Patents by Inventor Philip L. Hazlett

Philip L. Hazlett 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).

  • Fastened spacer for grid of a nuclear reactor with associated method
    Patent number: 6522710
    Abstract: A spacer for use with a protective grid of a fuel assembly of a nuclear reactor is a generally washer-shaped plate of material having an engagement surface and a retention surface opposite one another. The protective grid is formed of a plurality of straps to define a plurality of fuel rod cells and a plurality of thimble cells, with the straps adjacent the thimble cells being notched to receive the spacer therein. The retention surface of the spacer is disposed against the notches, and the engagement surface of the spacer protrudes outwardly from the protective grid. When the engagement surfaces of the spacers are engaged against a lower nozzle of a fuel assembly of a nuclear reactor, the spacers space the protective grid from the lower nozzle. The spacer is integrally welded with the protective grid in a single arranging and welding operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: Michael G. Smith, David A. Dablock, Nathaniel Robinson, Philip L. Hazlett
  • FASTENED SPACER FOR GRID OF A NUCLEAR REACTOR WITH ASSOCIATED METHOD
    Publication number: 20030007590
    Abstract: A spacer for use with a protective grid of a fuel assembly of a nuclear reactor is a generally washer-shaped plate of material having an engagement surface and a retention surface opposite one another. The protective grid is formed of a plurality of straps to define a plurality of fuel rod cells and a plurality of thimble cells, with the straps adjacent the thimble cells being notched to receive the spacer therein. The retention surface of the spacer is disposed against the notches, and the engagement surface of the spacer protrudes outwardly from the protective grid. When the engagement surfaces of the spacers are engaged against a lower nozzle of a fuel assembly of a nuclear reactor, the spacers space the protective grid from the lower nozzle. The spacer is integrally welded with the protective grid in a single arranging and welding operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventors: Michael G. Smith, David A. Dablock, Nathaniel Robinson, Philip L. Hazlett