SELF-CLOSING CONTROL ROD GRIPPERS

• US 3,825,160 A
• Filed: 12/23/1971
• Issued: 07/23/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Christian W. Ruoss, Harold V. Lichtenberger
• Original Assignee: Christian W. Ruoss, Harold V. Lichtenberger
• Inventors: Lichtenberger, Harold V., Ruoss, Christian W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Knowles, Allen N.
• Application Number:
  US05/211,205
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 226/59,162,112,163,164,165,166,52,54,145,146,147,149,150 214/27 176/36R 310/14,12 74/527
• US Class Current: 376/228
• CPC Class Codes: G21C 7/14 Mechanical drive arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 30/30 Nuclear fission reactors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20636 Detents

Abstract

Control mechanism for a nuclear reactor non-scramming control rod including a latch, spring and gravity urged into latching position, and electromagnetically released and having a spring and gravity actuated over-center toggle locking said latch and locking said control rod against movement in either direction upon loss of electricity.

Claims

1. In combination, a support, a control rod for a nuclear reactor supported in and longitudinally, linearly, reciprocable with respect to, said support, means for reciprocating said rod longitudinally in opposite directions, a latch fixed on said support against linear movement longitudinally of said rod, latch actuating and locking mechanism comprising spring means forcing said latch into gripping relation with said rod and locking means forced by said spring means into locking position positively mechanically holding said latch in gripping relation with said rod against movement away from said rod and mechanically locking said rod against movement in either direction with respect to said support.

2. A combination as claimed in claim 1 in which said rod is movable upwardly and downwardly and has a lowermost position and said mechanism mechanically locking said rod against movement prevents said rod from dropping to said lowermost position.

3. In combination, a support, a control rod supported in and longitudinally, linearly, reciprocable with respect to, said support, means for reciprocating said rod longitudinally in opposite directions, a latch fixed on said support against linear movement in a direction longitudinally of said rod, latch actuating mechanism including a slider supported in and movable longitudinally of said support, spring means urging said slider in one direction, said latch actuating mechanism including an over-center toggle linkage connecting said slider and said latch, and actuated into an over-center position by said spring means to force said latch into gripping relation with said rod and mechanically hold said latch in said gripping relation and mechanically lock said rod against movement in either direction with respect to said support and stop means in said support limiting movement of said slider by said spring and positioning said toggle in said over-center position.

4. A combination as claimed in claim 3 including an electro-magnet and in which said slider is an armature for said magnet and is movable in the opposite direction, against the action of said spring means, by energization of said magnet, to break said toggle linkage from the overcenter position and move said latch out of gripping relation with said rod.

5. A combination as claimed in claim 4 in which the control rod is a part length non-scramming control rod for a nuclear reactor and is positioned vertically for vertical reciprocation and said spring and gravity urges said slider in a downward direction and said latch prevents said rod from dropping by gravity when said magnet is de-energized.

6. A combination as claimed in claim 4 in which said support is a removable head for a nuclear reactor vessel and the control rod has a notched and ridged section cooperating with said latch with said latch in gripping relation, and has an upper smooth portion preventing said gripping relation and said control rod in its lowermost position presents said smooth portion to said latch so that said head may be removed independent of said control rod with said latch moved by said spring and gravity to latching position.

7. A combination as claimed in claim 4 in which the means for reciprocating said rod includes an electromagnetic jacking mechanism including at least one lifting magnet and at least one latch actuating magnet and means connecting at least one of said last-mentioned electromagnets with said first-mentioned electrogmagnet for simultaneous energization.

8. Locking mechanism for a linearly reciprocable elongated rod, comprising a support, a latch mounted on said support for movement toward and from said rod and held against linear longitudinal movement with respect to said support, a slider having longitudinal reciprocable movement relative to said support, a pivoted link connecting said slider and said latch, a stop on said support limiting said reciprocable movement of said slider;

said link forcing said latch toward said rod on movement of said slider toward said stop, and positioning said link in an over-center position positively mechanically locking said latch against movement away from said rod with the slider in its stop limited position.

9. Locking mechanism as claimed in claim 8 in which the latch is a bar having a gripping portion adjacent one end and a pivot at the other end connecting said latch with said support, and the link is a bar pivoted at one end to the gripping end of said latch and pivoted at the other end to said slider, said slider, in moving away from said stop, moves the three pivotal connections toward alignment and pulls the gripping portion of said latch away from said rod and in moving toward said stop will move the link so that the centerline connecting the two pivots of the link will move past a center position at right angles to the path of travel of said slider so as to produce an over-center locked position with the slider in contact with its stop, and the latch in gripping relation with said rod.

10. Locking mechanism as claimed in claim 9 in which the rod is a control rod in a nuclear reactor, and the support surrounds said rod and is fixed with respect to said reactor, and the rod includes projections mating with the gripping portion of said latch to connect said rod and said support and prevent relative movement.

11. Locking mechanism as claimed in claim 8 including spring means for moving said slider towards said stop.

12. In combination, a support, a control rod for a nuclear reactor supported in and longitudinally, linearly, reciprocable with respect to, said support, means for reciprocating said rod longitudinally in opposite directions, a latch fixed on said support against linear movement longitudinally of said rod, latch actuating mechanism forcing said latch into gripping relation with said rod and including mechanism mechanically holding said latch in gripping relation with said rod and mechanically locking said rod against movement in either direction with respect to said support, said rod having a notched and ridged section cooperating with said latch for gripping said rod and mechanically locking said rod against mOvement in either direction.

13. In combination, a support, a control rod for a nuclear reactor supported in and longitudinally, linearly, reciprotcable with respect to, said support, means for reciprocating said rod longitudinally in opposite directions, a latch fixed on said support against linear movement longitudinally of said rod, latch actuating mechanism forcing said latch into gripping relation with said rod and including mechanism mechanically holding said latch in gripping relation with said rod and mechanically locking said rod against movement in either direction with respect to said support, said mechanism mechanically locking said rod against movement in either direction having a locked position and is spring and gravity actuated into said locked position.

14. In combination, a support, a control rod for a nuclear reactor supported in and longitudinally, linearly, reciprocable with respect to, said support, means for reciprocating said rod longitudinally in opposite directions, a latch fixed on said support against linear movement in a direction longitudinal of said rod, said rod having a notched and ridged section, latch actuating and locking mechanism forcing and holding said latch in mating relation with said notched and ridged section and mechanically locking said rod against movement in either of said opposite directions, and said locking mechanism positively mechanically locking said latch in said mating relation and against movement away from said rod.