Patents by Inventor Thomas W. Nenno

Thomas W. Nenno 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: 10746697
    Abstract: A method of employing an eddy current sensor to perform an inspection of a tube of a steam generator involves accelerating and decelerating the eddy current sensor in a predetermined fashion that substantially reduces the likelihood of damage to the eddy current sensor. The reduction of probe stresses reduces radiological waste and reduces radiation exposure to workers involved in changing damaged probes The recording of an eddy current signal at each of a plurality of equally spaced apart locations along the tube permits the velocity of the eddy current sensor to be varied without compromising the validity of the data that has been recorded. The inspection system employs an encoder that outputs a series of signals as the probe is advanced incremental distances within the tube of the steam generator, and eddy current sensor signals are recorded responsive to at least some of the signals from the encoder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: John C. Lichauer, Daniel C. Wood, Thomas W. Nenno, Qui V. Le, Kyle M. Flanigan
  • Publication number: 20180284067
    Abstract: A method of employing an eddy current sensor to perform an inspection of a tube of a steam generator involves accelerating and decelerating the eddy current sensor in a predetermined fashion that substantially reduces the likelihood of damage to the eddy current sensor. The reduction of probe stresses reduces radiological waste and reduces radiation exposure to workers involved in changing damaged probes The recording of an eddy current signal at each of a plurality of equally spaced apart locations along the tube permits the velocity of the eddy current sensor to be varied without compromising the validity of the data that has been recorded. The inspection system employs an encoder that outputs a series of signals as the probe is advanced incremental distances within the tube of the steam generator, and eddy current sensor signals are recorded responsive to at least some of the signals from the encoder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Applicant: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY LLC
    Inventors: JOHN C. LICHAUER, DANIEL C. WOOD, THOMAS W. NENNO, QUI V. LE, KYLE M. FLANIGAN
  • Patent number: 9068741
    Abstract: An eddy current probe testing apparatus structured to operate concurrently in a driver pick-up mode and said impedance mode is provided. The eddy current probe has two coils. The eddy current probe testing apparatus also includes a signal producing device, an output device, and a switch assembly. The switch assembly is structured to switch how an input signal from the signal producing device is provided to the two coils. Thus, an inspection may be performed in two modes concurrently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: Thomas W. Nenno, Warren R. Junker, Richard M. Novotny, Conrad S. Wyffels
  • Publication number: 20120235675
    Abstract: An eddy current probe testing apparatus structured to operate concurrently in a driver pick-up mode and said impedance mode is provided. The eddy current probe has two coils. The eddy current probe testing apparatus also includes a signal producing device, an output device, and a switch assembly. The switch assembly is structured to switch how an input signal from the signal producing device is provided to the two coils. Thus, an inspection may be performed in two modes concurrently.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY LLC
    Inventors: Thomas W. Nenno, Warren R. Junker, Richard M. Novotny, Conrad S. Wyffels
  • Patent number: 8212553
    Abstract: An eddy current probe testing apparatus structured to operate concurrently in a driver pick-up mode and said impedance mode is provided. The eddy current probe has two coils. The eddy current probe testing apparatus also includes a signal producing device, an output device, and a switch assembly. The switch assembly is structured to switch how an input signal from the signal producing device is provided to the two coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: Thomas W. Nenno, Warren R. Junker, Richard M. Novotny, Conrad S. Wyffels
  • Publication number: 20110148402
    Abstract: An eddy current probe testing apparatus structured to operate concurrently in a driver pick-up mode and said impedance mode is provided. The eddy current probe has two coils. The eddy current probe testing apparatus also includes a signal producing device, an output device, and a switch assembly. The switch assembly is structured to switch how an input signal from the signal producing device is provided to the two coils.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: Thomas W. Nenno, Warren R. Junker, Richard M. Novotny, Conrad S. Wyffels
  • Patent number: 7711499
    Abstract: A method of synthesizing nondestructive examination data of a component that combines data sets acquired at least two different frequencies. At least one of the data sets is interpolated or extrapolated to the equivalent of data acquired at one of the other frequencies employing a third, reference set of eddy current inspection data that is acquired at each of the inspection frequencies being combined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Co LLC
    Inventors: Warren R. Junker, Thomas W. Nenno, Daniel J. Yaklich, Ronald J. Pocratsky
  • Publication number: 20090150093
    Abstract: A method of synthesizing nondestructive examination data of a component that combines data sets acquired at least two different frequencies. At least one of the data sets is interpolated or extrapolated to the equivalent of data acquired at one of the other frequencies employing a third, reference set of eddy current inspection data that is acquired at each of the inspection frequencies being combined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: Warren R. Junker, Thomas W. Nenno, Daniel J. Yaklich, Ronald J. Pocratsky
  • Patent number: 7194908
    Abstract: An ultrasonic testing assembly structured to examine a test object, wherein the test object has a surface, and the examination examines the structure of the test object under the surface as well as the profile of the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Co. LLC
    Inventors: Thomas W. Nenno, Patrick M. Minogue, Rick D. Rishel
  • Patent number: 6823269
    Abstract: A method of synthesizing nondestructive examination data of a component including the steps of generating nondestructive examination data of the component in the field and separately generating nondestructive examination data of a specimen machined to simulate selected flaws in the component and combining portions of the specimen data with the field data in a combined data stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: Warren R. Junker, Thomas W. Nenno, Hermann O. Lagally
  • Publication number: 20030195710
    Abstract: A method of synthesizing nondestructive examination data of a component including the steps of generating nondestructive examination data of the component in the field and separately generating nondestructive examination data of a specimen machined to simulate selected flaws in the component and combining portions of the specimen data with the field data in a combined data stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventors: Warren R. Junker, Thomas W. Nenno, Hermann O. Lagally