Patents by Inventor Vernon Walter Pence

Vernon Walter Pence 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: 7139357
    Abstract: A method of servicing a nuclear reactor during a reactor outage is provided. The reactor includes a primary containment vessel and a reactor pressure vessel positioned in the primary containment vessel. The method includes positioning a servicing platform above the reactor pressure vessel and performing predetermined servicing operations on the reactor. The servicing platform includes a frame having a plurality of interconnected beams, a support structure attached to the frame, and a floor attached to a top of the frame. The floor includes a reactor access opening sized to permit access to the reactor pressure vessel. The servicing platform also includes at least one auxiliary platform movably coupled to the frame and extending into the access opening. The at least one auxiliary platform is movable along a perimeter of the access opening of the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dennis Colditz, Vernon Walter Pence, Terry L. Chapman, Michael Jamie Baron, Robert David Geier
  • Patent number: 6856664
    Abstract: A modular reactor servicing platform for a nuclear reactor is provided. The modular servicing platform includes a plurality of modular sections coupled together, a support structure coupled to the coupled together modular sections, a center access opening, and a refuel access channel extending from the center access opening to an outer edge of the platform forming a substantially C-shaped servicing platform. Each modular section includes a plurality of interconnecting beams, and at least one floor panel attached to and covering the beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Vernon Walter Pence, Terry L. Chapman, John Edward Maslakowski, Henry Peter Offer
  • Patent number: 6856663
    Abstract: A reactor servicing platform for a nuclear reactor is provided. The nuclear reactor includes a reactor pressure vessel positioned in a primary containment and at least one refuel bridge. The primary containment includes a refueling floor. The servicing platform, in an exemplary embodiment, includes a frame, a support structure, and a floor covering the frame. The floor includes a reactor access opening sized to permit access to the reactor pressure vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dennis Colditz, Vernon Walter Pence, Terry L. Chapman, Michael Jamie Baron, Robert David Geier
  • Publication number: 20030227993
    Abstract: A modular reactor servicing platform for a nuclear reactor is provided. The modular servicing platform includes a plurality of modular sections coupled together, a support structure coupled to the coupled together modular sections, a center access opening, and a refuel access channel extending from the center access opening to an outer edge of the platform forming a substantially C-shaped servicing platform. Each modular section includes a plurality of interconnecting beams, and at least one floor panel attached to and covering the beams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2003
    Publication date: December 11, 2003
    Inventors: Vernon Walter Pence, Terry L. Chapman, John Edward Maslakowski, Henry Peter Offer
  • Publication number: 20030156676
    Abstract: A reactor servicing platform for a nuclear reactor is provided. The nuclear reactor includes a reactor pressure vessel positioned in a primary containment and at least one refuel bridge. The primary containment includes a refueling floor. The servicing platform, in an exemplary embodiment, includes a frame, a support structure, and a floor covering the frame. The floor includes a reactor access opening sized to permit access to the reactor pressure vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventors: Dennis Colditz, Vernon Walter Pence, Terry L. Chapman, Michael Jamie Baron, Robert David Geier