Patents by Inventor Adrian P. Wivagg

Adrian P. Wivagg has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7023949
    Abstract: A BWR jet pump assembly has a wedge slidably mounted on a jet pump that is movable under the force of gravity to seat between a bracket and the jet pump in order to horizontally support the jet pump against vibrations. The wedge or the bracket is repaired in situ by: providing a spacer layer between mating surfaces of the wedge and the bracket; and then lowering the wedge until the spacer layer is between and in contact with the wedge and the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventor: Adrian P. Wivagg
  • Publication number: 20040190671
    Abstract: A BWR jet pump assembly has a wedge slidably mounted on a jet pump that is movable under the force of gravity to seat between a bracket and the jet pump in order to horizontally support the jet pump against vibrations. The wedge or the bracket is repaired in situ by: providing a spacer layer between mating surfaces of the wedge and the bracket; and then lowering the wedge until the spacer layer is between and in contact with the wedge and the bracket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventor: Adrian P. Wivagg
  • Patent number: 6726140
    Abstract: Apparatus for delivering energy and material, such as electricity, air and fluid, from a source (22) to a driven device (24). The apparatus (20) comprises at least one flexible elongated member (26) selected from the group of electrical conductors, air hoses, fluid hoses and the like. The elongated member has a feed portion (114) with a feed end (42) connectable to the source, a slack portion (118), a supply portion (120) with a supply end (43) connectable to the driven device, a first portion (128) between the feed portion and the slack portion, and a second portion (134) between the slack portion and the supply portion. The apparatus also includes a stationary hub (74) and a spool (78) connected to the hub. The spool is rotatable between stored and deployed conditions relative to said hub. A winding wall (82) on the spool is spaced away from the hub and has an internal surface (86), an oppositely disposed winding surface (88), and an aperture (90) extending therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventor: Adrian P. Wivagg
  • Publication number: 20030178520
    Abstract: Apparatus for delivering energy and material, such as electricity, air and fluid, from a source (22) to a driven device (24). The apparatus (20) comprises at least one flexible elongated member (26) selected from the group of electrical conductors, air hoses, fluid hoses and the like. The elongated member has a feed portion (114) with a feed end (42) connectable to the source, a slack portion (118), a supply portion (120) with a supply end (43) connectable to the driven device, a first portion (128) between the feed portion and the slack portion, and a second portion (134) between the slack portion and the supply portion. The apparatus also includes a stationary hub (74) and a spool (78) connected to the hub. The spool is rotatable between stored and deployed conditions relative to said hub. A winding wall (82) on the spool is spaced away from the hub and has an internal surface (86), an oppositely disposed winding surface (88), and an aperture (90) extending therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Applicant: CE NUCLEAR POWER LLC.
    Inventor: Adrian P. Wivagg
  • Patent number: 6477220
    Abstract: A flexible penetration attachment for BWR wet-well strainers is provided that causes a suction pipe to communicate with liquid in the wet-well through an aperture in a wet-well wall. The penetration includes a boot for defining an outer circumference of the aperture. A suction pipe having an outer surface extends through the aperture such that an annular space is defined between the aperture outer circumference and the suction pipe outer surface. A resilient seal having a generally U-shaped cross section with first and second ends is placed within the annular space. The first end is fixedly secured to the outer surface of the suction pipe and the second end is fixedly secured to the aperture outer circumference such that the suction pipe may move in response to a force applied to the suction pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Co. LLC
    Inventor: Adrian P. Wivagg
  • Patent number: 6467814
    Abstract: Apparatus has a vessel fitting (2) and a retainer (10) that connect a core spray pipe system (4) to an opening (14) in a wall (8) in a vessel (9) in a boiling water nuclear reactor. The vessel fitting (2) has a plurality of resilient beams (76a), (766b), (76c), (76d), 76(e) and 76(f) arranged to extend into the opening (14) and lock the vessel fitting (2) in place on the vessel. The retainer (10) is installed on the vessel fitting (2) by inserting it through a passage (79) in the vessel fitting (2). The retainer (10) bears against the beams to maintain them in locking engagement with the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company
    Inventor: Adrian P. Wivagg
  • Patent number: 6463114
    Abstract: A jacking device includes first, second, and third members (51, 52, 53), and a jacking screw (55). The first and second members (51, 52) have sloping side portions (57). The third member (53) has a plurality of sloped side portions (57) and a threaded opening (67) extending from its top portion (69) through to its bottom portion (59). The third member (53) is movably supported between the first and second members (51, 52). The jacking screw (55) engages the threaded opening (67) in the third member (53).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventor: Adrian P. Wivagg
  • Patent number: 6320923
    Abstract: A locking device for use in restraining a jet pump downcomer of a nuclear reactor, including an upper jaw; a lower jaw placed in an opposing position below the upper jaw; and a tightening screw movably supporting the upper jaw and the lower jaw. When installed on a jet pump downcomer, the complete assembly includes a restraining ring; a downcomer carried by the restraining ring; a wedge supported by the restraining ring and the downcomer; and a guide bolt extending in an axial direction in relation to the downcomer such that the wedge is movably supported by the guide bolt. The wedge is interposed between the upper jaw and the lower jaw, and one end of the upper jaw and a corresponding end of the lower jaw are moveably supported by the guide bolt. The upper jaw and lower jaw are supported at their respective opposite ends by the tightening screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: Adrian P. Wivagg, Dwight E. Starnes
  • Patent number: 6305651
    Abstract: A bracket (48) for mounting a pipe (20) to a wall (22) in a nuclear reactor, having a first flange (54) and a second flange (56) adapted to slideably engage grooves (40) in studs (26) and (28) that are connected to wall (22), and a first fastener (74) adjacent the first flange (54) and a second fastener (76) adjacent the second flange (56), the fasteners (74) and (76) being moveable to a closed position wherein they retain the bracket (48) on the studs (26) and (28) when the bracket is in the installed condition, and methods for using the bracket (48) to replace an installed pipe (20) and to install a new pipe (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventor: Adrian P. Wivagg
  • Publication number: 20010001009
    Abstract: A locking device for use in restraining a jet pump downcomer of a nuclear reactor, including an upper jaw; a lower jaw placed in an opposing position below the upper jaw; and a tightening screw movably supporting the upper jaw and the lower jaw. When installed on a jet pump downcomer, the complete assembly includes a restraining ring; a downcomer carried by the restraining ring; a wedge supported by the restraining ring and the downcomer; and a guide bolt extending in an axial direction in relation to the downcomer such that the wedge is movably supported by the guide bolt. The wedge is interposed between the upper jaw and the lower jaw, and one end of the upper jaw and a corresponding end of the lower jaw are moveably supported by the guide bolt. The upper jaw and lower jaw are supported at their respective opposite ends by the tightening screw.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Publication date: May 10, 2001
    Inventors: Adrian P. Wivagg, Dwight E. Starnes
  • Patent number: 5727431
    Abstract: A blind nut tool has spaced arms, one to extend on either side of a drywell head flange. The arms are mounted on a U-shaped channel member and the lower arm holds and retains a nut and washer pair on the underside of the flange as it is torqued on a threaded stud extending through the flange. The channel receives the stud and has a pin which engages a flat on the stud for storage of the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Adrian P. Wivagg
  • Patent number: 5631936
    Abstract: 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 one of the lips, and the housing is positioned in vertical alignment with the nozzle so that the free end of the housing lip and the free end of the nozzle lip are juxtaposed, thereby forming an omega structure having a cavity (44) occupied by the seat member, a gap (42) between the free ends of the lips, and an outer surface (47,49) on either side of the gap. A semi-rigid ring (46) is positioned in conforming relation to the outside surface of the omega structure. A compressive force is applied and maintained on the exterior of the seal ring, thereby extruding a portion of the ring into the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Theroux, Witold R. Blercz, Kenneth A. Martin, Adrian P. Wivagg
  • Patent number: 5623526
    Abstract: In order to support a shroud against bending, shear, stress and torsion, straps which are preferably formed of the same material as the shroud, are placed in strategic positions with respect to cracks or the like type of weaknesses which have been detected, and fastened in place using a suitable fastening technique. In the preferred embodiments of the invention holes a formed using an EDM technique and bolt units which have an expanding portion are inserted into the holes, torqued and expanded in a manner which fastens the strap to the shroud. Welding and the like type of fastening techniques are not excluded and may used alternatively or in combination with the bolting technique as required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Adrian P. Wivagg
  • Patent number: 5522432
    Abstract: A plug which is inserted into the nozzle of nuclear reactor steam line is provided with a set of inflatable primary seals which resemble a pair of tires. A locking ring which features pads which can be hydraulically driven radially outward into engagement with the nozzle wall, is located adjacent the tire-like inflatable seals. The latter are inflated by a spring loaded piston. A tool which inserts the plug into the nozzle is adapted to tract the piston against the bias of the preloading springs, until such time as the plug is inserted into position. After insertion the piston is released and the seals are inflated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell R. Radant, Adrian P. Wivagg
  • Patent number: 5430779
    Abstract: In order to eliminate the need to weld, drill or otherwise machine a shroud structure which is used to surround a plurality of fuel assemblies in a nuclear reactor, a support ring which either seats on top of the upper edge of the shroud, or is formed in multiple segments and is clamped to the side wall of the shroud, have hangers which are rigid therewith on which support hooks can be detachably mounted. The hooks are arranged to be engagable with the inner peripheral wall of the RPV in a manner which prevents lateral movement of the shroud within the pressure vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1995
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Bengt. I. Baversten, Adrian P. Wivagg
  • Patent number: 5421369
    Abstract: A mechanically actuated plug comprises a pole system to lower a pair of seals into a refueling pool in a Boiling Water Reactor ("BWR") plant. A plug adapter is connected to the end of a pole system and is attached to a scissors jack assembly. The scissors jack assembly is comprised of at least one jack screw shaft, at least a pair of nuts, scissor arms connected between the nuts and the seals, and scissor arms connected between the nuts and a loading pad. The pole and plug adapter have a central shaft assembly which is connected to the jack screw shaft and transfers rotational motion from the top of the pole to the jack screw shaft. By rotating the central shaft assembly, the plug may be opened to seal the recirculation line. Once opened, the pole and plug adapter are preferably detached from the plug so that the plug may remain in position while the pole system is removed from the refueling pool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Adrian P. Wivagg, James G. Tursi
  • Patent number: 5386443
    Abstract: In order to provide a relatively inexpensive water-tight telescopic enclosure which can extend automatically upon demand, a tubular extension piece is reciprocally mounted on a container-like hook box structure. A tube seal which interconnects the hook box and the tubular extension provides a watertight connection between the two members and also provides an air space in a folded portion in which air can collect and produce buoyancy as the hook box is lowered into water. The tubular extension also has a larger cross-sectional area than the hook box and thus produces additional buoyancy. When the hook box is lowered into water the extension piece automatically floats upwardly to prevent the intrusion of water into the interior of the hook box and thus prevent contamination of pieces of apparatus enclosed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Bengt I. Baversten, Adrian P. Wivagg
  • Patent number: 5209895
    Abstract: A method of repairing a nuclear power facility metal component assembly with a "Class A" fastening between hard metal parts (12,14) includes several steps they are:providing aligned openings (20,22) in a plurality of hard metal parts (12,14) to be assembled;EDM machining a non-cylindrically shaped cavity (16) which is analogous to a counterbore having a cavity opening (24) smaller than the cavity base (18);inserting a locking collar (10) with a central aperture (32) and surrounding flange (3) to receive a bolt head (42) and with weakened zones of deformation (34) through the cavity opening (24);inserting a headed and threaded bolt (40) through the central aperture (32) of the locking collar (10) and into the aligned bores (20,22);providing threads (46a) in another of the hard metal parts to mate the bolt threads (46);torquing the bolt (40) in the provided mating threads (46a) to draw the bolt head (42) toward the cavity base (18) and deforming the locking collar at its weakened zones of deformation (34) to ca
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Adrian P. Wivagg
  • Patent number: 5065490
    Abstract: A bolt insert 24 with special bolt 50 provides a fastening method to secure hard metal nuclear reactor parts 12, 14, 16 provided with aligned square EDM produced openings 18, 20, 22. The insert is an elongated square internally threaded member with slots 34 defining flexing fingers 36. Fingers 36 have work engaging shoulders 42. Stop means tabs 28 at the bolt head end prevent overinsertion of the square insert 24 during the operation of pushing it into aligned square holes 18, 20, 22. Internal threads 32 of insert 24 mate with bolt threads 60 during torquing on bolt head 52 to advance bolt 50, which has tapered end 56 and pilot portion 58, to cam fingers 36 into holding position. Couterbores 30 receive stop means tabs 28 such that bolt head 52 does not bottom on insert 24. The method of producing fastening 10 removes the need for accurate threading operations on irradiated parts in the remote field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1991
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Adrian P. Wivagg, Kenneth A. Martin
  • Patent number: 5016776
    Abstract: A tamper-proof closure 10 is inserted by means of positioning tool 20 into a nuclear fuel consolidation storage canister 30. The closure 10 includes a grooved weakened portion 44, which if it exceeds its elastic limit when the base 12 is flexed during removal attempts will indicate any attempts to remove or otherwise tamper with the thus closed canister. Locking tabs 18, on transverse legs 13 and 14 extending from base 12 are engaged in slots 40 in the wall of the opening of canister 30 when the closure 10 is in fuel storage position. Tool 20 has a portion 46 which enters a slot 48 in base 12 at 90.degree. to its working position and then twists to engage spanning portion 42's flanges 43 in slots of flanges 16 on the legs 13 and 14 to retract tabs 18. The base is prevented from flexing on insertion into the container opening by support it receives from portion 46.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Falzarano, Adrian P. Wivagg