Patents by Inventor Kevin J. Foley
Kevin J. Foley 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).
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Publication number: 20240130795Abstract: A surgical navigation method utilizing a computer system. The method includes the steps of: (a) fixing a camera relative to a surgical site on a patient such that the camera does not move relative to the surgical site; (b) restraining the body portion of the patient which includes the surgical site relative to an operating table supporting the patient, such that the body portion does not move relative to the operating table; and (c) detecting with the camera the position of a medical instrument having a tracker array.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2020Publication date: April 25, 2024Applicant: INTEGRITY IMPLANTS INC. d/b/a ACCELUSInventors: John B. CLAYTON, Kevin J. FRANK, Kevin T. FOLEY, David A. VAUGHAN, Jeff JUSTIS
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Patent number: 11808735Abstract: An ultrasonic phased array transducer assembly having a single housing in which a plurality of phased array transducer subassemblies are mounted at a skewed angle relative to a leading face of the housing and to each other, with each transducer mounted on composite wedge(s) at different orientations within the housing.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2022Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Charles R. Barrett, Kevin J. Foley
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Publication number: 20230143492Abstract: An ultrasonic phased array transducer assembly having a single housing in which a plurality of phased array transducer subassemblies are mounted at a skewed angle relative to a leading face of the housing and to each other, with each transducer mounted on composite wedge(s) at different orientations within the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2022Publication date: May 11, 2023Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Charles R. BARRETT, Kevin J. FOLEY
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Patent number: 11506634Abstract: An ultrasonic phased array transducer assembly having a single housing in which a plurality of phased array transducer subassemblies are mounted at a skewed angle relative to a leading face of the housing and to each other, with each transducer mounted on composite wedge(s) at different orientations within the housing.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2020Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Charles R. Barrett, Kevin J. Foley
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Patent number: 11443860Abstract: An apparatus for performing an inspection on the beams of the top guide of a BWR includes a housing, an alignment assembly, and an inspection system. The housing is receivable atop the upper edges of a first pair of beams adjacent a receptacle of the top guide. The reception of the housing atop the upper edges of the first pair of beams is facilitated by the alignment assembly which includes a plurality of legs that are simultaneously moved between a retracted position wherein one or more of the legs is disengaged from the beams within the receptacle and an extended position wherein all of the legs are engaged with the beams of the top guide within the receptacle. The inspection system includes a pair of inspection elements that are translated above a second pair of beams that are adjacent the receptacle and that do not have the housing received thereon.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2020Date of Patent: September 13, 2022Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Kevin J. Foley, Charles R. Barrett
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Patent number: 11205522Abstract: An apparatus and method to remotely perform automated piping and piping attachment weld inspections. The apparatus has two spaced positioning arms that rotate out from one side of a frame structure and a kicker arm that rotates out from an opposite side of the frame structure at a location between the two positioning arms. The positioning arms and the kicker arm wedge the frame structure between an object to be scanned and an opposing structure. A scanning subassembly supported on the frame structure is configured to pivot and move in an appropriate direction and to pilot a transducer around the surface of the object to be scanned.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2020Date of Patent: December 21, 2021Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Kevin J. Foley, Nathan A. Brown, Charles R. Barrett
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Patent number: 11014114Abstract: Described herein is a clamp for repairing a site of at least one damaged nozzle on a pipe for carrying liquid, such as a sparger nozzle in a header pipe in a boiling water reactor of a nuclear power plant. The clamp in general includes a housing configured for mounting over the site on a surface the pipe, wherein the housing has a front, sides, top, and back. The housing may include an opening, or the clamp may include an orifice plate having an opening and being positioned on the front side of the housing such that liquid exiting the pipe flows through one or both the opening in the housing and opening in the orifice plate. The clamp also includes a bottom surface which, together with the housing and orifice plate, when included, defines an interior chamber. The bottom plate has an opening for alignment, upon installation, with the site, and at least one member, for example, wedges for securing one of the damaged nozzle or support rings for stabilizing a replacement nozzle in position within the housing.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2019Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Kevin J. Foley, Joshua C. Landers
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Patent number: 10902961Abstract: A tool is receivable into an interior region of a core shroud of a Boiling Water Reactor. The tool includes an elongated frame, an elevator apparatus situated on the frame, and a manipulator apparatus situated on the elevator apparatus. The tool further includes a reciprocation apparatus that is situated on the manipulator apparatus and that has a mount that is structured to carry a device thereon. The reciprocation apparatus includes an elongated rack of an arcuate profile. The elevator apparatus is operable to move the reciprocation apparatus along the longitudinal extent of the frame. The tool further includes a foot apparatus that is situated at an end of the frame and that is receivable on a core plate to enable the frame to be pivoted about an axis of elongation of the frame with respect to the core plate.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2020Date of Patent: January 26, 2021Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Kevin J. Foley, Andrew J. Gotliffe
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Publication number: 20210012914Abstract: An apparatus for performing an inspection on the beams of the top guide of a BWR includes a housing, an alignment assembly, and an inspection system. The housing is receivable atop the upper edges of a first pair of beams adjacent a receptacle of the top guide. The reception of the housing atop the upper edges of the first pair of beams is facilitated by the alignment assembly which includes a plurality of legs that are simultaneously moved between a retracted position wherein one or more of the legs is disengaged from the beams within the receptacle and an extended position wherein all of the legs are engaged with the beams of the top guide within the receptacle. The inspection system includes a pair of inspection elements that are translated above a second pair of beams that are adjacent the receptacle and that do not have the housing received thereon.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2020Publication date: January 14, 2021Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Kevin J. FOLEY, Charles R. Barrett
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Publication number: 20200350086Abstract: A tool is receivable into an interior region of a core shroud of a Boiling Water Reactor. The tool includes an elongated frame, an elevator apparatus situated on the frame, and a manipulator apparatus situated on the elevator apparatus. The tool further includes a reciprocation apparatus that is situated on the manipulator apparatus and that has a mount that is structured to carry a device thereon. The reciprocation apparatus includes an elongated rack of an arcuate profile. The elevator apparatus is operable to move the reciprocation apparatus along the longitudinal extent of the frame. The tool further includes a foot apparatus that is situated at an end of the frame and that is receivable on a core plate to enable the frame to be pivoted about an axis of elongation of the frame with respect to the core plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2020Publication date: November 5, 2020Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Kevin J. Foley, Andrew J. Gotliffe
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Publication number: 20200348265Abstract: An ultrasonic phased array transducer assembly having a single housing in which a plurality of phased array transducer subassemblies are mounted at a skewed angle relative to a leading face of the housing and to each other, with each transducer mounted on composite wedge(s) at different orientations within the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2020Publication date: November 5, 2020Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Charles R. BARRETT, Kevin J. FOLEY
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Publication number: 20200350087Abstract: An apparatus and method to remotely perform automated piping and piping attachment weld inspections. The apparatus has two spaced positioning arms that rotate out from one side of a frame structure and a kicker arm that rotates out from an opposite side of the frame structure at a location between the two positioning arms. The positioning arms and the kicker arm wedge the frame structure between an object to be scanned and an opposing structure. A scanning subassembly supported on the frame structure is configured to pivot and move in an appropriate direction and to pilot a transducer around the surface of the object to be scanned.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2020Publication date: November 5, 2020Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Kevin J. FOLEY, Nathan A. BROWN, Charles R. BARRETT
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Patent number: 10762996Abstract: An apparatus for performing an inspection on the beams of the top guide of a BWR includes a housing, an alignment assembly, and an inspection system. The housing is receivable atop the upper edges of a first pair of beams adjacent a receptacle of the top guide. The reception of the housing atop the upper edges of the first pair of beams is facilitated by the alignment assembly which includes a plurality of legs that are simultaneously moved between a retracted position wherein one or more of the legs is disengaged from the beams within the receptacle and an extended position wherein all of the legs are engaged with the beams of the top guide within the receptacle. The inspection system includes a pair of inspection elements that are translated above a second pair of beams that are adjacent the receptacle and that do not have the housing received thereon.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2017Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Kevin J. Foley, Charles R. Barrett
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Patent number: 10672526Abstract: A tool is receivable into an interior region of a core shroud of a Boiling Water Reactor. The tool includes an elongated frame, an elevator apparatus situated on the frame, and a manipulator apparatus situated on the elevator apparatus. The tool further includes a reciprocation apparatus that is situated on the manipulator apparatus and that has a mount that is structured to carry a device thereon. The reciprocation apparatus includes an elongated rack of an arcuate profile. The elevator apparatus is operable to move the reciprocation apparatus along the longitudinal extent of the frame. The tool further includes a foot apparatus that is situated at an end of the frame and that is receivable on a core plate to enable the frame to be pivoted about an axis of elongation of the frame with respect to the core plate.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2017Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Kevin J. Foley, Andrew J. Gotliffe
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Patent number: 10593435Abstract: An apparatus and method to remotely perform automated piping and piping attachment weld inspections. The apparatus has two spaced positioning arms that rotate out from one side of a frame structure and a kicker arm that rotates out from an opposite side of the frame structure at a location between the two positioning arms. The positioning arms and the kicker arm wedge the frame structure between an object to be scanned and an opposing structure. A scanning subassembly supported on the frame structure is configured to pivot and move in an appropriate direction and to pilot a transducer around the surface of the object to be scanned.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2014Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Kevin J. Foley, Nathan A. Brown, Charles R. Barrett
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Patent number: 10557828Abstract: An ultrasonic phased array transducer assembly having a single housing in which a plurality of phased array transducer subassemblies are mounted at a skewed angle relative to a leading face of the housing and to each other, with each transducer mounted on composite wedge(s) at different orientations within the housing.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2015Date of Patent: February 11, 2020Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Charles R. Barrett, Kevin J. Foley
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Publication number: 20200030836Abstract: Described herein is a clamp for repairing a site of at least one damaged nozzle on a pipe for carrying liquid, such as a sparger nozzle in a header pipe in a boiling water reactor of a nuclear power plant. The clamp in general includes a housing configured for mounting over the site on a surface the pipe, wherein the housing has a front, sides, top, and back. The housing may include an opening, or the clamp may include an orifice plate having an opening and being positioned on the front side of the housing such that liquid exiting the pipe flows through one or both the opening in the housing and opening in the orifice plate. The clamp also includes a bottom surface which, together with the housing and orifice plate, when included, defines an interior chamber. The bottom plate has an opening for alignment, upon installation, with the site, and at least one member, for example, wedges for securing one of the damaged nozzle or support rings for stabilizing a replacement nozzle in position within the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2019Publication date: January 30, 2020Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: KEVIN J. FOLEY, JOSHUA C. LANDERS
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Patent number: 10416122Abstract: A phased array transducer apparatus includes a plurality of Phases Array Subassemblies (PASAs) that are arranged in three pairs in a single housing. The PASAs are each oriented at a compound angle with respect to a component under test in an environment such as a nuclear environment. The phased array transducer apparatus is carried into the environment by a tool, and the positioning of the PASAs on the phased array transducer apparatus results in the outputting of ultrasonic beams in various directions that avoids the need for the housing to be reoriented on the tool in order to complete an inspection of the object under test.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2017Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Charles R. Barrett, Kevin J. Foley
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Publication number: 20190128855Abstract: A phased array transducer apparatus includes a plurality of Phases Array Subassemblies (PASAs) that are arranged in three pairs in a single housing. The PASAs are each oriented at a compound angle with respect to a component under test in an environment such as a nuclear environment. The phased array transducer apparatus is carried into the environment by a tool, and the positioning of the PASAs on the phased array transducer apparatus results in the outputting of ultrasonic beams in various directions that avoids the need for the housing to be reoriented on the tool in order to complete an inspection of the object under test.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2017Publication date: May 2, 2019Applicant: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY LLCInventors: CHARLES R. BARRETT, KEVIN J. FOLEY
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Publication number: 20190131022Abstract: An apparatus for performing an inspection on the beams of the top guide of a BWR includes a housing, an alignment assembly, and an inspection system. The housing is receivable atop the upper edges of a first pair of beams adjacent a receptacle of the top guide. The reception of the housing atop the upper edges of the first pair of beams is facilitated by the alignment assembly which includes a plurality of legs that are simultaneously moved between a retracted position wherein one or more of the legs is disengaged from the beams within the receptacle and an extended position wherein all of the legs are engaged with the beams of the top guide within the receptacle. The inspection system includes a pair of inspection elements that are translated above a second pair of beams that are adjacent the receptacle and that do not have the housing received thereon.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2017Publication date: May 2, 2019Applicant: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY LLCInventors: KEVIN J. FOLEY, CHARLES R. BARRETT