Patent US3926722A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3926722A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Reactor vessel head support arrangement
Assignee: Combustion Engineering Inc
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Filing: 1973-06-29
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Granted: 1975-12-16
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Expires: 1993-06-29
Abstract
Abstract A support and sealing arrangement for the vessel head of a nuclear reactor. The arrangement comprises a first support ring supported in the vessel cavity in which the reactor vessel is disposed, a plurality of flexible struts spaced about the circumference of the reactor vessel each of which has one end connected to the first support ring, and a second support ring which is supported by the other ends of the flexible struts to support the vessel head. The first and second support rings are each concentrically arranged with respect to the reactor vessel. Also, sealing means are provided for preventing fluid communication between the interior of the reactor vessel and the vessel cavity, and between the vessel cavity and the outside atmosphere.
Inventors
- 👤 Clive Frederick George Dupen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 09:10
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C13/00; G21C13/02; G21C13/06; G21C13/073; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
A NUCLEAR REACTOR HEAD SUPPORT ARRANGEMENT COMPRISING: A CONTAINMENT STRUCTURE PROVIDING A VESSEL CAVITY; A REACTOR VESSEL VERTICALLY DISPOSED AND SUPPORTED WITHIN SAID VESSEL CAVITY; A FIRST SUPPORT RING SUPPORTED FROM SAID CONTAINMENT STRUCTURE IN SAID CAVITY, SAID FIRST SUPPORT RING BEING CONCENTRICALLY DISPOSED WITH RESPECT TO AND SPACED FROM SAID VESSEL; A PLURALITY OF FLEXIBLE STRUTS SPACED ABOUT SAID REACTOR VESSEL, SAID FLEXIBLE STRUTS EACH HAVING ONE END CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST SUPPORT RING; A SECOND SUPPORT RING CONCENTRICALLY DISPOSED WITH RESPECT TO SAID REACTOR VESSEL, SAID SECOND SUPPORT RING BEING CONNECTED TO THE OTHER ENDS OF SAID FLEXIBLE STRUTS; A VESSEL HEAD FOR SAID REACTOR VESSEL, SAID VESSEL HEAD BEING ALIGNED WITH SAID VESSEL AND SUPPORTED BY SAID SECOND SUPPORT RING AT THE UPPER END OF SAID VESSEL; AND A FIRST SEALING MEANS FOR PREVENTING FLUID COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE INTERIOR OF SAID REACTOR VESSEL AND SAID CAVITY.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
A NUCLEAR REACTOR HEAD SUPPORT ARRANGEMENT COMPRISING: A CONTAINMENT STRUCTURE PROVIDING A VESSEL CAVITY; A REACTOR VESSEL VERTICALLY DISPOSED AND SUPPORTED WITHIN SAID VESSEL CAVITY; A FIRST SUPPORT RING SUPPORTED FROM SAID CONTAINMENT STRUCTURE IN SAID CAVITY, SAID FIRST SUPPORT RING BEING CONCENTRICALLY DISPOSED WITH RESPECT TO AND SPACED FROM SAID VESSEL; A PLURALITY OF FLEXIBLE STRUTS SPACED ABOUT SAID REACTOR VESSEL, SAID FLEXIBLE STRUTS EACH HAVING ONE END CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST SUPPORT RING; A SECOND SUPPORT RING CONCENTRICALLY DISPOSED WITH RESPECT TO SAID REACTOR VESSEL, SAID SECOND SUPPORT RING BEING CONNECTED TO THE OTHER ENDS OF SAID FLEXIBLE STRUTS; A VESSEL HEAD FOR SAID REACTOR VESSEL, SAID VESSEL HEAD BEING ALIGNED WITH SAID VESSEL AND SUPPORTED BY SAID SECOND SUPPORT RING AT THE UPPER END OF SAID VESSEL; AND A FIRST SEALING MEANS FOR PREVENTING FLUID COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE INTERIOR OF SAID REACTOR VESSEL AND SAID CAVITY.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The head support arrangement of claim 1 wherein each of said flexible struts has a first degree of flexibility in the radial direction relative to said vessel and a second degree of flexibility in the circumferential direction relative to said vessel, said first degree of flexibility being greater than said second degree.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The support arrangement of claim 2 wherein each of said flexible struts is a plate disposed in facing relationship with respect to the external surface of said vessel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The support arrangement of claim 3 wherein said reactor vessel is supported within said cavity by said first support ring.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The support arrangement of claim 1 wherein said first sealing means comprises a seal between said vessel and said second support ring and a seal between said second support ring and said vessel head.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The support arrangement of claim 5 further including a second sealing means between said vessel head and said containment structure for preventing fluid communication between said cavity and the atmosphere external to said cavity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
The support arrangement of claim 5 wherein said seal between said vessel and said second support ring is welded omega seal welded to said vessel and said second support ring about the circumference of said vessel, and said seal between said second support ring and said vessel head comprises at least one O-ring disposed between the contact surface between said second support ring and said vessel head.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
The support arrangement of claim 5 wherein said seal between said vessel and said second support ring is welded omega seal welded to said vessel and said second support ring about the circumference of said vessel, and said seal between said second support ring and said vessel head comprises a weld between said vessel head and said second support ring about the circumference of said second support ring.
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) | 1978-12-15 | 1979-06-16 | 1979-12-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-15 | 1983-06-16 | 1983-12-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-15 | 1987-06-16 | 1987-12-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |