Patents by Inventor Eugene J. Piplica

Eugene J. Piplica 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).

  • Spectral shift reactor
    Patent number: 4826647
    Abstract: A mechanical spectral shift reactor comprises apparatus for inserting and withdrawing water displacer elements having differing neutron absorbing capabilities for selectively changing the water-moderator volume in the core thereby changing the reactivity of the core. The displacer elements may comprise substantially hollow cylindrical low neutron absorbing rods and substantially hollow cylindrical thick walled stainless rods. Since the stainless steel displacer rod have greater neutron absorbing capability, they can effect greater reactivity change per rod. However, by arranging fewer stainless steel displacer rods in a cluster, the reactivity worth of the stainless steel displacer rod cluster can be less than a low neutron absorbing displacer rod cluster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1989
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: William R. Carlson, Eugene J. Piplica
  • Spectral shift reactor
    Patent number: 4716007
    Abstract: A mechanical spectral shift reactor comprises apparatus for inserting and withdrawing water displacer elements having differing neutron absorbing capabilities for selectively changing the water-moderator volume in the core thereby changing the reactivity of the core. The displacer elements may comprise substantially hollow cylindrical low neutron absorbing rods and substantially hollow cylindrical thick walled stainless rods. Since the stainless steel displacer rods have greater neutron absorbing capability, they can effect greater reactivity change per rod. However, by arranging fewer stainless steel displacer rods in a cluster, the reactivity worth of the stainless steel displacer rod cluster can be less than a low neutron absorbing displacer rod cluster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1987
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: William R. Carlson, Eugene J. Piplica