Patents by Inventor Robert Jeffery Lowery

Robert Jeffery Lowery 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).

  • Apparatus and method for ultrasonically examining remotely located welds in cast stainless steel nuclear steam supply systems
    Patent number: 6449326
    Abstract: An apparatus for ultrasonically examining a weld in a nuclear steam supply system includes an elongated guide rod for positioning within a pipe of the nuclear steam supply system. An ultrasonic transducer is positioned at an end of the elongated guide rod. A collapsible shoe encloses the ultrasonic transducer. The collapsible shoe includes a biasing mechanism to allow the collapsible shoe to pass through the pipe while the pipe is at a first circumference and while the pipe is at a second circumference. The collapsible shoe continuously contacts the pipe to establish ultrasonic coupling for the ultrasonic transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley Maurice Walker, Steven Allen Kenefick, Robert Jeffery Lowery, Adam Roy Caban
  • Apparatus and method for ultrasonically examining remotely located welds in cast stainless steel nuclear steam supply systems
    Patent number: 6215836
    Abstract: An apparatus for ultrasonically examining a weld in a nuclear steam supply system includes an elongated guide rod for positioning within a pipe of the nuclear steam supply system. An ultrasonic transducer is positioned at an end of the elongated guide rod. A collapsible shoe encloses the ultrasonic transducer. The collapsible shoe includes a biasing mechanism to allow the collapsible shoe to pass through the pipe while the pipe is at a first circumference and while the pipe is at a second circumference. The collapsible shoe continuously contacts the pipe to establish ultrasonic coupling for the ultrasonic transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley Maurice Walker, Steven Allen Kenefick, Robert Jeffery Lowery, Adam Roy Caban
  • Apparatus and method for creating dry underwater welds
    Patent number: 5981896
    Abstract: An apparatus for underwater welding has a housing and a diverter. The diverter is inside the housing and has an outer sheath and an inner sheath. A gap between the housing and diverter passes a screening fluid to form an outer screening jet that prevents water from flowing into a weld site near the electrode. The inner sheath forms a pair of channels in the inner diverter. One channel passes a shielding fluid that shields the weld site. The other channel forms an exhaust line for venting the weld site during welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell G. Keanini, Michael L. Newman, Robert Jeffery Lowery, Gregory J. Frederick