Methods and apparatuses for clamping a jet pump sensing line support
AssigneeGE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC
InventorJack Toshio Matsumoto
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Example embodiment clamps may be used to clamp two components together, with a degree of freedom of motion between the clamped components, including both rotational and translational motion. Example embodiment clamps may clamp a BWR jet pump sensing line to a diffuser as a repair or installation of a sensing line support. Example clamps may include a ball subassembly that holds a component and allows rotation and twisting of the component within the clamp. Example clamps may further include jaws holding the ball subassembly and a biasing element that permits tightening of the clamp.
Claims19
A clamp comprising:
- a spherical subassembly defining a receiving aperture, the receiving aperture directly attachable to a sensing line;
- opposing first and second clamp jaws cradling the spherical subassembly to adjustably permit rotation of the spherical subassembly between the clamp jaws;
- a clamp post running through the first and second clamp jaws and the spherical subassembly;
- and
- a biasing element on the clamp post, the biasing element configured to bias the first clamp jaw and second clamp jaw against the ball subassembly.
A clamp comprising:
- a spherical subassembly defining an aperture shaped to hold a tubular member within the aperture;
- a first clamp jaw and a second clamp jaw on opposing sides of the spherical subassembly, each of the clamp jaws having a concave surface that seats against the spherical subassembly to permit rotation of the spherical subassembly between the clamp jaws;
- a clamp post running through the first and second clamp jaws and the spherical subassembly;
- a ratchet nut lock on the clamp post;
- a ratchet nut threaded on the second end of the clamp post, the ratchet nut configured to bias the first clamp jaw and second clamp jaw against the spherical subassembly;
- and
- a biasing plate between the ratchet net lock and one of the clamp jaws.
A method of securing a jet pump sensing line to a jet pump diffuser shell in a nuclear reactor, the method comprising:
- machining a slot in the jet pump diffuser shell;
- affixing a clamp post in the slot;
- placing at least a first clamp jaw, a second clamp jaw, a spherical subassembly between the first and second clamp jaws, and a biasing element on the clamp post so as to assemble a clamp, the clamp post running through the first and second clamp jaws and the ball subassembly;
- placing the jet pump sensing line within an aperture of the spherical subassembly;
- and
- biasing the clamp.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.