Patent US4206350A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4206350A
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Atomic and molecular isotope separation
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1978-01-31
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Granted: 1980-06-03
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Expires: 1998-01-31
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for selectively exciting and separating a selected isotope or molecule from a mixture of isotopes or molecules, particularly useful in separation of isotopes of uranium and other heavy metals. The method serially includes placing the mixture of isotopes in an excited gaseous state, selectively de-exciting one or more isotopes of the mixture, and subsequently permanently separating the de-excited and excited isotopes.
Inventors
- 👤 Nathan T. Melamed
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 18:18
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D59/00; B01D59/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
43 words
A method for differentially exciting a selected isotopic species in a mixture of isotopic species comprising: a. placing substantially said entire isotopic mixture in an excited gaseous state; and then b. selectively de-exciting a preselected isotopic species in said mixture through stimulated emission.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
43 words
A method for differentially exciting a selected isotopic species in a mixture of isotopic species comprising: a. placing substantially said entire isotopic mixture in an excited gaseous state; and then b. selectively de-exciting a preselected isotopic species in said mixture through stimulated emission.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
53 words
A method for separating a selected isotopic species in a mixture of isotopic species comprising: a. placing substantially said entire isotopic mixture in an excited gaseous state; then b. selectively de-exciting a preselected isotopic species in said mixture through stimulated emission; and then c. permanently separating said de-excited species from said excited species.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
53 words
A method for separating a selected isotopic species in a mixture of isotopic species comprising: a. placing substantially said entire isotopic mixture in an excited gaseous state; then b. selectively de-exciting a preselected isotopic species in said mixture through stimulated emission; and then c. permanently separating said de-excited species from said excited species.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said selective de-excitation step comprises selectively irradiating said preselected isotope with laser irradiation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus for separating a selected isotopic species from a mixture of isotopic species comprising: a. means for placing said mixture in an excited gaseous state; b. means for selectively de-exciting said previously excited selected species; and c. means for permanently separating said de-excited species from the balance of said excited mixture.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus for separating a selected isotopic species from a mixture of isotopic species comprising: a. means for placing said mixture in an excited gaseous state; b. means for selectively de-exciting said previously excited selected species; and c. means for permanently separating said de-excited species from the balance of said excited mixture.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
52 words
A method for separating a selected isotopic species in a mixture of isotopic species comprising: a. placing substantially said entire isotopic mixture in an excited gaseous state through a combustion reaction; b. selectively de-exciting a preselected isotopic species through stimulated emission; and c. permanently separating said de-excited species from said excited species.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
52 words
A method for separating a selected isotopic species in a mixture of isotopic species comprising: a. placing substantially said entire isotopic mixture in an excited gaseous state through a combustion reaction; b. selectively de-exciting a preselected isotopic species through stimulated emission; and c. permanently separating said de-excited species from said excited species.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
50 words
A method for separating a selected isotopic species in a mixture of isotopic species comprising: a. placing substantially said entire isotopic mixture in an excited gaseous state through photoexcitation; b. selectively de-exciting a preselected isotopic species through stimulated emission; and c. permanently separating said de-excited species from said excited species.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
50 words
A method for separating a selected isotopic species in a mixture of isotopic species comprising: a. placing substantially said entire isotopic mixture in an excited gaseous state through photoexcitation; b. selectively de-exciting a preselected isotopic species through stimulated emission; and c. permanently separating said de-excited species from said excited species.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
53 words
A method for separating a selected isotopic species in a mixture of isotopic species comprising: a. placing substantially said entire isotopic mixture in an excited gaseous state by an exothermic chemical reaction; b. selectively de-exciting a preselected isotopic species through stimulated emission; and c. permanently separating said de-excited species from said excited species.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
53 words
A method for separating a selected isotopic species in a mixture of isotopic species comprising: a. placing substantially said entire isotopic mixture in an excited gaseous state by an exothermic chemical reaction; b. selectively de-exciting a preselected isotopic species through stimulated emission; and c. permanently separating said de-excited species from said excited species.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
55 words
A method for separating a selected isotopic species in a mixture of isotopic species comprising: a. placing substantially said entire isotopic mixture in an excited gaseous metastable state which substantially constitutes a population inversion; b. selectively de-exciting a preselected isotopic species through stimulated emission; and c. permanently separating said de-excited species from said excited species.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
55 words
A method for separating a selected isotopic species in a mixture of isotopic species comprising: a. placing substantially said entire isotopic mixture in an excited gaseous metastable state which substantially constitutes a population inversion; b. selectively de-exciting a preselected isotopic species through stimulated emission; and c. permanently separating said de-excited species from said excited species.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
54 words
A method for separating a selected isotopic species in a mixture of isotopic species comprising: a. placing substantially said entire isotopic mixture in an excited gaseous state; b. selectively de-exciting a preselected isotopic species by passing said mixture through selectively tuned optical resonators; and c. permanently separating said de-excited species from said excited species.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
54 words
A method for separating a selected isotopic species in a mixture of isotopic species comprising: a. placing substantially said entire isotopic mixture in an excited gaseous state; b. selectively de-exciting a preselected isotopic species by passing said mixture through selectively tuned optical resonators; and c. permanently separating said de-excited species from said excited species.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
51 words
A method for separating a selected isotopic species in a mixture of isotopic species comprising: a. placing substantially said entire isotopic mixture in an excited gaseous state through electric discharge; b. selectively de-exciting a preselected isotopic species through stimulated emission; and c. permanently separating said de-excited species from said excited species.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
51 words
A method for separating a selected isotopic species in a mixture of isotopic species comprising: a. placing substantially said entire isotopic mixture in an excited gaseous state through electric discharge; b. selectively de-exciting a preselected isotopic species through stimulated emission; and c. permanently separating said de-excited species from said excited species.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus for separating a selected isotopic species from a mixture of isotopic species comprising: a. combustion means for placing said mixture in an excited gaseous state; b. means for selectively de-exciting said selected species; and c. means for permanently separating said de-excited species from the balance of said excited mixture.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus for separating a selected isotopic species from a mixture of isotopic species comprising: a. combustion means for placing said mixture in an excited gaseous state; b. means for selectively de-exciting said selected species; and c. means for permanently separating said de-excited species from the balance of said excited mixture.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus for separating a selected isotopic species from a mixture of isotopic species comprising: a. photoexcitation means for placing said mixture in an excited gaseous state; b. means for selectively de-exciting said selected species; and c. means for permanently separating said de-excited species from the balance of said excited mixture.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus for separating a selected isotopic species from a mixture of isotopic species comprising: a. photoexcitation means for placing said mixture in an excited gaseous state; b. means for selectively de-exciting said selected species; and c. means for permanently separating said de-excited species from the balance of said excited mixture.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus for separating a selected isotopic species from a mixture of isotopic species comprising: a. means for chemically reacting said mixture, exothermally, so as to place said mixture in an excited gaseous state; b. means for selectively de-exciting said selected species; and c. means for permanently separating said de-excited species from the balance of said excited mixture.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus for separating a selected isotopic species from a mixture of isotopic species comprising: a. means for chemically reacting said mixture, exothermally, so as to place said mixture in an excited gaseous state; b. means for selectively de-exciting said selected species; and c. means for permanently separating said de-excited species from the balance of said excited mixture.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus for separating a selected isotopic species from a mixture of isotopic species comprising: a. means for placing said mixture in an excited gaseous metastable state which substantially constitutes a population inversion; b. means for selectively de-exciting said selected species; and c. means for permanently separating said de-excited species from the balance of said excited mixture.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus for separating a selected isotopic species from a mixture of isotopic species comprising: a. means for placing said mixture in an excited gaseous metastable state which substantially constitutes a population inversion; b. means for selectively de-exciting said selected species; and c. means for permanently separating said de-excited species from the balance of said excited mixture.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus for separating a selected isotopic species from a mixture of isotopic species comprising: a. means for placing said mixture in an excited gaseous state; b. selectively tuned optical resonators for selectively de-exciting said selected species; and c. means for permanently separating said de-excited species from the balance of said excited mixture.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus for separating a selected isotopic species from a mixture of isotopic species comprising: a. means for placing said mixture in an excited gaseous state; b. selectively tuned optical resonators for selectively de-exciting said selected species; and c. means for permanently separating said de-excited species from the balance of said excited mixture.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus for separating a selected isotopic species from a mixture of isotopic species comprising: a. electric discharge means for placing said mixture in an excited gaseous state; b. means for selectively de-exciting said selected species; and c. means for permanently separating said de-excited species from the balance of said excited mixture.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus for separating a selected isotopic species from a mixture of isotopic species comprising: a. electric discharge means for placing said mixture in an excited gaseous state; b. means for selectively de-exciting said selected species; and c. means for permanently separating said de-excited species from the balance of said excited mixture.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3937956A
Cited
US3987302A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-06-03 | 1983-12-03 | 1984-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-06-03 | 1987-12-03 | 1988-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-06-03 | 1991-12-03 | 1992-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |