Patents by Inventor Alex BOUTIN

Alex BOUTIN has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Method and device for unlatching control rod drive shafts in pressurized water reactors
    Patent number: 11289222
    Abstract: An unlatching tool configured for actuating a movable section of a control rod drive shaft in a pressurized water reactor includes a base; a gripper assembly configured for gripping the movable section of the control rod drive shaft; a rod movably connecting the gripper assembly to the base; and a mechanical actuator fixed to the base and configured for rotating the rod to raise and lower the gripper assembly. A method for actuating a movable section of a control rod drive shaft includes installing an unlatching tool on the control rod drive shaft; latching the unlatching tool to a stationary section of the control rod drive shaft; and raising a rod connected to a gripper assembly to cause the gripper assembly to grip the movable section and move the movable section upward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Framatome Inc.
    Inventor: Alex Boutin
  • METHOD AND DEVICE FOR UNLATCHING CONTROL ROD DRIVE SHAFTS IN PRESSURIZED WATER REACTORS
    Publication number: 20190287690
    Abstract: An unlatching tool configured for actuating a movable section of a control rod drive shaft in a pressurized water reactor includes a base; a gripper assembly configured for gripping the movable section of the control rod drive shaft; a rod movably connecting the gripper assembly to the base; and a mechanical actuator fixed to the base and configured for rotating the rod to raise and lower the gripper assembly. A method for actuating a movable section of a control rod drive shaft includes installing an unlatching tool on the control rod drive shaft; latching the unlatching tool to a stationary section of the control rod drive shaft; and raising a rod connected to a gripper assembly to cause the gripper assembly to grip the movable section and move the movable section upward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventor: Alex BOUTIN