Vibration arrestor for rod guide support structure of the inner barrel assembly of a pressurized water reactor

In a pressure vessel of a pressurized water reactor system, the vessel having at least first and second pluralities of rod guides of respective, at least first and second different types disposed as corresponding, at least first and second interleaved matrices thereof in parallel axial relationship within an inner barrel assembly of the pressure vessel, the first and second pluralities of rod guides receiving therein respective, at least first and second different types of rod clusters, the inner barrel assembly occupying a central portion of the vessel and being of a vertical height extending from a first plate of a lower elevation to a second plate of a higher elevation, each of said rod guides being of elongated configuration and of an axial length corresponding substantially to the vertical height of said inner barrel assembly, the bottom ends thereof being affixed to said first plate and the top ends thereof being disposed adjacent said second plate, a support structure for the upper ends of the rod guides comprising:

• at least first and second matrices of plural top support plates of corresponding, at least first and second different types, disposed on and connected to the respective top ends of said corresponding pluralities of rod guides of said at least first and second types;
• said top support plates of said at least first and second different types having respective, mating interior and exterior vertices for assembling the respective said top support plates of said matrices thereof in interdigitated relationship with exterior vertics of one said type received in mating relationship by said interior vertices of another said type;
• a plurality of extensions depending from said second plate in a predetermined array respectively corresponding to the plurality of top plates of at least a selected one of said at least first and second different types, said top plates of each said selected at least one type having central receiving apertures therein for receiving respectively corresponding ones of said depending extensions thereby to axially align same within said inner barrel assembly;
• a plurality of vibration arrestors respectively associated with said top plates of said selected type, each said vibration arrestor comprising:
• a central hub having a central aperture therein for being received over a corresponding, said extension associated with a top plate of a said selected type and engaging the lower surface of the second plate;
• at least of a pair of spring arms integral with said central hub and extending in aligned, oppositely oriented directions from said central hub and depending at corresponding angles away from said central hub, said spring arms being of a common length sufficient to engage the corresponding extremities thereof on the respective top plates of the selected type received on the extensions of the predetermined array thereof aligned with said spring arms and positioned next adjacent said corresponding extension on which said central hub is received and to exert a compressive force thereon, within a predetermined range, for resiliently opposing any reduction of the parallel spacing and reacting lateral loads tending to displace the top plates of the selected type in a direction parallel to the common plane;
• a stiffening ring having a periphery generally corresponding to the periphery of said central hub;
• and
• means for connecting said stiffening ring to said second plate with said central hub of said arrestor therebetween.

A pressurized water reactor system having a vessel including an inner barrel assembly within which are disposed at least first and second pluralities of rod guides of respective, at least first and second different types in corresponding, at least first and second interleaved matrices thereof and in parallel axial relationship, said first and second pluralities of rod guides receiving therein respective, at least first and second different types of rod clusters, the inner barrel assembly occupying a central portion of the vessel and being of a vertical height extending from a first plate of a lower elevation to a second plate of a higher elevation, each of said rod guides being of elongated configuration and of an axial length corresponding substantially to the vertical height of said inner barrel assembly, the bottom ends thereof being affixed to said first plate and the top ends thereof being disposed adjacent said second plate, and a support structure for the upper ends of said rod guides comprising:

• at least first and second matrices of plural top support plates of corresponding, at least first and second different types, disposed on and connected to the respective top ends of said corresponding pluralities of rod guides of said at least first and second types;
• said top support plates of said at least first and second different types having respective, mating interior and exterior vertices for assembling the respective said top support plates of said matrices thereof in interdigitated relationship with exterior vertices of one said type received in mating relationship by said interior vertices of another said type;
• a plurality of extensions depending from said second plate in a predetermined array respectively corresponding to the plurality of top plates of at least a selected one of said at least first and second different types, said top plates of each said selected type having central receiving apertures therein for receiving respectively corresponding ones of said depending extensions thereby to axially align same within said inner barrel assembly;
• a plurality of vibration arrestors respectively associated with said top plates of said selected type, each said vibration arrestor comprising:
• a central hub having a central aperture therein for being received over a corresponding, said extension associated with a top plate of a said selected type and engaging the lower surface of the second plate;
• at least of a pair of spring arms integral with said central hub and extending in aligned, oppositely oriented directions from said central hub and depending at corresponding angles away from said central hub, said spring arms being of a common length sufficient to engage the corresponding extremities thereof on the respective top plates of the selected type received on the extensions of the predetermined array thereof aligned with said spring arms and positioned next adjacent said corresponding extension on which said central hub is received and to exert a compressive force thereon, within a predetermined range, for resiliently opposing any reduction of the parallel spacing and reacting lateral loads tending to displace the top plates of the selected type in a direction parallel to the common plane;
• a stiffening ring having a periphery generally corresponding to the periphery of said central hub;
• and
• means for connecting said stiffening ring to said second plate with said central hub of said arrestor therebetween.