Detachable and leaktight device for closing an orifice of a nuclear reactor vessel

Claim 1

A removable and leaktight device for closing the orifice of a pipe connection in the vessel of a water cooled nuclear reactor during hydraulic pressure testing, and before connecting a pipe for primary fluid, said device comprising: a body adapted to bear, inside the vessel, on an internal part of the vessel which is resistant to thrust stresses during application of pressure, being defined by at least one cylindrical shell having a diameter which is less than the internal diameter of the pipe connection, said cylindrical shell being joined, at the inner end thereof, which inner end is intended to enter the vessel, to a bearing member for bearing on the internal part of the vessel, and being fixed at the outer part thereof, to be located near the exterior of the vessel, with a ring and a curved cover closing said shell and producing an entirely closed structure relative to the exterior of the vessel, sealing means comprising a set of annular gaskets being carried by said ring and located, when said device is in position in the pipe connection, between an external surface of said ring and an internal surface of the outer end of the pipe connection, and operating means for fixing said device comprising a clamping flange, means for fixing said clamping flange to said ring, and clamping screws for bearing on the outer end of the pipe for exerting a tractive stress on said clamping flange and on the remainder of said device.

Claim 5

A device according to any one of claims 1 or 2 or 3, wherein: said bearing member is detachable from said body adaptation to vessels of different dimensions and different shapes.