US3775247A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Control rod drive for a water-cooled nuclear reactor
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Sweden AB
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Filing: 1971-06-03
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Granted: 1973-11-27
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Expires: 1991-06-03
Abstract
Abstract A control rod drive for a water-cooled nuclear reactor includes a double-walled cylinder with an opening at the bottom from the space between the walls into the interior. A piston slidable in the interior is connected to the control rod. A motor driven spindle carries a nut which can be moved upwardly into engagement with the piston to raise the control rod for normal control purposes. A source of gas under pressure is connected through a scram valve to the top of the space between the walls, for pressing water into the cylinder to raise the piston and control rod quickly in an emergency.
Inventors
- 👤 B Ode
- 👤 Suvanto Zntti
- 👤 L Tornblom
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 23:11
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C7/00; G21C7/06; G21C7/08; G21C7/12; G21C7/16; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
236 words
Control rod drive for a water cooled nuclear reactor (1), said drive (16) comprising a drive means (21) operated by a volume of pressurized water to insert the control rod (15) into the core (2) of a reactor (1), and a housing (22) which surrounds the drive means (21) and is adapted to be connected in a vertical position to the lower side of the reactor (1), in which the housing (22) is double-walled so as to provide between its walls (32 and 33) a vertical tubular gap (35) which is adapted normally to contain at least a substantial part of the water volume, means connecting said gap at its lower end to the inside of the housing (22) and to the drive means (21) for rapid introduction of water through at least one first flow passage (38) and an inlet (37) into said gap for connection to a pressure medium source (45) through a supply conduit (46,48) having a scram valve (47) which is normally shut but opened in an emergency for pressurizing the driving water, the driving water being pressurized by means of compressed gas and at least one narrow, second flow passage (62,64) arranged to connect the inside of the housing (22) with the inside of the reactor (1), and means (63) at the upper part of the gap (35) for the escape of gas from the gap (35) after an emergency shutdown.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
236 words
Control rod drive for a water cooled nuclear reactor (1), said drive (16) comprising a drive means (21) operated by a volume of pressurized water to insert the control rod (15) into the core (2) of a reactor (1), and a housing (22) which surrounds the drive means (21) and is adapted to be connected in a vertical position to the lower side of the reactor (1), in which the housing (22) is double-walled so as to provide between its walls (32 and 33) a vertical tubular gap (35) which is adapted normally to contain at least a substantial part of the water volume, means connecting said gap at its lower end to the inside of the housing (22) and to the drive means (21) for rapid introduction of water through at least one first flow passage (38) and an inlet (37) into said gap for connection to a pressure medium source (45) through a supply conduit (46,48) having a scram valve (47) which is normally shut but opened in an emergency for pressurizing the driving water, the driving water being pressurized by means of compressed gas and at least one narrow, second flow passage (62,64) arranged to connect the inside of the housing (22) with the inside of the reactor (1), and means (63) at the upper part of the gap (35) for the escape of gas from the gap (35) after an emergency shutdown.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
Control rod drive according to claim 1, in which the escape means comprises at least one narrow, third flow passage (63) adapted to connect the upper part of the gap (35) with the inside of the reactor (1).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
Control rod drive according to claim 1, in which the first flow passage (38) comprises a throttle for the pressurized water, and is of considerably larger cross-section than the second floW passages (62,64).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
175 words
Control rod drive according to claim 1, in which the drive means (21) for rapid insertion comprises a piston rod (21) at least indirectly joined with the control rod (15), the outer wall (32) of the drive housing (22) comprising a drive connection piece (32) with a lower flange (40), the connection piece being fixed to the reactor (1), the inner wall (33) of the drive housing being provided at the bottom with a bottom plate (34) with a counter flange (41) which is detachably attached to the connection piece flange (40), first sealing means (36) located between the outside of the inner wall (33) and the connection piece (32) at the upper part of the inner wall (33) to seal the gap (35) against the inside of the reactor (1) and second sealing means (25) located between the inside of the inner wall (33) and the piston rod (21) at the upper part of the inner wall (33) to seal the inside of the drive housing (22) against the inside of the reactor (1).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
Control rod drive according to claim 4, in which substantially all the parts of the drive housing (22) located inside its outer wall (32) are combined to form a unit which can be taken in and out of the drive connection piece (32).
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) | 1976-11-26 | 1977-05-28 | 1977-11-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-26 | 1981-05-28 | 1981-11-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-26 | 1985-05-28 | 1985-11-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |