Patents Represented by Attorney Ira Lee Zebrak
  • Patent number: 6192098
    Abstract: A corrosion and hydride resistant nuclear fuel rod having a highly corrosion resistant outer portion in which hydride precipitation is inhibited and an inner portion in which hydride precipitation is promoted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Siemens Power Corporation
    Inventor: Leonard F. P. Van Swam
  • Patent number: 6165367
    Abstract: A method for removing low levels of heavy metal from chemical/industrial waste streams containing interfering anions which typically form strong complexes with heavy metals such as uranium utilizes an ion exchange resin having amino-phosphonic functional groups which selectively capture the heavy metal from the chemical waste stream in an efficient manner such that the amount of heavy metal in the waste stream is reduced to sub-ppm levels. After capture, the resin is treated with a sequestering agent, such as a solution of ammonium fluoride or ammonium sulfate, which releases the heavy metal from the resin. The resin is then regenerated with a sodium solution and returned to service. Utilizing ion exchange and a resin containing amino-phosphonic functional groups allows removal of heavy metal to a level of less than or equal to 0.1 ppm which is a substantial reduction in view of the presence of significant quantities of complexing anions in the waste stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Siemens Power Corporation
    Inventor: Jerry A. Partridge
  • Patent number: 6134979
    Abstract: A spring guide and spring retainer for switches or toggle mechanisms with cooperating curved surfaces to decrease the rate of wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Craig A. Thomas
  • Patent number: 6088419
    Abstract: A corrosion and hydride resistant nuclear fuel rod having a highly corrosion resistant outer portion in which hydride precipitation is inhibited and an inner portion in which hydride precipitation is promoted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Siemens Power Corporation
    Inventor: Leonard F. P. Van Swam
  • Patent number: 6064012
    Abstract: A crossbar or trip bar for spanning the poles of a multi-pole electric circuit breaker and a plurality of trip levers each having a slot formed by interior walls with a plurality of tapered ribs for compressing the outer surface of the trip bar and security the trip bar and trip levers together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Beard, Parker A. Bollinger, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6058155
    Abstract: A corrosion and hydride resistant nuclear fuel rod having a highly corrosion resistant outer portion in which hydride precipitation is inhibited and an inner portion in which hydride precipitation is promoted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Siemens Power Corporation
    Inventor: Leonard F. P. van Swam
  • Patent number: 6016701
    Abstract: An ultrasonic inspection system for ultrasonic inspection of the guide structure of a reactor pressure vessel having two shear wave transducers, one positioned to face in a first direction about 30.degree. from normal to a top edge of the grid members of the top guide structure and a second one positioned to face in a second direction about 30.degree. from normal to a top edge of the grid members of the top guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Siemens Power Corporation
    Inventors: Richard G. McClelland, Lawrence R. Fox, Edward J. Ruzauskas, Douglas A. Adkisson
  • Patent number: 6010671
    Abstract: A process for recovering uranium from a waste sludge involves treating the sludge with a non-reactive, non-absorptive cellulose filtration media, adding an oxidant and heating the mixture to dissolve any uranium present. The mixture is passed through a filtration device precoated with the same filtration media, where the solids are captured while the dissolved uranium passes through as part of the filtrate, for recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Siemens Power Corporation
    Inventor: Richard T. Kimura
  • Patent number: 6005906
    Abstract: A corrosion and hydride resistant nuclear fuel rod having a highly corrosion resistant outer portion in which hydride precipitation is inhibited and an inner portion in which hydride precipitation is promoted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Siemens Power Corporation
    Inventor: Leonard F. P. Van Swam
  • Patent number: 6002735
    Abstract: A nuclear fuel pellet having concentric layers of nuclear fuel in which an outer layer has less fissionable nuclear fuel per unit volume and substantially the same amount of fertile material per unit volume as an inner core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Siemens Power Corporation
    Inventor: Leonard F. P. Van Swam
  • Patent number: 5990439
    Abstract: A multiphase switch support base including a molded top cover and a molded bottom base each having interior and exterior walls which when assembled together, the base is divided into compartmentalized arc chambers which function to isolate each line contact and each load contact of each phase of the switch from each other as well as from each other line and each other load contact of each of the other phases of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven E. Pever
  • Patent number: 5991354
    Abstract: A nuclear fuel pellet having concentric layers of nuclear fuel in which an outer layer has less fissionable nuclear fuel per unit volume and substantially the same amount of fertile material per unit volume as an inner core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Siemens Power Corporation
    Inventor: Leonard F. P. Van Swam
  • Patent number: 5969308
    Abstract: A rotor assembly arranged between line and load contacts of a current interrupting device for interrupting circuit current between the line and the load contacts, the rotor assembly comprising an elongated rotor shaft for mounting in a base of the current interrupting device; a contact assembly having a pair of channeled and bowed conductive blades each having free ends at opposite edges for engaging a correspondingly positioned line contact and a correspondingly positioned load contact, each of the conductive blades further having a flat indentation for receiving a spring; the contact assembly further including a pair of springs having a bowed configuration and a flat portion at each end and which are assembled with the flat indentation of each one of the pair of conductive blades to resiliently bias the conductive blades toward one another, where the springs further including a raised portion having an aperture and each pair of conductive blades extend through the aperture in the elongated rotor shaft and e
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven E. Pever
  • Patent number: 5969937
    Abstract: An electric load center having a basepan having a surface with a modular extension mounting foot extending from a lower end wall of a circuit breaker support rail for receiving a modular extension basepan, the mounting foot having a trapezoidal shaped slot for engagement by a correspondingly shaped ramp of the modular extension basepan, the modular extension mounting foot further having a slot for receiving a flexible snap hook of the modular extension basepan to secure the modular extension basepan to the basepan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: William E. Rose, Daniel Lee Pack
  • Patent number: 5945650
    Abstract: A multi-phased switch support base including a molded top cover and a molded bottom base each having interior and exterior walls which divide the interiors. When assembled together the base is divided into compartmentalized arc chambers which function to isolate each line contact and each load contact of each phase of the switch from each other as well as from each other line and each other load contact of each of the other phases of the switch. A multiplicity of unique snap-in arc chutes and baffles to help control and extinguish the arc generated during disconnect operations of the rotor from the stationary contacts are provided in each arc chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation,Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Holland, Steven E. Pever
  • Patent number: 5926517
    Abstract: A fuel assembly for a pressurized water reactor having a fuel rod with a high strength cladding tube including an inner tubular layer of a zirconium alloy with alloying components of molybdenum and 3 to 6 weight percent bismuth, the balance zirconium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Siemens Power Corporation
    Inventor: Leonard F. P. Van Swam
  • Patent number: 5914460
    Abstract: A Weatherproof Enclosure for electric load centers, switches, or other electrical components. The weatherproof enclosure includes a main enclosure base, two enclosure endcaps, and a hingeably mounted cover door for providing access to the interior of the weatherproof enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel L. Mowery, James G. Sepelak
  • Patent number: D419966
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel L. Mowery, James G. Sepelak
  • Patent number: D430477
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel L. Mowery
  • Patent number: D432094
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel L. Mowery