Reactor vessel head area monitoring system

Claim 2

In a nuclear reactor pressure vessel having a removable closure head with a plurality of ports projecting therethrough, and an upwardly extending shroud enclosing said ports, the shroud having a plurality of openings therein, a reactor vessel head area monitor comprising: (i) a video camera attached to the cooling shroud adjacent one of said openings; (ii) a lens operably attached to the camera such that the video camera receives video images of the reactor vessel head area within the shroud; and (iii) a light source attached to the shroud for illuminating the reactor vessel head area

Claim 3

The reactor vessel head area monitor as recited in claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of lamps, each having a variable intensity, disposed about the circumference of the shroud, means for selectively illuminating each lamp, and means for varying the intensity of said lamps when illuminated.

Claim 4

The reactor vessel head area monitor as recited in claim 1, further comprising a case constructed of neutron shielding material, the case enclosing the camera and having an aperture therein such that the lens receives video images therethrough.

Claim 5

The reactor vessel head area monitor as recited in claim 3, further comprising means for circulating a flow of air around the video camera to dissipate heat therefrom.

Claim 6

The reactor vessel head area monitor as recited in claim 1, further including means for displaying said video images received by the video camera.

Claim 7

The reactor vessel head area monitor as recited in claim 5, further including means for retrievably storing said video images received by the video camera.

Claim 8

The reactor vessel head area monitor as recited in claim 1, wherein said openings in the shroud are viewing windows, the video camera being attached on an exterior surface thereof so as to receive video images of said ports of the reactor vessel head area.

Claim 9

In a nuclear reactor pressure vessel having a removable closure head with a plurality of ports projecting therethrough, and a shroud extending upwardly from said closure head and enclosing said ports, the shroud having a plurality of doors thereon and having an aperture therethrough, a reactor vessel head area monitoring system comprising: (i) a plurality of video cameras, one each attached to one of said doors of the shroud adjacent the aperture; (ii) a wide angled lens operably attached to each video camera such that said video cameras receive video images of the reactor vessel head area; (iii) a plurality of lamps for illuminating the reactor vessel head area, each of said lamps having a variable intensity, attached to each of said doors, two each attached adjacent to each video camera, one on either side of said video camera; (iv) means for selectively illuminating said lamps; (v) means for selectively varying the intensity of said illuminated lamps; and (vi) means for individually energizing each of said video cameras.

Claim 10

In a nuclear reactor pressure vessel having a removable closure head with a plurality of ports projecting therethrough, and a shroud extending upwardly from said closure head and enclosing said ports, the shroud having a plurality of doors thereon and having an aperture therethrough, a reactor vessel head area monitoring system comprising: (i) a plurality of video cameras, one each attached to one of said doors of the shroud adjacent the aperture; (ii) a wide angled lens operably attached to each video camera such that said video cameras receive video images of the reactor vessel head area; (iii) a plurality of lamps for illuminating the reactor vessel head area, each of said lamps having a variable intensity, attached to each of said doors, two each attached adjacent to each video camera, one on either side of said video camera; (iv) means for selectively illuminating said lamps; (v) means for selectively varying the intensity of said illuminated lamps; and (vi) means for individually energizing each of said video cameras.

Claim 11

The reactor vessel head area monitoring system as recited in claim 8, further comprising a case constructed of neutron shielding material enclosing each said video camera.

Claim 12

The reactor vessel head area monitoring system as recited in claim 9, further comprising means for circulating a flow of cooling air around each of said video cameras.

Claim 13

The reactor vessel head area monitoring system as recited in claim 8, further comprising means for displaying said video images received by each of said video cameras.

Claim 14

The reactor vessel head area monitoring system as recited in claim 11, further comprising means for retrievably storing said video images received by each of said video cameras.

Claim 15

The reactor vessel head area monitoring system as recited in claim 12, further comprising a case constructed of neutron shielding material enclosing each said video camera.

Claim 16

The reactor vessel head area monitoring system as recited in claim 13, further comprising means for circulating a flow of cooling air around each of said video cameras.

Claim 19

The method as recited in claim 15, including the step of shielding each of said video cameras within a case of neutron shielding material, the case having an aperture therein such that the video camera receives video images therethrough.

Claim 20

The method as recited in claim 16, further including the step of directing a flow of air around each of said video cameras to dissipate heat therefrom.

Claim 21

The method as recited in claim 15, further including the step of displaying said video images received by each of said video cameras.

Claim 22

The method as recited in claim 18, further including the step of retrievably storing said video images received by each of said video cameras.

Claim 23

The method as recited in claim 19, further including the step of directing a flow of air around each of said video cameras to dissipate heat therefrom.