Patents by Inventor ERIC M. BENACQUISTA

ERIC M. BENACQUISTA 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: 11721444
    Abstract: Arrangements and devices for reducing and/or preventing wear of a thermal sleeve in a nuclear reactor are disclosed. Arrangements include a first structure provided on or in one the thermal sleeve and a second structure provided on or in the head penetration adapter. At least a portion of the first structure and at least another portion of the second structure interact to resist, reduce, and/or prevent rotation of the thermal sleeve about its central axis relative to the head penetration adapter. Devices include a base for coupling to a guide tube of the reactor and a plurality of protruding members extending upward from the base. Each member having a portion for engaging a corresponding portion of a guide funnel of the thermal sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: Anthony J. Mastopietro, Eric M. Benacquista
  • Patent number: 11721445
    Abstract: A replacement thermal sleeve with a flange for a reactor vessel closure head penetration adapter housing. By altering a diameter of the flange, a replacement thermal sleeve can be installed through the narrow diameter of the penetration adapter housing opening from under the reactor vessel head. The flange can be compressible or expandable or the tubular wall of the thermal sleeve can be inserted in longitudinal sections, one at a time, into an opening in the underside of the penetration head adapter and reformed within the opening when fully inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: Eric M. Benacquista, Anthony J. Mastopietro, Bryan M. Wilson, Nicholas A. Szweda
  • Publication number: 20230074289
    Abstract: A replacement thermal sleeve with a flange for a reactor vessel closure head penetration adapter housing. By altering a diameter of the flange, a replacement thermal sleeve can be installed through the narrow diameter of the penetration adapter housing opening from under the reactor vessel head. The flange can be compressible or expandable or the tubular wall of the thermal sleeve can be inserted in longitudinal sections, one at a time, into an opening in the underside of the penetration head adapter and reformed within the opening when fully inserted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: Eric M. BENACQUISTA, Anthony J. MASTOPIETRO, Bryan M. WILSON, Nicholas A. SZWEDA
  • Patent number: 11501887
    Abstract: A replacement thermal sleeve with a flange for a reactor vessel closure head penetration adapter housing. By altering a diameter of the flange, a replacement thermal sleeve can be installed through the narrow diameter of the penetration adapter housing opening from under the reactor vessel head. The flange can be compressible or expandable or the tubular wall of the thermal sleeve can be inserted in longitudinal sections, one at a time, into an opening in the underside of the penetration head adapter and reformed within the opening when fully inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: Eric M. Benacquista, Anthony J. Mastopietro, Bryan M. Wilson, Nicholas A. Szweda
  • Patent number: 11380447
    Abstract: Arrangements and devices for reducing and/or preventing wear of a thermal sleeve in a nuclear reactor are disclosed. Arrangements include a first structure provided on or in one the thermal sleeve and a second structure provided on or in the head penetration adapter. At least a portion of the first structure and at least another portion of the second structure interact to resist, reduce, and/or prevent rotation of the thermal sleeve about its central axis relative to the head penetration adapter. Devices include a base for coupling to a guide tube of the reactor and a plurality of protruding members extending upward from the base. Each member having a portion for engaging a corresponding portion of a guide funnel of the thermal sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: Anthony J. Mastopietro, Eric M. Benacquista
  • Publication number: 20220139580
    Abstract: Arrangements and devices for reducing and/or preventing wear of a thermal sleeve in a nuclear reactor are disclosed. Arrangements include a first structure provided on or in one the thermal sleeve and a second structure provided on or in the head penetration adapter. At least a portion of the first structure and at least another portion of the second structure interact to resist, reduce, and/or prevent rotation of the thermal sleeve about its central axis relative to the head penetration adapter. Devices include a base for coupling to a guide tube of the reactor and a plurality of protruding members extending upward from the base. Each member having a portion for engaging a corresponding portion of a guide funnel of the thermal sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: Anthony J. MASTOPIETRO, Eric M. BENACQUISTA
  • Publication number: 20220005616
    Abstract: Arrangements and devices for reducing and/or preventing wear of a thermal sleeve in a nuclear reactor are disclosed. Arrangements include a first structure provided on or in one the thermal sleeve and a second structure provided on or in the head penetration adapter. At least a portion of the first structure and at least another portion of the second structure interact to resist, reduce, and/or prevent rotation of the thermal sleeve about its central axis relative to the head penetration adapter. Devices include a base for coupling to a guide tube of the reactor and a plurality of protruding members extending upward from the base. Each member having a portion for engaging a corresponding portion of a guide funnel of the thermal sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: Anthony J. MASTOPIETRO, Eric M. BENACQUISTA
  • Publication number: 20210375496
    Abstract: Arrangements and devices for reducing and/or preventing wear of a thermal sleeve in a nuclear reactor are disclosed. Arrangements include a first structure provided on or in one the thermal sleeve and a second structure provided on or in the head penetration adapter. At least a portion of the first structure and at least another portion of the second structure interact to resist, reduce, and/or prevent rotation of the thermal sleeve about its central axis relative to the head penetration adapter. Devices include a base for coupling to a guide tube of the reactor and a plurality of protruding members extending upward from the base. Each member having a portion for engaging a corresponding portion of a guide funnel of the thermal sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: Anthony J. MASTOPIETRO, Eric M. BENACQUISTA
  • Patent number: 11189386
    Abstract: A method of replacing a damaged thermal sleeve in a reactor vessel head adapter that connects a control rod drive mechanism to a reactor vessel head includes the steps of accessing the damaged thermal sleeve, removing the damaged thermal sleeve, and obtaining a replacement thermal sleeve having an elongated tubular body, a flanged region, and a plurality of slots defined in the elongated tubular body, each slot having a width which is sufficient to narrow a maximum outside diameter of the flanged region from a first diameter to a second diameter. The method further includes altering the maximum outside diameter of the flanged region on the replacement thermal sleeve, inserting the replacement thermal sleeve into an opening of a tubular member from an underside of the reactor vessel head, and expanding the maximum outside diameter of the flanged region into a recess of the reactor vessel head adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: Eric M. Benacquista, Anthony J. Mastopietro, Bryan M. Wilson, Nicholas A. Szweda
  • Publication number: 20210158980
    Abstract: A replacement thermal sleeve with a flange for a reactor vessel closure head penetration adapter housing. By altering a diameter of the flange, a replacement thermal sleeve can be installed through the narrow diameter of the penetration adapter housing opening from under the reactor vessel head. The flange can be compressible or expandable or the tubular wall of the thermal sleeve can be inserted in longitudinal sections, one at a time, into an opening in the underside of the penetration head adapter and reformed within the opening when fully inserted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: Eric M. BENACQUISTA, Anthony J. MASTOPIETRO, Bryan M. WILSON, Nicholas A. SZWEDA
  • Publication number: 20190252082
    Abstract: A replacement thermal sleeve with a flange for a reactor vessel closure head penetration adapter housing. By altering a diameter of the flange, a replacement thermal sleeve can be installed through the narrow diameter of the penetration adapter housing opening from under the reactor vessel head. The flange can be compressible or expandable or the tubular wall of the thermal sleeve can be inserted in longitudinal sections, one at a time, into an opening in the underside of the penetration head adapter and reformed within the opening when fully inserted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: ERIC M. BENACQUISTA, ANTHONY J. MASTOPIETRO, BRYAN M. WILSON, NICHOLAS A. SZWEDA