Russell A Higgins

US Patent:

6735268, May 11, 2004

Filed:

Apr 10, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/119293

Inventors:

Russell P. Higgins - Wilmington NC
David G. Smith - Leland NC

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

G21C 332

US Classification:

376444, 376441, 376442

Abstract:

The spacer/water rod retention assembly includes a clip secured to the spacer having a slot perimetrically bounded both axially and laterally spaced portions of the clip. A resilient tab projects from one side portion into the slot. A water rod has a projecting tab which, upon relative rotation of the spacer and water rod, engages and deflects the clip tab to enable the water rod tab to reside in the clip slot. When the clip tab returns to its initial position, substantial relative rotation between the water rod and spacer is precluded and axial connection between the spacer and water rod is assured. In another form, the water rod tab projects into a slot of the clip. An adjacent water rod prevents rotation of the water rod tab in the opposite direction, thereby capturing the spacer and water rod and preventing relative axial movement.

US Patent:

7526058, Apr 28, 2009

Filed:

Dec 3, 2004

Appl. No.:

11/002677

Inventors:

Russell Morgan Fawcett - Atkinson NC, US
Randy Peter Gonzales - Wilmington NC, US
Russell Patrick Higgins - Wilmington NC, US
Robert Bryant James - Wilmington NC, US
Michael Thomas Kiernan - Wilmington NC, US
Steven Bruce Shelton - Wilmington NC, US
David Grey Smith - Leland NC, US
Russell Edward Stachowski - Wilmington NC, US
Lukas Trosman - Wilmington NC, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

G21C 3/30

US Classification:

376426, 376412, 376429

Abstract:

A rod assembly for a fuel bundle of a nuclear reactor may include an upper end piece, lower end piece and a plurality of rod segments attached between the upper and lower end pieces and to each other so as to form an axial length of the rod assembly. The rod assembly may include an adaptor subassembly provided at given connection points for connecting adjacent rod segments or a given rod segment with one of the upper and lower end pieces. The connection points along the axial length of the rod assembly may be located where the rod assembly contacts a spacer in the fuel bundle. One (or more) of the rod segments may include an irradiation target therein for producing a desired isotope when a fuel bundle containing one (or more) rod assemblies is irradiated in a core of the reactor.

US Patent:

8155259, Apr 10, 2012

Filed:

Nov 17, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/272242

Inventors:

Stephanie Baker Lindquist - Wilmington NC, US
Russell Patrick Higgins - Wilmington NC, US
David Grey Smith - Leland NC, US
William Williams - Wilmington NC, US
Edward G. Apple - Wilmington NC, US

Assignee:

Global Nuclear Fuel—Americas, LLC - Wilmington NC

International Classification:

G21C 17/00

US Classification:

376258, 33701

Abstract:

An apparatus for measuring perpendicularity of an upper tie plate of a nuclear fuel bundle includes a first comb having a first plurality of teeth; a second comb having a second plurality of teeth, the second comb being parallel to and spaced from the first comb; a comb connector that connects the first comb to the second comb, the comb connector having a second end extending beyond the first comb; a rigid finger provided at the second end of the comb connector; a rotatable gage provided on the second comb; and a mobile finger operatively connected to the gage.

US Patent:

8599994, Dec 3, 2013

Filed:

Apr 27, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/741391

Inventors:

Russell Patrick Higgins - Wilmington NC, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

G21C 3/34

US Classification:

376438, 376409, 376426, 376434, 376462

Abstract:

In various embodiments, a spacer grid for a nuclear reactor fuel bundle is provided. The grid includes a plurality of interstitial dividers that form an array of cells. Each cell is structured to retain a respective one of a plurality of fuel rods to thereby form an array of equally spaced fuel rods. The grid additionally includes a perimeter band that peripherally surrounds the dividers and is connected to opposing ends of each divider. The perimeter band includes a plurality of spring tabs formed along and extending from an edge of the perimeter band. The spring tabs extend from the edge at an angle away from the dividers such that a distal end of each spring tab will contact an interior surface of a respective one of a plurality of walls of a channel in which the arrayed fuel rods can be inserted to form the fuel bundle.

US Patent:

20070133731, Jun 14, 2007

Filed:

Dec 3, 2004

Appl. No.:

11/002680

Inventors:

Russell Fawcett - Atkinson NC, US
Randy Gonzales - Wilmington NC, US
Russell Higgins - Wilmington NC, US
Robert James - Wilmington NC, US
Michael Kiernan - Wilmington NC, US
William Russell - Wilmington NC, US
Steven Shelton - Wilmington NC, US
David Smith - Leland NC, US
Russell Stachowski - Wilmington NC, US
Lukas Trosman - Wilmington NC, US

International Classification:

G21G 1/00

US Classification:

376202000

Abstract:

In a method of producing isotopes in a light water power reactor, one or more targets within the reactor may be irradiated under a neutron flux to produce one or more isotopes. The targets may be assembled into one or more fuel bundles that are to be loaded in a core of the reactor at a given outage. Power operations in the reactor irradiate the fuel bundles so as to generate desired isotopes, such as one or more radioisotopes at a desired specific activity or stable isotopes at a desired concentration.

US Patent:

20090122946, May 14, 2009

Filed:

Jul 30, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/219906

Inventors:

Russell Morgan Fawcett - Atkinson NC, US
Randy Peter Gonzales - Wilmington NC, US
Russell Patrick Higgins - Wilmington NC, US
Robert Bryant James - Wilmington NC, US
Michael Thomas Kiernan - Wilmington NC, US
Steven Bruce Shelton - Wilmington NC, US
David Grey Smith - Leland NC, US
Russell Edward Stachowski - Wilmington NC, US
Lukas Trosman - Wilmington NC, US

International Classification:

G21C 3/34

US Classification:

376438

Abstract:

A rod assembly for a fuel bundle of a nuclear reactor may include an upper end piece, lower end piece and a plurality of rod segments attached between the upper and lower end pieces and to each other so as to form an axial length of the rod assembly. The rod assembly may include an adaptor subassembly provided at given connection points for connecting adjacent rod segments or a given rod segment with one of the upper and lower end pieces. The connection points along the axial length of the rod assembly may be located where the rod assembly contacts a spacer in the fuel bundle. One (or more) of the rod segments may include an irradiation target therein for producing a desired isotope when a fuel bundle containing one (or more) rod assemblies is irradiated in a core of the reactor.

US Patent:

20090135983, May 28, 2009

Filed:

Nov 28, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/946258

Inventors:

Christopher J. Monetta - Wilmington NC, US
Russell Patrick Higgins - Wilmington NC, US
Vernon W. Mills - Wilmington NC, US
David Grey Smith - Leland NC, US
Carlton Wayne Clark - Wilmington NC, US
Michael S. DeFilippis - Wilmington NC, US

Assignee:

GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC - Wilmington NC

International Classification:

G21G 1/10

US Classification:

376190, 376272

Abstract:

An isotope production target rod for a power generating nuclear reactor is provided. The isotope production target rod can include at least one rod central body including an outer shell that defines an internal cavity and a plurality of irradiation targets within the internal cavity. The irradiation targets can be positioned in a spatial arrangement utilizing a low nuclear cross-section separating medium to maintain the spatial arrangement.

US Patent:

20130077732, Mar 28, 2013

Filed:

Sep 23, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/241809

Inventors:

Russell P. Higgins - Wilmington NC, US

Assignee:

GLOBAL NUCLEAR FUELS - AMERICAS, LLC - Wilmington NC

International Classification:

G21C 3/32
B23P 17/04
F16B 2/20

US Classification:

376434, 24564, 29428

Abstract:

A fuel assembly may include a channel nosepiece; a lower tie plate positioned above the channel nosepiece; and at least one bundle retention clip connected to the channel nosepiece and the lower tie plate and configured to resist movement of the lower tie plate away from the channel nosepiece.