Apparatus for performing jet pump riser pipe repairs
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsGerald A. Deaver, David B. Drendel, Siamak Bourbour, Leonard John Sharpless, Arunachalam Mahadevan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus for supporting the lower elbow assembly of a jet pump in a reactor pressure vessel (RPV) of a nuclear reactor are described. The clamp apparatus includes a lower clamp element and an upper clamp element. The upper and lower elements are configured to be positioned at the interface between the thermal sleeve and the jet pump riser elbow. The upper and lower elements include extended ridges that are configured to fit in circumferential grooves precisely machined into the sleeve-elbow assembly on opposing sides of the interface.
Claims17
A clamp apparatus for securing a thermal sleeve and a jet pump riser elbow assembly in a nuclear reactor, an interface weld at the interface between the sleeve and the elbow, the sleeve and elbow having circumferential grooves adjacent to the interface weld, said clamp apparatus comprising:
- a lower clamp element configured to be positioned over the interface between the elbow and the thermal sleeve, said lower element comprising extended ridges configured to fit in grooves in the elbow and sleeve, and first and second bolt openings;
- and
- an upper clamp element configured to be positioned over the interface between the elbow and the thermal sleeve, and to be coupled to said lower clamp element, said upper element comprising extended ridges configured to fit in grooves in the elbow and sleeve, and first and second bolt openings configured to align with said first and second bolt openings of said lower element.
A clamp apparatus for securing a thermal sleeve, a jet pump riser elbow, and a riser pipe assembly in a nuclear reactor, the elbow and the sleeve having circumferential grooves adjacent to an interface weld between the sleeve and the elbow, and the elbow and the riser pipe having circumferential grooves adjacent to an interface weld between the elbow and the riser pipe, said clamp apparatus comprising a lower clamp assembly and an upper elbow clamp assembly coupled to said lower clamp assembly, said lower clamp assembly comprising a lower clamp element configured to be positioned over the interface between the elbow and the thermal sleeve, said lower element comprising extended ridges configured to fit in the grooves adjacent the elbow and sleeve interface, and first and second bolt openings,said lower clamp assembly further comprising an upper clamp element configured to be positioned over the interface between the elbow and the thermal sleeve, and to be coupled to said lower clamp element, said upper element comprising extended ridges configured to fit in the grooves adjacent the elbow and sleeve interface, and first and second bolt openings configured to align with said first and second bolt openings of said lower element, said upper elbow clamp comprising a bridge member coupled to said upper clamp element and configured to be positioned over the interface between the elbow and the riser pipe, said bridge element comprising extended ridges configured to fit in the grooves adjacent the elbow and riser pipe interface, and a clamping member configured to be positioned over the interface between the elbow and the riser pipe, and to be coupled to said bridge member, said clamping element comprising extended ridges configured to fit in the grooves adjacent the elbow and riser pipe interface.
A thermal sleeve, jet pump riser elbow, and clamp assembly for a nuclear reactor, said assembly comprising:
- a thermal sleeve;
- a jet pump riser elbow joined to one end of said thermal sleeve by an interface weld, said thermal sleeve and said riser elbow comprising circumferential grooves adjacent said interface weld;
- and
- a clamp assembly comprising:
- a lower clamp element positioned over said interface weld between said elbow and said thermal sleeve, said lower element comprising extended ridges configured to fit in said grooves in said elbow and said sleeve, and first and second bolt openings;
- and
- an upper clamp element positioned over said interface weld between the elbow and the thermal sleeve, and coupled to said lower clamp element, said upper element comprising extended ridges configured to fit in grooves in said elbow and said sleeve, and first and second bolt openings configured to align with said first and second bolt openings of said lower element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.