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US3769156A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Installation for measuring and controlling a nuclear reactor

Assignee: Areva NP SAS
•
Filing: 1971-08-30
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Granted: 1973-10-30
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Expires: 1991-08-30
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Abstract

Abstract An installation for measuring and controlling a nuclear reactor of which the core is situated in a pressurised reactor vessel surrounded by a shielding enclosure, comprises measuring apparatus which is situated in a measuring room outside the shielding enclosure and at a level below that of the opening plane of the vessel, the apparatus being connected to movable detectors each displaceable inside a guide tube capable of penetrating into the core by sliding in a channel, each channel being connected at one end to the vessel bottom and at the other end leading into the measuring room, the other end of each channel including a device which is capable of providing an adjustable seal between the inner surface of the channel and the outer surface of the associated guide tube.

Inventors

  • 👤 J Brecy

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 20:34
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C17/00; G21C17/10; G21C17/108; G21C17/116; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 189 words
An installation for measuring and controlling a nuclear reactor of which the core is situated in a pressurised reactor vessel having a removable cover surrounded by a shielding enclosure, the installation having flux measuring apparatus located in a measuring room outside the shielding enclosure operatively connected to a movable flux detector displaceable within a guide tube capable of penetrating into the core by sliding in a channel having one end connected to the vessel bottom and the other end connected to the measuring room, the channel being embedded in the shielding enclosure in a fluidtight manner, the improvement of locating the measuring room at a level below that of the plane of contact of the cover and of the vessel and the other end of the channel includes means for providing an adjustable seal between the inner surface of the channel and the outer surface of the guide tube, said seal being adjustable between a first condition withstanding the pressure inside the vessel during operation of the reactor, while in a tube locking position, and a second condition permitting sliding of the guide tube during shut-down of the reactor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 189 words
An installation for measuring and controlling a nuclear reactor of which the core is situated in a pressurised reactor vessel having a removable cover surrounded by a shielding enclosure, the installation having flux measuring apparatus located in a measuring room outside the shielding enclosure operatively connected to a movable flux detector displaceable within a guide tube capable of penetrating into the core by sliding in a channel having one end connected to the vessel bottom and the other end connected to the measuring room, the channel being embedded in the shielding enclosure in a fluidtight manner, the improvement of locating the measuring room at a level below that of the plane of contact of the cover and of the vessel and the other end of the channel includes means for providing an adjustable seal between the inner surface of the channel and the outer surface of the guide tube, said seal being adjustable between a first condition withstanding the pressure inside the vessel during operation of the reactor, while in a tube locking position, and a second condition permitting sliding of the guide tube during shut-down of the reactor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 61 words
An installation as claimed in claim 1, said seal including an assembly of a first male and a female frusto-conical ring of resilient material, the rings mating at their conical surfaces, and a scraper seal, the assembly being compressible in an annular chamber at said other end of the channel by a clamping ring adjustable along the axis of the channel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 43 words
An installation as claimed in claim 2, said scraper seal being an annular member of resilient material having two arms extending parallel to the channel axis and a rigid ring spacing the arms of the annular member on clamping of said scraper seal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 36 words
An installation as claimed in claim 1, said adjustable sealing means including two seals spaced axially of the channel defining with the channel and the guide tube a leak detection chamber connected to a drainage duct.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 25 words
An installation as claimed in claim 4, said leak detection chamber being filled with non-active fluid at a pressure greater than that in the vessel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 34 words
An installation as claimed in claim 2 said seal including a second male and female frusto-conical ring inverted with respect to said first rings and situated on the opposite side of the scraper seal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 14 words
An installation as claimed in claim 6, each frusto-conical ring having a helical slit.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3025226A Cited
US3519534A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1976-10-29 1977-04-30 1977-10-30 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1980-10-29 1981-04-30 1981-10-30 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1984-10-29 1985-04-30 1985-10-30 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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