Patents by Inventor Jean-Claude Ferlay

Jean-Claude Ferlay 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: 8426769
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of displaying and monitoring the profile of a weld bead (4), in which, placed inside the groove, there is an assembly (10) comprising, facing one another, an image acquisition means (11), a light source (12), the beam of which is directed towards said image acquisition means, and, between the image acquisition means and the light source, a mask (13); the optical axis of the image acquisition means (11) is oriented so as to be approximately parallel to the sidewalls (5, 6) of the groove (3); a light beam produced by the light source (12) is directed towards the mask (13) and the image acquisition means (11); a central shadow zone and a peripheral halo are formed by means of the light beam and the mask (13), said halo illuminating, approximately perpendicularly, the weld bead (4) and the sidewalls (5, 6); the profile of the weld bead (4) and the sidewalls (5, 6) are displayed on a display/monitoring means; and said assembly (10) is moved inside the groove (3) longitudinally and
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Areva NP
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Ferlay, Jean-Mathieu Mestre-Bresson
  • Patent number: 7896220
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for repairing at least one connecting area between a partition plate (8) and a tube plate (5) of a water chamber (7) of a heat exchanger (1), in which process the area of weld requiring repair is identified, at least one rail (11) is inserted into the water chamber, the said rail (11) is attached below the tube plate (5), a robot arm (20) is inserted, the robot arm is hoisted within the water chamber, the robot arm is remotely controlled, the connecting area requiring repair is machined and a check is made to ensure that cracks have been eliminated from the repaired area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignees: Areva NP, Electricite de France-French Corporation
    Inventors: Alain Blocquel, Jean-Claude Ferlay, Olivier Theallier
  • Publication number: 20090141965
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of displaying and monitoring the profile of a weld bead (4), in which, placed inside the groove, there is an assembly (10) comprising, facing one another, an image acquisition means (11), a light source (12), the beam of which is directed towards said image acquisition means, and, between the image acquisition means and the light source, a mask (13); the optical axis of the image acquisition means (11) is oriented so as to be approximately parallel to the sidewalls (5, 6) of the groove (3); a light beam produced by the light source (12) is directed towards the mask (13) and the image acquisition means (11); a central shadow zone and a peripheral halo are formed by means of the light beam and the mask (13), said halo illuminating, approximately perpendicularly, the weld bead (4) and the sidewalls (5, 6); the profile of the weld bead (4) and the sidewalls (5, 6) are displayed on a display/monitoring means; and said assembly (10) is moved inside the groove (3) longitudinally and
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: AREVA NP
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Ferlay, Jean-Mathieu Mestre-Bresson
  • Publication number: 20090119921
    Abstract: The method consists in making sure that the steam generator (1) is full of water and topping it up if necessary, using mechanical tooling (15) to pierce a blind pre-orifice (22) into part of the thickness of the pressure boundary (2), lowering the water level in the steam generator (1) to just above the pre-orifice (22), using electrical discharge machining to finish piercing the orifice (9) in the pressure boundary (2), and using electrical discharge machining also to make an orifice (10) in the bundle wrapper (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicants: AREVA NP, ELECTRICITE DE FRANCE
    Inventors: Olivier Theallier, Jean-Claude Ferlay
  • Publication number: 20070209195
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for repairing at least one connecting area between a partition plate (8) and a tube plate (5) of a water chamber (7) of a heat exchanger (1), in which process the area of weld requiring repair is identified, at least one rail (11) is inserted into the water chamber, the said rail (11) is attached below the tube plate (5), a robot arm (20) is inserted, the robot arm is hoisted within the water chamber, the robot arm is remotely controlled, the connecting area requiring repair is machined and a check is made to ensure that cracks have been eliminated from the repaired area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Applicants: AREVA NP, Electricite De France-French Corporation
    Inventors: Alain Blocquel, Jean-Claude Ferlay, Olivier Theallier