The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 24, 2015
Filed:
Dec. 16, 2010
Robin D. Sprague, Wilmington, NC (US);
Bruce J. Lentner, Wilmington, NC (US);
Robin D. Sprague, Wilmington, NC (US);
Bruce J. Lentner, Wilmington, NC (US);
GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC, Wilmington, NC (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for securely fastening a pipe collar or a bracket to a riser pipe of a boiling water reactor (BWR) jet pump assembly. A pipe plug assembly includes an angled pipe plug that acts as a wedge to expand a bushing assembly as the pipe plug is drawn into the overall pipe plug assembly. Expansion of the bushing assembly allows a tight tolerance to exist between an outer diameter of the pipe plug and an inner diameter of the collar/bracket and riser pipe. Expansion of the bushing assembly allows a straight hole to be match drilled into the collar/bracket and riser pipe, thereby avoiding a more complicated tapered hole to be drilled into the collar/bracket and riser pipe. An ensuing tight fit between the pipe plug assembly, the collar/bracket and the riser pipe mitigates vibration of components and minimizes leakage to acceptable levels for use in the flooded environment of the annulus region where the jet pump assembly exists in the BWR.