Patents by Inventor John T. Willse

John T. Willse 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).

  • Advanced fuel CRUD sampling tool method
    Patent number: 9530527
    Abstract: A method to perform an analysis of two types of CRUD on a nuclear fuel rod, including providing a nuclear fuel rod with a first and second layer of CRUD on an exterior of the fuel rod; brushing the first layer of CRUD from the fuel rod with a CRUD tool on a selected area; wherein the tool has a brushing device, a force applied to the brushing device on the fuel rod to remove the first layer of CRUD, the force being sufficient enough to perform such removal; collecting the first layer of CRUD from the brushing device, scraping the second layer of CRUD from the fuel rod in the selected area with the tool, wherein the tool has a scraping device and a second force is applied to the tool for scraping, collecting the second layer of CRUD from the scraping device, and analyzing the first layer and second layer of CRUD separately with a scanning electron microscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: AREVA Inc.
    Inventors: Mihai G. M. Pop, Anthony A. Pugh, Laurence S. Lamanna, John T. Willse
  • In-situ bwr and pwr CRUD flake analysis method and tool
    Patent number: 8069522
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and tool to perform an analysis of CRUD on a nuclear fuel rod. The method recites providing a nuclear fuel rod with a layer of CRUD on an exterior of the fuel rod, scraping the CRUD from the fuel rod with a CRUD scraping tool and collecting CRUD flakes from the CRUD scraping tool. The method also provides for sorting the CRUD flakes into particle fractions, and analyzing the CRUD with a scanning electron microscope, wherein the scraping tool has a blade with a rigidity that is matched to an anticipated CRUD deposit shear strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: AREVA NP Inc.
    Inventors: Mihai G. M. Pop, Brian G. Lockamon, Laurence S. Lamanna, John T. Willse
  • ADVANCED FUEL CRUD SAMPLING TOOL METHOD
    Publication number: 20110019790
    Abstract: A method to perform an analysis of two types of CRUD on a nuclear fuel rod, including providing a nuclear fuel rod with a first and second layer of CRUD on an exterior of the fuel rod; brushing the first layer of CRUD from the fuel rod with a CRUD tool on a selected area; wherein the tool has a brushing device, a force applied to the brushing device on the fuel rod to remove the first layer of CRUD, the force being sufficient enough to perform such removal; collecting the first layer of CRUD from the brushing device, scraping the second layer of CRUD from the fuel rod in the selected area with the tool, wherein the tool has a scraping device and a second force is applied to the tool for scraping, collecting the second layer of CRUD from the scraping device, and analyzing the first layer and second layer of CRUD separately with a scanning electron microscope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: AREVA NP Inc.
    Inventors: Mihai G. M. Pop, Anthony A. Pugh, Laurence S. Lamanna, John T. Willse
  • In-situ bwr and pwr CRUD flake analysis method and tool
    Publication number: 20100281640
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and tool to perform an analysis of CRUD on a nuclear fuel rod. The method recites providing a nuclear fuel rod with a layer of CRUD on an exterior of the fuel rod, scraping the CRUD from the fuel rod with a CRUD scraping tool and collecting CRUD flakes from the CRUD scraping tool. The method also provides for sorting the CRUD flakes into particle fractions, and analyzing the CRUD with a scanning electron microscope, wherein the scraping tool has a blade with a rigidity that is matched to an anticipated CRUD deposit shear strength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Inventors: Mihai G.M. Pop, Brian G. Lockamon, Laurence S. Lamanna, John T. Willse
  • In-situ BWR and PWR CRUD flake analysis method and tool
    Publication number: 20080277581
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and tool to perform an analysis of CRUD on a nuclear fuel rod. The method recites providing a nuclear fuel rod with a layer of CRUD on an exterior of the fuel rod, scraping the CRUD from the fuel rod with a CRUD scraping tool and collecting CRUD flakes from the CRUD scraping tool. The method also provides for sorting the CRUD flakes into particle fractions, and analyzing the CRUD with a scanning electron microscope, wherein the scraping tool has a blade with a rigidity that is matched to an anticipated CRUD deposit shear strength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Inventors: Mihai G.M. Pop, Brian G. Lockamon, Laurence S. Lamanna, John T. Willse
  • In-situ BWR and PWR CRUD flake analysis method and tool
    Patent number: 7304301
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and tool to perform an analysis of CRUD on a nuclear fuel rod. The method recites providing a nuclear fuel rod with a layer of CRUD on an exterior of the fuel rod, scraping the CRUD from the fuel rod with a CRUD scraping tool and collecting CRUD flakes from the CRUD scraping tool. The method also provides for sorting the CRUD flakes into particle fractions, and analyzing the CRUD with a scanning electron microscope, wherein the scraping tool has a blade with a rigidity that is matched to an anticipated CRUD deposit shear strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Framatome ANP, Inc.
    Inventors: Mihai G. M. Pop, Brian G. Lockamon, Laurence S. Lamanna, John T. Willse
  • In-situ BWR and PWR CRUD flake analysis method and tool
    Patent number: 7132651
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and tool to perform an analysis of CRUD on a nuclear fuel rod. The method recites providing a nuclear fuel rod with a layer of CRUD on an exterior of the fuel rod, scraping the CRUD from the fuel rod with a CRUD scraping tool and collecting CRUD flakes from the CRUD scraping tool. The method also provides for sorting the CRUD flakes into particle fractions, and analyzing the CRUD with a scanning electron microscope, wherein the scraping tool has a blade with a rigidity that is matched to an anticipated CRUD deposit shear strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Framatome ANP, Inc.
    Inventors: Mihai G. M. Pop, Brian G. Lockamon, Laurence S. Lamanna, John T. Willse