Rotating plug bearing and seal
AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.
InventorElman E. Wade
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bearing and seal structure for nuclear reactors utilizing rotating plugs above the nuclear reactor vessel. The structure permits lubrication of bearings and seals of the rotating plugs without risk of the lubricant draining into the reactor vessel below. The structure permits lubrication by utilizing a rotating outer race bearing.
Claims19
A nuclear reactor including an elongated pressure vessel, a pressure vessel closure head secured to said pressure vessel, said pressure vessel closure head having rotatable members above said pressure vessel, and a structure for supporting said members which permits lubrication of seals and bearings, said structure for supporting said members comprising:
- a generally planar, rotatable, cylindrical first plug;
- a generally planar cylindrical first member having an opening therein, said first member receiving said first plug in said opening;
- an annular first support structure secured to the periphery of and extending vertically above said first plug, said first support structure having an extension horizontally outward from the outer side of said first support structure and extending vertically downward, said extension and said first support structure forming a generally U-shaped first annular space;
- an annular second support structure having an inner side and an outer side secured to said first member, said first annular space receiving said second support structure therein, said extension of said first support structure and said outer side of said second support structure forming a second annular space;
- a bearing having an inner race and an outer race, said outer race being secured to said extension of said first support structure and said inner race being secured to said outer side of said second support structure;
- means for sealing said second annular space;
- means for lubricating said bearing;
- and
- means for lubricating said means for sealing said second annular space.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.