Removable feedwater sparger assembly
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorRoy C. Challberg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A removable feedwater sparger assembly includes a sparger having an inlet pipe disposed in flow communication with the outlet end of a supply pipe. A tubular coupling includes an annular band fixedly joined to the sparger inlet pipe and a plurality of fingers extending from the band which are removably joined to a retention flange extending from the supply pipe for maintaining the sparger inlet pipe in flow communication with the supply pipe. The fingers are elastically deflectable for allowing engagement of the sparger inlet pipe with the supply pipe and for disengagement therewith.
Claims18
A removable feedwater sparger assembly comprising:
- an arcuate feedwater sparger having an inlet distal end;
- a supply pipe having an outlet end for receiving said inlet pipe distal end in flow communication therewith for channeling feedwater from said supply pipe to said inlet pipe to feed said sparger;
- an annular, radially outwardly extending retention flange disposed on one of said supply pipe outlet end and said inlet pipe distal end;
- a tubular coupling having an annular band at a proximal end fixedly joined coaxially with the other said supply pipe outlet end and said inlet distal end, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced elongate fingers extending longitudinally from said band, said fingers being flexibly removably joined to said retention flange for maintaining said sparger inlet pipe in flow communication with said supply pipe, wherein said retention flange comprises an annular outer ledge for capturing said coupling fingers thereon;
- and
- an annular release collar slidably disposed around said one of said supply pipe outlet end and said inlet pipe distal end adjacent to said fingers, and including a conical cam surface for selectively engaging said fingers upon longitudinal translation of said release collar to displace said fingers radially outwardly from said retention flange for disengagement therefrom, wherein each of said fingers includes an elongate, flexible beam extending integrally from said band and spaced parallel to adjacent ones of said beams, and a hook disposed at a distal end of said beam, said hook being defined by a seat disposed parallel to said outer ledge for retention thereon and a ramp inclined radially outwardly for abutment with said release collar, said ramp being configured to expand said fingers over said retention flange upon coupling of said inlet pipe to said supply pipe until said hooks contract and latch said outer ledge, and said ramp also being effective for engagement with said release collar cam surface upon translation thereof to expand said fingers to disengage said hooks from said outer ledge for removing said inlet pipe from said supply pipe.
A removable feedwater sparger assembly for receiving feedwater from a feedwater nozzle of a boiling water reactor, comprising:
- a supply pipe in flow communication with said feedwater nozzle;
- a header pipe having a plurality of injector nozzles;
- an inlet pipe in flow communication with said header pipe;
- and
- hooking means for coupling said supply pipe to said inlet pipe in a first state and uncoupling said supply and inlet pipes in a second state.
A removable feedwater sparger assembly for receiving feedwater from a feedwater nozzle of a boiling water reactor, comprising:
- a first piping means in flow communication with said feedwater nozzle;
- a header pipe having a plurality of injector nozzles;
- a second piping means in flow communication with said header pipe;
- and
- first and second latching means for coupling said first piping means to said second piping means in a first state and uncoupling said first and second piping means in a second state, said first latching means being connected to one of said first and second piping means and said second latching means being connected to the other of said first and second piping means,
- wherein said first latching means comprises a radial retaining surface and said second latching means comprises a plurality of radially outwardly flexible hooking members, said hooking members having a first radial position in said first state whereat said hooking members engage said radial retaining surface and a second radial position in said second state whereat said hooking members are disengaged from said radial retaining surface, said second radial position being located radially outward of said first radial position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.