Reactor refueling machine simulator

• US 4,699,753 A
• Filed: 03/27/1986
• Issued: 10/13/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC (Brookfield Asset Management Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC (Brookfield Asset Management Incorporated)
• Inventors: Swidwa, Kenneth J., Rohosky, Thomas L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kyle, Deborah L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WASIL, DANIEL D
• Application Number:
  US06/845,303
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 376/259, 376/258, 376/245, 376/268, 376/261, 376/260, 376/271, 376/463, 376/217, 364/578, 364/478, 434/218
• US Class Current: 376/268
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 25/02 of industrial processes; of machinery
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/00 Simulators for teaching or training purposes for the use of weapons F41; computing aspects G06; protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality H04L67/131
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 30/30 Nuclear fission reactors

Abstract

The responses of a nuclear reactor refueling machine to commands from a detachable control console are simulated to allow operation of the console for testing and operator training with the console removed from the machine. A simulator, which is connected to the console by the same input and output leads which normally connect the console to the refueling machine, includes a single pulse generator driven by a single three phase A-C motor to simulate movement of the refueling machine bridge, trolley and hoist. The motor drive signals generated on separate console output leads are all connected to the single simulator motor, while the brake release signals energize relays which switch the pulse signals generated by the single pulse generator to the console input leads corresponding to the selected refueling machine component drive motor. The portable simulator also contains relays which simulate engagement and disengagement of fuel assembly and control rod cluster grippers and a device for coupling portions of the refueling machine mast to the hoist. In addition, a number of circuits are provided for testing various control console functions.

Claims

1. In combination:

a control console detachable from a nuclear reactor refueling machine, said control console including means for generating selectively one at a time a plurality of separate motor signals for effecting movement of a plurality of refueling machine components, for processing a plurality of separate feedback signals indicative of movement of each of said refueling machine components, and for generating an indication of the position of said plurality of components in response to said feedback signals,

separate output lead means connected to said control console for each of said plurality of motor signals,

separate input lead means connected to said control console for each of said plurality of feedback signals, and

a refueling machine simulator unit comprising;

a single simulator motor,

a single feedback generator connected to said motor for generating a simulator motor feedback signal indicative of rotation of said simulator motor,

means connecting said control console output leads to apply motor signals for all of said plurality of components to said simulator motor, and

switching means connected to the output leads and responsive to the plurality of motor signals for selectively connecting the single feedback generator to the input lead associated with the motor signal currently being generated by the control console to route the simulator motor feedback signal back to the control console.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said plurality of motor signals generated by said control console each include a drive signal and a control signal, wherein said output lead means for the motor signal include drive signal leads to which the drive signals are applied and control signal leads to which the control signals are applied, wherein said connecting means include means for connecting all of the drive signal leads to the simulator drive motor, and wherein said switching means include means connected to said control signal leads in a pattern which effects connection of the signal feedback generator to the input lead associated with the control signal being generated.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said simulator motor includes brake means and means connecting said brake means to all of said control signal output leads such that the simulator motor brake means is released in response to the generation of any of said control signals.

4. A portable simulator unit for use with a detachable nuclear reactor refueling machine control console having means for generating selectively, one at a time, a pair of bridge motor signals including a bridge motor drive signal and a bridge motor control signal, a pair of trolley motor signals including a trolley motor drive signal and a trolley motor control signal, and a pair of hoist motor signals including a hoist motor drive signal and a hoist motor control signal, said control console having a separate output lead for each motor signal and a separate input lead for each of a bridge feedback signal, a trolley feedback signal and a hoist feedback signal, said portable simulator comprising:

a single simulator motor for use in simulating a bridge motor, a trolley motor, and a hoist motor;

a single simulator feedback signal generator connected to said simulator motor for generating a simulator feedback signal in response to operation of said simulator motor,

means for connecting each of the control console output leads carrying a motor drive signal to the sigle simulator motor to drive the same; and

switching means adapted to be connected to each of the control console output leads for the bridge, trolley, and hoist motor control signals and to said single simulator feedback signal generator and responsive to motor control signals generated on the output leads for switching the feedback signal generated by the single simulator feedback signal generator to the one of the input leads for the bridge feedback signal, the trolley feedback signal, and the hoist feedback signal corresponding to the input lead on which a motor control signal is being generated by the control console.

5. The portable simulator unit of claim 4 wherein said motor control signals are brake control signals, said unit further including a brake for said single simulator motor and means connecting each of the control console output leads carrying a brake control signal to the simulator motor brake to operate the same.

6. In combination:

a nuclear reactor;

a refueling machine having a bridge, trolley and hoist each driven by a separate motor having feedback means for generating a feedback signal indicative of movement thereof, said motors being operable to position the refueling machine over the nuclear reactor for refueling the same, said refueling machine also having a removable control console including means for selectively generating separate motor signals for operating said bridge, trolley and hoist motors and for processing said feedback signals to generate an indication of the positions thereof, separate output leads connecting each of said motor signals to the respective refueling machine motor, and separate input leads for connecting each of the feedback means to the console; and

a portable simulator unit comprising;

a single simulator motor;

a single simulator feedback signal generator connected to said simulator motor for generating a simulator feedback signal in response to operation of said simulator motor;

means for selectively connecting said output leads of said console to said simulator unit in place of said refueling machine motors, and for connecting the console input leads to the simulator unit in place of the refueling machine motor feedback means; and

means for driving said single simulator motor in response to any of said bridge, trolley or hoist motor signals generated by the console and means for applying the simulator feedback signal to the console input lead associated with the motor signal being generated by the control console.