Patent · US Expired

Reactor vessel cavity seal plate

US5230860A · kind A · utility

6Cited by
5References
2Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 30, 1992
Grant dateJul 27, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 30, 2012

Classification

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

Abstract

A nuclear reactor vessel cavity seal plate. An annular support plate is positioned over the cavity between the reactor vessel and the shield structure. The inner diameter of the support plate rests freely upon the reactor vessel flange to allow movement of the vessel thereunder during thermal expansion and contraction. A flexible annular seal positioned over the support plate has its inner diameter seal welded to the reactor vessel flange and its outer diameter seal welded to the shield structure. Matching ports in the support plate and seal provide access to nuclear instruments below the support plate. A mounting block around each port accepts a cover plate that seals the port. This provides a permanent seal plate that allows flooding of the cavity for refueling with it only being necessary to remove the cove plates for normal reactor operations.

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