Control rod remote disconnect mechanism

A control rod assembly for use with a reactor core, comprising:

• an elongated connecting rod;
• a spider assembly that is releasably securable to the connecting rod;
• a plurality of control rods that extends downwardly from the spider assembly:
• a coupling sleeve secured to a bottom end of the connecting rod, the coupling sleeve including a body portion with an inner wall defining a cylindrical central bore and at least one cam pin extending radially-inward from the inner wall of the central bore;
• a barrel cam being rotatably secured to an upper portion of the spider assembly having a cylindrical body portion with an outer surface thereof defining a cam track, the cam track including at least one entry opening defined by a top end face of the body portion of the barrel cam, at least one first camming surface, and at least one second camming surface, the at least one first camming surface and the at least one second camming surface being configured so that the barrel cam rotates in a first direction as the at least one cam pin slides along the at least one first camming surface and the at least one second camming surface;
• and
• an alignment cone assembly secured to the upper portion of the spider assembly adjacent a top end of the barrel cam, the alignment cone assembly including a frustoconical top surface and being slidably receivable within the central bore of the coupling sleeve,
• wherein the barrel cam is rotatable with respect to the connecting rod between a first position in which the spider is connected to the connecting rod, and a second position in which the spider is disconnected from the connecting rod.

A control rod assembly for use with a reactor core, comprising:

• an elongated connecting rod;
• a spider assembly that is releasably securable to the connecting rod;
• a plurality of control rods that extends downwardly from the spider assembly;
• a coupling sleeve secured to a bottom end of the connecting rod, the coupling sleeve including a body portion with an inner wall defining a cylindrical central bore and at least one cam pin extending radially-inward from the inner wall of the central bore;
• a barrel cam being rotatably secured to an upper portion of the spider assembly having a cylindrical body portion with an outer surface thereof defining a cam track, the cam track including at least one entry opening defined by a top end face of the body portion of the barrel cam, at least one first camming surface, and at least one second camming surface, the at least one first camming surface and the at least one second camming surface being configured so that the barrel cam rotates in a first direction as the at least one cam pin slides along the at least one first camming surface and the at least one second camming surface;
• and
• a locking sleeve defining a central bore and a lock key extending radially-inwardly therefrom, wherein the locking sleeve is disposed about an upper portion of the spider assembly so that the lock key is slidably received in a lock slot formed in an outer surface of the upper portion of the spider assembly so that the locking sleeve is non-rotatably fixed to the upper portion of the spider assembly,
• wherein the barrel cam is rotatable with respect to the connecting rod between a first position in which the spider is connected to the connecting rod, and a second position in which the spider is disconnected from the connecting rod.

A control rod disconnect assembly for use with an elongated connecting rod, comprising:

• a coupling sleeve attachable to the connecting rod, the coupling sleeve including a body portion defining a cylindrical central bore and at least one cam follower extending from an inner wall of the central bore;
• a spider assembly adapted to carry at least one control rod;
• a barrel cam that is axially fixed but rotatably secured to an upper portion of the spider assembly, the barrel cam having a cylindrical body portion with an outer surface thereof defining a cam track in which the cam follower is received, the cam track being configured such that vertical movement of the coupling sleeve rotates the barrel cam between a first position in which the spider is connected to the connecting rod and a second position in which the spider is disconnected from the connecting rod;
• and
• a locking sleeve disposed about an upper portion of the spider assembly and being axially movable by the coupling sleeve, the locking sleeve alternately engageable with the barrel cam to prevent rotation of the barrel cam but axially separable from the barrel cam to allow rotation of the barrel cam.