Patents by Inventor Michael D. Heibel

Michael D. Heibel 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).

  • Thermocouple based control rod position indication system
    Patent number: 4927594
    Abstract: The present invention obtains enthalpy rise deviations in core power distribution using core exit thermocouples 18 and an inlet temperature detector 20. The enthalpy rise deviations are used to determine control rod position change relative a rod reference position. Because rod position change is linear with respect to enthalpy deviation, the change can be determined from the slope using the deviation. By adding the change to a reference rod position the actual rod position can be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Michael D. Heibel, Albert J. Impink, Jr., Louis R. Grobmyer