Oil pot for reactor coolant pump motor and apparatus for controlling the oil level therein

• US 4,564,500 A
• Filed: 10/25/1983
• Issued: 01/14/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation (Paramount Global (f/k/a ViacomCBS Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation (Paramount Global (f/k/a ViacomCBS Inc.))
• Inventors: Keady, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, David H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Griffiths, John E.
• Application Number:
  US06/545,420
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 376/216, 376/247, 376/258, 376/463, 184/108, 184/6.1, 184/6.4, 184/6.21, 184/6.22, 184/96, 184/97, 184/103 R, 184/103 A, 184/104 R, 222/64, 222/67, 222/68, 222/69, 417/63, 73/291, 73/299, 73/326, 73/328, 374/141, 374/142, 374/143, 374/187, 374/197, 33/367, 137/265, 137/593
• US Class Current: 376/463
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 19/003 Indicating oil level measuring liquid level in general G01F
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 19/006 Maintaining oil level level control in general G05D9/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 30/30 Nuclear fission reactors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86381 Head-establishing standpipe or expansion chamber [e.g., surge tanks]

Abstract

A reactor coolant pump motor has an annular oil pot encircling the vertical motor shaft and containing lubricating oil to a predetermined normal level. A plurality of secondary oil containers are equidistantly spaced around the perimeter of the oil pot, each secondary container having a flat planar bottom surface disposed substantially at the normal oil level of the oil pot. A plurality of conduits provide liquid communication between the bottom of the oil pot and the bottoms of the secondary containers. Each secondary container is substantially closed, but vented to atmosphere.

Claims

1. Apparatus for controlling the level of bearing lubricating oil in an oil pot of a nuclear reactor coolant pump motor with the oil pot having a substantially flat bottom and a predetermined normal oil level, said apparatus comprising:

a plurality of containers, substantially equidistantly spaced apart around the perimeter of the oil pot with at least one said containers being substantially closed and vented and with each of said containers having a surface area which is relatively large in comparison to its depth, each of said containers having a flat planar bottom surface disposed substantially at the normal oil level of the oil pot, and an unobstructed fluid conduit connected between the bottom of the oil pot and the bottom surface of each of said containers for providing liquid communication between the oil pot and each of said containers so as to equalize the oil levels therein, whereby an increase in the volume of the oil produces an increase in the oil level in said containers inversely proportional to the surface area of the oil in containers.

2. Apparatus for controlling the level of bearing lubricating oil in a nuclear reactor coolant pump motor, said apparatus comprising:

a primary oil container having a substantially flat bottom and having a predetermined normal level of oil contained therein, a plurality of secondary containers substantially equidistantly spaced apart around the perimeter of said primary container with at least one of said secondary containers being substantially closed and vented and with each of said secondary containers being in liquid communication with said primary container and having a surface area which is relatively large in comparison to its depth, each of said secondary containers being substantially the same size and shape and each having a substantially flat planar bottom surface disposed substantially at the normal level of oil in said primary container, and an unobstructed fluid conduit extending from the bottom of said primary container to the bottom of at least one of said secondary containers providing liquid communication between said primary container and said secondary containers for equalizing the oil levels therein, whereby an increase in the volume of oil in said primary container produces an increase in the oil level in said secondary containers which is inversely proportional to the surface area of the oil in said secondary containers.

3. Apparatus for controlling the level of bearing lubricating oil in a nuclear reactor coolant pump motor having a vertical shaft, said apparatus comprising:

an annular primary oil container encircling the motor shaft and having a predetermined normal level of oil contained therein, a plurality of secondary containers each having an arcuate inner side wall arranged concentrically with respect to said primary container and spaced apart circumferentially of said primary container with each being in liquid communication with said primary container and disposed radially outwardly of said primary container, said secondary containers having a surface area which is relatively large in comparison to its depth, said secondary containers having a flat planar bottom surface disposed substantially at normal level of the oil in said primary container, and means for providing liquid communication between said primary container and said secondary containers for equalizing the oil levels therein, whereby an a change in the volume of oil in said primary container produces a change in the oil level in said secondary containers which is inversely proportional to the surface area of the oil in said secondary containers.