Did You Know...
...that in the early 1940s GE engineer James Wright was charged with a task of utmost importance to the war effort: develop a cheap substitute for rubber that could be used to produce tires, gas masks and a whole host of military gear. Wright tackled the task diligently -- and wound up inventing Silly Putty.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8019038 | Steam generator nozzle dam and method for installing and removing steam generator nozzle dam The present invention includes an apparatus for watertight sealing of a steam generator nozzle and methods for installing the apparatus. The apparatus comprises a nozzle dam, a nozzle dam attachment ring, and a seal. The attachment ring is provided in an interior of... | 09/13/2011 |
| 7325573 | Plumbing line test plug and method of use of the same A plumbing line test plug includes a plug body adapted to plug an interior diameter of a plumbing line. The body has a wet face, which is exposed to liquid when in use, and a dry face, which is opposed to the wet face. A flexible pressure responsive annular membrane... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7325574 | Rupture disc assembly for pneumatic plugs A rupture disc assembly for pneumatic plugs constructed and arranged to cooperate with an aperture in an end casting of the plug to expel excess air from the plug interior when a predetermined internal plug pressure is reached. The rupture disc assembly utilizes a r... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7240697 | Apparatus and method for isolating and testing a segment of pipelines An apparatus and method for isolating the end of a segment of pipe, which includes a substantially cylindrical body, having first and second ends, and a circumference slightly less than the inner diameter of the pipe segment; a pair of spaced apart inflatable seals ... | 07/10/2007 |
| 7203263 | Core spray apparatus and method for installing the same A core spray T-box attachment assembly for a core spray nozzle includes a primary cruciform wedge and a secondary cruciform wedge in contact with the primary cruciform wedge to form a cruciform wedge subassembly adapted for insertion within a bore of the core spray ... | 04/10/2007 |
| 7134454 | Cap for blocking a pipe A cap for blocking a pipe. The pipe has a rim at an end thereof. The rim defines a pipe aperture. The cap includes a body for blocking the pipe aperture, the body including a bore having a threaded bore portion. A latch is movably mounted on the body for movement be... | 11/14/2006 |
| 7029012 | Mechanical seal without elastomers A seal that provides sealing between a rotatable shaft and a housing has a stationary part for connection to the housing and a rotary part for rotation with the shaft. The rotary part includes a sleeve for mounting on the shaft. One end of the sleeve is provided wit... | 04/18/2006 |
| 6895067 | Smooth collet for pulling fuel rods A method and apparatus is disclosed for smoothly inserting a fuel rod loader through the skeleton of a fuel cell and then for pulling an attached fuel rod into the fuel rod skeleton while keeping the fuel rod under constant tension and preventing the bowing of the f... | 05/17/2005 |
| 6721381 | Seal arrangement for in-core instrument housing A seal arrangement for providing a seal between a nuclear reactor in-core instrument housing and an instrument contained within the housing includes a lower seal assembly surrounding an outer portion of the in-core instrument housing, an upper seal assembly surround... | 04/13/2004 |
| 6614868 | Device for sealing a tube, in particular a lance shaft A device for sealing a tube in an opening which is located in a component. The tube is in particular a lance shaft and the component is in particular a nozzle connected to a cover of a reactor pressure vessel. A pressure element is in operative connection... | 09/02/2003 |
| 6594333 | Thermal load reducing system for nuclear reactor vessel The present invention is used to reduce thermal load itself, being the cause to generate stress, which develops near liquid surface in a nuclear reactor wall and to contribute to further improvement of safety. A partition member (5) is arranged above a co... | 07/15/2003 |
| 6522708 | Seal arrangement for in-core instrument housing A seal arrangement for providing a seal between a nuclear reactor in-core instrument housing and an instrument contained within the housing includes a lower seal assembly surrounding an outer portion of the in-core instrument housing, an upper seal assemb... | 02/18/2003 |
| 6504888 | Apparatus and methods of flow measurement for a boiling water reactor internal pump A reactor pressure vessel (RPV) for a nuclear reactor that permits measurement of the flow through each reactor internal pump (RIP) is described. The reactor pressure vessel also includes at least one reactor internal pump that includes an impeller and a ... | 01/07/2003 |
| 6421406 | Core spray upper T-box to safe end attachment A T-box assembly includes a T-box housing, a thermal sleeve coupled to the T-box housing, a cruciform wedge, a spider threadedly engaging the thermal sleeve, and a draw bolt coupling the cruciform wedge and the spider. At least one spring washer is locate... | 07/16/2002 |
| 6406064 | Positive locking device for reactor instrumentation protection sleeve assembly A locking device for a reactor instrumentation protective sleeve and reactor instrumentation column assembly. The locking device includes a protective sleeve coupled to the instrumentation column by a selectively operable and closeable clip assembly. The ... | 06/18/2002 |
| 6375230 | Apparatus and methods for precluding separation of a thermal sleeve and elbow joint in the recirculation system of a nuclear reactor A clamp assembly prevents separation of a thermal sleeve penetrating a nuclear reactor pressure vessel wall and a jet pump riser elbow welded one to the other and lying within an annular space between the pressure vessel wall and core shroud. The clamp as... | 04/23/2002 |
| 6359952 | Target grid assembly A target grid assembly for employment in a target assembly used to produce radioisotopes by bombarding a target material contained in the target assembly with a particle beam. The target assembly includes the target grid assembly, the target window and a ... | 03/19/2002 |
| 6345084 | Apparatus and methods for replacing a core spray T-box/thermal sleeve in a nuclear reactor A T-box/thermal sleeve assembly replaces a damaged T-box/thermal sleeve in a core spray nozzle of a nuclear reactor. To replace the parts, the T-box and a portion of the extant thermal sleeve are removed from a location within the reactor vessel wall. The... | 02/05/2002 |
| 6201847 | Core spray upper T-box to reactor vessel attachment A T-box assembly to facilitate attaching a core spray line to a reactor core spray nozzle safe end without welding is described. In one embodiment, the T-box assembly includes a T-box housing, a cruciform wedge, and a draw bolt. The T-box housing is confi... | 03/13/2001 |
| 6188741 | Machined stub tube in a bottom head of a boiling water reactor An integral stub tube which simplifies the reactor pressure vessel fabrication process, provides a structural transition between the penetration and head, and facilitates future remote inspection of the attachment weld is described. In one embodiment, a s... | 02/13/2001 |
| 6125159 | Canopy seal clamp assembly and method of installation A canopy seal clamp assembly (40) for stopping leaking in a canopy seal weld (42) located between a nuclear reactor vessel nozzle (30) and an elongated housing (24) includes an upper plate (44) having a central aperture (50) and an inner flange (52) space... | 09/26/2000 |
| 6111928 | Top mount canopy seal clamp assembly A top mount canopy seal mechanical clamp assembly 20 for repair of a leaking canopy seal weld 16 between a nuclear reactor head penetration nozzle 12 and a mating part 14 has an annular housing 24 with insert support halves 28 and 30 for surrounding the n... | 08/29/2000 |
| 5918911 | Replacement and repair of nozzles for pressure vessels For nozzle replacement, repair and initial installation in ASME pressure vessels, disclosed are nozzles, nozzle assemblies and nozzle repair assemblies, all of which are mechanically attached and mechanically sealed to the vessel, i.e., without any weldin... | 07/06/1999 |
| 5867547 | Coolant pipe blocking device for use in a nuclear power plant A coolant pipe blocking device for use in a nuclear power plant is provided to temporarily choke up a coolant inlet pipe to thereby inhibit fluid communication between a reactor and a steam generator, the steam generator having a coolant chamber in commun... | 02/02/1999 |
| 5850423 | Nuclear rector vessel with nozzle plug A nuclear reactor vessel has a nozzle plug in its cold leg and hot leg nozzles for isolating the reactor vessel from the balance of the reactor coolant loop. The nozzle plug is mechanically compression fitted with the nozzle without the need for hydraulic... | 12/15/1998 |
| 5828711 | Sealing device for an instrumentation column A sealing device comprising a supporting assembly (9) containing sealing members (16) supporting the instrument column (5), and an assembly (17, 18) for lifting the instrument column (5) in sealing engagement with the supporting members (16). The sealing ... | 10/27/1998 |
| 5785361 | Feedwater nozzle thermal sleeve A thermal sleeve for insertion into a feedwater nozzle bore of a reactor pressure vessel for a nuclear reactor is described. In one embodiment, the sleeve includes a substantially cylindrical main body and a substantially cylindrical interference ring. Th... | 07/28/1998 |
| 5748689 | Sealing device for an instrumentation column penetrating the head of the vessel of a nuclear reactor inside an adapter The instrumentation column (5) comes to bear via a bearing surface and a sealing gasket (16) inside a bearing element including a tubular length (8) and a closure cover (11) joined together by screwed assembly means. The tubular length (8) and the cover (... | 05/05/1998 |
| 5695003 | System for sealing the nozzle of a steam generator A system for sealing the nozzle of a steam generator including a collapsible nozzle dam and an installation pivot arm. The collapsible nozzle dam includes a base portion receivable through a manway in the steam generator for retaining an inflatable seal i... | 12/09/1997 |
| 5631936 | Method and arrangement for compression sealing an omega joint An omega seal (32) between a housing (24) having a circumferential omega lip (38) including a free end, and a reactor vessel nozzle (22) having a complimentary omega lip (40) including a free end. A semi-rigid, annular seat member (60) is placed within on... | 05/20/1997 |
| 5625655 | Fuel transfer tube quick operating remote closure device A nuclear power plant fuel transfer tube quick operating remote closure device (10) comprised of a reducing ring (20) and a cover assembly (60). The reducing ring (20) is bolted to the transfer tube housing flange (12). Rotation of a chuck key advances ja... | 04/29/1997 |
| 5619546 | Resistance temperature detector nozzle mechanical clamp A fluid tight mechanical clamp for creating a compressed graphite seal between a resistance temperature detector nozzle and a NSSS piping hot or cold leg pipe is provided which includes a split graphite seal ring, a peripheral seal back-up ring, a split l... | 04/08/1997 |
| 5605361 | Replacement nozzle for pressure vessels and method of a attaching same The invention disclosed herein provides nozzles for vessels such as a pressurizer vessel, reactor vessel or piping in a nuclear power facility, and methods for attaching and sealing the nozzles to the vessels without any welding at all, i.e., without usin... | 02/25/1997 |
| 5586154 | Self-aligning seal system for maintenance service in nuclear reactor pressure vessels A self-aligning seal system for facilitating the repair or replacement of components of recirculation pump assemblies which penetrate the bottom head of the reactor pressure vessel of a boiling water reactor. The self-aligning seal system enables an opera... | 12/17/1996 |
| 5555280 | Process and device for producing a leakproof protective coating on a surface of a nuclear reactor component The surface of the component (1, 2) to be protected is scanned, a jet of semitransferred arc plasma (17) into which a metal powder is introduced. The process can be applied to the production of a layer of coating (18) on the outer surface of a region of w... | 09/10/1996 |
| 5513227 | Readily disconnectable nozzle arrangement for use with a nuclear reactor In order to reduce the time and difficulty of disassembling a seal arrangement in a cramped radioactive environment, a nozzle assembly hub is provided with a step bore which receives a seal arrangement, a compression collar, and a retaining nut which pres... | 04/30/1996 |
| 5420898 | Remote manipulator The manipulator has a base including an elongated bar having a center between first and second opposed ends. Fluidly actuated end effectors at the first and second ends of the base, are extensible for bracing the base against opposed support surfaces on t... | 05/30/1995 |
| 5406596 | Device for the sealed clamping against a support surface of an instrumentation column The device includes a removable supporting end piece (26) which comes to rest on the top end part of a support assembly (21) fixed to the end of a port adapter of the head of the vessel of a nuclear reactor, and a pressure plate (28) including an odd numb... | 04/11/1995 |
| 5402828 | Closure device with dual-mandrel-acutated peripheral seal Pipe closure device with opposing dual mandrels has external conical surfaces which cooperate with internal conical surfaces of segmented rigid wall engagement member. Rotation of threaded shaft causes relative axial movement of dual mandrels and effects ... | 04/04/1995 |
| 5349614 | Steam line plug installation tool A tool for remotely installing a plug in a steam line of a reactor vessel. The tool has a strongback assembly on which a plug is securely mounted, a collapsible structure (e.g., a scissors jack assembly) which supports the strongback assembly and is movab... | 09/20/1994 |
