Patents by Inventor John Erbes

John Erbes 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: 7627074
    Abstract: A vertical spring wedge restores a tight fitup against an adjacent structure, such as between an inlet mixer and an adjacent restrainer bracket in a boiling water nuclear reactor jet pump. The vertical spring wedge includes a U-shaped bracket including a pair of guiding portions and a pair of bracket holes. A pair of wedge assemblies are coupled with the bracket, each of the wedge assemblies including a wedge segment attached to a spring-loaded guide rod. The guide rods are displaceable in the bracket holes between a retracted position and an extended position. The wedge segments engage the guiding portions, and a combination of the bracket and wedge assemblies have a first width when the guide rods are in the retracted position and have a second width wider than the first width when the guide rods are in the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Erbes, Thanh C. Tu, Mark William Broaddus
  • Publication number: 20080137793
    Abstract: A vertical spring wedge restores a tight fitup against an adjacent structure, such as between an inlet mixer and an adjacent restrainer bracket in a boiling water nuclear reactor jet pump. The vertical spring wedge includes a U-shaped bracket including a pair of guiding portions and a pair of bracket holes. A pair of wedge assemblies are coupled with the bracket, each of the wedge assemblies including a wedge segment attached to a spring-loaded guide rod. The guide rods are displaceable in the bracket holes between a retracted position and an extended position. The wedge segments engage the guiding portions, and a combination of the bracket and wedge assemblies have a first width when the guide rods are in the retracted position and have a second width wider than the first width when the guide rods are in the extended position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Erbes, Thanh C. Tu, Mark William Broaddus
  • Publication number: 20070153964
    Abstract: A device and method for stabilizing a dryer assembly in a reactor pressure vessel of a nuclear reactor including a spring assembly dimensioned and positioned within the reactor pressure vessel for applying a stabilizing force to the dryer assembly relative to the reactor pressure vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2006
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Inventors: John Erbes, David Drendel
  • Publication number: 20070030942
    Abstract: The tie rod repair apparatus includes a tie rod secured at its upper end to the shroud flange at the top of the shroud. The lower end of the tie rod passes through an opening in the shroud support plate without imposing a load on the plate. The lower end of the tie rod is anchored to the lower end of the core shroud support cylinder such that the compressive load path exerted by the tie rod to restrain the cracked shroud passes directly through the shroud support cylinder and the assembly of shroud cylinders bypassing the shroud support plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2005
    Publication date: February 8, 2007
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventor: John Erbes
  • Publication number: 20060285625
    Abstract: In a method and device for facilitating a uniform loading condition for a plurality of support members supporting a steam dryer in a nuclear reactor, the device may include at least one or more actuators. Each actuator may be provided between a corresponding support member and a lower bearing surface of a portion of the dryer for lifting its corresponding dryer portion lower bearing surface relative to the support member. The device may include at least one or more measurement units. Each measurement unit may correspond to a given support member for measuring a displacement value between the corresponding support member and the lower bearing surface of its corresponding dryer portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Publication date: December 21, 2006
    Inventors: John Erbes, Christopher Welsh