Patents by Inventor Earl B. Barger
Earl B. Barger 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).
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Patent number: 11974386Abstract: An irradiation target for the production of radioisotopes, comprising at least one plate defining a central opening and an elongated central member passing through the central opening of the at least one plate so that the at least one plate is retained thereon, wherein the at least one plate and the elongated central member are both formed of materials that produce molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) by way of neutron capture.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2022Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: BWXT Isotope Technology Group, Inc.Inventors: Benjamin D. Fisher, Earl B. Barger, William E. Russell, II
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Publication number: 20230311238Abstract: Insulated electrode fixture has an electrically conductive body with a receiving channel configured to receive a workpiece and an insert that is electrically isolated from the electrically conductive body is located on the first side and circumferential to the receiving channel. During welding processes, portions of the surface of the electrode fixture are electrically insulated from contact by a weld upset by the electrically isolated insert. Variations include an electrically isolated insert located on or inset into the surface of the electrode fixture, an insert of a non-conductive material located on or inset into the surface of the electrode fixture, an insert with a coating of a non-conductive material located on or inset into the surface of the electrode fixture, a non-conductive coating on the electrode fixture (except for in areas designated for conducting the weld current during resistance welding), or combinations thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2023Publication date: October 5, 2023Applicant: BWXT Advanced Technologies LLCInventors: Earl B. BARGER, Scott L. FITZNER, Jeffrey T. LEE
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Publication number: 20220312578Abstract: An irradiation target for the production of radioisotopes, comprising at least one plate defining a central opening and an elongated central member passing through the central opening of the at least one plate so that the at least one plate is retained thereon, wherein the at least one plate and the elongated central member are both formed of materials that produce molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) by way of neutron capture.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2022Publication date: September 29, 2022Inventors: Benjamin D. Fisher, Earl B. Barger, William E. Russell, II
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Patent number: 11363709Abstract: An irradiation target for the production of radioisotopes, comprising at least one plate defining a central opening and an elongated central member passing through the central opening of the at least one plate so that the at least one plate is retained thereon, wherein the at least one plate and the elongated central member are both formed of materials that produce molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) by way of neutron capture.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2018Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: BWXT Isotope Technology Group, Inc.Inventors: Benjamin D. Fisher, Earl B. Barger, William E. Russell, II
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Publication number: 20220081317Abstract: A process for producing a metal-molybdate material is provided. The process includes a step of reacting a metal molybdenum (Mo) material in a liquid medium with a first acid to provide a Mo composition and combining the Mo composition with a metal source to provide a metal-Mo composition. The metal-Mo composition can be pH adjusted with a base to precipitate a plurality of metal-Mo particulates.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2021Publication date: March 17, 2022Inventors: William Earl RUSSELL, II, Earl B. BARGER, Benjamin Isaiah BISHOP, Barbara B. BOHANNON, Christopher Sean FEWOX, James B. INMAN, Erik T. NYGAARD, Timothy A. POLICKE, Stephen D. PREITE, Roger D. RIDGEWAY, Steve W. SCHILTHELM, Bryan Blake WIGGINS
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Publication number: 20220017382Abstract: A process for producing a metal-molybdate material is provided. The process includes a step of reacting a metal molybdenum (Mo) material in a liquid medium with a first acid to provide a Mo composition and combining the Mo composition with a metal source to provide a metal-Mo composition. The metal-Mo composition can be pH adjusted with a base to precipitate a plurality of metal-Mo particulates.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2021Publication date: January 20, 2022Inventors: William Earl RUSSELL, II, Earl B. BARGER, Benjamin I. BISHOP, Barbara B. BOHANNON, Christopher Sean FEWOX, James B. INMAN, Erik T. NYGAARD, Timothy A. POLICKE, Stephen D. PREITE, Roger D. RIDGEWAY, Steve W. SCHILTHELM, Bryan Blake WIGGINS
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Patent number: 10720252Abstract: A pellet magazine includes a plurality of pellet bores sized to receive pellets for loading into a fuel rod. A fuel rod loading system includes a plurality of pellet loading stations each designated to load a single pellet type into one or more pellet bores of the pellet magazine, a rod loading station configured to unload pellets from the pellet bores of the pellet magazine into a fuel rod, and a conveyance system configured to transport the pellet magazine to the loading stations and then to the rod loading station in a defined sequence.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2014Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: BWXT mPower, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey T. Lee, Earl B. Barger
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Publication number: 20200203030Abstract: A pellet magazine includes a plurality of pellet bores sized to receive pellets for loading into a fuel rod. A fuel rod loading system includes a plurality of pellet loading stations each designated to load a single pellet type into one or more pellet bores of the pellet magazine, a rod loading station configured to unload pellets from the pellet bores of the pellet magazine into a fuel rod, and a conveyance system configured to transport the pellet magazine to the loading stations and then to the rod loading station in a defined sequence.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2014Publication date: June 25, 2020Inventors: Jeffrey T. Lee, Earl B. Barger
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Publication number: 20180322973Abstract: An irradiation target for the production of radioisotopes, comprising at least one plate defining a central opening and an elongated central member passing through the central opening of the at least one plate so that the at least one plate is retained thereon, wherein the at least one plate and the elongated central member are both formed of materials that produce molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) by way of neutron capture.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2018Publication date: November 8, 2018Inventors: Benjamin D. Fisher, Earl B. Barger, William E. Russell, II
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Publication number: 20180261337Abstract: An open end of a cladding tube of a nuclear fuel rod is plugged with an end plug having a main body and a cylindrical bond portion extending from the main body and terminating in a cladding seat with reduced diameter compared with the cylindrical bond portion. The plugging includes clamping the open end of the cladding tube against the cladding seat of the end plug and, while clamping, applying electrical current between the end plug and the open end of the cladding tube so as to force the open end of the cladding tube over the cladding seat and slide over the cylindrical bond portion of the end plug and to generate a resistance weld between a cylindrical bonding surface of the cylindrical bond portion of the end plug and the inside surface of the open end of the cladding tube.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2018Publication date: September 13, 2018Inventors: Jeffrey T. Lee, Earl B. Barger, Scott L. Fitzner, Michael J. Nilles
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Patent number: 9922731Abstract: An open end of a cladding tube of a nuclear fuel rod is plugged with an end plug having a main body and a cylindrical bond portion extending from the main body and terminating in a cladding seat with reduced diameter compared with the cylindrical bond portion. The plugging includes clamping the open end of the cladding tube against the cladding seat of the end plug and, while clamping, applying electrical current between the end plug and the open end of the cladding tube so as to force the open end of the cladding tube over the cladding seat and slide over the cylindrical bond portion of the end plug and to generate a resistance weld between a cylindrical bonding surface of the cylindrical bond portion of the end plug and the inside surface of the open end of the cladding tube.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2012Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: BWXT mPower, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey T Lee, Earl B Barger, Scott L Fitzner, Michael J Nilles
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Publication number: 20130272484Abstract: An open end of a cladding tube of a nuclear fuel rod is plugged with an end plug having a main body and a cylindrical bond portion extending from the main body and terminating in a cladding seat with reduced diameter compared with the cylindrical bond portion. The plugging includes clamping the open end of the cladding tube against the cladding seat of the end plug and, while clamping, applying electrical current between the end plug and the open end of the cladding tube so as to force the open end of the cladding tube over the cladding seat and slide over the cylindrical bond portion of the end plug and to generate a resistance weld between a cylindrical bonding surface of the cylindrical bond portion of the end plug and the inside surface of the open end of the cladding tube.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2012Publication date: October 17, 2013Applicant: BABCOCK & WILCOX MPOWER, INC.Inventors: Jeffrey T LEE, Earl B BARGER, Scott L Fitzner, Michael J Nilles
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Publication number: 20130272483Abstract: A pedestal plug is sized to fit into a cladding of a nuclear fuel rod. A lower end plug is sized and shaped to plug the lower end of the nuclear fuel rod. One of the pedestal plug and the lower end plug includes a protrusion and the other of the pedestal plug and the lower end plug includes a hollow region into which the protrusion fits. In one embodiment the pedestal plug is a hollow cylindrical pedestal plug and the protrusion is disposed on the lower end plug. The protrusion disposed on the lower end plug suitably press fits into the hollow cylindrical pedestal plug. In a method of assembling a fuel rod of a nuclear reactor, the pedestal plug and the lower end plug are press fit together, and after the press fitting the lower end plug is welded to a cladding of the fuel rod with the pedestal plug disposed inside the cladding.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2012Publication date: October 17, 2013Applicant: BABCOCK & WILCOX MPOWER, INC.Inventors: William E. Russell, Earl B. Barger, Roger D. Ridgeway, Jeffrey W. Austin, D. MIchael Minor, Jeffrey T. Lee