# US 2013/0153715 A1 · Support Apparatus for Supporting Dosimetry System in Proximity to Reactor Apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0153715 A1 - Document ID: US20130153715A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/329,497 - Filed: 2011-12-19 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-19 - Assignees: Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Inventors: Joel A. Kulesza; Arnold H. Fero; Alexander W. Harkness - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130153715A1 ## CPC - G01T 1/02: Dosimeters (G01T1/15 takes precedence) - G21C 13/00: Pressure vessels; Containment vessels; Containment in general (for chemical or physical processes B01J3/00; pressure vessels in general F16J12/00) - G21C 13/02: Details - G21C 17/10: Structural combination of fuel element, control rod, reactor core, or moderator structure with sensitive instruments, e.g. for measuring radioactivity, strain - G21D 1/00: Details of nuclear power plant (control G21D3/00) - G21D 3/04: Safety arrangements (emergency protection of reactor G21C9/00) - Y02E 30/00: Energy generation of nuclear origin - Y02E 30/30: Nuclear fission reactors - G01T: MEASUREMENT OF NUCLEAR OR X-RADIATION (radiation analysis of materials, mass spectrometry G01N23/00; tubes for determining the presence, intensity, density or energy of radiation or particles H01J47/00) - G21C: NUCLEAR REACTORS (fusion reactors, hybrid fission-fusion reactors G21B; nuclear explosives G21J) - G21D: NUCLEAR POWER PLANT - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract An improved support apparatus is structured to support a dosimetry system within an interior region of a containment apparatus. The dosimetry system is supported in a region between an interior surface of the containment apparatus and an exterior surface of a reactor apparatus that is disposed within the interior of the containment apparatus. The support apparatus includes a retention apparatus having a plurality of brace elements that each have a receptacle formed therein. The receptacles are aligned with one another when installed within the interior of the containment apparatus. The support apparatus further includes a tube apparatus that includes a plurality of tube segments that are connectable together. The dosimetry system is situated within an elongated cavity formed in the tube apparatus. The tube apparatus is situated in the receptacles and thereby supports the dosimetry system on the containment apparatus. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A support apparatus that is structured to support a dosimetry system within an interior region of a containment apparatus, the containment apparatus having an interior surface adjacent the interior region, the support apparatus being structured to be situated between the interior surface and at least a portion of a reactor apparatus that is disposed in the interior region, the support apparatus comprising: a retention apparatus comprising a plurality of brace elements that are each structured to be mounted to at least one of the containment apparatus and the reactor apparatus, at least some of the brace elements each having a receptacle formed therein, the brace elements being structured to be situated with the receptacles being aligned with one another when installed within the interior region of the containment apparatus; and a tube apparatus comprising a plurality of tube segments that are structured to be connected together, at least a portion of the tube apparatus being structured to be received in at least some of the receptacles, the tube apparatus being structured to support the dosimetry system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The support apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of tube segments comprise a leading tube segment comprising an elongated leading tube element and further comprising a leading end that is shaped to have an outer surface of which at least a portion is oriented at an angle oblique to the longitudinal extent of the tube element, the leading end being structured to be received through at least some of the receptacles during installation of the tube apparatus. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The support apparatus of claim 2 wherein the leading end comprises a number of rod elements connected with the leading tube element and bent to form a rounded structure having the outer surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The support apparatus of claim 2 wherein the plurality of tube segments comprise a trailing tube segment comprising an elongated trailing tube element and further comprising a trailing end that includes a retention apparatus that is structured to be connected with a retaining brace element of the plurality of brace elements. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The support apparatus of claim 4 wherein the retention apparatus comprises an elongated lug connected with the trailing tube element that is cooperable with a pin that is structured to be engaged with the retaining brace element. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The support apparatus of claim 5 wherein the lug has a hole formed therein and wherein the retaining brace element has another hole formed therein, the pin being receivable in the hole and the another hole to retain the tube apparatus in the receptacles. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The support apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least some of the brace elements of the plurality of brace elements each comprise a protruding portion structured to be mounted on the interior surface of the containment apparatus, the receptacle being situated adjacent the protruding portion and being structured to be situated adjacent the interior surface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The support apparatus of claim 7 wherein at least some of the brace elements of the plurality of brace elements each comprise a base portion and a protruding portion, the protruding portion being disposed on the base portion, the base portion being structured to be mounted to the interior surface of the containment apparatus, the receptacle being situated adjacent the base portion and being structured to be spaced from the interior surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The support apparatus of claim 8 wherein at least some of the base portions each have a ramped insertion surface that is situated adjacent the receptacle and that is structured to direct the tube apparatus toward the receptacle when the ramped insertion surface and the tube apparatus become engaged with one another. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The support apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least some of the tube segments of the plurality of tube segments each comprise an elongated tube segment and a connection element, the connection element being situated on an exterior surface of the tube segment and having a transverse dimension in a direction extending away from the tube segment transverse to the longitudinal extent of the tube segment. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The support apparatus of claim 10 wherein at least some of the connection elements each comprise an inclined first edge oriented oblique to the longitudinal extent of the tube segment, the inclined first edge being structured to direct the connection element toward the receptacle when the inclined first edge and a brace element of the plurality of brace elements become engaged with one another. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The support apparatus of claim 11 wherein the tube apparatus further comprises a retention apparatus that is structured to be connected with a retaining brace element of the plurality of brace elements, and wherein at least one connection element is structured to be situated in one of the receptacles when the retention apparatus and the retaining brace element are connected. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The support apparatus of claim 11 wherein the at least some of the connection elements each further comprise an inclined second edge opposite the inclined first edge and oriented oblique to the longitudinal extent of the tube segment, the inclined second edge being structured to direct the connection element toward the receptacle when the inclined second edge and a brace element of the plurality of brace elements become engaged with one another.