US3659541A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Nuclear powered ships
Assignee: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
•
Filing: 1969-08-18
•
Granted: 1972-05-02
•
Expires: 1989-08-18
Abstract
Abstract A nuclear powered ship has its collision barriers made water tight and means are provided for filling the barriers with water to act as a shield against radiation in the event of, or as a precaution against, a ''''maximum credible accident,'''' thus avoiding the need for a permanent shield outside the reactor containment vessel. Coffer dams in the ship can be similarly treated to give protection to the ship''s crew. The means for filling the barriers may be a ring main pipe with access fore and aft of the ship or the ship''s ballast system may be adapted to provide the filling water for the barriers.
Inventors
- 👤 Shephard Rigg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 17:03
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B43/00; B63B43/18; G; G21; G21C; G21C13/00; B63B2209/00; B63B2209/16; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30; Y10; Y10S; Y10S376/00; Y10S376/909
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
A nuclear powered ship comprising: a nuclear reactor, inner and outer hulls along the port and starboard sides of the nuclear reactor, the intervening spaces between the hulls including stiffening means and forming collision barriers, coffer dams extending across the ship fore and aft of the nuclear reactor, said collision barriers and said coffer dams being water tight compartments, and means for filling the barriers and the coffer dams with water, whereby said barriers and coffer dams can be filled with water to provide a shielding material, thereby permitting the omission of a thick solid shielding material around the nuclear reactor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
101 words
A nuclear powered ship comprising: a nuclear reactor, inner and outer hulls along the port and starboard sides of the nuclear reactor, the intervening spaces between the hulls including stiffening means and forming collision barriers, coffer dams extending across the ship fore and aft of the nuclear reactor, said collision barriers and said coffer dams being water tight compartments, and means for filling the barriers and the coffer dams with water, whereby said barriers and coffer dams can be filled with water to provide a shielding material, thereby permitting the omission of a thick solid shielding material around the nuclear reactor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A ship as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means comprises pipework open to discharge into the barriers and connecting means with the pipework for the supply of water.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A ship as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means comprises pipework open to discharge into the barriers and connecting means with the pipework for the supply of water.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A ship as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means comprises the ballast system of the ship having pipes to the barriers and means for driving water along said pipes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A ship as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means comprises the ballast system of the ship having pipes to the barriers and means for driving water along said pipes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
A ship as claimed in claim 2 wherein pumps are connected with said pipework, one pump being located at the fore end of the ship and one pump being located at the aft end of the ship and the inlet of the pump reaching below the water line of the ship.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
A ship as claimed in claim 2 wherein pumps are connected with said pipework, one pump being located at the fore end of the ship and one pump being located at the aft end of the ship and the inlet of the pump reaching below the water line of the ship.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
A ship as claimed in claim 2 wherein said pipework extends along port and starboard sides of the ship and branches to said pipework extend across the ship so that the port part connect with port and starboard collision barriers and the starboard part connects with starboard and port collision barriers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
A ship as claimed in claim 2 wherein said pipework extends along port and starboard sides of the ship and branches to said pipework extend across the ship so that the port part connect with port and starboard collision barriers and the starboard part connects with starboard and port collision barriers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3047485A
Cited
US3314858A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-02 | 1975-11-01 | 1976-05-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-02 | 1979-11-01 | 1980-05-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-02 | 1983-11-01 | 1984-05-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |