Patents by Inventor James Sparrow
James Sparrow 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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Publication number: 20200398016Abstract: A respiratory pressure therapy (RPT) device is disclosed for treatment of respiratory-related disorders. The RPT device includes a pressure generator, a pneumatic block, a chassis and a device outlet for delivering a supply of flow of gas to a patient interface. The RPT device also comprises a humidifier including a water reservoir.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2020Publication date: December 24, 2020Inventors: Andrew Roderick BATH, Mark BERTINETTI, Paul Frederick BIRCHALL, Tommy Chung Yeung CHUI, Dawn Rosemary CHURCHILL, Clementine LE LOC'H, Justin John FORMICA, Matthew Rolf HARRINGTON, Ronald James HUBY, Jeegarkumar KAPADIA, Barton John KENYON, Dimitri Marco MAURER, Saad NASR, Joseph Samuel ORMROD, Jose Ignacio ROMAGNOLI, Nathan John ROW, Ian Malcolm SMITH, Robert John SPARROW, Luke Andrew STANISLAS, Zhuo Ran TANG, Ernie Wei-Chih TSAI, Hargopal VERMA, Chengwei ZHU
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Patent number: 10864343Abstract: A respiratory pressure therapy (RPT) device is disclosed for treatment of respiratory-related disorders. The RPT device includes a pressure generator, a pneumatic block, a chassis and a device outlet for delivering a supply of flow of gas to a patient interface. The RPT device also comprises a humidifier including a water reservoir.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2020Date of Patent: December 15, 2020Assignee: ResMed Pty LtdInventors: Andrew Roderick Bath, Mark Bertinetti, Paul Frederick Birchall, Tommy Chung Yeung Chui, Dawn Rosemary Churchill, Clementine Le Loc'h, Justin John Formica, Matthew Rolf Harrington, Ronald James Huby, Jeegarkumar Kapadia, Barton John Kenyon, Dimitri Marco Maurer, Saad Nasr, Joseph Samuel Ormrod, Jose Ignacio Romagnoli, Nathan John Row, Ian Malcolm Smith, Robert John Sparrow, Luke Andrew Stanislas, Zhuo Ran Tang, Ernie Wei-Chih Tsai, Hargopal Verma, Chengwei Zhu
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Publication number: 20200316332Abstract: A respiratory pressure therapy (RPT) device is disclosed for treatment of respiratory-related disorders. The RPT device includes a pressure generator, a pneumatic block, a chassis and a device outlet for delivering a supply of flow of gas to a patient interface. The RPT device also comprises a humidifier including a water reservoir.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2020Publication date: October 8, 2020Inventors: Andrew Roderick BATH, Mark BERTINETTI, Paul Frederick BIRCHALL, Tommy Chung Yeung CHUI, Dawn Rosemary CHURCHILL, Clementine LE LOC'H, Justin John FORMICA, Matthew Rolf HARRINGTON, Ronald James HUBY, Jeegarkumar KAPADIA, Barton John KENYON, Dimitri Marco MAURER, Saad NASR, Joseph Samuel ORMROD, Jose Ignacio ROMAGNOLI, Nathan John ROW, Ian Malcolm SMITH, Robert John SPARROW, Luke Andrew STANISLAS, Zhuo Ran TANG, Ernie Wei-Chih TSAI, Hargopal VERMA, Chengwei ZHU
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Publication number: 20200306490Abstract: A respiratory pressure therapy (RPT) device is disclosed for treatment of respiratory-related disorders. The RPT device includes a pressure generator, a pneumatic block, a chassis and a device outlet for delivering a supply of flow of gas to a patient interface. The RPT device also comprises an integrated humidifier including a water reservoir. An RPT device is also disclosed that includes a wireless data communication interface integrated with the housing and configured to connect to another device or a network.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2020Publication date: October 1, 2020Inventors: Andrew Roderick BATH, Mark BERTINETTI, Paul Frederick BIRCHALL, Tommy Chung Yeung CHUI, Dawn Rosemary CHURCHILL, Clementine LE LOC'H, Justin John FORMICA, Matthew Rolf HARRINGTON, Ronald James HUBY, Jeegarkumar KAPADIA, Barton John KENYON, Dimitri Marco MAURER, Saad NASR, Joseph Samuel ORMROD, Jose Ignacio ROMAGNOLI, Nathan John ROW, Ian Malcolm SMITH, Robert John SPARROW, Luke Andrew STANISLAS, Zhuo Ran TANG, Ernie Wei-Chih TSAI, Hargopal VERMA, Chengwei ZHU
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Patent number: 10665353Abstract: A VVER-1000 nuclear fuel assembly having a modified bottom nozzle with chamfers at the upper edge of the frustoconical transition from a hexagonal upper section of the nozzle to the lower circular end that mounts on a lower core support.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2013Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: James A. Sparrow, Jeffrey T. Alexander
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Patent number: 10418134Abstract: The present invention provides a top nozzle for use with PWR nuclear reactors and power plants, and in particular, VVER nuclear reactors. The top nozzle includes a plate portion having a peripheral portion; a hub portion spaced from the plate portion; a plurality of support portions extending from the plate portion to the hub portion; and at least one deflector portion extending inwardly from the peripheral portion at an acute angle with respect to the plate portion.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2016Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company, LLCInventors: James A Sparrow, Greg D Hill
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Publication number: 20170206985Abstract: The present invention provides a top nozzle for use with PWR nuclear reactors and power plants, and in particular, VVER nuclear reactors. The top nozzle includes a plate portion having a peripheral portion; a hub portion spaced from the plate portion; a plurality of support portions extending from the plate portion to the hub portion; and at least one deflector portion extending inwardly from the peripheral portion at an acute angle with respect to the plate portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2016Publication date: July 20, 2017Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: JAMES A. SPARROW, GREG D. HILL
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Patent number: 8594269Abstract: The present invention provides novel fuel assemblies for use with PWR nuclear reactors and power plants, and in particular, VVER nuclear reactors. The fuel assemblies offer enhanced structural stability, skeletal rigidity, and distortion (bow and twist) resistance to support high burn-up fuel management. Each fuel assembly may include a plurality of fuel rods, a plurality of control rods and guide thimbles, at least one instrumentation tube, and a plurality of grids. At least one fuel rod is replaced with a structural support replacement rod made from zirconium (Zr) alloy, stainless steel, or any other suitable material. The structural support replacement rod may be hollow or solid. The structural support replacement rods are preferably disposed at or about the periphery, and in some cases, the corners of the geometric array, which is preferably a hexagon or square.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2006Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Yuriy Aleshin, James A. Sparrow, Keith J. Drudy
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Publication number: 20130070890Abstract: A nuclear fuel assembly component such as a control rod that has a cylindrical insert such as neutron absorbing material that is closely received within a cladding that is sealed at either end with end caps. The cylindrical member has grooves formed in its side wall extending from an upper surface to a lower surface to permit air to escape from the cladding as the cylindrical member is loaded into the cladding during manufacture.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2011Publication date: March 21, 2013Applicant: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY LLCInventors: Hua Jiang, James A. Sparrow
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Patent number: 7668284Abstract: A nuclear fuel assembly having a tube-in-tube control rod guide tube design that incorporates an end plug that extends axially upward to an elevation above the lower most grid where it is sealed at its upper end to the lower end of the control rod guide tube. The guide tube lower end plug has a threaded recess in its upper surface that mates with a corresponding dashpot end plug threaded extension that is formed as an insert in the lower end of the guide tube. A hole formed through the outer wall of the guide tube end plug at the elevation of the lower portion of the recess provides a positive inspection port for assuring the proper seating of the dashpot. A method of manufacture of such a fuel assembly is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2008Date of Patent: February 23, 2010Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Co. LLCInventors: James A. Sparrow, Yuriy Aleshin, Garry C. Crabtree
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Publication number: 20090252281Abstract: A nuclear fuel assembly having a tube-in-tube control rod guide tube design that incorporates an end plug that extends axially upward to an elevation above the lower most grid where it is sealed at its upper end to the lower end of the control rod guide tube. The guide tube lower end plug has a threaded recess in its upper surface that mates with a corresponding dashpot end plug threaded extension that is formed as an insert in the lower end of the guide tube. A hole formed through the outer wall of the guide tube end plug at the elevation of the lower portion of the recess provides a positive inspection port for assuring the proper seating of the dashpot. A method of manufacture of such a fuel assembly is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2008Publication date: October 8, 2009Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company, LLCInventors: James A. Sparrow, Yuriy Aleshin, Garry C. Crabtree
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Patent number: 7515674Abstract: A nuclear fuel assembly having a tube-in-tube control rod guide tube design that incorporates an end plug that extends axially upward to an elevation above the lower most grid where it is sealed at its tipper end to the lower end of the control rod guide tube. The guide tube lower end plug has a threaded recess in its upper surface that mates with a corresponding dashpot end plug threaded extension that is formed as an insert in the lower end of the guide tube. A hole formed through the outer wall of the guide tube end plug at the elevation of the lower portion of the recess provides a positive inspection port for assuring the proper seating of the dashpot. A method of manufacture of such a fuel assembly is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2006Date of Patent: April 7, 2009Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Co LLCInventors: James A. Sparrow, Yuriy Aleshin, Garry C. Crabtree
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Patent number: 7412021Abstract: An advanced gray rod control assembly (GRCA) is for a nuclear reactor. The reactor has a plurality of fuel assemblies each including numerous elongated fuel rods supported in an organized array by substantially transverse support grids, and a plurality of guide thimbles disposed through the support grids and along the fuel rods. The GRCA includes a spider assembly structured to provide controlled insertion of gray rod assemblies within the thimbles of the fuel assembly, thereby controlling the rate of power produced by the reactor. Each gray rod assembly includes an elongated tubular member, a first end plug, a second end plug, a substantially pure silver neutron-absorber disposed within the tubular member, and a support tube surrounding the neutron-absorber within the tubular member to resist silver-swelling. Delta-power of the reactor is improved by minimizing the exposed surface area of the absorber and distributing it among all of the rods of the GRCA.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2005Date of Patent: August 12, 2008Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Co LLCInventors: Robert J. Fetterman, James A. Sparrow
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Publication number: 20080137798Abstract: A nuclear fuel assembly having a tube-in-tube control rod guide tube design that incorporates an end plug that extends axially upward to an elevation above the lower most grid where it is sealed at its tipper end to the lower end of the control rod guide tube. The guide tube lower end plug has a threaded recess in its upper surface that mates with a corresponding dashpot end plug threaded extension that is formed as an insert in the lower end of the guide tube. A hole formed through the outer wall of the guide tube end plug at the elevation of the lower portion of the recess provides a positive inspection port for assuring the proper seating of the dashpot. A method of manufacture of such a fuel assembly is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2006Publication date: June 12, 2008Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company, LLCInventors: James A. Sparrow, Yuriy Aleshin, Garry C. Crabtree
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Publication number: 20080084957Abstract: A nuclear fuel assembly having improved dimensional stability to support aggressive fuel management wherein the fuel skeleton lateral stiffness is enhanced by the addition of a second joint attachment between the control rod guide thimble and spacer grid support sleeve.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2006Publication date: April 10, 2008Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company, LLCInventors: Yuriy Aleshin, James A. Sparrow
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Publication number: 20070165766Abstract: The present invention provides novel fuel assemblies for use with PWR nuclear reactors and power plants, and in particular, VVER nuclear reactors. The fuel assemblies offer enhanced structural stability, skeletal rigidity, and distortion (bow and twist) resistance to support high burn-up fuel management. Each fuel assembly may include a plurality of fuel rods, a plurality of control rods and guide thimbles, at least one instrumentation tube, and a plurality of grids. At least one fuel rod is replaced with a structural support replacement rod made from zirconium (Zr) alloy, stainless steel, or any other suitable material. The structural support replacement rod may be hollow or solid. The structural support replacement rods are preferably disposed at or about the periphery, and in some cases, the corners of the geometric array, which is preferably a hexagon or square.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2006Publication date: July 19, 2007Inventors: Yuriy Aleshin, James Sparrow, Keith Drudy
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Publication number: 20070036260Abstract: An advanced gray rod control assembly (GRCA) is for a nuclear reactor. The reactor has a plurality of fuel assemblies each including numerous elongated fuel rods supported in an organized array by substantially transverse support grids, and a plurality of guide thimbles disposed through the support grids and along the fuel rods. The GRCA includes a spider assembly structured to provide controlled insertion of gray rod assemblies within the thimbles of the fuel assembly, thereby controlling the rate of power produced by the reactor. Each gray rod assembly includes an elongated tubular member, a first end plug, a second end plug, a substantially pure silver neutron-absorber disposed within the tubular member, and a support tube surrounding the neutron-absorber within the tubular member to resist silver-swelling. Delta-power of the reactor is improved by minimizing the exposed surface area of the absorber and distributing it among all of the rods of the GRCA.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2005Publication date: February 15, 2007Inventors: Robert Fetterman, James Sparrow
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Publication number: 20060222140Abstract: In a nuclear reactor fuel assembly structured to support at least one non-linear fuel rod, the nuclear reactor fuel assembly includes at least two support grids, a first support grid and a second support grid structured to support at least one fuel rod in a non-linear shape. Each support grid has a plurality of generally square cells and wherein the cells on the first support grid and the second support grid are generally vertically aligned. Each cell has a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side. Each cell further has protrusions extending from each the cell sides, wherein the protrusions are selected from the group including a spring, a dimple or an extended dimple. A spring is always disposed opposite of a dimple or an extended dimple. The first support grid includes at least one cell having an extended dimple extending from at least one cell side.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2005Publication date: October 5, 2006Applicant: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY LLCInventors: Yuriy Aleshin, James Sparrow
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Publication number: 20060045231Abstract: An integral multilevel debris-catching system for a nuclear reactor fuel assembly having a lower protective grid incorporating laterally offset debris-catching arches at several elevations, extended solid fuel rod bottom end plugs and a bottom debris-filtering nozzle. Dimples and opposing opposite springs and the debris-trapping arches, which are spaced from the end plugs, are all located at elevations below the fuel cladding.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2004Publication date: March 2, 2006Inventors: Yu Lee, James Sparrow
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Patent number: 6738447Abstract: A high energy absorption top nozzle for a nuclear fuel assembly that employs an elongated upper tubular housing and an elongated lower tubular housing slidable within the upper tubular housing. The upper and lower housings are biased away from each other by a plurality of longitudinally extending springs that are restrained by a longitudinally moveable piston whose upward travel is limited within the upper housing. The energy imparted to the nozzle by a control rod scram is mostly absorbed by the springs and the hydraulic affect of the piston within the nozzle.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2003Date of Patent: May 18, 2004Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: James A. Sparrow, Yuriy Aleshin, Aleksey Slyeptsov