Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Jeffrey K. Weaver
  • Patent number: 5469481
    Abstract: A method is provided for forming a three-layer cladding tube having an outer substrate, a zirconium barrier layer, and an inner liner having alloying elements, in which the zirconium barrier layer (located between an outer substrate and inner liner) is at least partially alloyed with alloying elements that impart resistance to corrosion. The barrier layer has a diffusion layer extending from its inner surface (facing the fuel) to the barrier layer's interior (the interior being defined between the barrier layer's inner and outer surfaces). At the interior edge of the diffusion layer, there will be substantially no alloying elements beyond those normally present in zirconium. The methods of forming such structure include a diffusion anneal of a three-layer cladding in the range of 650.degree.-1000.degree. C. for times between about 1 minute and 20 hours. This anneal drives some of the alloying elements from the inner liner into the zirconium barrier layer to form the diffusion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ronald B. Adamson, Daniel R. Lutz, Joseph S. Armijo
  • Patent number: 5437747
    Abstract: In a zirconium-alloy fuel element cladding, a method for generating regions of coarse and fine intermetallic precipitates across the cladding wall is provided. The method includes steps of specific heat treatments and anneals that coarsen precipitates in the bulk of the cladding. The method also includes at least one step in which an outer region (exterior) of the cladding is heated to the beta or alpha plus beta phase, while an inner region (interior) is maintained at a temperature at which little or no metallurgical change occurs. This method produces a composite cladding in which the outer region comprises fine precipitates and the inner region comprises coarse precipitates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ronald B. Adamson, Gerald A. Potts
  • Patent number: 5436947
    Abstract: A cladding is provided for use in housing fissionable material in water cooled nuclear fission reactors. The cladding has inner and outer surfaces and includes (1) a cross-section of a Zirconium-based alloyed matrix, and (2) alloying elements in sufficient concentration to form precipitates disposed in the matrix. The cladding includes no more than 20 parts per million nitrogen by weight and is typically a modified Zircaloy-2 or Zircaloy-4. Metallurgically bonded to the inner region of the cladding is a zirconium barrier layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1995
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Dale F. Taylor
  • Patent number: 5434897
    Abstract: A cladding tube is provided having an axis and a cross-section perpendicular to the axis. The cross-section includes (1) an outer circumferential substrate having an inner surface, (2) a zirconium barrier layer bonded to the inner surface of the outer circumferential substrate, and (3) an inner circumferential liner bonded to the inner surface of the zirconium barrier layer. The inner circumferential liner includes a plurality of facets aligned substantially in parallel with the cladding tube axis. The facets--which define the geometry of the cladding interior--facilitate mixing among the gases in the cladding interior. Also provided is a fuel element including (1) a cladding tube having an faceted inner liner as described above, (2) nuclear fuel material disposed within said cladding tube in a fuel region, and (3) a plenum or plenums located in one or both end regions (beyond the nuclear fuel region) within the cladding tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: John H. Davies
  • Patent number: 5383228
    Abstract: The present invention provides a cladding having an outer circumferential substrate, a zirconium barrier layer metallurgically bonded to the inside surface of the substrate and an inner circumferential liner metallurgically bonded to the zirconium barrier. The inner circumferential liner is more ductile than conventional Zircaloy. The low ductility of the inner circumferential liner is obtained by using a zirconium alloy containing a low tin content (e.g. less than 1.2% by weight) and/or a low oxygen content (e.g. less than 1000 ppm). The inner circumferential liner is less than about 25 micrometers thick.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph S. Armijo, Herman S. Rosenbaum, Cedric D. Williams
  • Patent number: 5252743
    Abstract: Methods and compositions are described for immobilizing anti-ligands, such as antibodies or antigens, hormones or hormone receptors, oligonucleotides, and polysaccharides on surfaces of solid substrates for various uses. The methods provide surfaces covered with caged binding members which comprise protecting groups capable of being removed upon application of a suitable energy source. Spatially addressed irradiation of predefined regions on the surface permits immobilization of anti-ligands at the activated regions on the surface. Cycles of irradiation on different regions of the surface and immobilization of different anti-ligands allows formation of an immobilized matrix of anti-ligands at defined sites on the surface. The immobilized matrix of anti-ligands permits simultaneous screenings of a liquid sample for ligands having high affinities for certain anti-ligands of the matrix. A preferred embodiment of the invention involves attaching photoactivatable biotin derivatives to a surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: Affymax Technologies N.V.
    Inventors: Ronald W. Barrett, Michael C. Pirrung, Lubert Stryer, Christopher P. Holmes, Steven A. Sundberg