Patents Assigned to Combustion Engineering
  • Turbine meter bearing
    Patent number: 4132453
    Abstract: The rotor of a turbine meter has two ceramic bushings and is mounted on a pair of ceramic shafts, each shaft extending from a spider support. A ceramic washer is mounted in each spider support and about the shaft extending from the support to provide ceramic-to-ceramic bearing for the rotor in both directions of fluid flow through the meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1979
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Billy S. Burrus, Michael W. Woodfill
  • Boiler fan arrangement
    Patent number: 4131073
    Abstract: An arrangement for supplying air to a boiler-furnace whereby an axial flow fan being used as a source of primary air may selectively take suction air from the atmosphere or from the discharge side of a fan being used to provide secondary air to the boiler. This arrangement will provide an increased inlet pressure for the primary air fan to thereby achieve increased stability and high system pressure for low load operation, thereby permitting the effective use of an axial flow fan as a source of primary air when such usage would otherwise be unjustified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1978
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel S. Blackburn, Jr., George P. Hammer
  • Nuclear fuel element
    Patent number: 4131511
    Abstract: A nuclear fuel pin is formed of an elongated metallic tube, closed at each end, containing stacked fuel pellets and material including little, or no, fissionable material, and formed into porous, or bubbled, microspheres placed in the annulus between the pellets and the internal wall of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1978
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter J. Mordarski, Jerome Roth
  • Lubricant for high temperature nuclear service
    Patent number: 4128486
    Abstract: Finely divided B.sup.11 N particles dispersed in a carrier form as anti-gall, anti-seize lubricants in high temperature situations where neutron radiation is present.Suitable carrier materials comprise volatile solvents, B.sup.11 carborane polysiloxanes, polyphenyl siloxanes, polyphenyl ethers and dimethyl polyalkylene ether copolymers of methylphenyl siloxanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1978
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: David N. Palmer, John E. Davison
  • Peripheral pin alignment system for fuel assemblies
    Patent number: 4127445
    Abstract: An alignment system is provided for nuclear fuel assemblies in a nuclear core. The core support structure of the nuclear reactor includes upwardly pointing alignment pins arranged in a square grid and engage peripheral depressions formed in the lateral periphery of the lower ends of each of the fuel assemblies of the core. In a preferred embodiment, the depressions are located at the corners of the fuel assemblies so that each depression includes one-quarter of a cylindrical void. Accordingly, each fuel assembly is positioned and aligned by one-quarter of four separate alignment pins which engage the fuel assemblies at their lower exterior corners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1978
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew J. Anthony
  • Plural bowl mills in series
    Patent number: 4127237
    Abstract: A bowl mill for pulverizing coal, wherein two bowl surfaces are rotated on the same shaft. The raw crushed coal is pulverized in one of the bowls, and the pulverized coal therefrom is then transported in an air stream to a classifier from where the fines are carried on to the ultimate point of use, and the more coarse particles are discharged into the second bowl for further grinding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1978
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Arun K. Mehta, Donald A. Smith
  • Nuclear reactor cavity streaming shield
    Patent number: 4126515
    Abstract: The upper portion of a nuclear reactor vessel supported in a concrete reactor cavity has a structure mounted below the top of the vessel between the outer vessel wall and the reactor cavity wall which contains hydrogenuous material which will attenuate radiation streaming upward between vessel and the reactor cavity wall while preventing pressure buildup during a loss of coolant accident.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1978
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Klotz, Donald W. Stephen
  • Method and apparatus for separation of fluids with an electric field
    Patent number: 4126537
    Abstract: Fluids are separated by passing their mixture through an electric field which is varied in strength. As coalescense of a first fluid dispersed in the second fluid begins, the mixture is flowed in a path which carries the coalescing fluid through the field which progressively changes strength. Fluid shear forces are avoided between the coalescing fluid and the fluid in which the coalescing fluid is dispersed. The size of the coalescing fluid drops increase and separate from the remaining fluid mixture under the force of gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1978
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Floyd L. Prestridge
  • Bottom actuated reactor control system
    Patent number: 4126767
    Abstract: A bottom actuated hydraulic reactor control system including absorber element blow-out protection means and wherein cooling flow for neutron absorber elements is derived from the pressure vessel coolant via an external system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1972
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1978
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Bevilacqua, Joseph R. Dietrich, William S. Flinn, Malcolm D. Groves, John M. West
  • High alumina-chromia plastic refractory mix
    Patent number: 4125409
    Abstract: A new and improved high alumina-chromia plastic refractory mix is provided wherein the predominant aggregate component of fused alumina imparts a strong skeletal aggregate structure of superior uniform heat stability. The matrix is comprised predominantly of materials having a high specific surface area of at least about 0.1 sq. m./g., high purity and a trigonal phase solid solution upon firing. The resultant refractory is characterized by an ability to withstand corrosive-erosive attack of molten metals and their acid, semibasic and basic slags during repeated exposure thereto together with excellent volume stability with minor glass development, superior structural heat stability, low apparent porosity, a high contact angle with molten steel and a strong abrasion resistant matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1978
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Friedrichs, Edward A. Snajdr, Bela Klaudinyi
  • Damped fluid pressure valve operator with selective back seat
    Patent number: 4125060
    Abstract: An actuator, in which fluid pressure on a piston advances a stem against retractive force provided by a spring, a hydraulic dashpot is provided for the stem, and a stroke varying cushion is used for preventing engagement of a back seat between the stem and housing except when a seal is desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1978
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: John K. McGee, Floyd J. Lane
  • Drive mechanism nuclear reactor control rod
    Patent number: 4125432
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for operating magnetic stepping-type mechanisms. The current flowing in the coils of magnetic stepping-type mechanisms of the kind, for instance, that are used in control-element drive mechanisms is sensed and used to monitor operation of the mechanism. Current waveforms that characterize the motion of the mechanism are used to trigger changes in drive voltage and to verify that the drive mechanism is operating properly. In addition, incipient failures are detected through the observation of differences between the observed waveform and waveforms that characterize proper operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1978
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: James G. Brooks, Jr., Douglas R. Maure, Christoffel H. Meijer
  • Turbine trip system
    Patent number: 4123909
    Abstract: An improved high-water-level trip control for a steam turbine is disclosed. Instead of causing a trip of the turbine (or reactor) based merely on the water level in the steam generator, the present invention generates a trip command that is based on a function of more than one parameter. Such a function more accurately indicates the quantity of water droplets in the steam leaving the steam generator than a function of a single parameter does. In particular, it is disclosed to trip the turbine when the water level exceeds a variable reference that increases as steam velocity decreases; this takes into account the effect of steam velocity on the entrainment of water droplets by the steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1978
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles T. French
  • Hot briquette press
    Patent number: 4124338
    Abstract: A hot briquetting press having a stationary anvil and a reciprocating ram movable through a chip-box that includes a water-cooled jacket to remove excessive heat therefrom. The cooling jacket includes an arcuate wall that is spaced from the reciprocating ram a distance that permits a layer of discrete chips to be disposed therein as an insulation barrier intermediate the reciprocating ram and the water-cooled jacket to preclude the cooling of the hot chips adjacent the ram before they are pressed into a briquette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1978
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert D. Mitchell
  • Briquette forming apparatus
    Patent number: 4123210
    Abstract: A briquette forming apparatus for compressing a mass of metallic chips into uniformly dense briquettes. The chips are first heated to reduce their yield strength and to simultaneously remove volatile contaminants therefrom. The hot chips are then transferred to a reciprocating press where the chips are compacted in a flared die between a convex anvil and a reciprocating ram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1978
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Albert C. Schulz
  • Load-responsive treater controller
    Patent number: 4122382
    Abstract: Improved circuitry for regulating the average power supplied by an AC source to a load includes switching circuitry that the power applies to the load for integral numbers of full cycles of the AC source. Control of the circuit for switching the power on and off is accomplished by sensing and storing the peak current drawn by the load during the most recent application of power, reducing the stored quantity linearly with time, and causing another application of power wnen the stored quantity has dropped below a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1978
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: John L. Bernstein
  • Process for mixing and separation in a solvent extraction system
    Patent number: 4120769
    Abstract: An ion exchange compound in a fluid organic carrier is cycled between mixing and separating from a weak acid stream and a strong acid stream. The weak acid stream is cycled between directly contacting ore to chemically dissolve metal and exchanging the metal for hydrogen ions of the exchange compound. The strong acid stream is cycled between exchanging its hydrogen ions for the metal bonded to the exchange compound and yielding the metal to a recovery system. The mixing and separation of the organic carrier with the two acid streams is by a pump, an electric field and a centrifuge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1978
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Floyd Leon Prestridge
  • Apparatus and method of controlling gasoline vapor emissions
    Patent number: 4118170
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of controlling and abating gasoline vapor emissions which occur at a gasoline service station during transfer of liquid gasoline from a gasoline supply tank truck to underground storage tanks at the station and also during transfer of liquid gasoline from the underground storage tanks to the gasoline tank of an automobile through a service station gasoline pump. Vent outlet pipes of the underground storage tanks are manifolded to a common vent pipe where vapor pressure is sensed by a plurality of preset pressure sensing means to direct vapors from the vent pipe to a burner means under predetermined below atmospheric pressure or vacuum conditions. A compressed air source provides pressure air for directing the gasoline vapors to the burner means as by suction pumping and to also actuate valve means in the gas vapor line to permit flow of vapors to the burner means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1978
    Assignee: Hirt Combustion Engineers
    Inventor: John H. Hirt
  • Convection baffles
    Patent number: 4117806
    Abstract: A heat source and an element to be heated are immersed in a common liquid heat exchange medium. Baffles are arranged to guide the heated portion of the liquid upward and toward the heated element and guide the cooled portion of the liquid downward and toward the heat source in such a manner as to avoid conflict between the two flows to maximize the heat exchange between the source and element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1978
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: William P. Manning
  • Method and apparatus for separation of fluids with an electric field and centrifuge
    Patent number: 4116790
    Abstract: Fluids are separated from each other by passing their mixture through an electric field and centrifuge in sequence. The drops of a first fluid dispersed in a second fluid are coalesced by the force of an electric field to a predetermined size. The mixture is then passed into a centrifuge which develops the force to move the coalesced drops away from the other fluids of the mixture without reaching the value at which fluid shear forces, between the coalesced fluid and the fluid in which the coalesced fluid is dispersed, will fragment the coalesced drops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1978
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Floyd Leon Prestridge