Patents by Inventor Willis B. Middlebrooks

Willis B. Middlebrooks 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: 5357547
    Abstract: Vibration dampener for dampening vibration of a tubular member, such as an instrumentation tube of the type found in nuclear reactor pressure vessels. The instrumentation tube is received in an outer tubular member, such as a guide thimble tube. The vibration dampener comprises an annular sleeve which is attachable to the inside surface of the guide thimble tube and which is sized to surround the instrumentation tube. Dimples are attached to the interior wall of the sleeve for radially supporting the instrumentation tube. The wall of the sleeve has a flexible spring member, which is formed from the wall, disposed opposite the dimples for biasing the instrumentation tube into abutment with the dimples. Flow-induced vibration of the instrumentation tube will cause it to move out of contact with the dimples and further engage the spring member, which will flex a predetermined amount and exert a reactive force against the instrumentation tube to restrain its movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Franklin D. Obermeyer, Willis B. Middlebrooks, Edmund E. DeMario
  • Patent number: 5329886
    Abstract: This patent discloses a secondary fluid supply system for a steam generator used in nuclear reactor power plants. The secondary fluid supply system comprises a secondary fluid (feedwater) inlet nozzle near the base of the steam generator shell, a feedwater riser pipe spaced between the shell of the steam generator and the tube bundle wrapper, the upper end of the feedwater riser pipe being connected to a distribution ring having a plurality of spray nozzles positioned in the recirculating pool above the top of the U-shaped heat exchanger tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Robert L. Sylvester, Randall C. Johnson, Gregory V. Smith, King W. Chan, Willis B. Middlebrooks, III, Jawahar K. Visaria, Robert M. Wilson, George Bieberbach