Edmund E Demario

US Patent:

6526116, Feb 25, 2003

Filed:

Jul 2, 1997

Appl. No.:

08/887017

Inventors:

Quang M. Nguyen - Columbia SC
Yu C. Lee - Columbia SC
Edmund E. DeMario - Columbia SC
Jeffrey J. Fodi - Columbia SC
Darin L. Redinger - Columbia SC

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Company LLC - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G21C 3322

US Classification:

376439, 376434, 376442, 376443, 376449

Abstract:

A support grid for laterally maintaining the relative position of elongated fuel elements within a fuel assembly for use within a core of a nuclear reactor. The grid is formed in the shape of a lattice with the intersecting lattice members defining a plurality of cells, most of which respectively support the nuclear fuel elements. The remaining cells support nuclear control rod guide tubes and instrumentation thimbles. The cells supporting the nuclear fuel elements are provided with diagonally positioned springs on two, adjacent walls. The springs support the fuel elements against dimples which protrude from the opposite cell walls. The adjacent, diagonal springs in each fuel element cell are inclined in opposite directions. The walls of the cells supporting the control rod guide tubes are embossed along their height at the locations intermediate the intersection between adjoining walls with a concave notch having a curvature which conforms to the outside surface curvature of the control rod guide tubes. The grid is provided with mixing vanes which are positioned in a symmetrical, regional pattern, with the pattern varying between adjacent regions, and configured such that the hydraulic forces across the center of the grid are balanced.

US Patent:

48287911, May 9, 1989

Filed:

Oct 5, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/104748

Inventors:

Edmund E. DeMario - Columbia SC

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G21C 104

US Classification:

376352

Abstract:

A debris resistant bottom nozzle in a fuel assembly has a support structure in the form of four legs adapted to rest on a lower core plate of a nuclear reactor and a top flat plate fixed on one side of the four legs facing upwardly toward a lowermost grid of the fuel assembly. The flat plate is of a substantially solid configuration with a plurality of spaced cut-out regions defined therethrough in alignment with and directly above a plurality of inlet liquid coolant flow holes in the lower core plate. A plurality of open separate criss-cross structures are provided, each being fixed to the plate and extending across one of the cut-out regions therein within the plane of the plate. The criss-cross structures define individual openings small enough in cross-sectional size to filter debris of damage-inducing size which otherwise collects in unoccupied spaces of the lowermost grid of the fuel assembly, but large enough in size to let pass debris of nondamage-inducing size which otherwise passes through the unoccupied spaces of the lowermost grid. The criss-cross structure in one embodiment is in the form of a plurality of interleaved straps forming an open grid structure, and in another embodiment is in the form of a plurality of interconnected crossed wires forming an open mesh structure.

US Patent:

61447161, Nov 7, 2000

Filed:

Jul 2, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/887016

Inventors:

Quang M. Nguyen - Irmo SC
Edmund E. DeMario - Columbia SC

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G21C 3356

US Classification:

376442

Abstract:

A support grid for laterally maintaining the relative position of elongated fuel elements within a fuel assembly for use within a core of a nuclear reactor. The grid is formed in the shape of a lattice with the intersecting lattice members defining a plurality of cells, most of which respectively support the nuclear fuel elements. The remaining cells support nuclear control rod guide tubes and instrumentation thimbles. The cells supporting the nuclear fuel elements are provided with diagonally positioned springs on two adjacent walls. The springs support the fuel elements against dimples which protrude from the opposite cell walls. The adjacent, diagonal springs in each fuel element cell are inclined in opposite directions. The springs are formed from narrow, parallel slits in the cell wall that terminate along a line parallel to the line of intersection with the adjacent wall. The spring slits continue along that parallel line in a direction away from the spring to increase its flexure.

US Patent:

45856168, Apr 29, 1986

Filed:

Mar 9, 1983

Appl. No.:

6/473515

Inventors:

Edmund E. DeMario - Penn Hills PA
Ronald P. Knott - North Huntingdon PA

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G21C 334

US Classification:

376442

Abstract:

A nuclear fuel spacer grid with improved outer straps. The grid has an egg-crate array of interleaved grid straps creating cells for enclosing the fuel rods. The grid also has four outer straps connected together in a square-shaped array surrounding the grid strap's heightwise edges. The outer straps have a central portion to which is attached the grid straps' heightwise edges. The outer straps also have a top and a bottom resilient lengthwise border portion extending vertically beyond and horizontally outwardly beyond their associated outer straps central portions.

US Patent:

52895130, Feb 22, 1994

Filed:

Oct 29, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/968011

Inventors:

Edmund E. DeMario - Columbia SC
Charles N. Lawson - Columbia SC

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G21C 334

US Classification:

376438

Abstract:

Method of making a fuel assembly lattice member and the lattice member made by such method. The method includes placing a plurality of elongate metal straps on a computer controlled conveyor which successively conveys the straps into alignment with each of a plurality of computer controlled piercing and drawing dies belonging to a progressive die machine. The dies are selectively actuated by the computer to form such elements as curved deflector vanes and spring members on each strap member. After the piercing and drawing operations are completed, the straps are joined by welding to form a lattice member of hexagonal cross section, the lattice member defining a plurality of rhombic-shaped fuel rod cells and a plurality of generally rhombic-shaped guide tube thimble cells therethrough. The rod cells are capable of receiving respective ones of a plurality of fuel rods and the thimble cells are capable of receiving respective ones of a plurality of thimble tubes. The rhombic shape of the rod cells cooperate with the deflector vanes to deflect a component of a fluid stream about the longitudinal center axis of each fuel rod for maintaining liquid substantially single-phase fluid flow over the surface of each fuel rod in order to avoid Departure from Nucleate Boiling (DNB) on the surface of the fuel rods.

US Patent:

61154407, Sep 5, 2000

Filed:

Apr 29, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/069354

Inventors:

Paul Marcus Evans - Lexington SC
Edmund Emory DeMario - Columbia SC
Michael Thomas Sloop - Hopkins SC
David Douglas Seel - Columbia SC

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Company LLC - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G21C 1502
G21C 332
G21C 3334
G21C 334

US Classification:

376364

Abstract:

The adaptor plate of a top nozzle assembly is removably secured to selected thimble tubes in a nuclear fuel assembly by quick release couplings. The openings in the adaptor plate aligned with the selected thimble tubes are counterbored from above to form shoulders with diametrically opposed slots extending downward through the shoulders. The quick release couplings include a sleeve secured to the upper end of the thimble tube. A support plate fixed to the sleeve has a pair of upwardly extending bosses engaging the slots in the adaptor plate. A latch member with a pair of diametrically opposed outwardly projecting latch ears rotates on the sleeve between a first position in which the latch ears are aligned with the slots and are positioned over the bosses so that the adaptor plate may be lifted off, and a second position with the latch ears overlaying the shoulder to latch the adaptor plate to the thimble tube. A spring member with a cylindrical body has a pair of diametrically opposed radially compliant projections formed by bulges in strips defined by circumferential slits spaced from the bottom edge of the cylindrical body which engage detents in the bosses to latch the latch member in the first, unlatched position even with the adaptor plate removed, and which engage detents in the opening in the adaptor plate to latch the latch member in the second, latched position.

US Patent:

52001423, Apr 6, 1993

Filed:

Apr 18, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/686954

Inventors:

Edmund E. DeMario - Columbia SC
Robert W. Cantrell - Hopkins SC

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G21C 332

US Classification:

376446

Abstract:

A fuel assembly has a top nozzle which includes a lower adapter plate and a plurality of guide structures thereon. The lower adapter plate has a peripheral edge. The guide structures are attached to and extend upwardly from the lower adapter plate at locations spaced inwardly from the peripheral edge of the lower adapter plate so as to separate the lower adapter plate into an interior portion extending between interior sides of the guide structures and mountable to the guide thimbles and a peripheral portion extending about exterior sides of the guide structures. The guide structures define a plurality of vertical guide slots. The top nozzle also includes a peripheral hold-down assembly disposed along the peripheral portion of the lower adapter plate about the exterior sides of the guide structures and having a plurality of guide tabs movably coupled to the guide slots of the guide structures for permitting vertical movement of the hold-down assembly relative to the lower adapter plate and guide structures in providing a downward biasing force against the peripheral portion of the lower adapter plate of the top nozzle. The peripheral hold-down assembly includes a peripheral arrangement of leaf springs and an annular upper retainer member overlying the peripheral portion of the lower adapter plate and engaging the peripheral arrangement of leaf springs.

US Patent:

53575474, Oct 18, 1994

Filed:

Mar 18, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/853556

Inventors:

Franklin D. Obermeyer - Pensacola FL
Willis B. Middlebrooks - Pensacola FL
Edmund E. DeMario - Columbia SC

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corporation - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G21C 1700

US Classification:

376254

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. The amount by which the spring member will flex is less than the unrestrained amplitude of vibration of the instrumentation tube.