Control arrangement for self-closing control rod latches

Claim 2

In combination, a support; a control rod supported in and longitudinally, linearly, reciprocable with respect to said support; an electromagnetic jacking mechanism for reciprocating said rod longitudinally of said support in opposite directions including at least one lifting magnet and at least one lifting latch actuating magnet; a self-locking latch fixed on said support against linear movement longitudinally of said rod including biasing means forcing said self-locking latch into gripping relation with said rod and including means mechanically locking said rod against movement in either direction with respect to said support; electromagnetic means for actuating said self-locking latch, upon energization, to overcome said locking means and biasing means to move said latch out of gripping relation with said rod; and means electrically connecting said self-locking latch actuating electromagNetic means, with at least one of said lifting and lifting latch actuating magnets for simultaneous electrical energization thereof.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electromagnetic means for actuating said self-locking latch is electrically connected in series with said lifting latch actuating electromagnet whereby to effect simultaneous energization thereof.

Claim 4

In combination a support; a control rod supported in and longitudinally, linearly, reciprocable with respect to said support; an electromagnetic jacking mechanism for reciprocating said rod longitudinally of said support in opposite directions including at least one rod moving means and at least one rod moving latch and its operating means including first biasing means providing a selected biasing force to said rod moving latch acting to move said latch out of gripping engagement with said rod and first electromagnetic means for producing a force on said latch when energized to overcome the force of said first biasing means and actuate said latch into gripping engagement with said rod; a self-closing latch fixed on said support against linear movement longitudinally of said rod and having operating means including second biasing means providing a selected biasing force to said self-closing latch acting to move said latch into gripping engagement with said rod and second electromagnetic means producing a force on said latch when energized for overcoming the force of said second bias means to actuate said latch out of gripping engagement with said rod; and circuit means connecting said first electromagnetic means in series electrical relationship with said second electromagnetic means to effect simultaneous energization thereof, the relationship between said first biasing means and first electromagnetic means and between said second biasing means and second electromagnetic means being selected such that said self-closing latch is actuated to disengage from the rod following actuation of said rod moving latch into gripping engagement therewith upon energization of said first and second electromagnetic means and said rod moving latch disengages from the rod folowing said self-closing latch moving into gripping engagement therewith upon termination of energization of said first and second electromagnetic means.

Claim 5

In combination a support; a control rod supported in and longitudinally, linearly, reciprocable with respect to said support; an electromagnetic jacking mechanism for reciprocating said rod longitudinally of said support in opposite directions including at least one rod moving means and at least one rod moving latch and its operating means including first biasing means providing a selected biasing force to said rod moving latch acting to move said latch out of gripping engagement with said rod and first electromagnetic means for producing a force on said latch when energized to overcome the force of said first biasing means and actuate said latch into gripping engagement with said rod; a self-closing latch fixed on said support against linear movement longitudinally of said rod and having operating means including second biasing means providing a selected biasing force to said self-closing latch acting to move said latch into gripping engagement with said rod and second electromagnetic means producing a force on said latch when energized for overcoming the force of said second bias means to actuate said latch out of gripping engagement with said rod; and circuit means connecting said first electromagnetic means in series electrical relationship with said second electromagnetic means to effect simultaneous energization thereof, the relationship between said first biasing means and first electromagnetic means and between said second biasing means and second electromagnetic means being selected such that said self-closing latch is actuated to disengage from the rod following actuation of said rod moving latch into gripping engagement therewith upon energization of said first and second electromagnetic means and said rod moving latch disengages from the rod folowing said self-closing latch moving into gripping engagement therewith upon termination of energization of said first and second electromagnetic means.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 3 wherein said first electromagnetic means for actuating said rod moving latch includes means for effecting actuation of said rod moving latch at a first electrical current in said series connected circuit and said second electromagnetic means for actuating said self-closing latch includes means for effecting actuation of said self-closing latch at a second electrical current in said series connected circuit greater than said first current.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 4 wherein the biasing forces of said first and second biasing means respectively are overcome by first and second magnetomotive actuating forces respectively and said first electromagnetic means include a first solenoid coil having a first number of conductive turns for producing said first magnetomotive actuating force at said first electrical current and said second electromagnetic means include a second solenoid coil having a second number of conductive turns less than said first for producing said second magnetomotive actuating force at said second electrical current greater than said first.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 5 including means for switchably applying a predetermined voltage across said first and second solenoid coils connected in series for providing said first and second currents therein, the inductance of said coils in said circuit creating a time lag between the attainment of said first and second currents respectively.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 6 wherein said first electromagnetic means include first and second magnets moveable relative to one another and having said rod moving latch connected to one of said magnets; said second electromagnetic means include first and second magnets mOveable relative to one another and having said self-closing latch connected to one of said magnets; each of said first and second magnets associated with said first and second electromagnetic means being moveable between a near and far position relative to one another when said electromagnetic means are respectively energized and de-energized, and means for maintaining a non-magnetic gap between said magnets in the near portion which is greater for said magnets associated with said second electromagnetic means than for said magnets associated with said first electromagnetic means.