US3975879A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermal insulation
Assignee: Nuclear Power Group Ltd
•
Filing: 1974-10-25
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Granted: 1976-08-24
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Expires: 1994-10-25
Abstract
Abstract A metallic wall clad with thermal insulation has a layer of insulating blocks spaced from the wall, the blocks being spaced apart and each block being individually and rigidly secured to the wall, the interspaces being substantially closed against convectional flow of liquid by resilient closure members, and a membrane covering for the layer of blocks, the covering having venting means to allow liquid from the vessel to penetrate between the covering and the wall.
Inventors
- 👤 William Birch
- 👤 Roger Alexander Stuart
- 👤 Robert Ian Facer
- 👤 John Graham Durston
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 08:58
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L59/00; F16L59/02; G; G21; G21C; G21C11/00; G21C11/08; G21C11/083; G21C11/085; G21C11/086; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
A liquid metal cooled nuclear reactor vessel comprising a metallic primary containment vessel, the inside of which is lined by insulation defined by a layer of insulating blocks spaced from the wall of the vessel, the blocks being spaced apart and each block being individually and rigidly secured to the wall of the vessel, resilient closure members substantially closing the interspaces between the blocks against convectional flow of liquid, and a metallic membrane covering for the layer of blocks, the covering having venting means to allow liquid from the interior of the vessel to penetrate between the covering and the wall of the containment vessel to facilitate pressure testing of the reactor construction and prevent water, used during hydraulic pre-commissioning tests, from being secreted in gas pockets in the insulation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
A liquid metal cooled nuclear reactor vessel comprising a metallic primary containment vessel, the inside of which is lined by insulation defined by a layer of insulating blocks spaced from the wall of the vessel, the blocks being spaced apart and each block being individually and rigidly secured to the wall of the vessel, resilient closure members substantially closing the interspaces between the blocks against convectional flow of liquid, and a metallic membrane covering for the layer of blocks, the covering having venting means to allow liquid from the interior of the vessel to penetrate between the covering and the wall of the containment vessel to facilitate pressure testing of the reactor construction and prevent water, used during hydraulic pre-commissioning tests, from being secreted in gas pockets in the insulation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The reactor vessel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insulating blocks are composed of cellular or porous material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The reactor vessel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the blocks are hollow shells containing ceramic material or gas fillings.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
The reactor vessel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the membrane covering comprises a plurality of discrete membrane sheets carrying the interblock closure members, each sheet being individually secured to the associated insulating block, the sheets being arranged with overlapping edges so that in the event of an insulating block and discrete sheet combination becoming detached from the wall they are retained by the neighboring discrete sheets.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The reactor vessel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insuating blocks are composed of solid material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The reactor vessel as claimed in claim 5, wherein the blocks are composed of stainless steel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The reactor vessel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the metallic membrane covering is spaced from, and attached to, the layer of blocks and comprises a continuous stainless steel sheet, said sheet being provided with ribs in orthogonal pattern to give flexibility for the accommodation of thermal strain.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The reactor vessel as claimed in claim 7, wherein the sheet is cut away at the intersections of the ribs thereby to avoid complex stresses which may be set up on forming the sheet and by thermal expansion in use.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
The reactor vessel as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sheet includes lower regions, said sheet being generally impervious except for small perforations in the lower regions to enable liquid metal to enter the space between the sheet and the wall, the small perforations constituting said venting means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US814949A
Cited
US3109206A
Cited
US3377760A
Cited
US3530630A
Cited
US3517850A
Cited
US3547302A
Cited
US3785320A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-08-24 | 1980-02-23 | 1980-08-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-08-24 | 1984-02-23 | 1984-08-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-08-24 | 1988-02-23 | 1988-08-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |