Patents by Inventor Steve E. CZWALGA

Steve E. CZWALGA 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: 11862350
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus, system, and method for monitoring a position of a control rod disposed in a nuclear reactor vessel in a radioactive environment. A data processing unit located outside a containment structure includes a processor and a memory storing executable instructions. A nuclear reactor vessel includes a plurality of control rods proximate to the control rod and a coil stack of a plurality of control rod position indicator coils. A data cabinet mounted on the nuclear reactor vessel head inside the containment structure includes an analog multiplexer and a communication circuit. The processor executes the instructions to select a control rod position indicator coil through the analog multiplexer, pass a signal from the control rod position indicator coil through the analog multiplexer, receive the signal from the analog multiplexer through the communication circuit, and determine a position of the control rod based on the received signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: Timothy S. Meyers, Steve E. Czwalga
  • Publication number: 20220238242
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus, system, and method for monitoring a position of a control rod disposed in a nuclear reactor vessel in a radioactive environment. A data processing unit located outside a containment structure includes a processor and a memory storing executable instructions. A nuclear reactor vessel includes a plurality of control rods proximate to the control rod and a coil stack of a plurality of control rod position indicator coils. A data cabinet mounted on the nuclear reactor vessel head inside the containment structure includes an analog multiplexer and a communication circuit. The processor executes the instructions to select a control rod position indicator coil through the analog multiplexer, pass a signal from the control rod position indicator coil through the analog multiplexer, receive the signal from the analog multiplexer through the communication circuit, and determine a position of the control rod based on the received signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: Timothy S. MEYERS, Steve E. CZWALGA