Patents by Inventor NICHOLAS A. SZWEDA

NICHOLAS A. SZWEDA 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: 11721445
    Abstract: A replacement thermal sleeve with a flange for a reactor vessel closure head penetration adapter housing. By altering a diameter of the flange, a replacement thermal sleeve can be installed through the narrow diameter of the penetration adapter housing opening from under the reactor vessel head. The flange can be compressible or expandable or the tubular wall of the thermal sleeve can be inserted in longitudinal sections, one at a time, into an opening in the underside of the penetration head adapter and reformed within the opening when fully inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: Eric M. Benacquista, Anthony J. Mastopietro, Bryan M. Wilson, Nicholas A. Szweda
  • Publication number: 20230074289
    Abstract: A replacement thermal sleeve with a flange for a reactor vessel closure head penetration adapter housing. By altering a diameter of the flange, a replacement thermal sleeve can be installed through the narrow diameter of the penetration adapter housing opening from under the reactor vessel head. The flange can be compressible or expandable or the tubular wall of the thermal sleeve can be inserted in longitudinal sections, one at a time, into an opening in the underside of the penetration head adapter and reformed within the opening when fully inserted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: Eric M. BENACQUISTA, Anthony J. MASTOPIETRO, Bryan M. WILSON, Nicholas A. SZWEDA
  • Patent number: 11501887
    Abstract: A replacement thermal sleeve with a flange for a reactor vessel closure head penetration adapter housing. By altering a diameter of the flange, a replacement thermal sleeve can be installed through the narrow diameter of the penetration adapter housing opening from under the reactor vessel head. The flange can be compressible or expandable or the tubular wall of the thermal sleeve can be inserted in longitudinal sections, one at a time, into an opening in the underside of the penetration head adapter and reformed within the opening when fully inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: Eric M. Benacquista, Anthony J. Mastopietro, Bryan M. Wilson, Nicholas A. Szweda
  • Patent number: 11189386
    Abstract: A method of replacing a damaged thermal sleeve in a reactor vessel head adapter that connects a control rod drive mechanism to a reactor vessel head includes the steps of accessing the damaged thermal sleeve, removing the damaged thermal sleeve, and obtaining a replacement thermal sleeve having an elongated tubular body, a flanged region, and a plurality of slots defined in the elongated tubular body, each slot having a width which is sufficient to narrow a maximum outside diameter of the flanged region from a first diameter to a second diameter. The method further includes altering the maximum outside diameter of the flanged region on the replacement thermal sleeve, inserting the replacement thermal sleeve into an opening of a tubular member from an underside of the reactor vessel head, and expanding the maximum outside diameter of the flanged region into a recess of the reactor vessel head adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: Eric M. Benacquista, Anthony J. Mastopietro, Bryan M. Wilson, Nicholas A. Szweda
  • Publication number: 20210158980
    Abstract: A replacement thermal sleeve with a flange for a reactor vessel closure head penetration adapter housing. By altering a diameter of the flange, a replacement thermal sleeve can be installed through the narrow diameter of the penetration adapter housing opening from under the reactor vessel head. The flange can be compressible or expandable or the tubular wall of the thermal sleeve can be inserted in longitudinal sections, one at a time, into an opening in the underside of the penetration head adapter and reformed within the opening when fully inserted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: Eric M. BENACQUISTA, Anthony J. MASTOPIETRO, Bryan M. WILSON, Nicholas A. SZWEDA
  • Publication number: 20190252082
    Abstract: A replacement thermal sleeve with a flange for a reactor vessel closure head penetration adapter housing. By altering a diameter of the flange, a replacement thermal sleeve can be installed through the narrow diameter of the penetration adapter housing opening from under the reactor vessel head. The flange can be compressible or expandable or the tubular wall of the thermal sleeve can be inserted in longitudinal sections, one at a time, into an opening in the underside of the penetration head adapter and reformed within the opening when fully inserted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: ERIC M. BENACQUISTA, ANTHONY J. MASTOPIETRO, BRYAN M. WILSON, NICHOLAS A. SZWEDA