Tubular closure mechanism

A closure mechanism for closing a tubular opening and releasably securing articles therein is disclosed. The closure mechanism includes an axially movable actuator and a latching member which engages the tubular opening. Means are provided for axially moving the actuator.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a closure mechanism for closing openings such as 
the bore of a conduit and for releasably securing members within the bore, 
and, more particularly, this invention relates to a closure mechanism for 
tubular irradiation surveillance specimen assembly holders used in nuclear 
reactors. 
Reactor vessel material surveillance programs are designed to monitor the 
radiation and temperature induced changes occuring in the mechanical 
properties of a vessel throughout its operating life. Typically, 
surveillance test specimens are prepared from the actual material used in 
fabricating the irradiated region of the reactor vessel. The surveillance 
specimens are generally loaded into specimen containing capsules which, in 
turn, are assembled in holder assemblies inside the reactor vessel within 
the beltline region, defined as that region which directly surrounds the 
effective height of the fuel element assemblies. The surveillance capsules 
are located near the inside vessel wall so as to receive a neutron and 
thermal exposure that is representative of the exposures of the reactor 
vessel being monitored in order to duplicate, as closely as possible, the 
neutron-flux spectrum, temperature history, and maximum accumulated 
neutron fluence of the vessel. 
The holder assemblies and surveillance capsules must permit periodic 
removal of the capsules and insertion of replacement capsules. Thus, the 
holder assemblies and surveillance capsules must be designed to facilitate 
withdrawal of the surveillance capsules and insertion of replacement 
capsules. The holder assemblies, in addition, must adequately restrain the 
capsules to preclude damage to or failure of the capsules due to coolant 
pressure and flow under both steady state and transient conditions. 
In some surveillance specimen assembly designs, the specimen capsules have 
been longitudinally stacked and housed in vertically oriented, hollow 
elongated containers or holders. These elongated containers have generally 
been much longer than the total length of the capsules, and include an 
upper portion oriented above the beltline region to facilitate transfer of 
the capsules during insertion and removal operations. Hence, the 
longitudinal restraints have often taken the form of elongated bars, and 
the like, which traverse the distance from the top of the container to the 
uppermost capsule and, through spring loading, longitudinally restrain the 
capsules. Lateral clearances are required to permit capsule insertion and 
removal. Hence, in some previous designs, lateral restraint of the 
capsules has been omitted. In other designs lateral restraint of the 
capsules has been effected by limited contact of the capsules with the 
container wall. There are a number of inherent disadvantages to such 
arrangements. The spring loaded elongated longitudinal restraints have 
often been found to be subject to vibratory loadings that result in wear 
and eventual failure of the surveillance specimen assembly, particularly 
where lateral restraints are omitted or the capsules are subjected to 
hydraulic conditions which are conducive to inducing vibration. However, 
it remains necessary to accommodate differential thermal expansions 
between the specimen containing capsules and their holders. 
Thus, there exists a need for a closure mechanism which can adequately 
restrain the specimen capsules in a holder tube without vibration while 
accommodating expected thermal expansions. The closure mechanism must be 
releasably securable and, because of its radioactive operating 
environment, must be capable of being handled by remote means. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with the principles of the invention, a closure mechanism is 
presented which closes the opening of a circular bore, such as a tube, and 
releasably secures articles, such as surveillance specimen capsules, 
within the bore. 
The closure mechanism is composed of a latching member which includes a 
generally circular chamber with a plurality of elongated latches depending 
therefrom. The latching member circumscribes part of an actuator member 
which is disposed within the latching member so as to be axially movable. 
The axial movement of the actuator actuates positioning of the latches 
between positions in which the latches are locked and secured within the 
actuator member. Means, capable of being remotely manipulated, are 
provided to move the actuator in order to position the latches and load 
the articles within the tube. 
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are 
pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part 
of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its 
operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference 
should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which 
there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention 
.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
For further details concerning the construction of a surveillance specimen 
assembly, see copending application Ser. No. 878,955, filed Feb. 17, 1978. 
The constructional details of the surveillance specimen assembly are not 
part of the disclosed invention and, apart from the means whereby the 
closure mechanism is attached to the holder tube and engages a specimen 
capsule, will not be described herein. 
Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 20 denotes the end portion of a 
surveillance specimen holder tube formed with an inner annular lip 21. The 
upper end of the holder tube 20 is closed with a closure mechanism 22 
which extends in part into the holder tube and is provided with means for 
releasably engaging the annular lip 21. The closure mechanism 22 is 
designed to intermesh with the adjacent end of a surveillance specimen 
capsule 23. In this regard, as is best shown in FIG. 2, the closure 
mechanism 22 is provided with a V-shaped wedge 25 which projects into a 
complementary recess 26 (FIG. 1) that is formed in the upper end of the 
adjacent specimen capsule. The closure mechanism 22 includes an elongated 
generally cylindrical actuator member 30 which is connected at its lower 
end, to the V-shaped wedge 25, a stack of washer type or disc springs 31 
which circumscribes, in part, the lower extremity of the actuator member 
30 above the wedge 25, and a latching member 32 which substantially 
circumscribes that portion of the actuator member 30 above the disc spring 
surrounded lower part. The actuator member 30 is adapted for rectilinear 
movement with respect to the latching member 32, described hereinafter. As 
is best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the outer upper end of the actuator member 
30 is formed with a series of parallel splines 33 which interfit with the 
latching member 32, as described hereinafter, so as to permit relative 
freedom of motion, in an axial direction, between the actuator member 30 
and latching member 32. A camming surface 34 radially projects part of the 
outer diameter of the actuator member. The camming surface 34 is 
longitudinally spaced intermediate of the splines 33 and a lower radial 
shoulder 35 that has an upper recess 36. The actuator member includes a 
longitudinally extending cylindrical boss 37 projecting its lower end 
below the shoulder 35. In addition, the actuator member 30 is provided 
with a partly threaded longitudinal bore 40 (see FIG. 2 also) formed 
centrally within its upper end. In this regard, the closure mechanism 22, 
as shown in FIG. 2, includes a jack screw 41, threaded at its lower end, 
which extends into and engages the threaded central bore 40 of the 
actuator member 30. 
As shown in FIG. 5, the jack screw 41 includes a lower threaded part 42 
connected to an unthreaded shank 43, an intermediate radial bearing 
shoulder 44 connected at its lower end to the shank 43 and at its upper 
end to a shaft 45, an upper bearing shoulder 46 and a head 47. A recessed 
hexagon socket 48, FIG. 6, is provided in the head 47. The periphery of 
the head 47 is incised with a plurality of longitudinal flutes 49 (FIG. 
5). 
The latching member 32, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 7 and 8, is essentially 
a slotted hollow cylindrical structure having a plurality of latching 
fingers or latches 50, circumferentially spaced by slots 51, which depend 
from one end of a generally cylindrical chamber 52. Each latching finger 
50 is formed, at its lower end, with an outer heel 53 that is provided 
with an outwardly oriented C-shaped clamping surface 54 adapted to engage 
the annular lip 21 of the holder tube. An inner camming surface 55 (FIG. 
7) is formed generally opposite the outer heels 53 of the latching 
fingers. The camming surface 55 is designed to interact with the camming 
surface 34 of the actuator member. A slope 56 is formed on the inner face 
of the latching fingers directly above the camming surface 55. As best 
illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the chamber 52 is formed with an end 57, 
breeched by a series of internally projecting circumferentially spaced 
lugs 59, separated by spaces 69, leading to an integral internal socket 
58. 
As seen in FIG. 2, the latching member 32 substantially circumscribes the 
upper portion of the actuator member 30. The splines 33 of the actuator 
member, as best shown in FIG. 1, are interposed within the slots 51 of the 
latching member. 
A breech type plug 60 (FIG. 2) surrounds the upper end of the jack screw 
within the chamber 52 of the latching member 32. In FIGS. 10 and 11, the 
breech plug 60 is shown rotated with respect to the upper end of the 
latching member in order to facilitate disclosure of these parts and their 
cooperation. The plug 60 is provided with circumferentially spaced 
projections 75 that extend radially outward. In this regard, the spaces 69 
between the lugs 59 of the latching member accommodate longitudinal 
movement of the projections 75 during assembly, disassembly or, as 
described hereinafter, under certain conditions wherein the jack screw 
becomes seized. The projections 75 of the breech plug 60 are interfitted 
within the internal socket 58, in longitudinal alignment with the lugs 59 
(shown out of alignment in FIGS. 10 and 11), to form a breech type joint. 
The breech plug includes an intermediate shoulder 76 which rests upon the 
upper end of the latching member (see FIG. 2) after the breech joint has 
been made. One or more slots 77 longitudinally extend from the upper end 
of the breech plug to the shoulder 76. 
A locking sleeve 61 (FIG. 2) circumscribes the head of the jack screw 
within the breech plug. The locking sleeve is tack welded (W), or 
otherwise fixedly secured, to the breech plug. 
One or more shear pins 62, penetrate through openings 62A, 62B (FIG. 10) 
aligned with the slots 77 in the breech plug, and openings 62C, 62D in the 
latching member. The shear pins securely fix the breech plug 60 to the 
latching member 32. A laterally disposed J-shaped slot (63) (see FIG. 1) 
in the upper end of the breech plug provides means for attaching a drive 
tool (not shown) for remotely handling the closure mechanism. Washers 
64-67, circumscribing the jack screw shaft 45 in longitudinal alignment 
between the bottom end of the breech plug 60 and the intermediate radial 
bearing shoulder 44 of the jack screw; and a washer 68, circumscribing the 
jack screw between the upper shoulder 46 and the locking sleeve 61, 
provides load bearing and transmission surfaces for the jack screw. 
Referring to FIG. 9, it can be seen that the V-shaped wedge 25, 
circumscribing the lower end of the actuator member, is fixed thereto by 
means of a pin 70. The pin 70 radially penetrates the lower end of the 
actuator member through an opening 70A (FIG. 3), and terminates in 
diametrically opposed oval openings 71 in the wedge 25. A second pin 72 
axially penetrates the bottom of the actuator, through an opening 72A 
(FIG. 3), to intersect with and lock the pin 70 in place. As shown in FIG. 
2, the spring stack 31 bears against the lower surface of the lower radial 
shoulder 35 of the actuator member and the upper surface of the V-shaped 
wedge 25 so as to place a spring bias force on the wedge. It should be 
noted that the wedge 25 is extensible, that is, capable of axial movement 
with respect to the actuator member within the limits of the major axis of 
the oval openings 71, but is restrained from rotation by the pin 70. 
In operation, the closure mechanism 22 is partly inserted into the bore of 
a conduit such as the holder tube as is shown in FIG. 1. When the closure 
mechanism 22 is positioned in the holder tube 20, a drive tool (not shown) 
engages the socket 48 in the head 47 of the jack screw 41, and the jack 
screw 41 is rotated. The jack screw 41, as best shown in FIG. 2, extends 
through the breech plug. The washers 64-67 and 68, respectively, are 
arranged in a bearing relationship with the lower bearing shoulder 44 and 
breech plug, and the upper bearing surface 46 and breech plug. Thus, it 
will be understood that the jack screw itself rotates but is restrained 
from axial translation by the breech plug 60. The lower threaded part 42 
(FIG. 2) of the jack screw coacts with threaded central bore 40 of the 
actuator member 30 to produce an axial translational movement of the 
actuator member. The initial movement of the actuator member causes the 
lower ends of the latching fingers 50 to be extracted from the upper 
recess 36 in the lower radial shoulder 35 of the actuator member which is 
provided to protect the fingers from interference or damage during 
insertion and removal operations. The continued rotation of the jack screw 
causes the camming surface 34 to bear against the camming surface 55 of 
the latching fingers 50 and actuates positioning, that is, displaces the 
fingers radially outward until, as shown in FIG. 1, the C-shaped clamping 
surfaces of the outer heels 53 make contact with the inner annular lip 21 
of the holder tube. Further rotation of the jack screw causes the actuator 
member to transmit a longitudinal loading to the surveillance specimen 
capsule 23, via the V-shaped wedge 25. As shown in FIG. 1, the V-shape 
wedge 25 mates with the complementary shaped recess 26 cut into the upper 
end of the specimen capsule 23 at an oblique angle with respect to the 
plane normal to the longitudinal axis of the capsule. 
The camming surfaces of the actuator member, which are generally disposed 
radially opposite the camming surface of the finger latches, bear against 
the latches in the locked position. Spring bias provided by the stack of 
disc springs 31 assures that the wedge 25 is under a minimum preload and 
accommodate thermal differential loadings. The jack screw 41 is rotated 
until the desired loading of the specimen capsule is achieved. The load is 
measured by the torque applied to the jack screw by the drive tool. The 
closure mechanism is locked in the holder tube by swaging part of the 
locking sleeve 61 into the flutes 49 in the head of the jack screw 41. The 
actuator member is axially or longitudinally movable between two 
positions, that is, the position in which the latches engage and are 
locked to the annular lip, and the position in which the heels of the 
fingers are secured within the upper recess in the lower radial shoulder 
of the actuator member. The actuator member is axially guided by the 
splines projecting into the circumferential spaces between the latches. 
This arrangement precludes rotary movement of the actuator member. 
In order to remove the closure mechanism 22 from the holder tube, the 
swaged portion of the locking sleeve 61 is worked out of the flutes 49 in 
the jack screw. The jack screw is rotated in the opposite direction such 
that the camming surfaces of the actuator and latching members disengage, 
and the outer heels are drawn into the upper recess in the lower radial 
shoulder of the actuator member. 
In the event that the threaded portion of the jack screw becomes seized to 
the bore of the actuator member, precluding rotation of the screw, the 
shear pins 62 can be sheared. Upon shearing of the pins the breech plug, 
actuator member, and jack screw can be rotated, as a unit, and translated 
through the breech connection socket in the latching member to retract the 
latching fingers in order to remove the closure mechanism from the tube. 
In the closure mechanism's locking position, the C-shaped clamping surfaces 
54 of the outer heels 53 are retained against radially inward movement by 
the ineraction of the camming surface 55 and backing cam surface 34. 
The slope 56 above the inner camming surface 55 of the latching member is 
designed to coact with a complementary slope on the actuator member below 
the camming surface 34 so as to facilitate movement of the latches and is 
designed to cause the outer heels to be eased into the upper recess 36 of 
the actuator member, and housed therein. 
Thus, the closure mechanism can be used to sufficiently load and restrain 
the surveillance specimen capsules under various operating conditions 
while spring biasing of the wedge member accommodates thermal expansions. 
The terms longitudinal or axial, as used in the specification and claims, 
to modify movement are intended to connote movements along a lengthwise 
axis. Longitudinal spacing is meant to imply spaced apart in a 
longitudinal plane.