Patents by Inventor Bruce William Schafer

Bruce William Schafer 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).

  • Publication number: 20140130566
    Abstract: A hydraulic expander for use in a tube containing a U-bend region is disclosed and claimed. The tool includes a sheath for transmitting hydraulic fluid therethrough to an inflatable bladder. The sheath is flexible, allowing it to be inserted through the U-bend region of the tube. The bladder is fluidly connected to the sheath and is thereby in fluid communication with a supply of hydraulic fluid. The length of the bladder and the metal end caps, along with the centering spacers on the expansion sheath, allows it to pass through the U-bend region of the tube such that it can be positioned inside the tube adjacent to a support outside the tube, such as an AVB. Hydraulic expansion of the bladder causes it to exert an outward force on the tube inner surface, causing it to plastically deform such that its outer surface comes into contact with the tube support, such as an AVB. This expansion will increase the friction between the tube and the AVB to minimize the risk of tube vibration damage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Inventors: Bruce William Schafer, Jeffrey Lee Snow, Benjamin Joseph Hefner, Brian Cole Claiborne
  • Publication number: 20140059787
    Abstract: A resin removal tooling system for electric generator parallel rings including: a non-rotating sheath; a shaft mounted in the non-rotating sheath; a cleaning ball attached to the shaft, the non-rotating sheath positioning the cleaning ball; a high speed motor coupled to the shaft for rotating the shaft; a variable power supply connected to the high speed motor; and a tachometer for measuring a rotational speed of the high speed motor and the cleaning ball. A process of cleaning resin out of an electrical generator parallel ring including the following steps: inserting a cleaning ball mounted on a shaft into the parallel ring; verifying a location of the cleaning ball; rotating the shaft; measuring a rotational speed of the cleaning ball with a tachometer; and removing resin with the cleaning ball.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: AREVA NP Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce William Schafer, Joseph Anthony Crockett
  • Patent number: 8580041
    Abstract: A process of cleaning resin out of an electrical generator parallel ring is provided. The process includes inserting a cleaning ball mounted on a shaft into the parallel ring; verifying a location of the cleaning ball; rotating the shaft; measuring a rotational speed of the cleaning ball with a tachometer; and removing resin with the cleaning ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Areva NP Inc
    Inventors: Bruce William Schafer, Joseph Anthony Crockett
  • Publication number: 20100326474
    Abstract: A resin removal tooling system for electric generator parallel rings including: a non-rotating sheath; a shaft mounted in the non-rotating sheath; a cleaning ball attached to the shaft, the non-rotating sheath positioning the cleaning ball; a high speed motor coupled to the shaft for rotating the shaft; a variable power supply connected to the high speed motor; and a tachometer for measuring a rotational speed of the high speed motor and the cleaning ball. A process of cleaning resin out of an electrical generator parallel ring including the following steps: inserting a cleaning ball mounted on a shaft into the parallel ring; verifying a location of the cleaning ball; rotating the shaft; measuring a rotational speed of the cleaning ball with a tachometer; and removing resin with the cleaning ball.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: AREVA NP INC
    Inventors: Bruce William Schafer, Joseph Anthony Crockett
  • Patent number: 6102105
    Abstract: A system for repairing leaks, cracks and crevices in a stator assembly of the type having a fluid cooling system. The system includes an anaerobically activated, liquid polymer curable sealant supply which is circulated through the fluid cooling system of the stator assembly. Sealant connectors place the sealant supply in fluid communication with the cooling system and a pump circulates the curable sealant supply through the cooling system to repair the leaks, cracks and crevices in the stator assembly. In the preferred embodiment, a secondary curing system provides an initial curing of the curable sealant to form a protective "skin" after the removal of the excess curable sealant from the fluid cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Framatome Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Moran, Bruce William Schafer, Richard J. Fiola, Stanley Mark Gryder
  • Patent number: 5667252
    Abstract: A repair sleeve for installation in a parent tube by a sleeve expander of the type operable between an expanded state and an unexpanded state. The sleeve includes an elongated sleeve member having an outer wall and a bore sized and configured to receive the sleeve expander when the sleeve expander is in the unexpanded state. An engagement structure extends radially outward from the outer wall of the sleeve member for engagement with the interior surface of the parent tube. The engagement structure includes a plurality of circumferential teeth located along the outer wall of the sleeve member and at both ends of the sleeve member which are inclined to each other with respect to each of the ends. A plurality of peripheral lands are formed on the outer wall of the sleeve member, wherein the plurality of teeth are disposed between at least two of the peripheral lands located at each end of the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Framatome Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce William Schafer, Mark Aaron Sloman, Stanley Mark Gryder, Randal Ray Schaefer