Patents Represented by Attorney Frank H. Jackson
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Patent number: 4378330Abstract: An alloy for the commercial production of ductile superconducting wire is prepared by melting together copper and at least 15 weight percent niobium under non-oxygen-contaminating conditions, and rapidly cooling the melt to form a ductile composite consisting of discrete, randomly distributed and orientated dendritic-shaped particles of niobium in a copper matrix. As the wire is worked, the dendritric particles are realigned parallel to the longitudinal axis and when drawn form a plurality of very fine ductile superconductors in a ductile copper matrix. The drawn wire may be tin coated and wound into magnets or the like before diffusing the tin into the wire to react with the niobium. Impurities such as aluminum or gallium may be added to improve upper critical field characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 1979Date of Patent: March 29, 1983Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of EnergyInventors: John D. Verhoeven, Douglas K. Finnemore, Edwin D. Gibson, Jerome E. Ostenson
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Patent number: 4366112Abstract: A method is provided for producing solid, evacuated microspheres comprised of hydrogen. The spheres are produced by forming a jet of liquid hydrogen and exciting mechanical waves on the jet of appropriate frequency so that the jet breaks up into drops with a bubble formed in each drop by cavitation. The drops are exposed to a pressure less than the vapor pressure of the liquid hydrogen so that the bubble which is formed within each drop expands. The drops which contain bubbles are exposed to an environment having a pressure just below the triple point of liquid hydrogen and they thereby freeze giving solid, evacuated spheres of hydrogen.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 1976Date of Patent: December 28, 1982Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of EnergyInventors: Robert J. Turnbull, Christopher A. Foster, Charles D. Hendricks
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Patent number: 4346511Abstract: A personnel dosimeter includes a plurality of compartments containing thermoluminescent dosimeter phosphors for registering radiation dose absorbed in the wearer's sensitive skin layer and for registering more deeply penetrating radiation. Two of the phosphor compartments communicate with thin windows of different thicknesses to obtain a ratio of shallowly penetrating radiation, e.g. beta. A third phosphor is disposed within a compartment communicating with a window of substantially greater thickness than the windows of the first two compartments for estimating the more deeply penetrating radiation dose. By selecting certain phosphors that are insensitive to neutrons and by loading the holder material with neutron-absorbing elements, energetic neutron dose can be estimated separately from other radiation dose. This invention also involves a method of injection molding of dosimeter holders with thin windows of consistent thickness at the corresponding compartments of different holders.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 1980Date of Patent: August 31, 1982Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of EnergyInventors: Donald E. Jones, DeRay Parker, Paul R. Boren
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Patent number: 4322853Abstract: 1. In a nuclear reactor incorporating a plurality of columns of tubular fuel elements disposed in horizontal tubes in a mass of graphite wherein water flows through the tubes to cool the fuel elements, the improvement comprising at least one control column disposed in a horizontal tube including fewer fuel elements than in a normal column of fuel elements and tubular control elements disposed at both ends of said control column, and means for varying the horizontal displacement of the control column comprising a winch at the upstream end of the control column and a cable extending through the fuel and control elements and attached to the element at the downstream end of the column.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 1963Date of Patent: March 30, 1982Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of EnergyInventors: William E. Cawley, Robert F. Warnick
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Patent number: 4316770Abstract: A perforated depressor plate extending across the bottom of the instrument ree of a fast breeder reactor cooperates with a circular cylindrical metal bellows forming a part of the upper adapter of each core assembly and bearing on the bottom of the depressor plate to restrict flow of coolant between core assemblies, thereby reducing significantly the pressure differential between the coolant inside the core assemblies and the coolant outside of the core assemblies. Openings in the depressor plate are slightly smaller than the top of the upper adapter so the depressor plate will serve as a backup mechanical holddown for the core. In addition coolant mixing devices and locating devices are provided attached to the depressor plate.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 1979Date of Patent: February 23, 1982Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of EnergyInventor: Ernest Hutter
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Patent number: 4309398Abstract: A process for converting potassium sulfate to potassium carbonate in which a mixture of potassium sulfate and calcium oxide are reacted at a temperature in the range of between about 700.degree. C. and about 800.degree. C. with a gaseous mixture having a minor amount of hydrogen and/or carbon monoxide in a diluent with the calcium oxide being present in an amount not greater than about 20 percent by weight of the potassium sulfate to produce an aqueous mixture of potassium sulfide, potassium bisulfide, potassium hydroxide and calcium sulfide and a gaseous mixture of steam and hydrogen sulfide. The potassium and calcium salts are quenched to produce an aqueous slurry of soluble potassium salts and insoluble calcium salts and a gaseous mixture of steam and hydrogen sulfide. The insoluble calcium salts are then separated from the aqueous solution of soluble potassium salts.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 1979Date of Patent: January 5, 1982Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of EnergyInventor: Atul C. Sheth
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Patent number: 4307997Abstract: A free piston inertia compressor comprises a piston assembly including a connecting rod having pistons on both ends, the cylinder being split into two substantially identical portions by a seal through which the connecting rod passes. Vents in the cylinder wall are provided near the seal to permit gas to excape the cylinder until the piston covers the vent whereupon the remaining gas in the cylinder functions as a gas spring and cushions the piston against impact on the seal. The connecting rod has a central portion of relatively small diameter providing free play of the connecting rod through the seal and end portions of relatively large diameter providing a limited tolerance between the connecting rod and the seal. Finally, the seal comprises a seal ring assembly consisting of a dampener plate, a free floating seal at the center of the dampener plate and a seal retainer plate in one face of the dampener plate.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 1979Date of Patent: December 29, 1981Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of EnergyInventors: William D. C. Richards, Denis Bilodeau, Thomas Marusak, Leonard Dutram, Jr., Joseph Brady
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Patent number: 4306879Abstract: The presence of geothermal aquifers can be detected while drilling in geothermal formations by maintaining a chemical log of the ratio of the concentrations of calcium to carbonate and bicarbonate ions in the return drilling fluid. A continuous increase in the ratio of the concentrations of calcium to carbonate and bicarbonate ions is indicative of the existence of a warm or hot geothermal aquifer at some increased depth.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 1979Date of Patent: December 22, 1981Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of EnergyInventors: Charles A. Allen, Richard E. McAtee
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Patent number: 4303864Abstract: A means is provided for compensating for spherical aberration in charged particle beam devices. The means includes a sextupole positioned between two focusing lenses.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 1979Date of Patent: December 1, 1981Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of EnergyInventors: Albert V. Crewe, David A. Kopf
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Patent number: 4293089Abstract: There is disclosed a positive cathode electrode structure formed by brazing a thin porous membrane to a backing material by preselecting a predetermined area of the thin porous membrane and thereafter providing a braze flow barrier throughout the remainder of the membrane and electrolessly plating a nickel-phosphide alloy on the backing material, or in this case the honeycomb structure. The preselected area of the thin porous membrane is placed in intimate contact with the electrolessly plated portion of the backing material and heated to elevated temperatures in the absence of oxygen to form a brazed joint limited to a preselected area. If the braze flow barrier is provided by application of a liquid organic solvent, then the organic solvent is driven off by maintaining the thin porous membrane at elevated temperatures for an extended period of time prior to the brazing operation.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 1979Date of Patent: October 6, 1981Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of EnergyInventors: James T. McCormick, Paul B. Ferry, John C. Hall
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Patent number: 4292209Abstract: A ceramic component which exhibits electrical conductivity down to near room temperatures has the formula:Hf.sub.x In.sub.y A.sub.z O.sub.2 where x=0.1 to 0.4, y=0.3 to 0.6, z=0.1 to 0.4and A is a lanthanide rare earth or yttrium. The component is suitable for use in the fabrication of MHD electrodes or as the current leadout portion of a composite electrode with other ceramic components.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 1979Date of Patent: September 29, 1981Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of EnergyInventors: David D. Marchant, Junior L. Bates
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Patent number: 4289019Abstract: A method and means for passive detection of a leak in a buried pipe containing fluid under pressure includes a plurality of acoustic detectors that are placed in contact with the pipe. Noise produced by the leak is detected by the detectors, and the detected signals are correlated to locate the leak. In one embodiment of the invention two detectors are placed at different locations to locate a leak between them. In an alternate embodiment two detectors of different waves are placed at substantially the same location to determine the distance of the leak from the location.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 1979Date of Patent: September 15, 1981Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of EnergyInventor: Thomas N. Claytor
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Patent number: 4286576Abstract: A passive solar thermalization and thermal energy storage assembly which is visually transparent. The assembly consists of two substantial parallel, transparent wall members mounted in a rectangular support frame to form a liquid-tight chamber. A semitransparent thermalization plate is located in the chamber, substantially paralled to and about equidistant from the transparent wall members to thermalize solar radiation which is stored in a transparent thermal energy storage liquid which fills the chamber. A number of the devices, as modules, can be stacked together to construct a visually transparent, thermal storage wall for passive solar-heated buildings.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 1979Date of Patent: September 1, 1981Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of EnergyInventor: John F. McClelland
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Patent number: 4286165Abstract: A personnel dosimeter includes a plurality of compartments containing thermoluminescent dosimeter phosphors for registering radiation dose absorbed in the wearer's sensitive skin layer and for registering more deeply penetrating radiation. Two of the phosphor compartments communicate with thin windows of different thicknesses to obtain a ratio of shallowly penetrating radiation, e.g. beta. A third phosphor is disposed within a compartment communicating with a window of substantially greater thickness than the windows of the first two compartments for estimating the more deeply penetrating radiation dose. By selecting certain phosphors that are insensitive to neutrons and by loading the holder material with netruon-absorbing elements, energetic neutron dose can be estimated separately from other radiation dose. This invention also involves a method of injection molding of dosimeter holders with thin windows of consistent thickness at the corresponding compartments of different holders.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 1979Date of Patent: August 25, 1981Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of EnergyInventors: Donald E. Jones, DeRay Parker, Paul R. Boren
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Patent number: 4282481Abstract: The local void fraction in liquid containing a gas is measured by placing an impedance-variation probe in the liquid, applying a controlled voltage or current to the probe, and measuring the probe current or voltage. A circuit for applying the one electrical parameter and measuring the other includes a feedback amplifier that minimizes the effect of probe capacitance and a digitizer to provide a clean signal. Time integration of the signal provides a measure of the void fraction, and an oscilloscope display also shows bubble size and distribution.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 1979Date of Patent: August 4, 1981Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of EnergyInventor: Patrick F. Dunn
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Patent number: 4281256Abstract: An internal combustion reciprocating engine is operable as a compressor during slack demand periods utilizing excess power from a power grid to charge air into an air storage reservoir and as an expander during peak demand periods to feed power into the power grid utilizing air obtained from the air storage reservoir together with combustible fuel. Preferably the internal combustion reciprocating engine is operated at high pressure and a low pressure turbine and compressor are also employed for air compression and power generation.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 1979Date of Patent: July 28, 1981Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of EnergyInventors: Frederick W. Ahrens, George T. Kartsounes
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Patent number: 4281289Abstract: A method of determining the oil and brine saturation distribution in an oil field by taking electrical current and potential measurements among a plurality of open-hole wells geometrically distributed throughout the oil field. Poisson's equation is utilized to develop fluid saturation distributions from the electrical current and potential measurement. Both signal generating equipment and chemical means are used to develop current flow among the several open-hole wells.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 1979Date of Patent: July 28, 1981Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of EnergyInventors: Erle C. Donaldson, F. Dexter Sutterfield
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Patent number: 4278890Abstract: A beam of ions is directed under control onto an insulating surface by supplying simultaneously a stream of electrons directed at the same surface in a quantity sufficient to neutralize the overall electric charge of the ion beam and result in a net zero current flow to the insulating surface. The ion beam is adapted particularly both to the implantation of ions in a uniform areal disposition over the insulating surface and to the sputtering of atoms or molecules of the insulator onto a substrate.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 1977Date of Patent: July 14, 1981Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of EnergyInventors: Dieter M. Gruen, Alan R. Krauss, Barry Siskind
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Patent number: 4277308Abstract: There is provided a nuclear reactor count-factor-increase time monitoring circuit which includes a pulse-type neutron detector, and means for counting the number of detected pulses during specific time periods. Counts are compared and the comparison is utilized to develop a reactor scram signal, if necessary.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 1978Date of Patent: July 7, 1981Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of EnergyInventors: Gordon K. Rusch, Donald J. Keefe, William P. McDowell
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Patent number: 4271585Abstract: A superconducting magnet designed to produce magnetic flux densities of the order of 4 to 5 Webers per square meter is constructed by first forming a cable of a plurality of matrixed superconductor wires with each wire of the plurality insulated from each other one. The cable is shaped into a rectangular cross-section and is wound with tape in an open spiral to create cooling channels. Coils are wound in a calculated pattern in saddle shapes to produce desired fields, such as dipoles, quadrupoles, and the like. Wedges are inserted between adjacent cables as needed to maintain substantially radial placement of the long dimensions of cross sections of the cables. After winding, individual strands in each of the cables are brought out to terminals and are interconnected to place all of the strands in series and to maximize the propagation of a quench by alternating conduction from an inner layer to an outer layer and from top half to bottom half as often as possible.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 1979Date of Patent: June 9, 1981Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of EnergyInventor: John A. Satti