Patents by Inventor Gregg D. Auld

Gregg D. Auld 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: 5154197
    Abstract: An improved method for removing sludge and corrosion products from the interior of a heat exchanger vessel, such as a nuclear steam generator, which comprises the steps of generating a series of pressure pulses within a liquid chelate-containing chemical cleaning agent after the agent has been introduced into the interior of the vessel to create shock waves in the liquid for dislodging, dissolving and fluidizing sludge and corrosion products. The liquid chemical cleaning agent is removed from the vessel after only about 10 to 70 percent of what would have been its normal residence time without the pressure pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Gregg D. Auld, Allen J. Baum, Judith B. Esposito, William J. Stenger
  • Patent number: 5092280
    Abstract: An apparatus for loosening and removing sludge and other impurities from the interior of a heat exchanger vessel which may be the secondary side of a nuclear steam generator is disclosed herein. The apparatus generally comprises a nozzle having a first end that is detachably mountable into an access opening such as a sludge lance port in the secondary side of the generator, and a second end that extends into the interior of the secondary side at a 30 degree downward angle relative to the tubesheet in the vessel for minimizing the stresses applied to the heat exchanger tubes, and for uniformly reflecting the pulse back up toward the upper portions of the secondary side. A pulse generator is operably connected to the nozzle which has a controller for controlling the power level of the pulses generated. To further minimize such peak tube stresses, the pulse generator includes a pulse flattener, and the second end of the nozzle is aligned down the main tube lane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Richard D. Franklin, Gregg D. Auld, David E. Murray
  • Patent number: 5019329
    Abstract: Both a system and a method for removing sludge and debris from the interior of the secondary side of a nuclear steam generator is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of introducing a sufficient amount of water in the secondary side to submerge at least the tubesheet, generating a succession of shock waves in the water by means of pulses of pressurized gas to create shock waves that loosen the sludge and debris, and vertically flushing the interior of the secondary side by suctioning water off from the bottom portion of the steam generator while simultaneously forcefully spraying water from the top portion of the generator over the bundle of heat exchanger tubes in order to remove the sludge and debris loosened by the shock waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1991
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Richard D. Franklin, Gregg D. Auld, David E. Murray
  • Patent number: 5006304
    Abstract: A method for loosening and removing sludge and debris from the vessel of a heat exchanger, such as the secondary side of a nuclear steam generator, is disclosed herein. The method generally comprises the steps of providing a sufficient volume of a liquid, such as water, into the steam generator so that the lower portion which includes the tubesheet is submerged, and then generating a succession of pressure pulses within the water from one or more pressure pulse generators wherein each pressure pulse creates shock waves that exert momentary forces throughout the submerged portion of the generator of a magnitude sufficient to loosen the sludge and debris, but safely below the yield and fatigue limits of the heat exchanger tubes and other components within the generator. The pressure pulses commence as soon as a sufficient amount of water is introduced into the steam generator to submerge the tubesheet, and continue all the way through the draining of the steam generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1991
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Richard D. Franklin, Gregg D. Auld, David E. Murray, John J. Lescisin, Albert R. Vaia, Thomas E. Dunn
  • Patent number: 4921662
    Abstract: A method for loosening and removing sludge and debris from the vessel of a heat exchanger, such as the secondary side of a nuclear steam generator, is disclosed herein. The method generally comprises the steps of providing a sufficient volume of a liquid, such as water, into the steam generator so that the lower portion which includes the tubesheet is submerged, and then generating a succession of pressure pulses within the water from one or more pressure pulse generators wherein each pressure pulse creates shock waves that exert momentary forces throughout the submerged portion of the generator of a magnitude sufficient to loosen the sludge and debris, but safely below the yield and fatigue limits of the heat exchanger tubes and other components within the generator. The pressure pulses commence as soon as a sufficient amount of water is introduced into the steam generator to submerge the tubesheet, and continue all the way through the draining of the steam generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Richard D. Franklin, Gregg D. Auld, David E. Murray, John J. Lescisin, Albert R. Vaia, Thomas E. Dunn
  • Patent number: 4899697
    Abstract: An apparatus for loosening and removing sludge and other impurities from the interior of a heat exchanger vessel which may be the secondary side of a nuclear steam generator is disclosed herein. The apparatus generally comprises a nozzle having a first end that is detachably mountable into an access opening such as a sludge lance port in the secondary side of the generator, and a second end that extends into the interior of the secondary side at a 30 degree downward angle relative to the tubesheet in the vessel for minimizing the stresses applied to the heat exchanger tubes, and for uniformly reflecting the pulse back up toward the upper portions of the secondary side. A pulse generator is operably connected to the nozzle which has a controller for controlling the power level of the pulses generated. To further minimize such peak tube stresses, the pulse generator includes a pulse flattener, and the second end of the nozzle is aligned down the main tube lane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Richard D. Franklin, Gregg D. Auld, David E. Murray