Patents by Inventor Gary W. Neeley
Gary W. Neeley 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: 11469004Abstract: A control rod assembly for a nuclear reactor having a reactor core and a pressurized fluid source, including a control rod disposed within a control rod sleeve, a lead screw that is selectively secured to the control rod, a trip latch that is secured to a bottom end of the lead screw, the trip latch being selectively securable to a top end of the control rod, a control rod drive motor that is operably connected to the lead screw, and a valve that is in fluid communication with the pressurized fluid source of the nuclear reactor and is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the second position of the gas valve the trip latch is in an open position.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2020Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: BWXT Advanced Technologies LLCInventors: James Brian Inman, Gary W. Neeley
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Patent number: 11380449Abstract: A control drum system for a nuclear reactor including a reactor core, including an ex-core reflector including a plurality of cylindrical apertures, a plurality of control drum assemblies, each control drum assembly including a drive shaft, a drum cylinder affixed to a bottom end of the drive shaft, and a planetary gear attached to a top end of the drive shaft, wherein each drum cylinder is rotatably received in a cylindrical aperture, a first control drum drive motor operably connected to a first control drum assembly, and an annular ring gear that is operably connected to the planetary gear of each of the control drum assemblies so that all the control drum assemblies rotate simultaneously.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2020Date of Patent: July 5, 2022Assignee: BWXT Advanced Technologies LLCInventors: James B. Inman, Scott J. Shargots, Gary W. Neeley
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Publication number: 20210082587Abstract: A control drum system for a nuclear reactor including a reactor core, including an ex-core reflector including a plurality of cylindrical apertures, a plurality of control drum assemblies, each control drum assembly including a drive shaft, a drum cylinder affixed to a bottom end of the drive shaft, and a planetary gear attached to a top end of the drive shaft, wherein each drum cylinder is rotatably received in a cylindrical aperture, a first control drum drive motor operably connected to a first control drum assembly, and an annular ring gear that is operably connected to the planetary gear of each of the control drum assemblies so that all the control drum assemblies rotate simultaneously.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2020Publication date: March 18, 2021Inventors: James B. Inman, Scott J. Shargots, Gary W. Neeley
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Publication number: 20200373028Abstract: A control rod assembly for a nuclear reactor having a reactor core and a pressurized fluid source, including a control rod disposed within a control rod sleeve, a lead screw that is selectively secured to the control rod, a trip latch that is secured to a bottom end of the lead screw, the trip latch being selectively securable to a top end of the control rod, a control rod drive motor that is operably connected to the lead screw, and a valve that is in fluid communication with the pressurized fluid source of the nuclear reactor and is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the second position of the gas valve the trip latch is in an open position.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2020Publication date: November 26, 2020Inventors: James Brian Inman, Gary W. Neeley
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Publication number: 20200234834Abstract: A nuclear fuel assembly for a nuclear reactor core including at least one fuel cartridge having a lattice structure including an outer wall defining an interior volume, at least one flow channel extending through the interior volume of the lattice structure, at least one lattice site disposed in the interior of the lattice structure; and at least one fuel compact disposed within a corresponding one of the at least one lattice site. A cross-sectional shape of the at least one fuel compact is the same as a cross-sectional shape of the corresponding one of the at least one lattice site.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2019Publication date: July 23, 2020Inventors: Scott J. Shargots, Gary W. Neeley, Ryan Z. Ziegler
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Patent number: 9911514Abstract: A nuclear reactor includes a reactor core disposed in a reactor pressure vessel. A radiological containment contains the nuclear reactor and includes a concrete floor located underneath the nuclear reactor. An ex vessel corium retention system includes flow channels embedded in the concrete floor located underneath the nuclear reactor, an inlet in fluid communication with first ends of the flow channels, and an outlet in fluid communication with second ends of the flow channels. In some embodiments the inlet is in fluid communication with the interior of the radiological containment at a first elevation and the outlet is in fluid communication with the interior of the radiological containment at a second elevation higher than the first elevation. The radiological containment may include a reactor cavity containing a lower portion of the pressure vessel, wherein the concrete floor located underneath the nuclear reactor is the reactor cavity floor.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2014Date of Patent: March 6, 2018Assignee: BWXT mPower, Inc.Inventors: Tyler A Edwards, Gary W Neeley, James B Inman
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Patent number: 9761332Abstract: A nuclear reactor includes a reactor pressure vessel and a nuclear reactor core comprising fissile material disposed in a lower portion of the reactor pressure vessel. The lower portion of the reactor pressure vessel is disposed in a reactor cavity. An annular neutron stop is located at an elevation above the uppermost elevation of the nuclear reactor core. The annular neutron stop comprises neutron absorbing material filling an annular gap between the reactor pressure vessel and the wall of the reactor cavity. The annular neutron stop may comprise an outer neutron stop ring attached to the wall of the reactor cavity, and an inner neutron stop ring attached to the reactor pressure vessel. An excore instrument guide tube penetrates through the annular neutron stop, and a neutron plug comprising neutron absorbing material is disposed in the tube at the penetration through the neutron stop.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2014Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Assignee: BWXT mPower, Inc.Inventors: Daniel P Speaker, Gary W Neeley, James B Inman
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Publication number: 20150357058Abstract: A nuclear reactor includes a reactor pressure vessel and a nuclear reactor core comprising fissile material disposed in a lower portion of the reactor pressure vessel. The lower portion of the reactor pressure vessel is disposed in a reactor cavity. An annular neutron stop is located at an elevation above the uppermost elevation of the nuclear reactor core. The annular neutron stop comprises neutron absorbing material filling an annular gap between the reactor pressure vessel and the wall of the reactor cavity. The annular neutron stop may comprise an outer neutron stop ring attached to the wall of the reactor cavity, and an inner neutron stop ring attached to the reactor pressure vessel. An excore instrument guide tube penetrates through the annular neutron stop, and a neutron plug comprising neutron absorbing material is disposed in the tube at the penetration through the neutron stop.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2014Publication date: December 10, 2015Inventors: Daniel P. SPEAKER, Gary W. NEELEY, James B. INMAN
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Publication number: 20150357057Abstract: A nuclear reactor includes a reactor core disposed in a reactor pressure vessel. A radiological containment contains the nuclear reactor and includes a concrete floor located underneath the nuclear reactor. An ex vessel corium retention system includes flow channels embedded in the concrete floor located underneath the nuclear reactor, an inlet in fluid communication with first ends of the flow channels, and an outlet in fluid communication with second ends of the flow channels. In some embodiments the inlet is in fluid communication with the interior of the radiological containment at a first elevation and the outlet is in fluid communication with the interior of the radiological containment at a second elevation higher than the first elevation. The radiological containment may include a reactor cavity containing a lower portion of the pressure vessel, wherein the concrete floor located underneath the nuclear reactor is the reactor cavity floor.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2014Publication date: December 10, 2015Inventors: Tyler A. EDWARDS, Gary W. NEELEY, James B. INMAN
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Patent number: 8767905Abstract: A combinatorial heterogeneous-homogeneous reactor configuration in which an array or groups of homogeneous fuel assemblies are interlinked together in a heterogeneous lattice. The present invention removes the limitation of a homogeneous reactor by providing a reactor concept that utilizes the inherent advantages of homogeneous fuel elements but in a heterogeneous fuel lattice arrangement that limits the power density of any one homogeneous fuel element and yet forms a reactor arrangement that is capable of producing any product demand of interest. The present invention provides a method for producing medical isotopes by the use of a modular reactor core comprised of homogeneous fuel assemblies arranged in a regular rectangular or triangular pitch lattice.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2009Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Babcock & Wilcox Technical Services Group, Inc.Inventors: Gary W. Neeley, James B. Inman
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Publication number: 20090225923Abstract: A combinatorial heterogeneous-homogeneous reactor configuration in which an array or groups of homogeneous fuel assemblies are interlinked together in a heterogeneous lattice. The present invention removes the limitation of a homogeneous reactor by providing a reactor concept that utilizes the inherent advantages of homogeneous fuel elements but in a heterogeneous fuel lattice arrangement that limits the power density of any one homogeneous fuel element and yet forms a reactor arrangement that is capable of producing any product demand of interest. The present invention provides a method for producing medical isotopes by the use of a modular reactor core comprised of homogeneous fuel assemblies arranged in a regular rectangular or triangular pitch lattice.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2009Publication date: September 10, 2009Inventors: Gary W. Neeley, James B. Inman