Patents by Inventor Michel Brun

Michel Brun 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: 11901089
    Abstract: A nuclear reactor (1) includes a vessel (3) has a central axis (X); and a core (5) arranged in the vessel (3). The core (5) includes a plurality of nuclear fuel assemblies, a primary water layer (7) separating the core (5) from the vessel (3) radially from the central axis (X) and surrounding the core (5); and a system (9) for controlling and protecting the nuclear reactor. The control and protection system (9) includes a device (11) for continuously measuring the neutron flux emitted by the core (5). The measuring device (11) includes at least one neutron detector (12) arranged in the primary water layer (7) separating the core (5) from the vessel (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Société Technique pour l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Michel Brun, Sandrine Spyckerelle
  • Patent number: 11798696
    Abstract: A vessel electrical penetration assembly for a feed-through of nuclear reactor vessel, the assembly including: a docking tube to form an extension of the secondary containment barrier of the reactor, the docking tube including: a first end to be positioned in the interior of the vessel and to be mechanically and sealably connected to an actuator in the interior of the vessel, and a second end to be mechanically and sealably secured to the vessel; a seal-tight electrical bar that passes through the docking tube and having on either side seal-tight connectors ensuring an electrical link between the actuator and the exterior of the reactor; the seal-tight electrical bar including a system for limiting a leakage of primary liquid to the exterior of the vessel if the secondary containment barrier extension fails; and a mechanical maintaining system for securing, under the required pressure conditions, the electrical bar to the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: SOCIETE TECHNIQUE POUR L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE
    Inventor: Michel Brun
  • Patent number: 11763953
    Abstract: A nuclear reactor vessel includes a shell (5) having a wall (9) traversed by at least one passage (11) having a central axis (C) and a valve (21) mounted in the passage (11), the valve (21) having a determined outer cross-section. The passage (11) has an inner end segment (23) that opens into the inner volume (7) and an outer end segment (25) that opens into an outer piping (13), the valve (21) being housed in the inner end segment (23). The valve (21) is capable of being extracted from the passage (11) through the inside of the vessel (1). The outer end segment (25) has at least one portion having an inner cross-section, perpendicular to the central axis (C), that is smaller than the outer cross-section of the valve (21), such that the valve (21) cannot be ejected out of the vessel (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: SOCIÉTÉ TECHNIQUE POUR L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE
    Inventors: Laurent Candillier, Michel Brun
  • Patent number: 11714633
    Abstract: A method provides a firmware update to an electronic device, to code signing for firmware updates of electronic devices, and a system therefor. In particular, the system and method for updates firmware that is authenticated through a public key infrastructure. The method includes an electronic device receiving a firmware update provided with a signature of a signing key, a signing certificate with a signature of a master key, and a revision number. The device verifies the signature of the master key on the signing certificate of the signing key, checks the revision number on the signing certificate of the signing key against a roll back counter, and verifies the signature of the signing key on the firmware update. The device then rejecting or accepting the received firmware update based on the outcome of the above verifying and checking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
    Inventors: Jean-Philippe Fassino, Jean-Michel Brun
  • Publication number: 20230132308
    Abstract: A control assembly (10) for a nuclear reactor includes a reactivity control device (11) comprising a control rod cluster (12) comprising an attaching head (22), and a drive rod (14) comprising an attaching device (16) for attaching the drive rod (14) to the attaching head (22). The attaching device (16) is movable between a connection position and a disconnection position. The drive rod (14) and the attaching device (16) define an axial trough recess (34) forming a sleeve (35). A checking device (13) engages with the reactivity control device (11) comprising a probe rod (36) which is free to move translationally in the sleeve (35) and comprises a lower end (38) abutting the attaching head (22) of the control rod cluster (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventors: Michel BRUN, François DONNIER
  • Publication number: 20220179640
    Abstract: A method provides a firmware update to an electronic device, to code signing for firmware updates of electronic devices, and a system therefor. In particular, the system and method for updates firmware that is authenticated through a public key infrastructure. The method includes an electronic device receiving a firmware update provided with a signature of a signing key, a signing certificate with a signature of a master key, and a revision number. The device verifies the signature of the master key on the signing certificate of the signing key, checks the revision number on the signing certificate of the signing key against a roll back counter, and verifies the signature of the signing key on the firmware update. The device then rejecting or accepting the received firmware update based on the outcome of the above verifying and checking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Applicant: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
    Inventors: Jean-Philippe FASSINO, Jean-Michel BRUN
  • Patent number: 11342083
    Abstract: A nuclear reactor (10) includes a vessel (12) containing a primary liquid, a core (14) comprising nuclear fuel and arranged in the internal volume of the vessel (12), at least one primary pump generating a main primary flow (56) of primary liquid in the vessel (12), at least one control member (16) for controlling the reactivity of the core (14), at least one movement mechanism (18) for moving the control member (16), arranged in the internal volume of the vessel (12) and linked to the control member (16), and a pressurizer (20) situated in a top portion of the vessel (12). The movement mechanism (18) comprises an electrical actuator and a transmission mechanism. The electrical actuator is completely immersed in the primary fluid and situated outside the main primary flow (56).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: SOCIÉTÉ TECHNIQUE POUR L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE
    Inventors: Michel Brun, Charles Dumanois
  • Patent number: 11210079
    Abstract: A method provides a firmware update to an electronic device, to code signing for firmware updates of electronic devices, and a system therefor. In particular, the system and method for updates firmware that is authenticated through a public key infrastructure. The method includes an electronic device receiving a firmware update provided with a signature of a signing key, a signing certificate with a signature of a master key, and a revision number. The device verifies the signature of the master key on the signing certificate of the signing key, checks the revision number on the signing certificate of the signing key against a roll back counter, and verifies the signature of the signing key on the firmware update. The device then rejecting or accepting the received firmware update based on the outcome of the above verifying and checking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
    Inventors: Jean-Philippe Fassino, Jean-Michel Brun
  • Patent number: 11193732
    Abstract: A housing intended to be arranged on a vehicle, in particular a military vehicle, and having a substantially parallelepiped shape including a front wall and a rear wall that each includes at least one bore for allowing air to flow inside the housing. At least one of the front or rear walls carries a plate, arranged outside the housing and at a distance from said wall, the housing further including at least one first slot allowing air to pass between the plate and the wall in question, and at least one second slot constituted by the gap between a lateral edge of the plate and said wall. The invention also concerns a weapon system including at least one missile launcher arranged in such a housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: NEXTER SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Michel Brun, Virginie Vincent, Xavier Descatoire
  • Patent number: 11156417
    Abstract: A cap that is intended to obturate a duct for ejecting cartridges of a turret. This cap includes a circular base that is intended to allow it to be fastened to the duct, and a body shell having a spherical dome profile including a concave face and a convex face, the body shell being divided into at least four sectors by radial slits that are regularly distributed angularly, the sectors being contiguous pairwise. Another subject of the invention is a turret including a duct for ejecting cartridges equipped with such a cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: NEXTER SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Vincent Venaille, Michel Brun
  • Publication number: 20210210234
    Abstract: A vessel electrical penetration assembly for a feed-through of nuclear reactor vessel, the assembly including: a docking tube to form an extension of the secondary containment barrier of the reactor, the docking tube including: a first end to be positioned in the interior of the vessel and to be mechanically and sealably connected to an actuator in the interior of the vessel, and a second end to be mechanically and sealably secured to the vessel; a seal-tight electrical bar that passes through the docking tube and having on either side seal-tight connectors ensuring an electrical link between the actuator and the exterior of the reactor; the seal-tight electrical bar including a system for limiting a leakage of primary liquid to the exterior of the vessel if the secondary containment barrier extension fails; and a mechanical maintaining system for securing, under the required pressure conditions, the electrical bar to the vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventor: Michel BRUN
  • Publication number: 20210134471
    Abstract: A nuclear reactor vessel includes a shell (5) having a wall (9) traversed by at least one passage (11) having a central axis (C) and a valve (21) mounted in the passage (11), the valve (21) having a determined outer cross-section. The passage (11) has an inner end segment (23) that opens into the inner volume (7) and an outer end segment (25) that opens into an outer piping (13), the valve (21) being housed in the inner end segment (23). The valve (21) is capable of being extracted from the passage (11) through the inside of the vessel (1). The outer end segment (25) has at least one portion having an inner cross-section, perpendicular to the central axis (C), that is smaller than the outer cross-section of the valve (21), such that the valve (21) cannot be ejected out of the vessel (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Laurent CANDILLIER, Michel BRUN
  • Patent number: 10930402
    Abstract: A nuclear reactor has a pressurizer housed in a vessel. Heating elements are completely housed in the pressurizer. The nuclear reactor has electrical conductors that are the only feature leaving the vessel through electrical penetrations. The nuclear reactor can be operated to produce energy. The production of energy can be stopped, and the vessel of the reactor can be opened for performing maintenance operations on elements of the pressurizer and other components of the reactor, including fuel assembly replacement. After performing maintenance operations, the vessel of the reactor can be closed and energy production resumed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: SOCIÉTÉ TECHNIQUE POUR L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE
    Inventor: Michel Brun
  • Patent number: 10910118
    Abstract: An electrical penetration assembly for a nuclear reactor vessel, mountable in an aperture of a nuclear reactor vessel, includes a penetration body including first and second ends to be positioned, respectively, inside and outside the vessel; a sealed electrical connector providing a first seal for the electrical penetration assembly, the sealed connector insulating the penetration body at the first end; a feed-through carrier flange having a plurality of unitary electrical feed-throughs, each unitary feed-through allowing a single electrical conductor to pass therethrough, thereby ensuring continuity of the electrical connections, each unitary feed-through being individually insulated by an individual insulator providing a second seal, the unitary feed-throughs insulating the penetration body at the second end; and an anti-ejection device formed by the engagement between a narrowed portion provided at each unitary feed-through and a shoulder that is larger than the narrowed portion and provided on each of the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: SOCIETE TECHNIQUE POUR L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE
    Inventor: Michel Brun
  • Patent number: 10861609
    Abstract: A vessel electrical penetration assembly for a feed-through of nuclear reactor vessel, the assembly including: a docking tube to form an extension of the secondary containment barrier of the reactor, the docking tube including: a first end to be positioned in the interior of the vessel and to be mechanically and sealably connected to an actuator in the interior of the vessel, and a second end to be mechanically and sealably secured to the vessel; a seal-tight electrical bar that passes through the docking tube and having on either side seal-tight connectors ensuring an electrical link between the actuator and the exterior of the reactor; the seal-tight electrical bar including a system for limiting a leakage of primary liquid to the exterior of the vessel if the secondary containment barrier extension fails; and a mechanical maintaining system for securing, under the required pressure conditions, the electrical bar to the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: SOCIETE TECHNIQUE POUR L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE
    Inventor: Michel Brun
  • Publication number: 20200357529
    Abstract: A nuclear reactor (10) includes a vessel (12) containing a primary liquid, a core (14) comprising nuclear fuel and arranged in the internal volume of the vessel (12), at least one primary pump generating a main primary flow (56) of primary liquid in the vessel (12), at least one control member (16) for controlling the reactivity of the core (14), at least one movement mechanism (18) for moving the control member (16), arranged in the internal volume of the vessel (12) and linked to the control member (16), and a pressurizer (20) situated in a top portion of the vessel (12). The movement mechanism (18) comprises an electrical actuator and a transmission mechanism. The electrical actuator is completely immersed in the primary fluid and situated outside the main primary flow (56).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Inventors: Michel BRUN, Charles DUMANOIS
  • Publication number: 20200271414
    Abstract: A housing intended to be arranged on a vehicle, in particular a military vehicle, and having a substantially parallelepiped shape including a front wall and a rear wall that each includes at least one bore for allowing air to flow inside the housing. At least one of the front or rear walls carries a plate, arranged outside the housing and at a distance from said wall, the housing further including at least one first slot allowing air to pass between the plate and the wall in question, and at least one second slot constituted by the gap between a lateral edge of the plate and said wall. The invention also concerns a weapon system including at least one missile launcher arranged in such a housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: NEXTER SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Michel BRUN, Virginie VINCENT, Xavier DESCATOIRE
  • Patent number: 10748665
    Abstract: A nuclear-reactor control-absorber drive mechanism includes a device for monitoring a potential situation of increase to overspeed of the absorber, configured to measure the number of control steps delivered to at least one of the first, second and third phases of the stator during a time window of preset duration or the number of rotation steps of the rotor during a time window of preset duration. The drive is also configured to compare the number of measured control steps with a preset maximum or the number of measured rotation steps with a preset maximum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: SOCIÉTEÉ TECHNIQUE POUR L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE
    Inventors: Jérémy Mathieu, Michel Brun
  • Publication number: 20200232735
    Abstract: A cap that is intended to obturate a duct for ejecting cartridges of a turret. This cap includes a circular base that is intended to allow it to be fastened to the duct, and a body shell having a spherical dome profile including a concave face and a convex face, the body shell being divided into at least four sectors by radial slits that are regularly distributed angularly, the sectors being contiguous pairwise. Another subject of the invention is a turret including a duct for ejecting cartridges equipped with such a cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Applicant: NEXTER SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Vincent VENAILLE, Michel BRUN
  • Publication number: 20200227181
    Abstract: A nuclear reactor (1) includes a vessel (3) has a central axis (X); and a core (5) arranged in the vessel (3). The core (5) includes a plurality of nuclear fuel assemblies, a primary water layer (7) separating the core (5) from the vessel (3) radially from the central axis (X) and surrounding the core (5); and a system (9) for controlling and protecting the nuclear reactor. The control and protection system (9) includes a device (11) for continuously measuring the neutron flux emitted by the core (5). The measuring device (11) includes at least one neutron detector (12) arranged in the primary water layer (7) separating the core (5) from the vessel (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Michel BRUN, Sandrine SPYCKERELLE