The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 05, 2004
Filed:
Mar. 06, 2003
Jerry S. Salan, Hughesville, MD (US);
Michael A. Lateulere, Marbury, MD (US);
John E. Brough, Springfield, VA (US);
Wendell R. Lee, White Plains, MD (US);
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy, Washington, DC (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method for selectively draining melt material, such as molten salt, utilizes an unobstructed drain conduit detachably connected, as by screw threads, to a vessel containing the material. Two heaters are utilized for the conduit, a drain heater at the vessel and a plugging heater spaced from the vessel. The conduit is placed at the plugging heater and partially filled with a predetermined quantity of plugging material in flowable form. The plugging material is, typically, the same salt in particulate form and is retained in the conduit by any suitable closure. The plugging heater is energized to melt the plugging material and is then de-energized so that a solid plug of this material forms in the conduit. The conduit, including the plug, is removed from the closure and the plugging heater and is connected to the vessel when the drain heater is de-energized and when the vessel does not contain molten melt material, as when the vessel is empty or this material is solidified. The molten material is then established in the vessel with limited heat transfer to the conduit so that the plug does not melt. When the melt material is to be drained, the drain heater is energized to heat the conduit and melt the plug so that the melt material drains through the conduit. When the conduit is suitably configured, such a quantity of the melt material may remain in the conduit to form another plug when the drain heater is de-energized.