Scott Lee Fitzner

US Patent:

20130263737, Oct 10, 2013

Filed:

Apr 5, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/439934

Inventors:

Jeffrey T. Lee - Forest VA, US
Roger D. Ridgeway - Lynchburg VA, US
Jeffrey W. Austin - Evington VA, US
Scott L. Fitzner - Appomattox VA, US

International Classification:

B01D 46/42

US Classification:

95279, 55302

Abstract:

A process chamber is configured to contain a work piece in a controlled atmosphere and to perform a process that emits pyrophoric particulates. A closed recirculating loop connected with the process chamber recirculates gas defining the controlled atmosphere through the process chamber. A filter in the closed recirculating loop captures the generated pyrophoric particulates in the recirculating gas. A valve set has a work configuration defining the closed recirculating loop including the connection of the process chamber with the filter, and a filter regeneration configuration in which the filter is blocked off from the process chamber and is connected with an exhaust. A work piece is loaded into the process chamber. With the valve set in the work configuration, the process is performed on the loaded work piece. Thereafter, regeneration gas containing oxygen is delivered to the filter with the valve set in the regeneration configuration.

US Patent:

20130272484, Oct 17, 2013

Filed:

Dec 12, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/712742

Inventors:

Earl B BARGER - Goode VA, US
Scott L Fitzner - Appomattox VA, US
Michael J Nilles - Lynchburg VA, US

Assignee:

BABCOCK & WILCOX MPOWER, INC. - Charlotte NC

International Classification:

G21C 3/10
B23K 11/00

US Classification:

376451, 2191171

Abstract:

An open end of a cladding tube of a nuclear fuel rod is plugged with an end plug having a main body and a cylindrical bond portion extending from the main body and terminating in a cladding seat with reduced diameter compared with the cylindrical bond portion. The plugging includes clamping the open end of the cladding tube against the cladding seat of the end plug and, while clamping, applying electrical current between the end plug and the open end of the cladding tube so as to force the open end of the cladding tube over the cladding seat and slide over the cylindrical bond portion of the end plug and to generate a resistance weld between a cylindrical bonding surface of the cylindrical bond portion of the end plug and the inside surface of the open end of the cladding tube.

US Patent:

62461443, Jun 12, 2001

Filed:

Jul 21, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/120104

Inventors:

Shepard L. Hockaday - Benson NC
Beecher G. Simmons - Four Oaks NC
Scott L. Fitzner - Dunn NC
Michael W. Nedriga - Raleigh NC

Assignee:

Morganite Incorporated - Dunn NC

International Classification:

H01R 3938
H01R 3940
H01R 3936

US Classification:

310242

Abstract:

Brush card or holder assemblies are disclosed. The assemblies avoid any need for a separate plastic cap and utilize a lead wire (which could be or include a rod or other electrically-conductive device) both electrically to connect a brush to an external component and mechanically to fix the position of one end of a mechanism, such as a spring, for biasing the brush toward the surface of a commutator or other rotating machine element.

US Patent:

20210375495, Dec 2, 2021

Filed:

May 28, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/334060

Inventors:

- Lynchburg VA, US
Scott Lee Fitzner - Appomattox VA, US
Emily Fleming - Forest VA, US
Ryan Z. Ziegler - Forest VA, US
Todd Oswald - Charlotte NC, US
Earl Brian Barger - Goode VA, US

International Classification:

G21C 3/322

Abstract:

A nuclear fuel assembly for a nuclear reactor core, the fuel assembly having at least one fuel element including an elongated shell defining an interior volume, a lattice structure disposed within the interior volume, at least one flow channel extending through the lattice structure, at least one lattice site disposed in the lattice structure, and at least one fuel compact disposed within a corresponding one of the at least one lattice site, a first end cap including a boss having a first cross-sectional shape, the first end cap being affixed to a first end of the shell, and a second end cap including a first bore having a second cross-sectional shape, the second end cap being affixed to a second end of the shell, wherein the first cross-sectional shape of the boss is the same as the cross-sectional shape of the bore.

US Patent:

20200357530, Nov 12, 2020

Filed:

Mar 26, 2020

Appl. No.:

16/831201

Inventors:

- Lynchburg VA, US
Scott Lee Fitzner - Appomattox VA, US
Roger Dale Ridgeway - Rustburg VA, US
Scott James Shargots - Forest VA, US

International Classification:

G21C 7/12

Abstract:

A control rod drive mechanism for use in a nuclear reactor including a reactor core disposed in a pressure vessel, including a control rod configured for insertion into the reactor core, a lead screw, the control rod being secured to the bottom end of the lead screw, a drive mechanism including a torque tube having a top end and a bottom end, a pair of segment arms that are pivotably mounted to the torque tube, a pair of roller nuts, each roller nut being rotatably secured to the bottom end of a respective segment arm, and a drive motor including a stator and a rotor secured to the top end of the torque tube that includes a plurality of permanent magnets embedded therein, wherein the stator defines a central bore in which the rotor is disposed, and a latch coil assembly including a latch coil, wherein the latch coil assembly defines a central bore in which the top ends of the segment arms are disposed radially-inwardly of the latch coil.

US Patent:

20180261337, Sep 13, 2018

Filed:

Mar 19, 2018

Appl. No.:

15/924762

Inventors:

- Charlotte NC, US
Earl B. Barger - Goode VA, US
Scott L. Fitzner - Appomattox VA, US
Michael J. Nilles - Lynchburg VA, US

International Classification:

G21C 3/10
B23K 11/00
G21C 21/02

Abstract:

An open end of a cladding tube of a nuclear fuel rod is plugged with an end plug having a main body and a cylindrical bond portion extending from the main body and terminating in a cladding seat with reduced diameter compared with the cylindrical bond portion. The plugging includes clamping the open end of the cladding tube against the cladding seat of the end plug and, while clamping, applying electrical current between the end plug and the open end of the cladding tube so as to force the open end of the cladding tube over the cladding seat and slide over the cylindrical bond portion of the end plug and to generate a resistance weld between a cylindrical bonding surface of the cylindrical bond portion of the end plug and the inside surface of the open end of the cladding tube.

US Patent:

20170206984, Jul 20, 2017

Filed:

Sep 27, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/277869

Inventors:

- Bellevue WA, US
Earl Brian Barger - Goode VA, US
Scott Fitzner - Appomattox VA, US
Roger D. Ridgeway - Bellevue WA, US
Micah J. Hackett - Seattle WA, US

International Classification:

G21C 3/10
G21C 21/02

Abstract:

An end cap for a nuclear fuel rod and methods of welding the end cap to a cladding tube, particularly an HT9 end cap to an HT9 cladding tube, such as by resistance pressure welding or pressure resistance welding. The end cap includes an annular shoulder and an angled recess. Also provided are welding techniques and techniques for classifying fuel rod welds.