Patents by Inventor Luc Pillet

Luc Pillet 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).

  • Control cluster for a nuclear reactor
    Patent number: 5754608
    Abstract: The control cluster is usable for power regulation and for load following. It comprises a spider from which are suspended rods containing a column of neutron-absorbing material. The neutron-absorbing material in at least some rods is stainless steel in lower part of the rod and, in an upper part of the rod having a length equal to 20 and 40% of the height of the column of absorbing material, another material exhibiting an interference neutron absorption which is much higher than that of stainless steel, for instance Ag-In-Cd.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale des Matieres Nucleaires
    Inventor: Luc Pillet
  • Neutron-absorbent control cluster for a nuclear reactor
    Patent number: 5742655
    Abstract: A control cluster for a water cooled and moderated nuclear reactor, comprises a spider and rods suspended from the spider. Each rod contains neutron-absorbing material. In a lower portion of each rod, the material is a metal neutron absorber. In an upper portion, it is a stack of pellets of boron carbide B.sub.4 C. In a middle fraction occupying a height lying in the range 35% to 45% of the total height, it is zirconium diboride ZrB.sub.2 isotopically enriched in boron 10 or hafnium diboride HfB2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignees: Framatome, Compagnie Generale des Matieres Nucleaires
    Inventors: Dominique Hertz, Luc Pillet
  • Silver-based alloy containing indium and cadmium for the production of neutron-absorber components, and use
    Patent number: 5684847
    Abstract: The alloy contains, expressed in atomic percentages, 9 to 12% of indium and 4 to 5.35% of cadmium, the remainder consisting of silver with the exception of unavoidable impurities in very low quantities. The alloy preferably contains 9 to 10% of indium and 4.35% to 5.35% of cadmium. The alloy can be used in the form of pellets or bars placed inside a tubular casing, in order to form a neutron-absorber component of a rod cluster for controlling the reactivity of a pressurized water nuclear reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Framatome
    Inventors: Fran.cedilla.oise DeFoort, Luc Pillet