Patents by Inventor Gordon Rife

Gordon Rife 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: 9324461
    Abstract: An annulus spacer for a fuel channel assembly of a nuclear reactor. The fuel channel assembly includes a calandria tube and a pressure tube positioned at least partially within the calandria tube. The annulus spacer includes a garter spring configured to surround a portion of the pressure tube to maintain a gap between the calandria tube and the pressure tube. The garter spring includes a first end and a second end. The annulus spacer also includes a connector coupled to the first end and the second end of the garter spring. The connector allows movement of the annulus spacer when the pressure tube moves relative to the calandria tube during thermal cycles of the fuel channel assembly. The annulus spacer further includes a girdle wire positioned substantially within the garter spring and configured to form a loop around the pressure tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Atomic Energy of Canada Limited
    Inventors: Reza Ziaei, Gordon Rife, Donald Ray Metzger
  • Publication number: 20150213908
    Abstract: An annulus spacer for a fuel channel assembly of a nuclear reactor. The fuel channel assembly includes a calandria tube and a pressure tube positioned at least partially within the calandria tube. The annulus spacer includes a garter spring configured to surround a portion of the pressure tube to maintain a gap between the calandria tube and the pressure tube. The garter spring includes a first end and a second end. The annulus spacer also includes a connector coupled to the first end and the second end of the garter spring. The connector allows movement of the annulus spacer when the pressure tube moves relative to the calandria tube during thermal cycles of the fuel channel assembly. The annulus spacer further includes a girdle wire positioned substantially within the garter spring and configured to form a loop around the pressure tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Inventors: Reza Ziaei, Gordon Rife, Donald Ray Metzger
  • Publication number: 20110311015
    Abstract: An annulus spacer for a fuel channel assembly of a nuclear reactor. The fuel channel assembly includes a calandria tube and a pressure tube positioned at least partially within the calandria tube. The annulus spacer includes a garter spring configured to surround a portion of the pressure tube to maintain a gap between the calandria tube and the pressure tube. The garter spring includes a first end and a second end. The annulus spacer also includes a connector coupled to the first end and the second end of the garter spring. The connector allows movement of the annulus spacer when the pressure tube moves relative to the calandria tube during thermal cycles of the fuel channel assembly. The annulus spacer further includes a girdle wire positioned substantially within the garter spring and configured to form a loop around the pressure tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Reza Ziaei, Jan Frantisek Slavik, Gordon Rife, Marcia Helen Sanderson, Jean-Claude Stranart, Andre Roger Gagnon, Donald Ray Metzger
  • Patent number: 5494325
    Abstract: Article converging/diverging chamfered walls gripping anvils are provided having two protuberances extending from a body portion. The protuberances have top and bottom chamfered, converging inner sides for gripping a square-bobbin-shaped interface therebetween. The protuberances have diverging notches in their outer walls for locating between top and bottom chamfered protrusions on an interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Assignee: Canadian Space Agency
    Inventors: King-Heng Liu, Gordon Rife
  • Patent number: 5458384
    Abstract: A bifurcated, orbital replacement unit interface comprises a body and two pairs of fingers extending outwardly from opposite sides of the body, wherein each pair of fingers provides a bifurcation between their inner sides in the form of an inwardly tapering recess. All of the inner sides of the fingers are bevelled for aligning a correspondingly shaped anvil in the tapering recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Assignee: Canadian Space Agency
    Inventors: King-Heng Liu, Gordon Rife