US3604746A — Nuclear reactor control element gripper and drive…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 295 words

A control element drive and coupling apparatus comprising: a. a control element gripper, said gripper including: 1 a plurality of clamping jaws located about a longitudinal axis thereof, said clamping jaws adapted to move radially inwardly toward said axis to a clamped position and radially outwardly to an unclamped position; 2 gripper-operating means movable longitudinally with respect to said clamping jaws to a raised and lowered position to force said clamping jaws into and out of said clamped and unclamped positions; b. a tube extending longitudinally upwardly from and connected to said clamping jaws; c. a rod extending axially through said tube and connected to said gripper-operating means whereby longitudinal movement of said rod with respect to said tube moves said gripper-operating means with respect to said clamping jaws to operate said gripper; d. means for holding said rod within said tube and for permitting said longitudinal movement of said rod with respect to said tube to raised and lowered positions corresponding to said raised and lowered positions corresponding to said raised and lowered positions of said gripper-operating means; e. a rack and pinion control element drive mechanism; a hole extending longitudinally through said rack, said tube with said rod therein extending through said hold in said rack; g. supporting means attached to the upper end of said tube remote from said gripper, said supporting means adapted to suspend said tube and rod and gripper from the upper end of said rack remote from said gripper whereby longitudinal movement of said rack will cause longitudinal movement of said supporting means and thE components suspended therefrom; h. said supporting means being longitudinally movable with respect to said tube whereby said tube may be longitudinally moved with respect to said rack to positions for clamping and unclamping.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 295 words

A control element drive and coupling apparatus comprising: a. a control element gripper, said gripper including: 1 a plurality of clamping jaws located about a longitudinal axis thereof, said clamping jaws adapted to move radially inwardly toward said axis to a clamped position and radially outwardly to an unclamped position; 2 gripper-operating means movable longitudinally with respect to said clamping jaws to a raised and lowered position to force said clamping jaws into and out of said clamped and unclamped positions; b. a tube extending longitudinally upwardly from and connected to said clamping jaws; c. a rod extending axially through said tube and connected to said gripper-operating means whereby longitudinal movement of said rod with respect to said tube moves said gripper-operating means with respect to said clamping jaws to operate said gripper; d. means for holding said rod within said tube and for permitting said longitudinal movement of said rod with respect to said tube to raised and lowered positions corresponding to said raised and lowered positions corresponding to said raised and lowered positions of said gripper-operating means; e. a rack and pinion control element drive mechanism; a hole extending longitudinally through said rack, said tube with said rod therein extending through said hold in said rack; g. supporting means attached to the upper end of said tube remote from said gripper, said supporting means adapted to suspend said tube and rod and gripper from the upper end of said rack remote from said gripper whereby longitudinal movement of said rack will cause longitudinal movement of said supporting means and thE components suspended therefrom; h. said supporting means being longitudinally movable with respect to said tube whereby said tube may be longitudinally moved with respect to said rack to positions for clamping and unclamping.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 52 words

A control element drive and coupling apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for holding said rod within said tube comprises engaging screw threads on said rod and inside said tube whereby rotation of said rod with respect to said tube causes said rod to move longitudinally within said tube.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 115 words

gripper-operating means movable vertically with respect to said clamping jaws to a raised and lowered position to force said clamping jaws into and out of said clamped and unclamped positions, said gripper-operating means attached to and extending downwardly from said second radial arms; h. a nut screwed onto said tubular means above said rack, said nut adapted to be supported on the upper end of said rack whereby said nut suspends said tubular means from the top of said rack; i. means for rotating said nut to lower said tubular means with respect to said rack to a clamping and unclamping position and to raise said tubular means within said rack to an operating position.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 115 words

gripper-operating means movable vertically with respect to said clamping jaws to a raised and lowered position to force said clamping jaws into and out of said clamped and unclamped positions, said gripper-operating means attached to and extending downwardly from said second radial arms; h. a nut screwed onto said tubular means above said rack, said nut adapted to be supported on the upper end of said rack whereby said nut suspends said tubular means from the top of said rack; i. means for rotating said nut to lower said tubular means with respect to said rack to a clamping and unclamping position and to raise said tubular means within said rack to an operating position.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 173 words

a gripper-operating means adapted to be operated to move said clamping jaws into and out of said clamping position; b. a tube extending longitudinally upwardly from and connected to and suspending said clamping jaws; c. a rod connected to said gripPer-operating means and extending longitudinally upwardly through said tube, said rod adapted to operate said gripper-operating means upon longitudinal movement of said rod with respect to said tube; d. means for holding said rod within said tube and for permitting said longitudinal movement of said rod with respect to said tube to raised and lowered positions corresponding to the clamped and unclamped positions of said gripper; e. vertically movable drive means having an opening therein, said tube extending upwardly through said opening; and f. means attached to said tube above said opening adapted to suspend said tube from said drive means, said means attached to said tube adapted to be moved longitudinally with respect to said tube to lower and raise said tube and said control element to and from a gripper-operating position.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 173 words

a gripper-operating means adapted to be operated to move said clamping jaws into and out of said clamping position; b. a tube extending longitudinally upwardly from and connected to and suspending said clamping jaws; c. a rod connected to said gripPer-operating means and extending longitudinally upwardly through said tube, said rod adapted to operate said gripper-operating means upon longitudinal movement of said rod with respect to said tube; d. means for holding said rod within said tube and for permitting said longitudinal movement of said rod with respect to said tube to raised and lowered positions corresponding to the clamped and unclamped positions of said gripper; e. vertically movable drive means having an opening therein, said tube extending upwardly through said opening; and f. means attached to said tube above said opening adapted to suspend said tube from said drive means, said means attached to said tube adapted to be moved longitudinally with respect to said tube to lower and raise said tube and said control element to and from a gripper-operating position.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 104 words

A control element drive and coupling apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for holding said rod within said tube comprises; a. a J-slot in said tube, the hooked end of said J-slot being oriented upwardly and away from said gripper; b. a pin extending outwardly into said J-slot; and c. means attaching said pin to said rod whereby said rod and pin may be moved longitudinally with respect to said tube so as to open and close said gripper and whereby said pin may be rotated into said hooked end of said J-slot to lock said rod in said raised position.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 190 words

A control element drive and coupling apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said means attaching said pin to said rod comprises; a sleeve extending over the end of said rod, said pin being attached to and extending outwardly from said sleeve into said J-slot; b. a U-slot in said sleeve, the ends of said U-slot extending upwardly; c. a second pin attached to said rod and extending outwardly therefrom into said U-slot; d. a spring biasing said sleeve downwardly onto said rod end such that said second pin normally rests in one leg of said U-slot; e. means for lifting said sleeve against the force of said spring to lift said first pin out of said hooked end of said J-slot and to lift said U-slot with respect to said second pin and means to rotate said sleeve with respect to said rod and tube to a position such that said second pin is in line with the opposite leg of said U-slot and said first pin may be lowered in said J-slot to lower said sleeve and said rod with respect to said tube to unclamp said gripper.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 66 words

A control element drive and coupling apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said supporting means attached to the upper end of said tube comprises a nut screwed onto said tube and resting on the upper end of said rack whereby rotation of said nut moves said nut longitudinally with respect to said tube thereby allowing said tube to be raised and lowered within said rack.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 167 words

A control element drive and coupling apparatus as recited in claim 5 and further including means for locking and unlocking and rotating said nut including: a. a slidable sleeve extending over a portion of said nut; b. a spring biasing said slidable sleeve upwardly on said nut; c. at least one aperture extending radially through said nut adjacent said slidable sleeve; d. a lock ball located in said aperture; e. a detent in said tube adjacent said aperture when said nut is in the normal operating position with respect to said tube, said slidable sleeve adapted to force said lock ball partially from said aperture into said detent in said tube to lock said nut into said tube; f. said slidable sleeve having a recess therein located so as to be adjacent said aperture and lock ball upon being depressed against said spring whereby said lock ball may be displaced into said recess and out of said detent and said nut may be rotated on said tube.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 16 words

A control element drive and coupling apparatus comprising: a. a control element gripper, said gripper including:

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 16 words

A control element drive and coupling apparatus comprising: a. a control element gripper, said gripper including:

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 188 words

A drive and latching mechanism adapted to be attached to and drive a predetermined plural number of nuclear reactor control assemblies comprising: a. a rack and pinion drive mechanism, said rack extending vertically and having a hole extending vertically therethrough; b. tubular means extending through said hole in said rack from a position above said rack to a position below said rack; c. a plurality of first radial arms equal to said predetermined number attached to said tube below said rack and extending outwardly therefrom; d. rod means extending vertically through said tubular means to a position below said tubular means and said first radial arms; e. means for holding said rod means within said tubular means and for permitting vertical movement of said rod means with respect to said tubular means between a raised and a lowered position; f. a plurality of second radial arms equal in number to said predetermined number attached to said rod means below said tubular means and extending outwardly therefrom and movable vertically with said rod; g. a plurality of grippers adapted to grip said control assemblies, each of said grippers including:

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 188 words

A drive and latching mechanism adapted to be attached to and drive a predetermined plural number of nuclear reactor control assemblies comprising: a. a rack and pinion drive mechanism, said rack extending vertically and having a hole extending vertically therethrough; b. tubular means extending through said hole in said rack from a position above said rack to a position below said rack; c. a plurality of first radial arms equal to said predetermined number attached to said tube below said rack and extending outwardly therefrom; d. rod means extending vertically through said tubular means to a position below said tubular means and said first radial arms; e. means for holding said rod means within said tubular means and for permitting vertical movement of said rod means with respect to said tubular means between a raised and a lowered position; f. a plurality of second radial arms equal in number to said predetermined number attached to said rod means below said tubular means and extending outwardly therefrom and movable vertically with said rod; g. a plurality of grippers adapted to grip said control assemblies, each of said grippers including:

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 58 words

A drive and latching mechanism as recited in claim 8 wherein said means for holding said rod means within said tubular means comprises engaging screw threads on said rod means and inside said tubular means whereby rotation of said rod means with respect to said tubular means causes said rod means to move vertically within said tubular means.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 109 words

A drive and latching mechanism as recited in claim 8 wherein said means for holding said rod means within said tubular means comprises: a. a J-slot in said tubular means, the hooked end of said J-slot being oriented upwardly and away from said grippers: b. a pin extending outwardly into said J-slot; and c. means attaching said pin to said rod means whereby said rod means and pin may be moved vertically with respect to said tubular means so as to open and close said grippers and whereby said pin may be rotated into said hooked end of said J-slot to lock said rod means in said raised position.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1974-09-13	1975-03-15	1975-09-14	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1978-09-13	1979-03-15	1979-09-14	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1982-09-13	1983-03-15	1983-09-14	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Nuclear reactor control element gripper and drive apparatus

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag