Patents by Inventor David B. Drendel

David B. Drendel 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: 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
  • 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
  • Patent number: 6345927
    Abstract: The weld reinforcement includes a generally dogbone-shaped pocket having laterally enlarged end portions and a reduced intermediate portion spanning a weld seam. A complementary-shaped reinforcing element is received in the pocket. The pocket includes a projection which is received in an opening in the overlying reinforcing element. A wedge-type clamp retainer is received about the projection within the opening to secure the element within the pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hsueh-Wen Pao, Jack T. Matsumoto, David B. Drendel, David W. Sandusky
  • Patent number: 6201847
    Abstract: 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 configured to be positioned so that a first end is located inside a core spray nozzle and engages the core spray nozzle safe end. Two other ends are configured to be in substantial alignment and configured to couple to core spray line header pipes. The T-box housing also includes a cover opening configured to receive a T-box cover plate. The T-box cover plate includes a draw bolt opening configured to receive the draw bolt. The first end of the T-box also includes a plurality of positioning lugs configured to engage the core spray nozzle to center the T-box housing in the nozzle bore. The cruciform wedge includes four web members extending from a central member and configured so as to form an X shaped configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Grant Clark Jensen, David B. Drendel
  • Patent number: 6108391
    Abstract: Apparatus for supporting the lower elbow assembly of a jet pump in a reactor pressure vessel (RPV) of a nuclear reactor are described. The clamp apparatus includes a lower clamp element and an upper clamp element. The upper and lower elements are configured to be positioned at the interface between the thermal sleeve and the jet pump riser elbow. The upper and lower elements include extended ridges that are configured to fit in circumferential grooves precisely machined into the sleeve-elbow assembly on opposing sides of the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gerald A. Deaver, David B. Drendel, Siamak Bourbour, Leonard John Sharpless, Arunachalam Mahadevan