Patents by Inventor Malcolm Clough

Malcolm Clough 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: 10902963
    Abstract: It is common to store decayed radioactive waste in waste packages, lowered into vertical concrete cylindrical storage containers called tile holes. These containers of these packages decay over time and may become fragile, making it difficult to remove them using conventional methods. A retrieval tool has been developed, comprising a cylinder that fits between the tile hole internal diameter and the outside diameter of the waste package inside the tile hole. Inflatable air wedges are equally spaced inside the cylinder. The air wedges are inflated to a low pressure (2.1 psig) to provide uniform grip to the outside of the packages, minimizing the risk of damage to the decayed containers. A back-up system uses horizontal safety bars at the bottom of the cylinder, which may be rotated to form a partial platform under the waste package, preventing the package from falling in the event of a failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: ATOMIC ENERGY OF CANADA LIMITED
    Inventors: Michel Gaudet, Neil Briden, Malcolm Clough
  • Publication number: 20190304615
    Abstract: It is common to store decayed radioactive waste in waste packages, lowered into vertical concrete cylindrical storage containers called tile holes. These containers of these packages decay over time and may become fragile, making it difficult to remove them using conventional methods. A retrieval tool has been developed, comprising a cylinder that fits between the tile hole internal diameter and the outside diameter of the waste package inside the tile hole. Inflatable air wedges are equally spaced inside the cylinder. The air wedges are inflated to a low pressure (2.1 psig) to provide uniform grip to the outside of the packages, minimizing the risk of damage to the decayed containers. A back-up system uses horizontal safety bars at the bottom of the cylinder, which may be rotated to form a partial platform under the waste package, preventing the package from falling in the event of a failure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: Michel GAUDET, Neil BRIDEN, Malcolm CLOUGH
  • Patent number: 9671307
    Abstract: The present application pertains to a method of detecting and locating leaks in pipes having a secondary containment vessel. More particularly, the present application pertains to a method of leak detection whereby a tracer gas is introduced into a secondary containment vessel and detected in the primary pipe to determine the location of a leak in the primary pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Inventors: Michel Gaudet, Malcolm Clough, Kristopher Jones
  • Publication number: 20150071751
    Abstract: It is common to store decayed radioactive waste in waste packages, lowered into vertical concrete cylindrical storage containers called tile holes. These containers of these packages decay over time and may become fragile, making it difficult to remove them using conventional methods. A retrieval tool has been developed, comprising a cylinder that fits between the tile hole internal diameter and the outside diameter of the waste package inside the tile hole. Inflatable air wedges are equally spaced inside the cylinder. The air wedges are inflated to a low pressure (2.1 psig) to provide uniform grip to the outside of the packages, minimizing the risk of damage to the decayed containers. A back-up system uses horizontal safety bars at the bottom of the cylinder, which may be rotated to form a partial platform under the waste package, preventing the package from falling in the event of a failure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Michel Gaudet, Neil Briden, Malcolm Clough
  • Publication number: 20150068288
    Abstract: The present application pertains to a method of detecting and locating leaks in pipes having a secondary containment vessel. More particularly, the present application pertains to a method of leak detection whereby a tracer gas is introduced into the secondary containment vessel and detected in the primary pipe to determine the location of a leak in a primary pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Michel Gaudet, Malcolm Clough, Kristopher Jones
  • Publication number: 20060245956
    Abstract: An electric fluid pump includes an upper housing having a fluid inlet and outlet. An impeller is seated within the upper housing for pumping fluid between the inlet and the outlet. The impeller includes at least one magnet secured thereto. A lower housing mates with the upper housing. The lower housing has an upper wall for closing the upper housing and a shaft extending from the upper wall for rotatably supporting the impeller. A stator is seated within the lower housing and spaced from the impeller by the upper wall. The stator includes a plurality of pillars supporting a winding of coils for producing a magnetic field to energize the magnet and rotate the impeller, and a plurality of top plates covering each of the coils and spaced apart by a predetermined gap for maintaining the magnetic field between the stator and the impeller. An end cap closes the stator within the lower housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Publication date: November 2, 2006
    Inventors: Michael Lacroix, Dean Bajlon, Malcolm Clough