US3722332A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for securing the bolts of the reactor pressure vessel head to the reactor pressure vessel
Assignee: UNC NUCLEAR INDUSTRIES Inc A CORP OF
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Filing: 1971-06-01
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Granted: 1973-03-27
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Expires: 1991-06-01
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus securing a locking bolt of a pressure head to a reactor pressure vessel in which the pressure head flange is urged in one direction and the bolt is tensioned in an opposite direction to reduce the interfacing force between confronting walls of a nut securing the locking bolt and the pressure head flange, while an operator tightens the nut against the pressure head flange. For tensioning the bolt, a cylindrical force transmitting member has its lower end threaded for engagement with the locking bolt and it upper end threaded, but without any pitch, to receive in threaded engagement a puller or lifter rod similarly threaded. The force transmitting member is split axially so that its halves can be displaced radially to facilitate the retaining of the lifter rod in threaded engagement therewith, while rotating the force transmitting member for adjustable threaded engagement with the locking bolt without rotating the puller rod. Axially movable retaining sleeves surround the split force transmitting member for at times to permit separation thereof to retain the lifted rod in threaded engagement therewith while rotating the force transmitting member for adjustable threaded engagement with the locking bolt without rotating the puller rod, and at other times securing the force transmitting member in locking engagement with the lifter rod for movement therewith. For urging the flange in the one direction a force is transmitted through columns and a connector sleeve for application to the pressure head flange. A suitable hydraulic system with pistons initiates the transmitted forces in each direction.
Inventors
- 👤 C Jones
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 13:35
CPC Classifications
B; B25; B25B; B25B29/00; B25B29/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
Apparatus for tensioning a bolt and unseating a nut in threaded engagement with the bolt comprising: a sleeve adapted to apply a force against a wall on which the nut is seated and adapted for receiving the nut; a cylindrical force transmitting body having one end thereof in threaded engagement with a portion of the bolt projecting beyond the nut, said body being separated in the axial direction for radial displacement; a puller rod attached to the other end of said cylindrical force transmitting body, and hydraulic means connected to said puller rod for applying a force in one axial direction for tensioning the bolt and connected to said sleeve for applying an axial force against the wall on which the nut is seated in an opposite directIon.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
Apparatus for tensioning a bolt and unseating a nut in threaded engagement with the bolt comprising: a sleeve adapted to apply a force against a wall on which the nut is seated and adapted for receiving the nut; a cylindrical force transmitting body having one end thereof in threaded engagement with a portion of the bolt projecting beyond the nut, said body being separated in the axial direction for radial displacement; a puller rod attached to the other end of said cylindrical force transmitting body, and hydraulic means connected to said puller rod for applying a force in one axial direction for tensioning the bolt and connected to said sleeve for applying an axial force against the wall on which the nut is seated in an opposite directIon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cylindrical force transmitting body and said puller rod are in threaded engagement by means of pitchless threads.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cylindrical force transmitting body and said puller rod are in threaded engagement by means of square threads.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said cylindrical force transmitting body is separated in the axial direction to form semi-cylindrical sections.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 and comprising a retainer ring surrounding said cylindrical force transmitting body for holding together said cylindrical force transmitting body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said cylindrical force transmitting body has a reduced outer diameter along a portion thereof and said retainer ring is slidable to the reduced diameter portion of the force transmitting body to enable radial displacement thereof and is slidable to the increased diameter portion of the force transmitting body for urging together the cylindrical force transmitting body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said hydraulic means include columns axially disposed and radially spaced that extend along the outer wall of the cylindrical force transmitting body and are connected at the feet thereof to said sleeve for transmitting a force through said sleeve for application against a wall on which the nut is seated.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
79 words
Arrangement for securing confronting flanges of annular configurations through bolts and nuts comprising: a plurality of apparatus for tensioning bolts, respectively, and unseating, respectively, nuts in threaded engagement with respective bolts, said apparatus being disposed at equal angular distances about the axis of said confronting flanges; elevating means engaging said apparatus for raising and lowering said apparatus, and drive means connected to said apparatus for rotating said apparatus about said axis for advancing said apparatus in a circular path.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
79 words
Arrangement for securing confronting flanges of annular configurations through bolts and nuts comprising: a plurality of apparatus for tensioning bolts, respectively, and unseating, respectively, nuts in threaded engagement with respective bolts, said apparatus being disposed at equal angular distances about the axis of said confronting flanges; elevating means engaging said apparatus for raising and lowering said apparatus, and drive means connected to said apparatus for rotating said apparatus about said axis for advancing said apparatus in a circular path.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
Arrangement as claimed in claim 8 wherein a preselected number of bolts and nuts in threaded engagement are disposed between successive apparatus, said apparatus simultaneously tension associated bolts and simultaneously unseat associated nuts, said drive means advance in sequence said apparatus simultaneously to successive bolts and nut in threaded engagement.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
Arrangement as claimed in claim 8 and comprising a extensometer mounted on each bolt being tensioned during the entire period of time such bolts are being tensioned for checking for prescribed tension on each bolt, respectively, and for uniform tension between all of the bolts.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
Arrangement as claimed in claim 8 and comprising detachable guide means mounted on each of preselected bolts for guiding the location of the respective apparatus relative to the location of the associated bolts.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
Arrangement as claimed in claim 9 wherein said elevating means raises said apparatus at the completion of each bolt securing sequence and said drive means rotate said apparatus while in the raised position prior to the beginning of the succeeding bolt securing sequence.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
Arrangement as claimed in claim 8 and comprising container means adjacent said apparatus for storing removed bolts and nuts.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
Arrangement as claimed in claim 9 and comprising optical sighting means mounted on said confronting flanges for sighting a preselected marker to test for uniformity of tension of said bolts.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
57 words
Arrangement as claimed in claim 14 wherein said confronting flanges deviate from a horizontal plane when the tensioning of said bolts is not uniform to misalign said optical sighting means from said marker and wherein said confronting flanges is flat when the tensioning of said bolts is uniform to align said optical sighting means with said marker.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-26 | 1976-09-25 | 1977-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-26 | 1980-09-25 | 1981-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-26 | 1984-09-25 | 1985-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |