Patents by Inventor Kerwin C. Playfoot

Kerwin C. Playfoot 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: 5660475
    Abstract: An improved heater facsimile temperature detector (47) has an increased dynamic responsiveness in measuring temperature changes. The improved HFTD (47) reduces the amount of mass surrounding the thermocouple tip, thus, reducing the time lag caused by the intervening heating or cooling of this material before the temperature change can affect the thermocouple. The thermocouple (69) is welded to a body (59) extending beyond a machined flat (54) on the outer surface of an intermediate portion (49) of the HFTD. The body does not extend beyond the outer surface (51) of the intermediate portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: Imaging & Sensing Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Todd M. Wetherill, Kerwin C. Playfoot
  • Patent number: 4780267
    Abstract: A detector assembly for in-core nuclear reactor monitoring in which the wall thickness of the outer housing tube 26a and the wall thickness of the inner calibration tube 28a, taken together with the diameters of operating and non-operating elements 34a, 36a, 38 filling the annular space between the tubes and each having interior highly compacted mineral insulation, provide a total thickness dimension adequate to meet code primary pressure requirements for normal nuclear reactor in-core conditions, with the OD of the outer housing tube permitting passage of the assembly through most existing assembly guide tubes 18, and the ID of the calibration tube being adequate to receive movable detectors 48 of a larger, standard size, thus permitting use of in-place standard drive systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1988
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: William H. Todt, Sr., Kerwin C. Playfoot
  • Patent number: 4396839
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a self-powered nuclear radiation detector assembly comprising a detector portion of accurately predetermined dimensions and a cable portion connected to the detector portion to carry the signal current which is generated in a radiation flux field to remote monitoring means. The detector portion consists of a radiation responsive elongated central emitter electrode which is insulated from a generally tubular sheath collector electrode. The emitter electrode and the signal cable center wire are electrically connected at one end and disposed within the collector electrode tubular sheath with compressible insulating means disposed between the wires and the tubular sheath. The above assembly is reduced in diameter while elongating the tubular sheath and the emitter wire and signal cable wire. The emitter wire is reduced to a predetermined desired diameter, and is trimmed to a predetermined length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1983
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Kerwin C. Playfoot, Youston M. Sekella, Richard F. Bauer
  • Patent number: 4267454
    Abstract: A more reliable self-powered radiation detector structure and method of manufacture is provided by a detector structure in which a relatively ductile centrally disposed conductive emitter wire supports and is in electrical contact with a generally tubular emitter electrode. The detector is fabricated by swaging and the ductile center wire insures that electrical discontinuities of the emitter are minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1981
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Kerwin C. Playfoot, Richard F. Bauer, Norman P. Goldstein
  • Patent number: 4237380
    Abstract: A self-powered radiation detector of improved sensitivity is provided by having a tubular emitter electrode, with an inner collector electrode coaxial within the tubular emitter and insulated therefrom, and an outer tubular collector electrode coaxial about and insulated from the tubular emitter. The inner and outer collector electrodes are electrically connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1980
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Kerwin C. Playfoot, Norman P. Goldstein
  • Patent number: 4182176
    Abstract: A liquid level sensor of the bifilar wound inductive coil type is provided with improved end linearity characteristic. The coil ends are wound substantially to the end of a tubular support member, and a modified end support is provided at the support tube ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1980
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kerwin C. Playfoot, William H. Todt
  • Patent number: 4152937
    Abstract: The signal non-linearity which is characteristic of the end portions of an elongated liquid metal level mutual inductance type prove is substantially eliminated by increasing the coil turns per unit length of the probe in the end portions thereby increasing the mutual inductance characteristics of the probe in the end portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1979
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: William H. Todt, Kerwin C. Playfoot
  • Patent number: 4140911
    Abstract: A self-powered in-core neutron detector assembly in which a plurality of longitudinally extending self-powered detectors have neutron responsive active portions spaced along a longitudinal path. A low neutron absorptive extension extends from the active portions of the spaced active portions of the detectors in symmetrical longitudinal relationship with the spaced active detector portions of each succeeding detector. The detector extension terminates with the detector assembly to provide a uniform perturbation characteristic over the entire assembly length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1977
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1979
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: William H. Todt, Kerwin C. Playfoot
  • Patent number: 3996801
    Abstract: A liquid metal level sensor of the bifilar wound coil sensor type in which the secondary windings are of a lesser diameter than the primary windings for unbalanced operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1975
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1976
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kerwin C. Playfoot, William H. Todt
  • Patent number: 3962919
    Abstract: A temperature compensated inductive liquid metal level detection system and a preferred probe structure is detailed. The temperature compensation is provided by provision of a separate temperature compensation coil as part of the inductive probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1975
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1976
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kerwin C. Playfoot, William H. Todt