Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for eliminating leakage spaces between the partitions surrounding the core of a pressurized water nuclear reactor

US4650639A · kind A · utility

4Cited by
8References
2Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateOct 22, 1984
Grant dateMar 17, 1987
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 22, 2004

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E30/30
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

The invention concerns a method and apparatus for eliminating leakage spaces between the partitions (1) surrounding the core of a pressurized water nuclear reactor, after it is brought into operation. Operations are carried out under water, during shutdown of the reactor. The defective joins (12) between the partitions (1) are identified. For each join, the partitions (1) are pierced, the hole inside a partition (1) is screw-threaded, the swarf is recovered, a screw with diametrical expansion is introduced and screwed into the hole and the screw is expanded by displacement of a rod in the longitudinal direction of the screw. Moving location, the operations are repeated for each defective join (12). The apparatus comprises a case (25) containing a drum (36) bearing tools for boring (54-65), screw-threading, and screwing, a cleaning tube and a punch for locking the screw. The invention is applicable to work on pressurized water nuclear reactors, after they have been brought into operation.

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