Patents by Inventor Bret E. Nelson

Bret E. Nelson 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: 11538598
    Abstract: Clamps can be secured to a slip joint and limit flow through the same by seating on a diffuser axially regardless of wear and damage in the slip joint. An extension from the clamp seats to the inlet mixer. These extensions can be adjusted from outside the clamp to achieve an individual preload or flow limitation through the slip joint. The extension may be an O-ring or other shape. A biasing drive may connect to and move the extension from an outside surface of the clamp. The biasing drive may include a threaded cap in an outer groove that is linked to a plunger via a spring. Clamps are fabricated of materials that maintain their physical properties when exposed to an operating nuclear reactor environment and may be relatively rigid and resilient metals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC
    Inventors: Hampton W. Lane, Bret E. Nelson, Brandon J. Schoonmaker, Lee J. Andre, Hugo P. Rooney, David J. Bell
  • Patent number: 11112052
    Abstract: Systems repair jet pump elbow joining structures like RS1 and RS2 welds. Systems include a base having legs that secure to ends of the elbow in different directions, and a drive plate that joins to flow conduits where they meet the elbow. The drive plate and base may then be pushed together, resulting in compression or joining of the elbow and flow conduit. Multiple drive plates may be used with a single base to compress multiple flow conduits to the base. The base and the drive plates can be driven together with a driving bolt extending through the base and driving plate. To provide a better fit, grooves can be created in the flow conduits through machining from the installed base. The drive plate may be seated into the groove to achieve a desired orientation with less slippage. Example embodiments and methods do not require welding or a welding base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: GE-HITACHI NUCLEAR ENERGY AMERICAS LLC
    Inventors: Sean T. Mosier, Bret E. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20200135348
    Abstract: Clamps can be secured to a slip joint and limit flow through the same by seating on a diffuser axially regardless of wear and damage in the slip joint. An extension from the clamp seats to the inlet mixer. These extensions can be adjusted from outside the clamp to achieve an individual preload or flow limitation through the slip joint. The extension may be an O-ring or other shape. A biasing drive may connect to and move the extension from an outside surface of the clamp. The biasing drive may include a threaded cap in an outer groove that is linked to a plunger via a spring. Clamps are fabricated of materials that maintain their physical properties when exposed to an operating nuclear reactor environment and may be relatively rigid and resilient metals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Hampton W. Lane, Bret E. Nelson, Brandon J. Schoonmaker, Lee J. Andre, Hugo P. Rooney, David J. Bell
  • Publication number: 20180283593
    Abstract: Systems repair jet pump elbow joining structures like RS1 and RS2 welds. Systems include a base having legs that secure to ends of the elbow in different directions, and a drive plate that joins to flow conduits where they meet the elbow. The drive plate and may then be pushed together, resulting in compression or joining of the elbow and flow conduit. Multiple drive plates may be used with a single base to compress multiple flow conduits to the base. The base and the drive plates can be driven together with a driving bolt extending through the base and driving plate. To provide a better fit, grooves can be created in the flow conduits through machining from the installed base. The drive plate may then be seated into the groove to achieve a desired orientation with less slippage. Example embodiments and methods do not require welding or a welding base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Sean T. Mosier, Bret E. Nelson
  • Patent number: 10024338
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a boiling water reactor (BWR) jet pump inlet mixer compliant stop. The inlet mixer compliant stop may be installed in a pocket area between a riser pipe and an inlet mixer of a BWR jet pump assembly. The inlet mixer compliant stop includes a main body and a foot that are separated via the tightening of one or more jacking bolts used to connect the main body and the foot. A cold spring attached to the main body provides a lateral force that is imparted on the inlet mixer, to force the inlet mixer away from a centerline of the riser pipe. A precise lateral force may be imparted on the inlet mixer by gauging a width of a gap between opposing bosses on a front face of the main body and a distal end of the cold spring. The inlet mixer compliant stop imparts a greater lateral force on the inlet mixer as the jacking bolts are tightened, further separating the main body from the foot, as the gap between the opposing bosses is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: GE-HITACHI NUCLEAR ENERGY AMERICAS LLC
    Inventors: Robin D. Sprague, Bruce J. Lentner, Emanuel Klein, David B. Drendel, Bret E. Nelson
  • Patent number: 8964929
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) jet pump three point slip joint clamp to mitigate sleep joint leakage flow induced vibration of a BWR jet pump assembly. A collar, provided as one seamless component or in separate portions, is installed on the upper crown of a diffuser. The collar includes a lower set of fasteners and an upper set of fasteners that contact the inlet mixer and diffuser, respectively, to horizontally stabilize the inlet mixer in a fixed position inside of the diffuser. The upper fasteners may be anchored by bosses that ensure a light-weight design of the collar. An optional cantilevered seal (including a cantilevered overhang and a lip) may mitigate leakage from the slip joint interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC
    Inventors: Robin D. Sprague, Bret E. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20120288053
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a boiling water reactor (BWR) jet pump inlet mixer compliant stop. The inlet mixer compliant stop may be installed in a pocket area between a riser pipe and an inlet mixer of a BWR jet pump assembly. The inlet mixer compliant stop includes a main body and a foot that are separated via the tightening of one or more jacking bolts used to connect the main body and the foot. A cold spring attached to the main body provides a lateral force that is imparted on the inlet mixer, to force the inlet mixer away from a centerline of the riser pipe. A precise lateral force may be imparted on the inlet mixer by gauging a width of a gap between opposing bosses on a front face of the main body and a distal end of the cold spring. The inlet mixer compliant stop imparts a greater lateral force on the inlet mixer as the jacking bolts are tightened, further separating the main body from the foot, as the gap between the opposing bosses is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: GE-HITACHI NUCLEAR ENERGY AMERICAS LLC
    Inventors: Robin D. Sprague, Bruce J. Lentner, Emanuel Klein, David B. Drendel, Bret E. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20120170704
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) jet pump three point slip joint clamp to mitigate sleep joint leakage flow induced vibration of a BWR jet pump assembly. A collar, provided as one seamless component or in separate portions, is installed on the upper crown of a diffuser. The collar includes a lower set of fasteners and an upper set of fasteners that contact the inlet mixer and diffuser, respectively, to horizontally stabilize the inlet mixer in a fixed position inside of the diffuser. The upper fasteners may be anchored by bosses that ensure a light-weight design of the collar. An optional cantilevered seal (including a cantilevered overhang and a lip) may mitigate leakage from the slip joint interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC
    Inventors: Robin D. Sprague, Bret E. Nelson