Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A reinforced concrete containment vessel comprising: a side wall having at least one opening extending therethrough;  a plurality of reinforcing bars, at least one of said reinforcing bars being interrupted at said at least one opening; and  at least one reinforcing plate positioned in said side wall, each said reinforcing plate comprising a flange extending at least partially around, and directly connected to a periphery of said reinforcing plate, and an opening substantially aligned with a corresponding side wall opening, each said reinforcing plate connected to at least one interrupted reinforcing bar. 2. A reinforced concrete containment vessel in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising at least one penetration sleeve, each said penetration sleeve extending through a corresponding reinforcing plate opening and through a corresponding side wall opening, each said penetration sleeve having an outer diameter smaller than said corresponding reinforcing plate opening. claim 1 3. A reinforced concrete containment vessel in accordance with  claim 2  wherein each said penetration sleeve is secured to a corresponding reinforcing plate. claim 2 4. A reinforced concrete containment vessel in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said plurality of reinforcing bars comprises a plurality of vertical reinforcing bars and a plurality of horizontal hoop reinforcing bars. claim 1 5. A reinforced concrete containment vessel in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said at least one reinforcing plate comprises at least one reinforcing bar terminator coupled to said at least one interrupted reinforcing bar and attached to an edge of said reinforcing plate. claim 1 6. A reinforced concrete containment vessel in accordance with  claim 5  wherein said reinforcing bar terminator is coupled to said at least one interrupted reinforcing bar and attached to said peripheral flange of said reinforcing plate. claim 5 7. A reinforced concrete containment vessel in accordance with  claim 1  wherein each said reinforcing plate comprises a substantially polygonal shape or a substantially circular shape. claim 1 8. A reinforced concrete containment vessel in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said at least one reinforcing plate comprises two reinforcing plates, said reinforcing plates welded together along corresponding edges. claim 1 9. A reinforced concrete containment vessel in accordance with  claim 1  wherein at least one said reinforcing plate comprises a plurality of reinforcing plate sections, said reinforcing plate sections welded together to form a reinforcing plate. claim 1 10. A reinforced concrete containment vessel in accordance with  claim 1  wherein each said reinforcing plate comprises a plurality of extensions, said reinforcing plate extensions connecting said reinforcing plate with said at least one interrupted reinforcing bar. claim 1 11. A reinforced concrete containment vessel in accordance with  claim 1  wherein each said reinforcing plate comprises steel. claim 1 12. A nuclear reactor comprising a reactor pressure vessel enclosed in a reinforced concrete containment vessel, said reinforced concrete containment vessel comprising: a side wall having at least one opening extending therethrough;  a plurality of reinforcing bars, at least one of said reinforcing bars being interrupted at said at least one opening; and  at least one reinforcing plate positioned in said side wall, each said reinforcing plate comprising a flange extending at least partially around, and directly connected to a periphery of said reinforcing plate, and an opening substantially aligned with a corresponding said side wall opening, each said reinforcing plate connected to said at least one interrupted reinforcing bar. 13. A nuclear reactor in accordance with  claim 12  further comprising at least one penetration sleeve, each said penetration sleeve extending through a corresponding reinforcing plate opening and through a corresponding side wall opening, each said penetration sleeve having an outer diameter smaller than said corresponding reinforcing plate opening. claim 12 14. A nuclear reactor in accordance with  claim 13  wherein each said penetration sleeve is secured to a corresponding reinforcing plate. claim 13 15. A nuclear reactor in accordance with  claim 12  wherein said plurality of reinforcing bars comprises a plurality of vertical reinforcing bars and a plurality of horizontal hoop reinforcing bars. claim 12 16. A nuclear reactor in accordance with  claim 12  wherein said at least one reinforcing plate comprises at least one reinforcing bar terminator coupled to said at least one interrupted reinforcing bar and attached to an edge of said reinforcing plate. claim 12 17. A nuclear reactor in accordance with  claim 16  wherein said reinforcing bar terminator is coupled to said at least one interrupted reinforcing bar and attached to said peripheral flange of said reinforcing plate. claim 16 18. A nuclear reactor in accordance with  claim 12  wherein each said reinforcing plate comprises a substantially polygonal shape or a substantially circular shape. claim 12 19. A nuclear reactor in accordance with  claim 12  wherein said at least one reinforcing plate comprises two reinforcing plates, said reinforcing plates welded together along corresponding edges. claim 12 20. A nuclear reactor in accordance with  claim 12  wherein at least one said reinforcing plate comprises a plurality of reinforcing plate sections, said reinforcing plate sections welded together to form a reinforcing plate. claim 12 21. A nuclear reactor in accordance with  claim 12  wherein each said reinforcing plate comprises a plurality of extensions, said reinforcing plate extensions connecting said reinforcing plate with said at least one interrupted reinforcing bar. claim 12