Hydraulic control rod

Claim 2

In a nuclear reactor comprising an active portion having a vertical nuclear-fuel rod and a low-pressure chamber containing a coolant moderator in which the nuclear-fuel rod is positioned, a high-pressure chamber positioned over the low-pressure chamber, a vertical tube containing the fuel rod and extending into the high-pressure chamber, a pump for moving the coolant moderator from the low-pressure chamber to the high-pressure chamber and thereby causing the coolant moderator to be drawn through the tube over the nuclear-fuel element from the high-pressure chamber to the low-pressure chamber, and a vertical control rod, the combination with the chambers and the control rod, of a vertical cylinder housing the control rod and extending through the chambers and upwardly beyond the high-pressure chamber, the cylinder having an upper portion extending from the top to the high-pressure chamber and closely fitting the control rod and a lower portion extending from the bottom to the upper portion and loosely receiving the control rod so as to provide an annular space for coolant moderator about the control rod, means including a valve having a first position in which it connects the top of the upper portion of the cylinder with the low-pressure chamber and the top of the lower portion of the cylinder with the high-pressure chamber for moving the control rod upward, a second position in which it connects the top of the upper portion of the cylinder with the high-pressure chamber and the top of the lower portion of the cylinder with the low-pressure chamber for moving the control rod downward, and a third position in which it connects the top of the lower portion of the cylinder with the low-pressure chamber and blocks the top of the upper portion of the cylinder by cutting it off from both chambers for holding the control rod against movement and a line continuously connecting the bottom of the cylinder with the high-pressure chamber for cooperating with the connection of the top of the lower portion of the cylinder with the low-pressure chamber in the second and third positions of the valve in causing coolant moderator to flow upwardly over that part of the control rod located in said lower portion.

Claim 3

In an assembly comprising a low-pressure chamber, high-pressure chamber positioned adjacent thereto, and a rod adapted to be moved into and out of the low-pressure chamber; the combination therewith, of a cylinder enclosing the rod and having a first portion located in the low-pressure chamber and loosely fitting the rod and a second portion located out of the low-pressure chamber and tightly fitting the rod, a first line continuously connecting the high-pressure chamber with the end of the loosely fitting portion of the cylinder away from the tightly fitting portion, a valve, a second line connecting the valve with the end of the loosely fitting portion of the cylinder adjacent the tightly fitting portion, a third line connecting the valve with the end of the tightly fitting portion of the cylinder away from the loosely fitting portion, a fourth line connecting the valve with the high-pressure chamber, and a fifth line connecting the valve with the low-pressure chamber; whereby in a first position of the valve the third and fourth lines are connected to allow fluid from the high-pressure chamber to flow into the tightly fitting portion of the cylinder in order to move the rod into the low-pressure chamber and the second and fifth lines are connected to allow fluid to enter the loosely fitting portion of the cylinder through the first line, flow along the rod and exit from said loosely fitting portion through the second and fifth lines; in a second position of the valve the third and fifth lines are connected to allow fluid to escape to the low-pressure chamber from the tightly fitting portion of the cylinder and the second and fourth lines are connected so as to supplement the first line in supplying fluid from the high-pressure chamber to the loosely fitting portion of the cylinder for forcing the rod out the first chamber; and in a third position of the valve the third line is blocked to lock fluid in the tightly fitting portion of the cylinder for preventing the rod from moving in a direction outward of the low-pressure chamber and the second and firth line are connected to allow fluid to enter the loosely fitting portion of the cylinder through the first line, flow along the rod and exit from said loosely fitting portion of the cylinder through the second and fifth lines to the low-pressure chamber, this fluid aiding the fluid locked in the tightly fitting portion of the cylinder in preventing the rod from being moved in a direction inward of the low-pressure chamber.

Claim 4

In an assembly comprising a low-pressure chamber, high-pressure chamber positioned adjacent thereto, and a rod adapted to be moved into and out of the low-pressure chamber; the combination therewith, of a cylinder enclosing the rod and having a first portion located in the low-pressure chamber and loosely fitting the rod and a second portion located out of the low-pressure chamber and tightly fitting the rod, a first line continuously connecting the high-pressure chamber with the end of the loosely fitting portion of the cylinder away from the tightly fitting portion, a valve, a second line connecting the valve with the end of the loosely fitting portion of the cylinder adjacent the tightly fitting portion, a third line connecting the valve with the end of the tightly fitting portion of the cylinder away from the loosely fitting portion, a fourth line connecting the valve with the high-pressure chamber, and a fifth line connecting the valve with the low-pressure chamber; whereby in a first position of the valve the third and fourth lines are connected to allow fluid from the high-pressure chamber to flow into the tightly fitting portion of the cylinder in order to move the rod into the low-pressure chamber and the second and fifth lines are connected to allow fluid to enter the loosely fitting portion of the cylinder through the first line, flow along the rod and exit from said loosely fitting portion through the second and fifth lines; in a second position of the valve the third and fifth lines are connected to allow fluid to escape to the low-pressure chamber from the tightly fitting portion of the cylinder and the second and fourth lines are connected so as to supplement the first line in supplying fluid from the high-pressure chamber to the loosely fitting portion of the cylinder for forcing the rod out the first chamber; and in a third position of the valve the third line is blocked to lock fluid in the tightly fitting portion of the cylinder for preventing the rod from moving in a direction outward of the low-pressure chamber and the second and firth line are connected to allow fluid to enter the loosely fitting portion of the cylinder through the first line, flow along the rod and exit from said loosely fitting portion of the cylinder through the second and fifth lines to the low-pressure chamber, this fluid aiding the fluid locked in the tightly fitting portion of the cylinder in preventing the rod from being moved in a direction inward of the low-pressure chamber.