Patent ID: 6053652
Filing Date: 2000-04-25
Classification: F16B,F16L,G21C,Y02E,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A clamp assembly for securing a thermal sleeve, elbow and riser pipe assembly in a nuclear reactor, wherein the pipe assembly includes an interface between the elbow and the thermal sleeve, the interface having a weld crown, and an interface between the riser pipe and the elbow, said clamp assembly comprising:a lower thermal sleeve clamp configured to be positioned adjacent the interface between the elbow and the thermal sleeve;a riser clamp configured to be secured to the riser pipe at a location adjacent the interface between the riser pipe and the elbow, said lower thermal sleeve clamp configured to couple to said riser clamp;a wedge comprising first and second bolt openings and configured to couple to said riser clamp, said riser clams being substantially ""U"" shaped and having two legs, each said leg comprising a recess therein, and wherein said wedge is positioned in said recesses so that a portion of said wedge extends between said recesses, said lower thermal sleeve clamp comprising first and second bolt openings, said first and second wedge bolt openings substantially vertically aligned with said respective first and second lower thermal sleeve clamp bolt openings; andtwo bolts, one of said bolts configured to extend through said first bolt openings and the other of said bolts configured to extend through said second bolt openings.