Patents by Inventor Stephen Daniel SMITH

Stephen Daniel SMITH 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).

  • Method of replacing a functionality of a thermal shield flexure, a thermal shield flexure member, and a system including the same
    Patent number: 12763224
    Abstract: A thermal shield flexure member. The thermal shield flexure member includes a first face portion, a second face portion and a third portion. The first face portion defines openings configured to align with receptacles of a thermal shield. The second face portion defines openings configured to align with openings of a core barrel and openings of an arm portion of a modified thermal shield flexure connected to the core barrel. The third portion is connected to the first face portion and the second face portion, and comprises a radiused portion. The thermal shield flexure member is configured to provide flexibility in an axial direction to accommodate differential axial expansions of the core barrel and the thermal shield, and rigidity in a radial direction to inhibit undesirable shell mode vibrations of the core barrel and/or the thermal shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2026
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: Mark Michael Pillard, Matthew James Palamara, Stephen Daniel Smith
  • METHOD OF REPLACING A FUNCTIONALITY OF A THERMAL SHIELD FLEXURE, A THERMAL SHIELD FLEXURE MEMBER, AND A SYSTEM INCLUDING THE SAME
    Publication number: 20230136152
    Abstract: A thermal shield flexure member. The thermal shield flexure member includes a first face portion, a second face portion and a third portion. The first face portion defines openings configured to align with receptacles of a thermal shield. The second face portion defines openings configured to align with openings of a core barrel and openings of an arm portion of a modified thermal shield flexure connected to the core barrel. The third portion is connected to the first face portion and the second face portion, and comprises a radiused portion. The thermal shield flexure member is configured to provide flexibility in an axial direction to accommodate differential axial expansions of the core barrel and the thermal shield, and rigidity in a radial direction to inhibit undesirable shell mode vibrations of the core barrel and/or the thermal shield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: Mark Michael PILLARD, Matthew James PALAMARA, Stephen Daniel SMITH