Patents by Inventor Lee J. Andre

Lee J. Andre 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: 11538598
    Abstract: Clamps can be secured to a slip joint and limit flow through the same by seating on a diffuser axially regardless of wear and damage in the slip joint. An extension from the clamp seats to the inlet mixer. These extensions can be adjusted from outside the clamp to achieve an individual preload or flow limitation through the slip joint. The extension may be an O-ring or other shape. A biasing drive may connect to and move the extension from an outside surface of the clamp. The biasing drive may include a threaded cap in an outer groove that is linked to a plunger via a spring. Clamps are fabricated of materials that maintain their physical properties when exposed to an operating nuclear reactor environment and may be relatively rigid and resilient metals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC
    Inventors: Hampton W. Lane, Bret E. Nelson, Brandon J. Schoonmaker, Lee J. Andre, Hugo P. Rooney, David J. Bell
  • Publication number: 20200135348
    Abstract: Clamps can be secured to a slip joint and limit flow through the same by seating on a diffuser axially regardless of wear and damage in the slip joint. An extension from the clamp seats to the inlet mixer. These extensions can be adjusted from outside the clamp to achieve an individual preload or flow limitation through the slip joint. The extension may be an O-ring or other shape. A biasing drive may connect to and move the extension from an outside surface of the clamp. The biasing drive may include a threaded cap in an outer groove that is linked to a plunger via a spring. Clamps are fabricated of materials that maintain their physical properties when exposed to an operating nuclear reactor environment and may be relatively rigid and resilient metals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Hampton W. Lane, Bret E. Nelson, Brandon J. Schoonmaker, Lee J. Andre, Hugo P. Rooney, David J. Bell
  • Patent number: 9064609
    Abstract: A mechanical connection between adjacent components of a system may include a first component of the system, a second component of the system, and a multiple degree-of-freedom connection between the first and second components. The multiple degree-of-freedom connection may have at least four degrees of freedom. A method for establishing a mechanical connection between adjacent components of a system may include disposing a first component of the system adjacent to a second component of the system, and connecting the first component to the second component using a multiple degree-of-freedom connection. The multiple degree-of-freedom connection may have at least four degrees of freedom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: GE-HITACHI NUCLEAR ENERGY AMERICAS LLC
    Inventor: Lee J. Andre
  • Publication number: 20130308737
    Abstract: A mechanical connection between adjacent components of a system may include a first component of the system, a second component of the system, and a multiple degree-of-freedom connection between the first and second components. The multiple degree-of-freedom connection may have at least four degrees of freedom. A method for establishing a mechanical connection between adjacent components of a system may include disposing a first component of the system adjacent to a second component of the system, and connecting the first component to the second component using a multiple degree-of-freedom connection. The multiple degree-of-freedom connection may have at least four degrees of freedom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC
    Inventor: Lee J. ANDRE
  • Patent number: 8475139
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) jet pump slip joint internal seal for an interface between an inlet mixer and a diffuser of a jet pump assembly. The internal seal effectively mitigates leakage and slip joint flow induced vibration (FIV) between the inlet mixer and diffuser to reduce damage to many of the jet pump assembly components. A metallic seal of the slip joint internal seal flares out to conform the internal seal to a range of gap sizes, and compresses or springs back to nominal dimensions as thermal expansion and contraction occurs. The internal seal is self-expanding/self-tightening, as the internal seal flares further outward as a result of the internal pressure caused by flowing fluids in an operating jet pump assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC
    Inventors: Robin D. Sprague, Lee J. Andre
  • Patent number: 8194815
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention may reduce the level of vibration experienced by a line, such as, but not limiting of, a pipe, a cable, tubing, or the like, that is connected to at least one separate structure. For example, but not limiting of, the structure includes: a reactor pressure vessel, a sparger pipe, steam generator, a pipe, a pressure vessel, a heat exchanger, a pump, a condenser, a tank, or the like. An embodiment of the present invention may provide support and a preload to the line at a new location or may replace an existing support, such as, but not limiting of, a weld; which may alter the natural frequencies to avoid resonance from occurring when the structure(s) is excited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas, LLC
    Inventors: Norbert B. Wroblewski, Michael S. DeFilippis, Lee J. Andre
  • Publication number: 20120057992
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) jet pump slip joint internal seal in the interface between an inlet mixer and a diffuser of a jet pump assembly. The internal seal provides an effective means of mitigating leakage and slip joint flow induced vibration (FIV) between the inlet mixer and diffuser to reduce damage to many of the jet pump assembly components that may otherwise be damaged by FIV. A metallic seal of the slip joint internal seal flares out to conform the internal seal to a range of gap sizes, and may be compressed or spring back to nominal dimensions as thermal expansion and contraction occurs. The internal seal is also self-expanding/self-tightening, as the internal seal flares further outward as a result of the internal pressure caused by flowing fluids in an operating jet pump assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: GE-HITACHI NUCLEAR ENERGY AMERICAS LLC
    Inventors: Robin D. Sprague, Lee J. Andre
  • Publication number: 20100246744
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention may reduce the level of vibration experienced by a line, such as, but not limiting of, a pipe, a cable, tubing, or the like, that is connected to at least one separate structure. For example, but not limiting of, the structure includes: a reactor pressure vessel, a feedwater sparger pipe, steam generator, a pipe, a pressure vessel, a heat exchanger, a pump, a condenser, a tank, or the like. An embodiment of the present invention may provide support and a preload to the line at a new location or may replace an existing support, such as, but not limiting of, a weld; which may alter the natural frequencies to avoid resonance from occurring when the structure(s) is excited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Norbert B. Wroblewski, Michael S. Defilippis, Lee J. Andre