Bruce A Howard

US Patent:

8356972, Jan 22, 2013

Filed:

Dec 7, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/631888

Inventors:

Bruce Howard - Monroeville PA, US
Judith Hodgson - Irwin PA, US
Nick Tallos - Narberth PA, US
Glenn Quinty - Horsham PA, US
David Janocko - Pittsburgh PA, US
Charles Bice - Murrysville PA, US

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Company LLC - Cranberry Township PA

International Classification:

F16J 15/00

US Classification:

415136, 415230

Abstract:

A thermally actuated shutdown seal for a rotating shaft having a narrow annular fluid flow path surrounding the shaft. The seal surrounds the shaft with the annulus therebetween during normal operation and constricts against the shaft when the shaft slows or stops rotating. The annulus is maintained open during normal operation by a spacer interposed between opposing ends of a split ring. When the shaft stops rotating, the temperature of the annulus rises, which actuates removal of the spacer from the split ring constricting the split ring against the shaft blocking the annulus. The blocked annulus causes a pressure differential across the seal which urges a polymer seal ring, downstream of the split ring against the shaft which seals the annulus. In one embodiment, the spacer is formed of a meltable material. In a second embodiment, the spacer is removed from the split ring by a thermally responsive actuator.

US Patent:

20070140877, Jun 21, 2007

Filed:

Oct 3, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/543020

Inventors:

Mark Sanville - Souderton PA, US
Reinhold Koeth - Huntingdon Valley PA, US
Bruce Howard - Monroeville PA, US
Bob Mangerie - Saint Clairsville OH, US

International Classification:

F04B 17/00

US Classification:

417423110

Abstract:

A thermally actuated shutdown seal provides a shutdown seal usable in a pump having a primary seal assembly positioned circumferentially about a rotating shaft for separating a region of high pressure coolant fluid from the shaft. The shutdown seal includes a two-piece interlocked housing which encompasses carbon graphite ring segments positioned circumferentially about the shaft, a garter spring and a series of compression springs. The replaceable insert with machined recess contains the shutdown seal assembly and is biased axially with a wave spring and held with the annular recess by a closure ring. The seal is designed with coolant fluid flow directly in contact with such ring segments and specially designed paths around the ring segments during normal pump operation. The seal requires a thermally actuated means for moving the two-piece interlocked housing axially into a blocking position within the coolant flow path to shutdown and minimize fluid flow bypassing the ring segments and between the ring segments and the pump shaft, upon occurrence of a process failure in the facility served by the pump and consequent temperature rise of the fluid being pumped.

US Patent:

46531645, Mar 31, 1987

Filed:

Feb 14, 1984

Appl. No.:

6/580038

Inventors:

Frank W. Cooper - Monroeville PA
Bruce A. Howard - Seminole FL

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

B21D 5300
B23P 1700
B23P 1900
G21C 1900

US Classification:

291574

Abstract:

To limit the exposure of personnel to radioactivity within the channel head of a steam generator of a nuclear-reactor plant a cartridge sleeve-blank loader for automatically sleeving a plurality of tubes without the intervention of personnel is provided. The cartridge loader includes a turret or drum which carries a plurality of sleeve blanks around its periphery. A lifter engages the bottom of each sleeve bank in its turn at a sleeve insertion position of the turret and inserts the sleeve blank into a tube. Successive sleeve blanks are indexed to the insertion position for insertion into tubes. The sleeve blanks are slightly bowed or curved so that when a sleeve blank is inserted as a sleeve into a tube, the sleeve, since the tube is linear, exerts a restoring force on the wall of a tube which holds the sleeve in the tube when the lifter is retracted. In inserting the sleeve blank, the lifter moves at a low speed until the leading end of the sleeve enters a tube. Then the speed of insertion is increased.

US Patent:

46883274, Aug 25, 1987

Filed:

Aug 12, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/764705

Inventors:

Frank W. Cooper - Monroeville Boro PA
Bruce A. Howard - Inman SC
David A. Snyder - N. Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County PA

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

B23P 1526
B23P 1900

US Classification:

29726

Abstract:

Apparatus for processing the damaged tubes of a steam generator. This apparatus includes a sleeving tool for inserting sleeves in the tubes, a high-roller tool for rolling the sleeves at their upper ends where they have been expanded, and a low-roller tool for rolling the sleeves at their lower ends in the tube sheet. Each tool is provided with locking pins which engage tubes adjacent to a tube to be processed and suspend the tool in processing position. The sleeves are inserted in the tubes and are rolled by rolls driven by a hydraulic motor. For sleeve insertion and for high and low rolling, the motor is controlled by a servo control valve. The feedback signal to this valve is derived from a flow transducer in the feed line for the motor. The feedback for the force of sleeve insertion is the pressure across the motor derived from pressure transducers in the conductors through which the motor is supplied. For insertion speed and for rolling speed, the feedback is derived from a fluid-flow transducer.

US Patent:

46399941, Feb 3, 1987

Filed:

Oct 3, 1983

Appl. No.:

6/538309

Inventors:

Frank W. Cooper - Monroeville PA
Bruce A. Howard - Seminole FL
David A. Snyder - North Huntingdon PA

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

B23P 700
B23P 1526

US Classification:

2940201

Abstract:

Apparatus for processing the damaged tubes of a steam generator either to prepare the tubes for insertion of a sleeve, or to insert a sleeve or to treat the sleeve after it is inserted. This apparatus includes a drilling tool for drilling out plugs, a sleeving tool for inserting sleeves in the tubes, a high-roller tool for rolling the sleeves at their upper ends where they have been expanded, and a low-roller tool for rolling the sleeves at their lower ends in the tube sheet. The sleeves are inserted in the tubes and are rolled by rolls driven by a hydraulic motor. For drilling, for sleeve insertion and for high and low rolling, the motor is controlled by a servo control valve.

US Patent:

20210156390, May 27, 2021

Filed:

Nov 27, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/697351

Inventors:

- Cranberry Township PA, US
Michael A. LaPresti - Greensburg PA, US
Bruce A. Howard - Monroeville PA, US
Brandon H. Bruner - Prospect PA, US
Randall J. Marchelletta - Pittsburgh PA, US

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Company LLC - Cranberry Township PA

International Classification:

F04D 29/08

Abstract:

A runner assembly for mounting to, and rotating with, a pump shaft of a pump includes a support member to be fixed to the pump shaft; a seal face ring positioned on, and mounted to the support member by a support shroud coupled to the support member; and an outer O-ring positioned in an upward and radially outward facing notch defined in a top portion of the support member. The outer O-ring forms a static sealed joint between the top of the support member and the bottom of the seal face ring.