David A Holcomb

US Patent:

6456096, Sep 24, 2002

Filed:

May 8, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/566764

Inventors:

Milton Nance Ericson - Knoxville TN
David Eugene Holcomb - Oak Ridge TN

Assignee:

UT-Battelle, LLC - Oak Ridge TN

International Classification:

G01R 2708

US Classification:

324707, 324698, 324685, 324686, 324691, 324654, 324 7616, 257528, 257540

Abstract:

A monolithic sensor includes a reference channel and at least one sensing channel. Each sensing channel has an oscillator and a counter driven by the oscillator. The reference channel and the at least one sensing channel being formed integrally with a substrate and intimately nested with one another on the substrate. Thus, the oscillator and the counter have matched component values and temperature coefficients. A frequency determining component of the sensing oscillator is formed integrally with the substrate and has an impedance parameter which varies with an environmental parameter to be measured by the sensor. A gating control is responsive to an output signal generated by the reference channel, for terminating counting in the at least one sensing channel at an output count, whereby the output count is indicative of the environmental parameter, and successive ones of the output counts are indicative of changes in the environmental parameter.

US Patent:

8218396, Jul 10, 2012

Filed:

Mar 16, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/724818

Inventors:

David E. Holcomb - Oak Ridge TN, US
Roger A. Kisner - Knoxville TN, US

Assignee:

UT-Battelle, LLC - Oak Ridge TN

International Classification:

G01S 15/00
G01F 23/00

US Classification:

367 99, 367908, 73290 V

Abstract:

A level measurement system suitable for use in a high temperature and pressure environment to measure the level of coolant fluid within the environment, the system including a volume of coolant fluid located in a coolant region of the high temperature and pressure environment and having a level therein; an ultrasonic waveguide blade that is positioned within the desired coolant region of the high temperature and pressure environment; a magnetostrictive electrical assembly located within the high temperature and pressure environment and configured to operate in the environment and cooperate with the waveguide blade to launch and receive ultrasonic waves; and an external signal processing system located outside of the high temperature and pressure environment and configured for communicating with the electrical assembly located within the high temperature and pressure environment.

US Patent:

20120223242, Sep 6, 2012

Filed:

Feb 29, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/408343

Inventors:

Gilbert M. Brown - Knoxville TN, US
David Eugene Holcomb - Oak Ridge TN, US
Roger Allen Kisner - Knoxville TN, US

Assignee:

UT-BATTELLE, LLC - Oak Ridge TN

International Classification:

G01T 3/00

US Classification:

250391, 25039001

Abstract:

A tube-style neutron detector, a panel-style neutron detector incorporating a plurality of tube-style neutron detectors, and a panel-style neutron detector including a plurality of anode wires are provided. A plurality of channels is provided in a neutron detector such that each channel has an inner surface of a coating layer including a neutron-absorbing material. A wire anode is provided at end of each channel so that electrons generated by a charged daughter particle generated by a neutron are collected to detect a neutron-matter interaction. Moderator units can be incorporated into a neutron detector to provide improved detection efficiencies and/or to determine neutron energy spectrum. Gas-based proportional response from the neutron detectors can be employed for special nuclear material (SNM) detection. This neutron detector can provide similar performance to He-based detectors without requiring He and without containing toxic, flammable, or high-pressure materials.

US Patent:

60603151, May 9, 2000

Filed:

Sep 14, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/152926

Inventors:

David E. Holcomb - Oak Ridge TN
Timothy E. McKnight - Greenback TN

Assignee:

Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corporation - Oak Ridge TN

International Classification:

C12N 1500
C12N 1585
C12Q 168

US Classification:

435446

Abstract:

The present invention is a method for creating a localized disruption within a boundary of a cell or structure by exposing a boundary of a cell or structure to a set of energetically charged particles while regulating the energy of the charged particles so that the charged particles have an amount of kinetic energy sufficient to create a localized disruption within an area of the boundary of the cell or structure, then upon creation of the localized disruption, the amount of kinetic energy decreases to an amount insufficient to create further damage within the cell or structure beyond the boundary. The present invention is also a method for facilitating the introduction of a material into a cell or structure using the same methodology then further exciting the area of the boundary of the cell or structure where the localized disruption was created so to create a localized temporary opening within the boundary then further introducing the material through the temporary opening into the cell or structure.

US Patent:

60276991, Feb 22, 2000

Filed:

Jul 28, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/901711

Inventors:

David E. Holcomb - Oak Ridge TN
Srinath Viswanathan - Knoxville TN
Craig A. Blue - Knoxville TN
John B. Wilgen - Oak Ridge TN

Assignee:

Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corp. - Oak Ridge TN

International Classification:

B01J 1908
B01J 1912

US Classification:

42218604

Abstract:

Systems and methods are described for rapidly forming precision metallic and intermetallic alloy net shape parts directly from liquid metal droplets. A directed droplet deposition apparatus includes a crucible with an orifice for producing a jet of material, a jet destabilizer, a charging structure, a deflector system, and an impact zone. The systems and methods provide advantages in that fully dense, microstructurally controlled parts can be fabricated at moderate cost.

US Patent:

20150329942, Nov 19, 2015

Filed:

May 15, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/277992

Inventors:

- Oak Ridge TN, US
Dane Francis Wilson - Oak Ridge TN, US
David Eugene Holcomb - Oak Ridge TN, US

International Classification:

C22C 19/05

Abstract:

An alloy is composed essentially of, in terms of weight percent: 6 to 8.5 Cr, 5.5 to 13.5 Mo, 0.4 to 7.5 W, 1 to 2 Ti, 0.7 to 0.85 Mn, 0.05 to 0.3 Al, 0.08 to 0.5 C, 0 to 1 Nb, with the balance Ni, the alloy being characterized by, at 850 C., a yield strength of at least 25 Ksi, a tensile strength of at least 30 Ksi, a creep rupture life at 12 Ksi of at least 45 hours, and a corrosion rate, expressed in weight loss [g/(cmsec)]10during a 1000 hour immersion in liquid FLiNaK at 850 C., in the range of 6 to 39.

US Patent:

20150330883, Nov 19, 2015

Filed:

May 14, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/277274

Inventors:

- Oak Ridge TN, US
David E. Holcomb - Oak Ridge TN, US
Govindarajan Muralidharan - Knoxville TN, US
Dane F. Wilson - Oak Ridge TN, US

Assignee:

UT-Battelle, LLC - Oak Ridge TN

International Classification:

G01N 3/08

Abstract:

Disclosed herein are systems, devices and methods for stress-rupture testing selected materials within a high-temperature liquid salt environment. Exemplary testing systems include a load train for holding a test specimen within a heated inert gas vessel. A thermal break included in the load train can thermally insulate a load cell positioned along the load train within the inert gas vessel. The test specimen can include a cylindrical gage portion having an internal void filled with a molten salt during stress-rupture testing. The gage portion can have an inner surface area to volume ratio of greater than 20 to maximize the corrosive effect of the molten salt on the specimen material during testing. Also disclosed are methods of making a salt ingot for placement within the test specimen.

US Patent:

20150197832, Jul 16, 2015

Filed:

Jan 10, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/152215

Inventors:

- Oak Ridge TN, US
Dane Francis Wilson - Oak Ridge TN, US
David Eugene Holcomb - Oak Ridge TN, US

International Classification:

C22C 19/05

Abstract:

An alloy consists essentially of, in terms of weight percent: 6 to 8.5 Cr, 5.5 to 13.5 Mo, 0.4 to 7.5 W, 1 to 2 Ti, 0.7 to 0.85 Mn, 0.05 to 0.3 Al, up to to 0.1 Co, 0.08 to 0.5 C, 1 to 5 Ta, 1 to 4 Nb, 1 to 3 Hf, balance Ni. The alloy is characterized by, at 850 C., a yield strength of at least 36 Ksi, a tensile strength of at least 40 Ksi, a creep rupture life at 12 Ksi of at least 72.1 hours, and a corrosion rate, expressed in weight loss [g/(cm2sec)]×10during a 1000 hour immersion in liquid FLiNaK at 850 C., in the range of 8 to 25.