Patent · US Expired

Protective shell for nuclear reactor and method for assembling the shell

US4230255A · kind A · utility

9Cited by
7References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 21, 1978
Grant dateOct 28, 1980
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 21, 1998

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T29/49901
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A method for assembling a large massive steel shell is disclosed for housing a nuclear reactor while having sufficient strength to contain an explosion of such nuclear reactor. The shell is formed of large heavy gauge metal plates which are welded to each other to form a large sphere. Locating and supporting rings are mounted concentrically on a base. The rings increase in height from the center of the sphere to support and locate correspondingly higher annular segments of the sphere. The rings are erected and positioned with precisely adjustable tie rods so that the annular upper edge of the rings have a correspondingly accurately known position with respect to the annular sphere segments to be supported by the rings. The large heavy plate segments are then mounted on the rings and welded together to form a lower spherical portion whose spherical shape closely conforms to that desired for the sphere. The spherical structure is horizontally encircled with a long heavy gauge cable mounted at a midsection of the spherical shell. The cable encircles the sphere with a multiple number of wraps and is tensioned to provide a sufficient inwardly directed force for inhibiting an equatorial …

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.