Beryl Hugh Parks

US Patent:

47510986, Jun 14, 1988

Filed:

Jul 22, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/888657

Inventors:

Beryl H. Parks - Lexington SC
Nick W. Hille - Columbia SC

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

B05D 108

US Classification:

427 6

Abstract:

Disclosed is a method of reoxidizing a partially oxidizable metal or metal oxide powder. The powder is spread on a first sloped trough to form a layer of less than about a half inch in thickness. The layer of powder slides down the trough and falls onto a second trough sloped in the opposite direction, thereby inverting the powder on the second trough. While the powder is on the troughs, it is exposed to an amount of oxygen sufficient to partially oxidize the powder but insufficient to completely oxidize the powder. Also disclosed is apparatus useful for partially reoxidizing a partially oxidizable powder. The apparatus consists of a first enclosed trough sloped in one direction having a powder entrance and a powder exit, a second enclosed trough sloped in the opposite direction having a powder entrance positioned to accept powder from the powder exit of the first trough, the first and second troughs forming a sealed unit, means for emitting a gas into the troughs, means for cooling the powder, and means for vibrating the troughs.

US Patent:

45604622, Dec 24, 1985

Filed:

Jun 22, 1984

Appl. No.:

6/623747

Inventors:

Kenneth C. Radford - Irwin PA
Herbert W. Keller - Monroeville PA
Beryl H. Parks - Lexington SC
Robert R. Fuller - Columbia SC

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

C23C 1500

US Classification:

204298

Abstract:

Apparatus for depositing a coating (such as a burnable absorber) on nuclear fuel pellets. Pallets 16 hold a single layer of fuel pellets 22 between lower and upper screened parts 18 and 20. A rotating drum 14 holds the pallets 16 on its circumference. A chamber 12 encloses the drum 14. A sputtering machine 24 has stationary, sputter-frangible, upper and lower targets (such as zirconium diboride) 26 and 28. The stationary upper targets 26 are placed inside the drum's circumference above its longitudinal axis and are pointed facing generally upward and radially outward. The stationary lower targets 28 are placed outside the drum's circumference below its longitudinal axis and are pointed facing generally upward and radially inward. The target material is sputtered onto the fuel pellets 22 as the pallets 16 on the drum 14 rotate past.

US Patent:

50770209, Dec 31, 1991

Filed:

Feb 8, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/652475

Inventors:

Edward J. Lahoda - Edgewood Borough; Allegheny PA
Beryl H. Parks - Lexington SC

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

C01G 4300

US Classification:

423 18

Abstract:

Sodium silicate (waterglass) is added to a waste process stream containing metal to form a waterglass sludge containing the metal contaminants. The waterglass sludge matrixed with the metal is removed from the stream. Thereafter, a caustic is added to the separated waterglass sludge which dissolves the sodium silicate, leaving a metal solid in suspension. The sodium silicate solution is filtered off and recycled for use in the waterglass precipitation process. The metal solid remains and concentrated acid is added to form a metallic acid solution which is substantially free of silicates. This solution may then be treated by solvent extraction or other means to recover the metal. The process provides substantial metal recovery from the process waste stream and eliminates the need for burial of the waste, thereby eliminating burial costs.

US Patent:

45870870, May 6, 1986

Filed:

Feb 22, 1983

Appl. No.:

6/468788

Inventors:

Kenneth C. Radford - Irwin PA
Beryl H. Parks - Lexington SC

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G21C 300

US Classification:

376417

Abstract:

A burnable absorber coated nuclear fuel. A fissionable material nuclear fuel substrate is at least partially covered by a burnable absorber layer. A hydrophobic material overcoat layer generally covers the burnable absorber layer and is bonded directly to it.

US Patent:

47028815, Oct 27, 1987

Filed:

Apr 2, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/719107

Inventors:

Lynne E. Weiland - Richland SC
Beryl H. Parks - Lexington SC

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G21C 334

US Classification:

376442

Abstract:

A spacer grid for a nuclear fuel assembly having grid springs and opposing dimples which contact a fuel rod passing through a cell of the spacer grid along arcuate surfaces to cradle the fuel rod and cushion any vibration impact between the fuel rods and the grid springs and dimples during reactor operation and during fuel assembly shipping. The increased bearing surface between the fuel rods and grids also serves to reduce fuel rod scratching during fuel rod insertion. The grid springs and dimples may also be provided with ramped edges to further reduce fuel rod scratching. Stiffening ribs may be on the grid springs and/or dimples. The cradling action of the grid springs and dimples reduces deviations in fuel rod position from a centered position in a spacer grid cell.