John F Conrad

US Patent:

20170194064, Jul 6, 2017

Filed:

Dec 31, 2015

Appl. No.:

14/985537

Inventors:

- Cranberry Township PA, US
SHAWN D. LAZESKI - Pleasant Unity PA, US
JOHN W. CONRAD - Butler PA, US

Assignee:

WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY LLC - CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP PA

International Classification:

G21C 17/10
G21C 1/08

Abstract:

An improved measurement apparatus employs a support that includes a housing and that further includes a follower that is movably situated on the support. The follower is biased in a direction generally away from the housing. The housing and follower are receivable between a spring/dimple pair, and a sensor detects the distance between the housing and the follower when interposed between the spring and dimple. An indicator apparatus employs the signal to output and indication that is representative of the amount of compressive loading that will be applied to a fuel rod by the spring/dimple pair, and the indication is based at least in part upon the distance between the portion of the housing that is engaged with the dimple and the portion of the follower that is engaged with the spring.

US Patent:

20160123310, May 5, 2016

Filed:

Oct 19, 2015

Appl. No.:

14/886438

Inventors:

- Cranberry Township PA, US
Judith E. Hodgson - Irwin PA, US
John W. Conrad - Butler PA, US
Lyman J. Petrosky - Latrobe PA, US

Assignee:

WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY LLC - Cranberry Township PA

International Classification:

F03G 7/06

Abstract:

A thermal actuator for a rotating shaft shutdown seal that has a piston with a portion of its axial length enclosed within a chamber shell with a material that expands upon a rise in temperature. The portion of the actual length of the piston within the chamber has at least two different diameters with the larger diameter leading in the direction of travel of the piston. Upon a rise in temperature, expansion of the material surrounding the piston within the chamber creates a force on the piston in the desired direction of travel. Below a preselected temperature the piston is positively locked with a passive release when the preselected temperature is reached.