Patents by Inventor John Anthony Schofield

John Anthony Schofield 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).

  • Method and apparatus for melting a particulate material
    Patent number: 6568215
    Abstract: Apparatus suitable for vitrifying nuclear waste comprises a tunable microwave cavity connected by a first wave guide to a source of microwave energy; cooling coils for cooling the exterior of the cavity; a hopper for loading particulate fusible material to the interior of the cavity; within the cavity a crucible made of melted and re-solidified fusible particulate material; an exit-chamber connected by a second waveguide to a second microwave source; and a pipe for supplying argon gas to the exit chamber so that a plasma torch can be generated. The separating of the crucible form the cavity walls by unmelted material gives significant advantages in case of cleaning and reduced energy consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: British Nuclear Fuels PLC.
    Inventors: John Anthony Schofield, James Lucas
  • Method and apparatus for melting a particulate material
    Publication number: 20020043082
    Abstract: Apparatus suitable for vitrifying nuclear waste comprises a tunable microwave cavity connected by a first wave guide to a source of microwave energy; cooling coils for cooling the exterior of the cavity; a hopper for loading particulate fusible material to the interior of the cavity; within the cavity a crucible made of melted and re-solidified fusible particulate material; an exit-chamber connected by a second waveguide to a second microwave source; and a pipe for supplying argon gas to the exit chamber so that a plasma torch can be generated. The separating of the crucible form the cavity walls by unmelted material gives significant advantages in case of cleaning and reduced energy consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Applicant: British Nuclear Fuels PLC
    Inventors: John Anthony Schofield, James Lucas