US3717352A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Seal for rotatable covers of nuclear reactors
Assignee: Interatum Int Atomreaktorbau dt GmbH
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Filing: 1970-04-21
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Granted: 1973-02-20
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Expires: 1990-04-21
Abstract
Abstract Seal for a large rotatable cover of a nuclear reactor containing protective gas and cooled with sodium wherein the cover is formed of a radially outer rotatable cover portion and a radially inner cover portion mutually connected by a plurality of peripherally distributed screws and the reactor has a flanged opening closable by the cover, comprising a removable outer ring surrounding the outer rotatable cover portion and threadedly secured to the flange of the reactor, a pair of spaced-apart inflatable hollow sealing rings surrounding the outer cover portion and received in the outer ring, a blocking gas connection located in the space between the sealing rings for supplying blocking gas to the space, a layer of tetrafluorethylene coated on the hollow sealing rings in situ in the outer ring, and an additional sealing member located below the inner cover portion, the screws connecting the inner and outer cover portions being adjustable for lowering the inner cover portion into sealing engagement with additional sealing member.
Inventors
- 👤 H Rothfuss
- 👤 W Jansing
- 👤 H Rohrs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 02:11
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C13/00; G21C13/02; G21C13/06; G21C13/073; G21C13/0735; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
Seal for a large rotatable cover of a nuclear reactor containing protective gas and cooled with sodium wherein the cover is formed of a radially outer rotatable cover portion and a radially inner cover portion mutually connected by a plurality of peripherally distributed screws and the reactor has a flanged opening closable by the cover, comprising a removable outer ring surrounding the outer rotatable cover portion and threadedly secured to the flange of the reactor, a pair of spaced-apart inflatable hollow sealing rings surrounding the outer cover portion and received in said outer ring, a blocking gas connection located in the space between said sealing rings for supplying blocking gas to said space, a layer of tetrafluorethylene coated on said hollow sealing rings in situ in said other outer ring, and an additional sealing member located below said inner cover portion, the screws connecting the inner and outer cover portions being adjustable for lowering the inner cover portion into sealing engagement with said additional sealing member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
Seal for a large rotatable cover of a nuclear reactor containing protective gas and cooled with sodium wherein the cover is formed of a radially outer rotatable cover portion and a radially inner cover portion mutually connected by a plurality of peripherally distributed screws and the reactor has a flanged opening closable by the cover, comprising a removable outer ring surrounding the outer rotatable cover portion and threadedly secured to the flange of the reactor, a pair of spaced-apart inflatable hollow sealing rings surrounding the outer cover portion and received in said outer ring, a blocking gas connection located in the space between said sealing rings for supplying blocking gas to said space, a layer of tetrafluorethylene coated on said hollow sealing rings in situ in said other outer ring, and an additional sealing member located below said inner cover portion, the screws connecting the inner and outer cover portions being adjustable for lowering the inner cover portion into sealing engagement with said additional sealing member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
166 words
Seal for a large rotatable cover of a nuclear reactor containing protective gas and cooled with sodium wherein the cover is formed of a radially outer rotatable cover portion and a radially inner cover portion mutually connected by a plurality of peripherally distributed screws and the reactor has a flanged opening closable by the cover, comprising a removable outer ring surrounding the outer rotatable cover portion and threadedly secured to the flange of the reactor, a pair of spaced-apart inflatable hollow sealing rings surrounding the outer cover portion and received in said outer ring, a blocking gas connection located in the space between said sealing rings for supplying blocking gas to said space, a layer of tetrafluorethylene coated on said hollow sealing rings in situ in said other outer ring, and an additional sealing member located below said inner cover portion, the screws connecting the inner and outer cover portions being adjustable for lowering the inner cover portion into sealing engagement with said additional sealing member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
166 words
Seal for a large rotatable cover of a nuclear reactor containing protective gas and cooled with sodium wherein the cover is formed of a radially outer rotatable cover portion and a radially inner cover portion mutually connected by a plurality of peripherally distributed screws and the reactor has a flanged opening closable by the cover, comprising a removable outer ring surrounding the outer rotatable cover portion and threadedly secured to the flange of the reactor, a pair of spaced-apart inflatable hollow sealing rings surrounding the outer cover portion and received in said outer ring, a blocking gas connection located in the space between said sealing rings for supplying blocking gas to said space, a layer of tetrafluorethylene coated on said hollow sealing rings in situ in said other outer ring, and an additional sealing member located below said inner cover portion, the screws connecting the inner and outer cover portions being adjustable for lowering the inner cover portion into sealing engagement with said additional sealing member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
Seal according to claim 1, wherein support bearing means are mounted on the reactor flange and rotatably support said rotary outer cover portion, and including a third hollow sealing ring located below said support bearing means, said third hollow sealing ring being inflatable during operation of the reactor and being evacuated when rotating the cover.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
Seal according to claim 1, wherein said hollow sealing rings, in inflated condition thereof, seal a gap formed between said outer ring and said outer cover portion, and including a flat ring mounted partly on said outer ring and said outer cover portion for covering said gap.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
Seal according to claim 3, wherein said outer ring and said outer cover portion are formed with at least one annular groove, respectively, located below said flat ring.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3261611A
Cited
US3514115A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-02-20 | 1976-08-21 | 1977-02-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-20 | 1980-08-21 | 1981-02-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-20 | 1984-08-21 | 1985-02-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |