Single-ended steam chest with improved support assembly

In combination with a single-ended steam chest for a power plant, said steam chest including a hollow elongated steam chest body, said steam chest body having a steam inlet therethrough proximate the bottom portion of one end thereof, said steam chest body having steam outlets therethrough in predetermined position, inlet pipe means affixed to said steam chest body proximate said steam inlet, the improvement which comprises

• support assembly means comprising inlet end flexible plate support means of predetermined dimensions, flange member means affixed to said inlet pipe means in predetermined position, a first base member means for supporting said inlet end flexible plate means, said inlet end flexible plate means affixed at one end to said flange member means and at the other end affixed to said base member means, outlet end flexible support plate means affixed at the top thereof to the outlet end of said steam chest body proximate the bottom portion thereof, a second base member means for supporting said outlet end flexible plate means, said outlet end flexible plate means affixed at one end to said second base member means and at the other end to said steam chest body, said outlet end flexible support plate means comprising a pair of first flexible parallel plate members separated from one another by a predetermined distance so as to form a heating chamber between said first parallel plate members, said outlet end flexible support plate means having a length a predetermined amount greater than said inlet end flexible plate means, first insulation means affixed to and enclosing said outlet end flexible plate means, second insulation means is affixed to and encloses the inlet pipe whereby axial rotation of said steam chest body is diminished by controlling the thermal expansion of said first inlet end flexible support plate means and said outlet end flexible support plate means.