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:
May. 24, 2016
Filed:
Sep. 19, 2013
Babcock & Wilcox Canada Ltd., Cambridge, CA;
Richard G Klarner, Georgetown, CA;
Robert S Horvath, Drumbo, CA;
Ghasem V Asadi, Cambridge, CA;
Thomas Waring, Flamborough, CA;
BWXT Canada Ltd., Cambridge, Ontario, CA;
Abstract
An apparatus in a steam generator that employs tube support plates within a shroud that is in turn disposed within a shell. The tube support plates are made of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion lower than that of the shroud. The tube support plates are aligned during fabrication with minimal clearances between components. Using a tube support displacement system, a controlled misalignment is imposed on one or more tube support plates as the steam generator heats up. The tube support plate displacement system has only two parts, a spring bar and a push rod, that are internal to the steam generator shell and threadably engaged, thereby minimizing the potential of loose parts. The tube support plate displacement system can be used to provide controlled misalignments on one or more tube support plates, with one or more apparatus being provided for any individual tube support plate.