US3899727A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Plural motor control system for control rod drive mechanisms
Assignee: Babcock and Wilcox Co
•
Filing: 1971-09-08
•
Granted: 1975-08-12
•
Expires: 1991-09-08
Abstract
Abstract A control system for controlling the relative position of a plurality of control rods within a nuclear reactor, thus controlling the energy output of the nuclear reactor. The control system includes a single rod control subsystem for controlling the motion of the individual rods within the nuclear material and a group control subsystem for controlling a plurality of rods of a group. The system includes a circuit for precluding any single rods or group of rods from being actuated in a direction opposite to that commanded to achieve synchronism of that particular rod. Thus, the rods moving from a first position to a second position, a reference position is established which is the average of the position of all the rods and the only rods which will move to position 2 will be those which deviate further from position 2 than the reference level. The system also includes a fault detection system.
Inventors
- 👤 John R Thayer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 21:54
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D3/00; G05D3/12; G05D3/20; G21; G21C; G21C17/00; G21C17/10; G21C17/12; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
A system for positiOning a plurality of drive mechanisms to a preselected reference position comprising a plurality of drive mechanisms having an individual load for each drive mechanism to be driven by each mechanism, sensing means operatively associated with each drive mechanism for sensing the position of each drive mechanism and, thus, the associated load, including single drive signal means for generating a position signal for each drive mechanism, single reference signal generating means responsive to said sensing means for generating a single reference signal which is common to all said drive mechanisms which is an average of the positions of all the drive mechanisms, and output signal means associated with each drive mechanism responsive to both said reference signal and at least one position signal for energizing selected ones of the drive mechanisms in response to a deviation of said position signal and said reference signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
147 words
A system for positiOning a plurality of drive mechanisms to a preselected reference position comprising a plurality of drive mechanisms having an individual load for each drive mechanism to be driven by each mechanism, sensing means operatively associated with each drive mechanism for sensing the position of each drive mechanism and, thus, the associated load, including single drive signal means for generating a position signal for each drive mechanism, single reference signal generating means responsive to said sensing means for generating a single reference signal which is common to all said drive mechanisms which is an average of the positions of all the drive mechanisms, and output signal means associated with each drive mechanism responsive to both said reference signal and at least one position signal for energizing selected ones of the drive mechanisms in response to a deviation of said position signal and said reference signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
The system of claim 1 wherein each of the drive mechanism includes a reversible motor operatively associated with said output signal means, said output signal means generating a first output signal to drive the motor in a first direction in response to a deviation of a first direction and a second output signal to drive the motor in a second direction in response to a deviation in a second direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 2 further including a central command generator connected in controlling relation with said motor, wherein said motor is controlled in response to said command generator and said output signal means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system of claim 3 wherein said command generator provides a command control signal to drive said motor in one direction or the other and said output signal enables or disables said command signal in accordance with the direction of deviation of said position signal with respect to said average signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
101 words
The system of claim 4 wherein said command signal generator includes a first command subsystem for energizing said motor in a first direction and a second command subsystem for energizing said motor in a second direction, said output signal means including a first direction output signal means connected to said first subsystem and a second direction output signal means connected to said second subsystem, said first output signal means, when energized, enabling said first command subsystem and disabling said second command subsystem, and said second output signal means, when energized, enabling said second command subsystem and disabling said first command subsystem.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 5 wherein said system is unable to drive said motor in a direction opposite to that commanded.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
178 words
A system for positioning a plurality of control rod drive mechanisms for a nuclear reactor to a preselected reference position in response to a command for a change in reactor output level comprising a plurality of drive mechanisms having an individual control rod for each drive mechanism to be driven by each mechanism, sensing means operatively associated with each drive mechanism for sensing the position of each control rod including single drive signal means for generating a position signal in response to the position of each control rod, single reference signal generating means responsive to said sensing means for generating a single reference signal which is common to all said drive mechanisms which is an average of the positions for all said drive mechanisms which is an average of the positions of all the control rods, and output signal means associated with each drive mechanism responsive to both said reference signal and at least one position signal for energizing selected ones of the drive mechanisms in response to a deviation of said reference signal and said position signal.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
178 words
A system for positioning a plurality of control rod drive mechanisms for a nuclear reactor to a preselected reference position in response to a command for a change in reactor output level comprising a plurality of drive mechanisms having an individual control rod for each drive mechanism to be driven by each mechanism, sensing means operatively associated with each drive mechanism for sensing the position of each control rod including single drive signal means for generating a position signal in response to the position of each control rod, single reference signal generating means responsive to said sensing means for generating a single reference signal which is common to all said drive mechanisms which is an average of the positions for all said drive mechanisms which is an average of the positions of all the control rods, and output signal means associated with each drive mechanism responsive to both said reference signal and at least one position signal for energizing selected ones of the drive mechanisms in response to a deviation of said reference signal and said position signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
85 words
The system of claim 7 wherein each of the drive mechanisms includes a reversible motor operatively associated with said output signal means, said output signal means generating a first output signal to drive the motor in an up direction iN response to a deviation of the position of the single rod downwardly from the reference level, and a second output signal to drive the motor in down direction in response to a deviation of the position of the single rod upwardly from the reference level.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 8 further including a central command generator connected in controlling relation with said motor, wherein said motor is controlled in response to said command generator and said output signal means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system of claim 9 wherein said command generator provides a command control signal to drive said motor in the up direction or the down direction and said output signal enables or disables said command signal in accordance with the direction of deviation of said position signal with respect to said average signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
101 words
The system of claim 10 wherein said command signal generator includes a first command subsystem for energizing said motor in an up direction and a second command subsystem for energizing said motor in a down direction, said output signal means including a first direction output signal means connected to said first subsystem and a second direction output signal means connected to said second subsystem, said first output signal means, when energized, enabling said first command subsystem and disabling said second command subsystem, and said second output signal means, when energized, enabling said second command subsystem and disabling said first command subsystem.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 11 wherein said system is unable to drive said motor in a direction opposite to that commanded.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system of claim 7 wherein said reference signal generating means includes a plurality of input circuits, at least one input circuit for each control rod drive mechanism, said input circuits being responsive to said position signals and generating an average signal which is a function of the average position of the control rods.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 13 wherein said input circuits are connected in parallel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 14 wherein said reference signal generating means includes an operational amplifier for modifying said average signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 15 wherein said operational amplifier includes a plurality of feedback circuits, said feedback circuits equaling in number the number of input circuits.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 16 wherein said amplifier is connected to provide a gain of the ratio of one to the number of feedback circuits relative to any one input signal and a gain of one relative to the total input circuits.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3309588A
Cited
US3377924A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-08-11 | 1979-02-10 | 1979-08-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-11 | 1983-02-10 | 1983-08-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-11 | 1987-02-10 | 1987-08-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |