Aerial photograph of the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant in Oak Ridge.OAK RIDGE, - Officials at the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant in Oak Ridge are celebrating a record year for employees receiving patents.
There were 11 U.S. Patents and Trademark Office Patents awarded to workers in 2012. A dozen employees were recognized. Another 74 workers were honored for submitting invention disclosures.
Nine-year Y-12 employee Paul Vanatta said he and Rusty Hallman began working on a moisture blending system in 2007 to fulfill a need at the government weapons plant. Vanatta said now that a patent has been granted, he and his fellow researcher are working to transfer the process to the private sector.