Patents by Inventor Robert Bruce Elkins

Robert Bruce Elkins 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: 8317035
    Abstract: A debris filter for reactor coolant includes a plurality of adjacent plates defining a plurality of channels therebetween, each of said channels being at an angle to the flow path of the coolant into the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Global Nuclear Fuel-Americas, LLC.
    Inventors: Robert Bruce Elkins, Richard Carl Longren
  • Publication number: 20120273408
    Abstract: A filter for reactor coolant may include a plurality of adjacent plates. Each of the plates may include a plurality of alternating peaks and valleys. The peaks of a first plate of the plurality of adjacent plates and the valleys of a second plate of the plurality of adjacent plates that is adjacent to the first plate may be aligned in parallel such that each peak of the first plate and an associated valley of the second plate define a closed channel. The closed channels may be at an angle to a flow path of the reactor coolant into the filter. The filter may be shaped such that the reactor coolant from the flow path enters the closed channels, flows at the angle, and does not flow between the closed channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Inventors: Robert Bruce Elkins, Richard Carl Longren
  • Publication number: 20120252244
    Abstract: An adapter plate assembly includes an adapter for mating two connectors and an adapter plate. The adapter includes a first end and a second end and a passage therethrough. The adapter further includes an adapter footprint and an adapter flange. The first end has an external threaded portion and the second end has an external threaded portion. The adapter is adapted to receive a ruggedized connector in the first and a multi-fiber connector in the second end. The adapter plate includes an aperture for receiving at least a portion of the adapter, a footprint receiving portion for receiving at least a portion of the adapter footprint, a flange receiving portion for receiving the adapter flange, and an attachment feature. A method of assembling the adapter plate and mounting the adapter plate to a non-standard wall is described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventors: Robert Bruce Elkins, II, Barton Pierce Filipiak, Thomas Theuerkorn
  • Patent number: 7668425
    Abstract: A bi-directional cable assembly for use with a fiber optic cable that includes at least one cable optical fiber that can carry bi-directional optical signals. The cable assembly is connected to the fiber optic cable at a mid-span location, where the cable fiber is preterminated to form upstream and downstream cable fiber sections. A tether having an upstream and/or a downstream tether fiber is spliced to corresponding preterminated upstream and/or downstream cable fibers at respective one or more splice locations. At least one of the tether fibers is a bend-resistant optical fiber that includes a bend angle equal to or about 180 degrees so that the tether extends in one direction from the mid-span access point along the fiber optic cable. A low-profile protective cover covers the mid-span access point and an end-portion of the tether. A protective tube may be used to house the bend-improved fiber and the splices that connect the cable fiber sections to the tether fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventors: Robert Bruce Elkins, II, Johannes Ian Greveling, Stephen Robert Horan, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20090003778
    Abstract: A fiber optic cable assembly comprising a fiber optic cable having a plurality of optical fibers disposed within a cable sheath and having an access point through the cable sheath for accessing and preterminating at least one of the plurality of optical fibers, at least one tether attached about the access point, the at least one tether having at least one optical fiber disposed within a cable sheath, and a flexible closure substantially encapsulating the access point, a portion of the fiber optic cable and a portion of the at least one tether. At least one preterminated fiber of the fiber optic cable is spliced to the at least one optical fiber of the at least one tether, and spliced together fiber portions of the at least one preterminated fiber and the at least one tether optical fiber are not maintained within a splice tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventors: Robert Bruce Elkins, II, Brenda Dianne Craig, Lars Kristian Nlelsen, Michael Todd Faulkner
  • Publication number: 20080170828
    Abstract: An indoor fiber optic cable assembly comprising a flame retardant fiber optic distribution cable comprising at least one network access point at which at least one optical fiber is preterminated, a flame retardant flexible closure substantially enclosing the at least one network access point, and at least one tether secured about the flexible closure and comprising at least one optical fiber within that is optically connected with the at least one preterminated optical fiber of the distribution cable. The flexible closure may be overmolded or a heat shrink and the cable and closure are riser, plenum or low smoke zero halogen rated, among others. Tethers may be splice ready, connectorized or terminate in a multi-port connection terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventors: Robert Bruce Elkins, Samuel Don Nave, Donald Kennedy Hall