Anti-ejection system for control rod drives
OwnerJohn C. Matthewsinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A linearly movable latch mechanism is provided to move into engagement with a deformable collet whenever an undesired ejection of a leadscrew is initiated from a nuclear reactor mounted control rod drive. Such an undesired ejection would occur in the event of a rupture in a housing of the control rod drive. The collet is deformed by the linear movement of the latch mechanism to wedge itself against the leadscrew and prevent the ejection of the leadscrew from the housing. The latch mechanism is made to be controllably engageable with the leadscrew and when thus engaged to allow the leadscrew to move in a control direction while moving with the leadscrew to engage and deform the collet when the leadscrew moves in an ejection direction.
Claims13
An anti-ejection system for a control rod drive assembly of a nuclear reactor comprising:
- a linearly movable control member driven by the control rod drive assembly for positioning a control rod in the nuclear reactor;
- latch means engageable with said control member to move with said control member whenever said control member moves in a first direction, said latch means remaining stationary when said control member moves in a second direction opposite said first direction;
- and
- deforming means for binding said control member to prevent further movement thereof in response to said latch means moving a predetermined distance in said first direction.
A safety system for preventing the ejection of a movable control element from a sealed pressurized cylinder in the event of a rupture in the cylinder comprising:
- a pivotable latch member mounted to an internal wall of the cylinder to be linearly movable therealong, said latch member being also pivotable to a position engaging the control element to allow linear movement with the control element;
- a deformable wedge member mounted internally of the cylinder to be movable by a linear movement of said latch member to a position wedging the control element to prevent further movement of the control element;
- and
- means for controllably pivoting said latch member into engagement with the control element to allow linear movement with the control element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.