Patents by Inventor David J. Barkhurst

David J. Barkhurst 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).

  • Patent number: 5434898
    Abstract: A nuclear fuel assembly for a boiling water reactor having a spacer grid for positioning and retaining the fuel rods. The spacer grid comprising an upper grid structure and a lower grid structure. Each grid structure comprises a first set of grid strips and a second set of grid strips which intersect to form in each grid structure a lattice of rectangular and square shaped cells through which the fuel rods extend and which act against the fuel rods within the cells. The lattice in each of the upper grid structure and the lower grid structure being the same. The upper grid structure and the lower grid structure being oriented relative to one another so that each of the rectangular and square shaped cells in the upper grid structure is superimposed on a corresponding one of the rectangular and square shaped cells in the lower grid structure so as to act cooperatively against and provide support to a fuel rod on four sides of the fuel rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: Siemens Power Corporation
    Inventor: David J. Barkhurst
  • Patent number: 5353317
    Abstract: A shipping shim (30) for restraining nuclear fuel rods (11, 12, 13) in a nuclear fuel assembly (10) which accommodates varied sized gaps (g.sub.1, g.sub.2, g.sub.3, g.sub.4) between fueled and non-fuel bearing members in the fuel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Siemens Power Corporation
    Inventor: David J. Barkhurst
  • Patent number: 4676945
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, use is made of the adjacent vertically arranged fuel bundles which surround the empty core position to be filled with the fuel bundle to be inserted. Such use of the adjacent bundles involves the placement upon the top tie plate of each bundle of a separate and individual centering device, each centering device being of a generally box-like cap configuration and engaging the upper tie plate of each fuel bundle. Preferably, each such centering device includes a pair of tapered dowel pins which engage apertures formed in the upper surface of the fuel assembly tie plate so that lateral forces imposed upon the centering device will be transmitted to the upper end of the fuel bundle assembly that may be bowed into the empty core position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1987
    Assignee: Exxon Nuclear Company, Inc.
    Inventor: David J. Barkhurst
  • Patent number: 4565365
    Abstract: A stand for supporting a bicycle to convert it to a stationary exercising device includes a frame adapted to sit on a floor or other surface. The frame carries rollers for supporting the rear wheel of the bicycle and a fixed support for the front wheel. A single supporting strut mounted on one side only of the frame has a latch at its upper end which engages the seat stem of the bicycle. Since, as stated above, only a single strut is used, the bicycle can easily be set into position on, and removed from, the stand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1986
    Inventor: David J. Barkhurst