Patents Represented by Attorney Roger S. Gaither
  • Patent number: 4585999
    Abstract: A low noise radiofrequency amplifier (10), using a dc SQUID (superconducting quantum interference device) as the input amplifying element. The dc SQUID (11) and an input coil (12) are maintained at superconductivity temperatures in a superconducting shield (13), with the input coil (12) inductively coupled to the superconducting ring (17) of the dc SQUID (11). A radiofrequency signal from outside the shield (13) is applied to the input coil (12), and an amplified radiofrequency signal is developed across the dc SQUID ring (17) and transmitted to exteriorly of the shield (13). A power gain of 19.5.+-.0.5 dB has been achieved with a noise temperature of 1.0.+-.0.4 K. at a frequency of 100 MHz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1986
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Claude Hilbert, John M. Martinis, John Clarke
  • Patent number: 4582675
    Abstract: A magnetic reed switch assembly for activating an electromagnetic grapple utilized to hold a control rod in position above a reactor core. In normal operation the magnetic field of a permanent magnet is short-circuited by a magnetic shunt, diverting the magnetic field away from the reed switch. The magnetic shunt is made of a material having a Curie-point at the desired release temperature. Above that temperature the material loses its ferromagnetic properties, and the magnetic path is diverted to the reed switch which closes and short-circuits the control circuit for the control rod electromagnetic grapple which allows the control rod to drop into the reactor core for controlling the reactivity of the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1986
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: John H. Germer
  • Patent number: 4582025
    Abstract: A liquid level detector for low pressure boilers. A boiler tank, from which apor, such as steam, normally exits via a main vent, is provided with a vertical side tube connected to the tank at the desired low liquid level. When the liquid level falls to the level of the side tube vapor escapes therethrough causing heating of a temperature sensitive device located in the side tube, which, for example, may activate a liquid supply means for adding liquid to the boiler tank. High liquid level in the boiler tank blocks entry of vapor into the side tube, allowing the temperature sensitive device to cool, for example, to ambient temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1986
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Energy
    Inventor: Albert P. Grasso
  • Patent number: 4577156
    Abstract: A push-pull betatron accelerator with two coaxial betatron tubes in which two electron beams are alternately accelerated in opposite directions of rotation. Both tubes are linked by the same alternating current accelerating flux produced by one or more accelerating flux coils. The betatron tubes are provided with guide fields having alternating current components which are in the same direction and having direct current biasing components which are in opposite directions. One electron beam is accelerated when the accelerating flux is changing between its negative maximum and its positive maximum, while the other beam is accelerated when the accelerating flux is changing between its positive maximum and its negative maximum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1986
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Donald W. Kerst
  • Patent number: 4575576
    Abstract: A photovoltaic solar cell is formed in a monolithic semiconductor. The cell contains three junctions. In sequence from the light-entering face, the junctions have a high, a medium, and a low energy gap. The lower junctions are connected in series by one or more metallic members connecting the top of the lower junction through apertures to the bottom of the middle junction. The upper junction is connected in voltage opposition to the lower and middle junctions by second metallic electrodes deposited in holes 60 through the upper junction. The second electrodes are connected to an external terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1986
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Michael J. Ludowise
  • Patent number: 4569484
    Abstract: A device to atomize and inject a coal slurry in the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, and which eliminates the use of a conventional fuel injection pump/nozzle. The injector involves the use of compressed air to atomize and inject the coal slurry and like fuels. In one embodiment, the breaking and atomization of the fuel is achieved with the help of perforated discs and compressed air. In another embodiment, a cone shaped aspirator is used to achieve the breaking and atomization of the fuel. The compressed air protects critical bearing areas of the injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1986
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Ramkrishna G. Phatak
  • Patent number: 4567452
    Abstract: A broad-band beam buncher is disclosed, comprising an evacuated housing, an electron gun therein for producing an electron beam, a buncher cavity having entrance and exit openings through which the beam is directed, grids across such openings, a source providing a positive DC voltage between the cavity and the electron gun, a drift tube through which the electron beam travels in passing through such cavity, grids across the ends of such drift tube, gaps being provided between the drift tube grids and the entrance and exit grids, a modulator for supplying an ultrahigh frequency modulating signal to the drift tube for producing velocity modulation of the electrons in the beam, a drift space in the housing through which the velocity modulated electron beam travels and in which the beam is bunched, and a discharge opening from such drift tube and having a grid across such opening through which the bunched electron beam is discharged into an accelerator or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1986
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: David A. Goldberg, William S. Flood, Allan A. Arthur, Ferdinand Voelker
  • Patent number: 4567017
    Abstract: An improved fuel pin cladding, particularly adapted for use in breeder reactors, consisting of composite tubing with austenitic steel on the outer portion of the thickness of the tube wall and with nickel and/or ferritic material on the inner portion of the thickness of the tube wall. The nickel forms a sacrificial barrier as it reacts with certain fission products thereby reducing fission product activity at the austenitic steel interface. The ferritic material forms a preventive barrier for the austenitic steel as it is immune to liquid metal embrittlement. The improved cladding permits the use of high density fuel which in turn leads to a better breeding ratio in breeder reactors, and will increase the threshold at which failure occurs during temperature transients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1986
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Swaminathan Vaidyanathan, Martyn G. Adamson
  • Patent number: 4566084
    Abstract: Acoustic energy is propagated through earth material between an electro-acoustic generator and a receiver which converts the received acoustic energy into electrical signals. A closed loop is formed by a variable gain amplifier system connected between the receiver and the generator. The gain of the amplifier system is increased until sustained oscillations are produced in the closed loop. The frequency of the oscillations is measured as an indication of the acoustic propagation velocity through the earth material. The amplifier gain is measured as an indication of the acoustic attenuation through the earth materials. The method is also applicable to the non-destructive testing of structural materials, such as steel, aluminum and concrete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1986
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Edwin F. Laine
  • Patent number: 4559818
    Abstract: A well-test method involving injection of hot (or cold) water into a groundwater aquifer, or injecting cold water into a geothermal reservoir. By making temperature measurements at various depths in one or more observation wells, certain properties of the aquifer are determined. These properties, not obtainable from conventional well test procedures, include the permeability anisotropy, and layering in the aquifer, and in-situ thermal properties. The temperature measurements at various depths are obtained from thermistors mounted in the observation wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1985
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Chin-Fu Tsang, Christine A. Doughty
  • Patent number: 4560626
    Abstract: A rapidly refuelable dual cell of an electrochemical type wherein a single anode cooperates with two cathodes and wherein the anode has a fixed position and the cathodes are urged toward opposite faces of the anodes at constant and uniform force. The associated cathodes are automatically retractable to permit the consumed anode remains to be removed from the housing and a new anode inserted between the two cathodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1985
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Richard W. Joy
  • Patent number: 4559787
    Abstract: An improved cryopumping apparatus which comprises a cryopumping space which may be alternately opened and closed from the surrounding area by moveable panels, trubular cryopanels within said cryopumping space through which a coolant such as liquid helium may be passed, and an apparatus for spraying liquid argon onto said cylindrical cryopanels in order to enhance the cryogenic entrapment of such low-z ions, atoms, and molecules as hydrogen and helium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1985
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Thomas H. Batzer, Wayne R. Call
  • Patent number: 4559477
    Abstract: A negative ion vessel is divided into an excitation chamber, a negative ionization chamber and an extraction chamber by two magnetic filters. Input means introduces neutral molecules into a first chamber where a first electron discharge means vibrationally excites the molecules which migrate to a second chamber. In the second chamber a second electron discharge means ionizes the molecules, producing negative ions which are extracted into or by a third chamber. A first magnetic filter prevents high energy electrons from entering the negative ionization chamber from the excitation chamber. A second magnetic filter prevents high energy electrons from entering the extraction chamber from the negative ionizing chamber. An extraction grid at the end of the negative ion vessel attracts negative ions into the third chamber and accelerates them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1985
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Ka-Ngo Leung, Kenneth W. Ehlers, John R. Hiskes
  • Patent number: 4558664
    Abstract: A method and device for obtaining, upon injection, flash evaporation of a liquid in a slurry fuel to aid in ignition and combustion. The device is particularly beneficial for use of coal-water slurry fuels in internal combustion engines such as diesel engines and gas turbines, and in external combustion devices such as boilers and furnaces. The slurry fuel is heated under pressure to near critical temperature in an injector accumulator, where the pressure is sufficiently high to prevent boiling. After injection into a combustion chamber, the water temperature will be well above boiling point at a reduced pressure in the combustion chamber, and flash boiling will preferentially take place at solid-liquid surfaces, resulting in the shattering of water droplets and the subsequent separation of the water from coal particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1985
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Franklin A. Robben
  • Patent number: 4556848
    Abstract: A point-sensitive NMR imaging system (10) in which a main solenoid coil (11) produces a relatively strong and substantially uniform magnetic field and a pair of perturbing coils (PZ1 and PZ2) powered by current in the same direction superimposes a pair of relatively weak perturbing fields on the main field to produce a resultant point of minimum field strength at a desired location in a direction along the Z-axis. Two other pairs of perturbing coils (PX1, PX2; PY1, PY2) superimpose relatively weak field gradients on the main field in directions along the X- and Y-axes to locate the minimum field point at a desired location in a plane normal to the Z-axes. An RF generator (22) irradiates a tissue specimen in the field with radio frequency energy so that desired nuclei in a small volume at the point of minimum field strength will resonate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1985
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Philippe H. Eberhard
  • Patent number: 4555277
    Abstract: Improved, multiphase, high performance, high energy, extrusion cast explosive compositions, comprising, a crystalline explosive material; an energetic liquid plasticizer; a urethane prepolymer, comprising a blend of polyvinyl formal, and polycaprolactone; a polyfunctional isocyanate; and a catalyst are disclosed. These new explosive compositions exhibit higher explosive content, a smooth detonation front, excellent stability over long periods of storage, and lower sensitivity to mechanical stimulants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1985
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Unites States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Scribner
  • Patent number: 4554731
    Abstract: A curved, shell-type magnet coil, adapted to be used in a superconducting magnet, is wound by providing a mandrel having a tubular cylindrical mid-portion terminating at both ends in tapered end portions formed with longitudinal slots having flexible fingers therebetween. An elongated electrical conductor is wound around an elongated oval-shaped pole island engaged with the outside of the cylindrical mid-portion, to form a multiplicity of oval-shaped turns engaged with a 180-degree segment of the mandrel. The coil turns have longitudinal portions with curved portions therebetween, engaging the tapered end portions of the mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1985
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Albert R. Borden
  • Patent number: 4552854
    Abstract: Described is a process for removing arsenic from petroliferous derived liquids by contacting said liquid at an elevated temperature with a divinylbenzene-crosslinked polystyrene having catechol ligands anchored thereon.Also, described is a process for regenerating spent catecholated polystyrene by removal of the arsenic bound to it from contacting petroliferous liquid as described above and involves:a. treating said spent catecholated polystyrene, at a temperature in the range of about 20.degree. to 100.degree. C. with an aqueous solution of at least one carbonate and/or bicarbonate of ammonium, alkali and alkaline earth metals, said solution having a pH between about 8 and 10 and,b. separating the solids and liquids from each other. Preferably the regeneration treatment is in two steps wherein step (a) is carried out with an aqueous alcoholic carbonate solution containing lower alkyl alcohol, and, steps (a) and (b) are repeated using a bicarbonate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1985
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Richard H. Fish
  • Patent number: 4549110
    Abstract: The radiant emission of a mercury-argon discharge in a fluorescent lamp assembly (10) is enhanced by providing means (30) for establishing a magnetic field with lines of force along the path of electron flow through the bulb (12) of the lamp assembly, to provide Zeeman splitting of the ultraviolet spectral line. Optimum results are obtained when the magnetic field strength causes a Zeeman splitting of approximately 1.7 times the thermal line width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1985
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Energy
    Inventors: Samuel M. Berman, Robert W. Richardson
  • Patent number: 4548266
    Abstract: A method for isolating and individually instrumenting separate aquifers within a single borehole. A borehole is first drilled from the ground surface, through an upper aquifer, and into a separating confining bed. A casing, having upper and lower sections separated by a coupling collar, is lowered into the borehole. The borehole is grouted in the vicinity of the lower section of the casing. A borehole is then drilled through the grout plug and into a lower aquifer. After the lower aquifer is instrumented, the borehole is grouted back into the lower portion of the casing. Then the upper section of the casing is unscrewed via the coupling collar and removed from the borehole. Finally, instrumentation is added to the upper aquifer and the borehole is appropriately grouted. The coupling collar is designed to have upper right-hand screw threads and lower left-hand screw thread, whereby the sections of the casing can be readily separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1985
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Patrick W. Burklund