Patents Examined by David Matz
  • Patent number: 6793180
    Abstract: A system and method for constructing an airship hull is described, comprising a plurality of flexible members disposed lengthwise about the perimeter of the airship skin. The flexible members can be held in place in sleeves on the skin of the airship. The ends of the flexible members are drawn toward one another by tensioning means, causing the members to bow outwardly from a central axis and providing a rigid structure for the skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Inventors: Daniel Nachbar, John A. Fabel
  • Patent number: 6665366
    Abstract: A single piece fuel element and fast spectrum boiling water reactor using such a single piece fuel element. The single piece fuel element is formed from coated fissile particles embedded in a matrix made from a material such as SiC that is inert to all fissile and fertile heavy nuclei and to the coolant fluid circulating in and around this element. Furthermore, the fuel element includes parallel plates delimiting spaces between them. A ratio between the thickness of the plates and the width of the spaces is set so that the fuel element can be put in fast spectrum or thermal spectrum at will. An application of the single piece fuel element to a fast spectrum boiling water nuclear reactor operating with natural circulation in which the above mentioned ratio is approximately equal to 1 enables a high consumption of plutonium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Patrick Aujollet, Jacques Porta, Stéfano Baldi
  • Patent number: 6625247
    Abstract: A lightweight cask comprises a barrel body which shields gamma rays. A resin which shields neutrons is provided on the periphery of the barrel body. A basket is made of a plurality of square pipes having neutron absorbing ability. There is a cavity inside the barrel body. This cavity is worked to have a shape corresponding to the outer shape of the basket. The square pipes are inserted in this cavity so as to abut against this inner surface. Furthermore, chamfered portions are provided on the outside surface of the barrel body at 90° intervals and space portions are formed between another resin and an outer casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsunari Ohsono, Kenji Najima, Masaru Ohsaki, Shinji Ohkame
  • Patent number: 6622974
    Abstract: A geometric morphing wing 12 is provided, including a rigid internal core 20 surrounded by an expandable spar 22 and covered by a wing surface overlay 24. The expandable spar 22 includes an elastomeric bladder 30 movable between a non-inflated state 26 and an inflated state 28 such that the airfoil shape 29 of the geometric morphing wing 12 is adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Gregory E. Dockter, Brian K. Hamilton
  • Patent number: 6606369
    Abstract: An improved grid for use in a fuel assembly of a nuclear reactor includes a plurality of straps connected in a lattice, with a plurality of mixing vanes being disposed on the straps and being arranged such that the hydraulic forces on the mixing vanes generally cancel one another out. The mixing vanes of diagonal quadrants of the grid are generally aligned with diagonally disposed imaginary alignment planes. Each strap includes a plurality of strap members, with each strap member including a spring and a pair of dimples. The spring includes a contoured spring embossment having a greater radius of curvature in a relaxed condition than the radius of a fuel rod. Each dimple includes a similarly configured contoured dimple embossment. The spring embossment is mounted on a pair of legs that extend nonlinearly between a first plate and a second plate of each strap member to increase compliance thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: Levie David Smith, III, Yonghwan Kim, Yu Chung Lee, David Lee Stucker
  • Patent number: 6452994
    Abstract: A system for storing exothermic materials to enhance heat removal is provided that includes a first canister and a second canister. Preferably, the first canister incorporates a canister wall defining a first storage volume that is adapted to receive exothermic material therein. The second canister incorporates an inner wall and an outer wall, with the inner wall defining a canister-receiving, volume that is adapted to receive at least a portion of the first canister therein. Additionally, the outer wall and the inner wall may define a second storage volume which is adapted to receive exothermic material therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: NAC International, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles W. Pennington