and having a central aperture axially aligned with the aperture of the collimating grid. The control grid receives a varying potential for establishing an electric field which is substantially axial over at least a central portion of the electron beam so as to collimate the beam axially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1975
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1977
    Assignee: Stromberg Datagraphix Inc.
    Inventor: Dan Joseph Haflinger
  • Fuel leak detection apparatus for gas cooled nuclear reactors
    Patent number: 4032395
    Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for detecting nuclear fuel leaks within nuclear power system reactors, such as high temperature gas cooled reactors. The apparatus includes a probe assembly that is inserted into the high temperature reactor coolant gaseous stream. The probe has an aperture adapted to communicate gaseous fluid between its inside and outside surfaces and also contains an inner tube for sampling gaseous fluid present near the aperture. A high pressure supply of noncontaminated gas is provided to selectively balance the pressure of the stream being sampled to prevent gas from entering the probe through the aperture. The apparatus includes valves that are operable to cause various directional flows and pressures, which valves are located outside of the reactor walls to permit maintenance work and the like to be performed without shutting down the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1974
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1977
    Assignee: General Atomic Company
    Inventor: Richard D. Burnette
  • Fluid collection bottle and improvements therein
    Patent number: RE29321
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a vacuum-operated, fluid-collection bottle having advantageous, canted sealing surfaces between cover and container as well as other improvements including a perforate vacuum fitting, spherical top and bottom, .[.both convex and concave; float valve means incorporated in the vacuum port construction;.]. snap-lock engagement between the cover and container; graduation means for measuring small volumes of collected fluid, and so forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1977
    Assignee: Medical Development Corporation
    Inventor: LeGrand K. Holbrook