Patents by Inventor Martha A. GILLIAM

Martha A. GILLIAM 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).

  • Small modular reactor fuel assembly
    Patent number: 11120919
    Abstract: A pressurized water reactor (PWR) comprises a pressure vessel containing primary coolant water. A nuclear reactor core is disposed in the pressure vessel and includes a plurality of fuel assemblies. Each fuel assembly includes a plurality of fuel rods containing a fissile material. A control system includes a plurality of control rod assemblies (CRA's). Each CRA is guided by a corresponding CRA guide structure. A support element is disposed above the CRA guide structures and supports the CRA guide structures. The pressure vessel may be cylindrical, and the support element may comprise a support plate having a circular periphery supported by the cylindrical pressure vessel. The CRA guide structures suitably hang downward from the support plate. The lower end of each CRA guide structure may include alignment features that engage corresponding alignment features of the upper end of the corresponding fuel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: BWXT mPower, Inc.
    Inventors: Lewis A. Walton, George S. Pabis, Julius M. Ullmann, Jean H. Raas, Martha A. Gilliam, Anne R. Austin, Eric A. Barringer
  • SMALL MODULAR REACTOR FUEL ASSEMBLY
    Publication number: 20180261341
    Abstract: A pressurized water reactor (PWR) comprises a pressure vessel containing primary coolant water. A nuclear reactor core is disposed in the pressure vessel and includes a plurality of fuel assemblies. Each fuel assembly includes a plurality of fuel rods containing a fissile material. A control system includes a plurality of control rod assemblies (CRA's). Each CRA is guided by a corresponding CRA guide structure. A support element is disposed above the CRA guide structures and supports the CRA guide structures. The pressure vessel may be cylindrical, and the support element may comprise a support plate having a circular periphery supported by the cylindrical pressure vessel. The CRA guide structures suitably hang downward from the support plate. The lower end of each CRA guide structure may include alignment features that engage corresponding alignment features of the upper end of the corresponding fuel assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Lewis A. Walton, George S. Pabis, Julius M. Ullmann, Jean H. Raas, Martha A. Gilliam, Anne R. Austin, Eric A. Barringer
  • Small modular reactor fuel assembly
    Patent number: 9972407
    Abstract: A pressurized water reactor (PWR) comprises a pressure vessel containing primary coolant water. A nuclear reactor core is disposed in the pressure vessel and includes a plurality of fuel assemblies. Each fuel assembly includes a plurality of fuel rods containing a fissile material. A control system includes a plurality of control rod assemblies (CRA's). Each CRA is guided by a corresponding CRA guide structure. A support element is disposed above the CRA guide structures and supports the CRA guide structures. The pressure vessel may be cylindrical, and the support element may comprise a support plate having a circular periphery supported by the cylindrical pressure vessel. The CRA guide structures suitably hang downward from the support plate. The lower end of each CRA guide structure may include alignment features that engage corresponding alignment features of the upper end of the corresponding fuel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: BWXT mPower, Inc.
    Inventors: Lewis A Walton, George S Pabis, Julius M Ullmann, Jean H Raas, Martha A Gilliam, Anne R Austin, Eric A Barringer
  • SMALL MODULAR REACTOR FUEL ASSEMBLY
    Publication number: 20140140463
    Abstract: A pressurized water reactor (PWR) comprises a pressure vessel containing primary coolant water. A nuclear reactor core is disposed in the pressure vessel and includes a plurality of fuel assemblies. Each fuel assembly includes a plurality of fuel rods containing a fissile material. A control system includes a plurality of control rod assemblies (CRA's). Each CRA is guided by a corresponding CRA guide structure. A support element is disposed above the CRA guide structures and supports the CRA guide structures. The pressure vessel may be cylindrical, and the support element may comprise a support plate having a circular periphery supported by the cylindrical pressure vessel. The CRA guide structures suitably hang downward from the support plate. The lower end of each CRA guide structure may include alignment features that engage corresponding alignment features of the upper end of the corresponding fuel assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Inventors: Lewis A. WALTON, George S. PABIS, Julius M. ULLMANN, Jean H. RAAS, Martha A. GILLIAM, Anne R. AUSTIN, Eric A. BARRINGER