Patents Assigned to Combustion Engineering
  • Slide gate damper
    Patent number: 4182359
    Abstract: A slide gate damper arrangement which works well in large ducts, which are conveying hot, dust laden gases, and which duct has an obstruction extending down through the middle of it, such as a concentric pipe. The slide gate arrangement comprises a pair of gates which traverse the large duct from opposite sides thereof, seating in the middle of the duct. The leading edges of the two gates have a configuration such that they match and seal around the inner pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1980
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Earl K. Rickard
  • Steam separator to reduce carryunder
    Patent number: 4182277
    Abstract: A bubble rake for removing the remaining steam from liquid water that is returning to heat-exchange surfaces after an initial separation from steam. The bubble rake is a channel-forming member having a cross section generally in the shape of an upside-down U. The bubble rake is disposed in a fluid-flow path so that the channel opens down and in the direction of the path. A stall zone formed by a rake traps steam in the channel, and the channel is positioned longitudinally at an angle with the horizontal so that the trapped steam migrates to its high end, where an opening allows the trapped steam to join the steam previously separated from the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1980
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles L. Burton, Bard C. Teigen
  • Control line exiting coupling
    Patent number: 4181175
    Abstract: The control line exiting coupling provides radial penetration of a control line through a tubing hanger wall, with a back seat for sealing should internal pressure create a packing leak on the penetrator. The back seat further prevents withdrawal of the device through the packing and provides for withdrawing the control line tubing so the hanger may be removed from the wellhead without shearing off the control line tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1980
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: John K. McGee, Charles D. Bridges, Robert T. Brown
  • Position transmitter
    Patent number: 4181021
    Abstract: A displacer body is linked to a position transmitter of an analogue signal through an elastomeric body mounted in the wall of the vessel in which the displacement takes place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1980
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Lewis K. Harris, Howard J. Pearse
  • Post-LOCA core flushing system
    Patent number: 4181570
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for flushing the core of a nuclear reactor after a loss-of-coolant accident. A pump causes flow of liquid-phase fluid from the containment-vessel sump. This flow is used to provide the motivating force for an eductor that causes suction at the hot leg of the reactor. The eductor suction can draw gas-phase coolant out of the hot leg. As a result, it can reduce pressure which may be preventing the flow of liquid-phase coolant out of the hot leg. By causing liquid-phase flow through the reactor, the system ensures that particles and boric acid are flushed out of the core. The system thereby eliminates the build-up of particles and the concentrations of boric acid in the core that could result if the coolant were to leave the pressure vessel exclusively in the gas phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1980
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Boyajian, Paul A. Weinberger
  • Centrifugally or static cast grinding rolls
    Patent number: 4181264
    Abstract: Apparatus for pulverizing coal including a bowl and a cooperating roller between which members the coal is pulverized. The grinding surface of the roller is made up of a removable sleeve which is securely held on the journal bearing housing by means of wedge lock rings located at each end of the sleeve. These wedge lock rings, along with the roller, can be easily assembled, and provide positive locking of the removable sleeve onto the journal bearing housing, even if there are slight irregularities on the tapered surfaces of the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1980
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: John J. Halloran, Jr.
  • Tube plug
    Patent number: 4178966
    Abstract: A metallic body is formed to have a clearance fit up into a reamed and spot faced tube extended through, and welded to a tubesheet. The form of the body provides a lip which functions to limit the distance the body can be inserted into the tube and supply filler material at the weld zone between the body and the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1979
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis E. Savor, Roderick G. Rohrberg
  • Measurement of gas-liquid flow
    Patent number: 4178801
    Abstract: A centrifugal separator is disclosed as mounted in the steam drum of a utility boiler receiving a mixture of vapor and liquid. Instrumentation is connected to respond to pressure drops associated with the separator to manifest the flow of the mixture and the flow of each separate fluid of the mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1979
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Don S. Cassell, Brice W. Kinyon
  • Pulverizer air flow and temperature control
    Patent number: 4177951
    Abstract: The flow of preheated and ambient air to a processor, such as a coal pulverizer, are controlled in a manner whereby the preheated air flow will be varied as a function of pulverizer discharge temperature air while "cold" ambient air flow will be varied as a function of pulverizer inlet air mass flow rate. Flow error signals are caused to vary as a function of temperature error to enhance system response to temperature errors, and flow error will be caused to take precedence over temperature error should pulverizer inlet flow fall below a predetermined minimum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1979
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Makuch
  • Fluidized bed boiler
    Patent number: 4176623
    Abstract: An individual cell of a fluidized bed includes a static bed disposed immediately below the fluidization region. The static bed contains heavy ores or other suitable dense material that can be heated to a temperature above the ignition temperature of the fuel used in the fluid bed. Should the fluidized-bed temperature fall below the ignition temperature of the fuel, the lower thermal conductivity of the static bed permits it to maintain the ignition temperature and to ignite the fuel until the fluidized bed has been rekindled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1979
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Henry J. Blaskowski
  • Nuclear fuel storage
    Patent number: 4177385
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the storage of fuel in a stainless steel egg crate structure within a storage pool. Fuel is initially stored in a checkerboard pattern or in each opening if the fuel is of low enrichment. Additional fuel (or fuel of higher enrichment) is later stored by adding stainless steel angled plates within each opening, thereby forming flux traps between the openings. Still higher enrichment fuel is later stored by adding poison plates either with or without the stainless steel angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1979
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank Bevilacqua
  • Sodium oxide fume for sulfur oxide removal
    Patent number: 4176163
    Abstract: Sulfur oxides in the flue gases from a glass furnace are converted to sodium sulfate particles by introducing sodium oxide fume into the hot flue gases immediately downstream of the furnace. The fume is generated by forming a bed of carbonaceous material and sodium carbonate that is caused to react under hot reducing conditions. Sodium gas is thereby produced that burns above the bed to produce sodium oxide fume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1979
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Hugh W. Nelson
  • No-size squeezing of 180 degree boiler-tube return bends
    Patent number: 4175419
    Abstract: An apparatus for reducing the radius of the bend in a U-shaped tube comprises two squeeze dies and a back die. The back die is hollowed to form a chamber that accommodates the bent section of the tube and supports the entire circumference of the tube at the center of the bent section. Mating slide surfaces on the back die and the squeeze dies cooperate to extend the back die during squeezing in such a manner as to accommodate the longitudinal extension of the tube legs that results from the squeezing; i.e., there is no relative longitudinal movement between the squeeze dies and the tube legs. This arrangement enables relatively thin-walled tubes to be squeezed without undue deformation of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1978
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1979
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas L. Mabery
  • Forming an extruded bar out of metal chips
    Patent number: 4174933
    Abstract: Apparatus for extruding metal chips or filings into a bar stock. The extruding machine uses graphite lubrication, and an oversized wooden (or other compressible material) plug for the initial compaction. The face of the ram contains undulations therein so the ends of adjacent charges will be better held together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1979
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Mitchell, Albert C. Schulz
  • Compression hub
    Patent number: 4174254
    Abstract: A hub for bucking horizontal forces of a fusion reactor is formed of a plurality of horizontal pancake elements. A coolant flow-path is formed between adjacent surfaces of the pancakes, and interconnection of these is by a limited number of vertical openings through the pancakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1979
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Albert L. Gaines
  • Hydraulic hold-down for nuclear reactor fuel
    Patent number: 4174257
    Abstract: A fuel assembly for a nuclear reactor has a pressure plate attached to the lower end thereof. The upper side of the pressure plate is exposed to the ambient pressure of the reactor coolant. The lower side of the pressure plate is exposed to a pressure from another location in the reactor, selected so that the pressure above the pressure plate is greater than that below the pressure plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1978
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1979
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: John N. Calvin
  • Soot blower for tube bundle in pressurized enclosure
    Patent number: 4173808
    Abstract: A soot blower for use in a tubular heat exchanger, gasifier or reactor that is installed in parallel alignment with a bundle of elongate tubes therein. The soot blower is adapted to eject a jet of steam radially over the outer surface of said tubes to remove deposits therefrom. The steam jet may be moved axially to progressively clean the length of the tubes and the operation of the soot blower may be activated or terminated without interfering with fluid flow over or through said tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1979
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Henry J. Blaskowski
  • Coal fired fluid bed module for a single elevation style fluid bed power plant
    Patent number: 4173950
    Abstract: A fluidized bed for the burning of pulverized fuel having a specific waterwall arrangement that comprises a structurally reinforced framework of wall tubes. The wall tubes are reversely bent from opposite sides and then bonded together to form tie rods that extend across the bed to support the lateral walls thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1978
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1979
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard E. Waryasz
  • Boiler cold start using pulverized coal in ignitor burners
    Patent number: 4173189
    Abstract: An ignition, warm-up and low-load-stabilization system for furnaces fired by pulverized coal. In conjunction with a system in which pulverized coal is sent directly from a coal mill to a load-bearing nozzle and in which combustion air is brought to the nozzles from an air preheater that uses hot furnace gases to warm the combustion air, ignitor nozzles are provided that are supplied by pipes bearing coal from which the drying air has been separated. Combustion air for the ignitor nozzles is heated by an independent heat source that heats the combustion air or a portion thereof to a temperature higher than that of the air supplied by the air preheater. Such a coal-fired ignitor burner can replace oil or gas-fired ignitors and warm-up guns and thereby reduce the amount of oil or gas used in ignition, warm-up, and low-load stabilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1979
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas H. Cooper
  • Control rod blow out protection system
    Patent number: 4173511
    Abstract: An absorber element "blow-out" protection system for a nuclear reactor having a pressure vessel through which a coolant is circulated. The blow-out protection system includes devices which hydraulically couple groups of guide tubes in which the absorber elements move, the coupling devices limiting coolant lift flow rate to a level commensurate with the raising of individual absorber elements but insufficient to raise a plurality of absorber elements simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1972
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1979
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph R. Dietrich, William S. Flinn, Malcolm D. Groves