Patents by Inventor Stephen K. Rhyne
Stephen K. Rhyne 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).
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Patent number: 11815013Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for generating electricity comprising a gas propellant chamber and one or more generators. The gas propellant chamber comprises a compressor, a nuclear fuel chamber, and a turbine assembly, wherein a drive shaft extending axially through the gas propellant chamber couples the compressor to the turbine assembly and wherein the nuclear fuel chamber is a rotating nuclear fuel chamber configured to rotate axially along the drive shaft to which the compressor and the turbine assembly are coupled.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2022Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: NUGEN, LLCInventor: Stephen K. Rhyne
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Publication number: 20230235697Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for generating electricity comprising a gas propellant chamber and one or more generators. The gas propellant chamber comprises a compressor, a nuclear fuel chamber, and a turbine assembly, wherein a drive shaft extending axially through the gas propellant chamber couples the compressor to the turbine assembly and wherein the nuclear fuel chamber is a rotating nuclear fuel chamber configured to rotate axially along the drive shaft to which the compressor and the turbine assembly are coupled.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2022Publication date: July 27, 2023Inventor: Stephen K. Rhyne
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Patent number: 11482346Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for generating electricity, mechanical energy, and/or process and district heat using a gas propellant chamber fueled with fissile material and enclosed in a sealed containment vessel which also contains an operating gas. The system allows for the operating gas to be compressed as it enters the nuclear fuel chamber where it is heated. As the operating gas exits the nuclear fuel chamber, the kinetic energy of the gas is converted to rotational energy by a variety of methods. The rotational energy is further converted to electricity, mechanical energy, and/or process and district heat. The operating gas circulates in the containment vessel and is cooled prior to re-entering the gas propellant chamber. The apparatus thereby provides a simpler and safer design that is both scalable and adaptable. The apparatus is easily and safely transportable and can be designed to be highly nuclear-proliferation-resistant.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2020Date of Patent: October 25, 2022Assignee: NuGen, LLCInventors: Stephen K. Rhyne, Pavel V. Tsvetkov
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Patent number: 11421589Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for generating electricity comprising a gas propellant chamber, a containment vessel, and a rotor/stator assembly partially integrated within the containment vessel. The gas propellant chamber is disposed within the containment vessel and comprises a compressor, a nuclear fuel chamber, and a turbine assembly, wherein a drive shaft extending axially through the gas propellant chamber couples the compressor to the turbine assembly. The rotor of the rotor/stator assembly is disposed internally of the containment vessel and is in communication with the stator, the stator being disposed externally of the containment vessel. The apparatus thereby provides a simpler and safer design that is both scalable and adaptable. The apparatus is easily and safely transportable and can be designed to be highly nuclear-proliferation-resistant.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2021Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Assignee: NuGen, LLCInventor: Stephen K. Rhyne
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Publication number: 20210110946Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for generating electricity, mechanical energy, and/or process and district heat using a gas propellant chamber fueled with fissile material and enclosed in a sealed containment vessel which also contains an operating gas. The system allows for the operating gas to be compressed as it enters the nuclear fuel chamber where it is heated. As the operating gas exits the nuclear fuel chamber, the kinetic energy of the gas is converted to rotational energy by a variety of methods. The rotational energy is further converted to electricity, mechanical energy, and/or process and district heat. The operating gas circulates in the containment vessel and is cooled prior to re-entering the gas propellant chamber. The apparatus thereby provides a simpler and safer design that is both scalable and adaptable. The apparatus is easily and safely transportable and can be designed to be highly nuclear-proliferation-resistant.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2020Publication date: April 15, 2021Inventors: Stephen K. Rhyne, Pavel V. Tsvetkov
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Patent number: 10784006Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for generating electricity, mechanical energy, and/or process and district heat using a gas propellant chamber fueled with fissile material and enclosed in a sealed containment vessel which also contains an operating gas. The system allows for the operating gas to be compressed as it enters the nuclear fuel chamber where it is heated. As the operating gas exits the nuclear fuel chamber, the kinetic energy of the gas is converted to rotational energy by a variety of methods. The rotational energy is further converted to electricity, mechanical energy, and/or process and district heat. The operating gas circulates in the containment vessel and is cooled prior to re-entering the gas propellant chamber. The apparatus thereby provides a simpler and safer design that is both scalable and adaptable. The apparatus is easily and safely transportable and can be designed to be highly nuclear-proliferation-resistant.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2019Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: NuGen, LLCInventors: Stephen K. Rhyne, Pavel V. Tsvetkov
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Patent number: 10755826Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for generating electricity, mechanical energy, and/or process and district heat using a gas propellant chamber fueled with fissile material and enclosed in a sealed containment vessel which also contains an operating gas. The system allows for the operating gas to be compressed as it enters the nuclear fuel chamber where it is heated. As the operating gas exits the nuclear fuel chamber, the kinetic energy of the gas is converted to rotational energy by a variety of methods. The rotational energy is further converted to electricity, mechanical energy, and/or process and district heat. The operating gas circulates in the containment vessel and is cooled prior to re-entering the gas propellant chamber. The apparatus thereby provides a simpler and safer design that is both scalable and adaptable. The apparatus is easily and safely transportable and can be designed to be highly nuclear-proliferation-resistant.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2017Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: NuGen, LLCInventors: Stephen K. Rhyne, Pavel V. Tsvetkov
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Patent number: 10685756Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for generating electricity, mechanical energy, and/or process and district heat using a gas propellant chamber fueled with fissile material and enclosed in a sealed containment vessel which also contains an operating gas. The system allows for the operating gas to be compressed as it enters the nuclear fuel chamber where it is heated. As the operating gas exits the nuclear fuel chamber, the kinetic energy of the gas is converted to rotational energy by a variety of methods. The rotational energy is further converted to electricity, mechanical energy, and/or process and district heat. The operating gas circulates in the containment vessel and is cooled prior to re-entering the gas propellant chamber. The apparatus thereby provides a simpler and safer design that is both scalable and adaptable. The apparatus is easily and safely transportable and can be designed to be highly nuclear-proliferation-resistant.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2019Date of Patent: June 16, 2020Assignee: NuGen, LLCInventors: Stephen K. Rhyne, Pavel V. Tsvetkov
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Patent number: 10685755Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for generating electricity, mechanical energy, and/or process and district heat using a gas propellant chamber fueled with fissile material and enclosed in a sealed containment vessel which also contains an operating gas. The system allows for the operating gas to be compressed as it enters the nuclear fuel chamber where it is heated. As the operating gas exits the nuclear fuel chamber, the kinetic energy of the gas is converted to rotational energy by a variety of methods. The rotational energy is further converted to electricity, mechanical energy, and/or process and district heat. The operating gas circulates in the containment vessel and is cooled prior to re-entering the gas propellant chamber. The apparatus thereby provides a simpler and safer design that is both scalable and adaptable. The apparatus is easily and safely transportable and can be designed to be highly nuclear-proliferation-resistant.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2019Date of Patent: June 16, 2020Assignee: NuGen, LLCInventors: Stephen K. Rhyne, Pavel V. Tsvetkov
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Publication number: 20200005953Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for generating electricity, mechanical energy, and/or process and district heat using a gas propellant chamber fueled with fissile material and enclosed in a sealed containment vessel which also contains an operating gas. The system allows for the operating gas to be compressed as it enters the nuclear fuel chamber where it is heated. As the operating gas exits the nuclear fuel chamber, the kinetic energy of the gas is converted to rotational energy by a variety of methods. The rotational energy is further converted to electricity, mechanical energy, and/or process and district heat. The operating gas circulates in the containment vessel and is cooled prior to re-entering the gas propellant chamber. The apparatus thereby provides a simpler and safer design that is both scalable and adaptable. The apparatus is easily and safely transportable and can be designed to be highly nuclear-proliferation-resistant.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2019Publication date: January 2, 2020Inventors: Stephen K. RHYNE, Pavel V. TSVETKOV
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Publication number: 20200005955Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for generating electricity, mechanical energy, and/or process and district heat using a gas propellant chamber fueled with fissile material and enclosed in a sealed containment vessel which also contains an operating gas. The system allows for the operating gas to be compressed as it enters the nuclear fuel chamber where it is heated. As the operating gas exits the nuclear fuel chamber, the kinetic energy of the gas is converted to rotational energy by a variety of methods. The rotational energy is further converted to electricity, mechanical energy, and/or process and district heat. The operating gas circulates in the containment vessel and is cooled prior to re-entering the gas propellant chamber. The apparatus thereby provides a simpler and safer design that is both scalable and adaptable. The apparatus is easily and safely transportable and can be designed to be highly nuclear-proliferation-resistant.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2019Publication date: January 2, 2020Inventors: Stephen K. RHYNE, Pavel V. TSVETKOV
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Publication number: 20200005954Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for generating electricity, mechanical energy, and/or process and district heat using a gas propellant chamber fueled with fissile material and enclosed in a sealed containment vessel which also contains an operating gas. The system allows for the operating gas to be compressed as it enters the nuclear fuel chamber where it is heated. As the operating gas exits the nuclear fuel chamber, the kinetic energy of the gas is converted to rotational energy by a variety of methods. The rotational energy is further converted to electricity, mechanical energy, and/or process and district heat. The operating gas circulates in the containment vessel and is cooled prior to re-entering the gas propellant chamber. The apparatus thereby provides a simpler and safer design that is both scalable and adaptable. The apparatus is easily and safely transportable and can be designed to be highly nuclear-proliferation-resistant.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2019Publication date: January 2, 2020Inventors: Stephen K. RHYNE, Pavel V. TSVETKOV
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Publication number: 20190148027Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for generating electricity, mechanical energy, and/or process and district heat using a gas propellant chamber fueled with fissile material and enclosed in a sealed containment vessel which also contains an operating gas. The system allows for the operating gas to be compressed as it enters the nuclear fuel chamber where it is heated. As the operating gas exits the nuclear fuel chamber, the kinetic energy of the gas is converted to rotational energy by a variety of methods. The rotational energy is further converted to electricity, mechanical energy, and/or process and district heat. The operating gas circulates in the containment vessel and is cooled prior to re-entering the gas propellant chamber. The apparatus thereby provides a simpler and safer design that is both scalable and adaptable. The apparatus is easily and safely transportable and can be designed to be highly nuclear-proliferation-resistant.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2017Publication date: May 16, 2019Inventors: Stephen K. RHYNE, Pavel V. TSVETKOV
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Patent number: 7073319Abstract: An apparatus for generating electricity that uses at least one jet-type engine fueled with fissile material. The nuclear fueled jet engine is affixed to a connecting member that projects from a central, rotatable shaft, which is in engageable communication with an apparatus for converting the rotation of the central shaft to electricity, such as a stator and rotor combination. The engine is positioned so that the thrust produced by the jet engine causes the engine and connecting member to travel in a radial direction around the longitudinal axis of the central shaft, rotating the central shaft. As the central shaft rotates, the rotational motion of the central shaft is transmitted to conversion apparatus. An operating gas is used to cool the nuclear fueled jet engines and as the propellant for the jet engines.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2005Date of Patent: July 11, 2006Inventor: Stephen K. Rhyne
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Patent number: 6877309Abstract: An apparatus for generating electricity that uses at least one jet-type engine fueled with fissile material. The nuclear fueled jet engine is affixed to a connecting member that projects from a central, rotatable shaft, which is in engageable communication with an apparatus for converting the rotation of the central shaft to electricity, such as a stator and rotor combination. The engine is positioned so that the thrust produced by the jet engine causes the engine and connecting member to travel in a radial direction around the longitudinal axis of the central shaft, rotating the central shaft. As the central shaft rotates, the rotational motion of the central shaft is transmitted to conversion apparatus. An operating gas is used to cool the nuclear fueled jet engines and as the propellant for the jet engines.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2002Date of Patent: April 12, 2005Inventor: Stephen K. Rhyne