Norman K Singleton

US Patent:

7616728, Nov 10, 2009

Filed:

Aug 24, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/844614

Inventors:

Charles B. Gilmore - Greensburg PA, US
Norman R. Singleton - Murrysville PA, US

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Co. LLC - Cranberry Township PA

International Classification:

G21C 1/04
G21C 23/00
G21C 9/00
B65G 21/20
F16D 1/06

US Classification:

376347, 376287, 376289, 376340, 403306, 403362

Abstract:

An alignment system that employs jacking block assemblies and alignment posts around the periphery of the top plate of a nuclear reactor lower internals core shroud to align an upper core plate with the lower internals and the core shroud with the core barrel. The distal ends of the alignment posts are chamfered and are closely received within notches machined in the upper core plate at spaced locations around the outer circumference of the upper core plate. The jacking block assemblies are used to center the core shroud in the core barrel and the alignment posts assure the proper orientation of the upper core plate. The alignment posts may alternately be formed in the upper core plate and the notches may be formed in top plate.

US Patent:

7889830, Feb 15, 2011

Filed:

May 8, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/745600

Inventors:

Charles B. Gilmore - Greensburg PA, US
David A. Altman - Pittsburgh PA, US
Norman R. Singleton - Murrysville PA, US

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Company LLC - Cranberry Township PA

International Classification:

G21C 3/34
G21C 9/00

US Classification:

376439, 376282, 376294

Abstract:

A nuclear reactor having a coolant flow deflector secured to a reactor core barrel in line with a coolant inlet nozzle. The flow deflector redirects incoming coolant down an annulus between the core barrel and the reactor vessel. The deflector has a main body with a front side facing the fluid inlet nozzle and a rear side facing the core barrel. The rear side of the main body has at least one protrusion secured to the core barrel so that a gap exists between the rear side of the main body adjacent the protrusion and the core barrel. Preferably, the protrusion is a relief that circumscribes the rear side of the main body.

US Patent:

8064564, Nov 22, 2011

Filed:

Nov 21, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/275525

Inventors:

Norman R. Singleton - Murrysville PA, US

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Company LLC - Cranberry Township PA

International Classification:

G21C 11/00
G21C 5/00

US Classification:

376287, 376458

Abstract:

In a nuclear reactor neutron panels varying in thickness in the circumferential direction are disposed at spaced circumferential locations around the reactor core so that the greatest radial thickness is at the point of highest fluence with lesser thicknesses at adjacent locations where the fluence level is lower. The neutron panels are disposed between the core barrel and the interior of the reactor vessel to maintain radiation exposure to the vessel within acceptable limits.

US Patent:

8483347, Jul 9, 2013

Filed:

Apr 10, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/733248

Inventors:

Norman R. Singleton - Murrysville PA, US
David A. Altman - Pittsburgh PA, US
Ching Yu - Murrysville PA, US
James A. Rex - Trafford PA, US
David R. Forsyth - Cheswick PA, US

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Company LLC - Cranberry Township PA

International Classification:

G21C 1/04

US Classification:

376353, 376245, 376254, 376255

Abstract:

In a pressurized water reactor with all of the in-core instrumentation gaining access to the core through the reactor head, each fuel assembly in which the instrumentation is introduced is aligned with an upper internals instrumentation guide-way. In the elevations above the upper internals upper support assembly, the instrumentation is protected and aligned by upper mounted instrumentation columns that are part of the instrumentation guide-way and extend from the upper support assembly towards the reactor head in hue with a corresponding head penetration. The upper mounted instrumentation columns are supported laterally at one end by an upper guide tube and at the other end by the upper support plate.

US Patent:

8638900, Jan 28, 2014

Filed:

Sep 14, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/855196

Inventors:

David A. Altman - Pittsburgh PA, US
David R. Forsyth - Cheswick PA, US
Richard E. Smith - Harrison City PA, US
Norman R. Singleton - Murrysville PA, US

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Company LLC - Cranberry Township PA

International Classification:

G21C 1/04

US Classification:

376353, 376347, 376461

Abstract:

An alignment plate that is attached to a core barrel of a pressurized water reactor and fits within slots within a top plate of a lower core shroud and upper core plate to maintain lateral alignment of the reactor internals. The alignment plate is connected to the core barrel through two vertically-spaced dowel pins that extend from the outside surface of the core barrel through a reinforcement pad and into corresponding holes in the alignment plate. Additionally, threaded fasteners are inserted around the perimeter of the reinforcement pad and into the alignment plate to further secure the alignment plate to the core barrel. A fillet weld also is deposited around the perimeter of the reinforcement pad. To accommodate thermal growth between the alignment plate and the core barrel, a gap is left above, below and at both sides of one of the dowel pins in the alignment plate holes through which the dowel pins pass.

US Patent:

20100119030, May 13, 2010

Filed:

Sep 1, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/551595

Inventors:

CHARLES B. GILMORE - Greensburg PA, US
Norman R. Singleton - Murrysville PA, US

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC - Cranberry Township PA

International Classification:

G21C 9/00
G21C 1/04

US Classification:

376287, 376347

Abstract:

An alignment system that employs jacking block assemblies and alignment posts around the periphery of the top plate of a nuclear reactor lower internals core shroud to align an upper core plate with the lower internals and the core shroud with the core barrel. The distal ends of the alignment posts are chamfered and are closely received within notches machined in the upper core plate at spaced locations around the outer circumference of the upper core plate. The jacking block assemblies are used to center the core shroud in the core barrel and the alignment posts assure the proper orientation of the upper core plate. The alignment posts may alternately be formed in the upper core plate and the notches may be formed in top plate.

US Patent:

49618989, Oct 9, 1990

Filed:

Aug 30, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/238051

Inventors:

William T. Bogard - Irwin PA
George J. Bohm - Pittsburgh PA
William Ciaramitaro - Murrysville PA
Sam S. Palusamy - Murrysville PA
Norman R. Singleton - Pittsburgh PA

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G21C 1700

US Classification:

376245

Abstract:

A nuclear reactor monitoring system includes incore and excore neutron detectors for producing neutron noise signals and system data including at least one of reactor coolant pump motor current, temperature and pressure of the reactor coolant system and pressurizer pressure and means for diagnosing conditions of the reactor internals and core support structures by comparing analyzed instrumentation signatures. The signatures may be derived from scale model test data, plant test data, analytical model results and trending analysis results. Analyses performed by the system include time and frequency domain analyses of the neutron noise signals and the system data. The analyzed data are compared with rules in a rules base of an expert system to generate a diagnosis of the condition of the reactor internals and core support structures and action recomendations for maintenance of the nuclear reactor.