Patents by Inventor Michael C. Prible

Michael C. Prible 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).

  • Publication number: 20240387068
    Abstract: A system for measuring radiation activity of a target radioisotope being produced in a reactor core is disclosed. The system includes a cable assembly and a radiation detector. The cable assembly includes a housing, a target cable configured to position the housing, and a drive cable couplable and decouplable with the target cable. The target radioisotope is positioned within the housing. The drive cable is configured to drive the target cable. The radiation detector configured to periodically measure the radiation activity of the target radioisotope being produced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2024
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: Michael D. Heibel, Michael C. Prible
  • Patent number: 12046386
    Abstract: A system for measuring radiation activity of a target radioisotope being produced in a reactor core is disclosed. The system includes a cable assembly and a radiation detector. The cable assembly includes a housing, a target cable configured to position the housing, and a drive cable couplable and decouplable with the target cable. The target radioisotope is positioned within the housing. The drive cable is configured to drive the target cable. The radiation detector is configured to periodically measure the radiation activity of the target radioisotope being produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: Michael D. Heibel, Michael C. Prible
  • Patent number: 9761335
    Abstract: A method for monitoring changes in the boron concentration in the coolant of a reactor during a nuclear plant outage that applies temperature compensation to the source range detector output. The method then monitors the compensated output signal to identify changes in the detector count rate above a preselected value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: Michael C. Prible, Andrew M. Bunker, Michael D. Heibel
  • Publication number: 20150110235
    Abstract: A method for monitoring changes in the boron concentration in the coolant of a reactor during a nuclear plant outage that applies temperature compensation to the source range detector output. The method then monitors the compensated output signal to identify changes in the detector count rate above a preselected value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY LLC
    Inventors: Michael C. Prible, Andrew M. Bunker, Michael D. Heibel
  • Patent number: 8681920
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring a parameter in an irradiated environment and communicating a signal representative of the monitored parameter to a less caustic environment that employs a wireless transmitter that is powered by the irradiated environment. The power for the wireless transmitter is derived from a self-powered radiation detector disposed within the radioactive environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: Michael D. Heibel, Daniel P. Kistler, Michael C. Prible, Jorge V. Carvajal, Jason Palmer
  • Publication number: 20120177167
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring a parameter in an irradiated environment and communicating a signal representative of the monitored parameter to a less caustic environment that employs a wireless transmitter that is powered by the irradiated environment. The power for the wireless transmitter is derived from a self-powered radiation detector disposed within the radioactive environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY LLC
    Inventors: Michael D. Heibel, Daniel P. Kistler, Michael C. Prible, Jorge V. Carvajal, Jason Palmer
  • Publication number: 20110002432
    Abstract: A subcritical physics testing program which utilizes vanadium self-powered incore instrumentation thimble assemblies to provide an actual measured powered distribution that is used to confirm that the core will operate as designed. The signals received from the incore detector elements are integrated until a fractional uncertainty is less than a specified level. The measured power distribution is then compared against a predicted power distribution for a given rod position or temperature difference. If the measured power distribution is within a specified tolerance to the predicted power distribution, then the core is expected to behave as predicted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: Michael D. Heibel, Patrick J. Sebastiani, Michael C. Prible, Shannon L. Conner, Daniel P. Kistler