Patent Number: 053848128
Section: summary

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to cable carriers for cables connecting to an integrated head package of a nuclear reactor, and, in particular, to cable carriers which permit all of the power and control cables to be removed from the integrated head package at one time and that stores them in a protected environment leaving an operating floor in the containment completely unobstructed for maintenance and refueling operations. 2. Description of the Prior Art Prior to refueling a nuclear powered reactor, it is necessary to remove and store the integrated head package (IHP). The IHP consists of a reactor vessel head, the control rod drive mechanisms (CRDM's), the control rod position indicators (RPI's), the cooling fans and other associated hardware. An IHP for a nuclear reactor is described in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,814, to Altman, included herein by reference. In preparation for removal of the IHP, all of the power and control cables that run to the CRDM's or RPI's from control cabinets located in the containment building, along with other electrical instrumentation cables must be disconnected between connector plates that are mounted on the IHP. Once they are disconnected from the IHP, these cables must be safely stored during refueling. In present plants, the cables are stored individually in various locations or are removed and stored in special articulating cable trays. The cable trays and cables take up valuable room on the operating deck and are subject to damage from operating personnel during refueling operations. Therefore, there is a need for a cabling arrangement for nuclear reactors wherein the cables can be removed from the operating floor during the refueling operation. There is also a need for a cabling arrangement for an IHP that protects the cables from accidental damage during normal operation of the reactor and during refueling. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These and other needs are met according to the invention in a cabling arrangement that includes a frame or cable carrier supporting power and instrumentation control cables connected to a head package on a nuclear reactor vessel. The frame can be withdrawn from the reactor vessel area to a remote area to clear an operating area near the reactor vessel. The cable carrier can include a connector plate, through which each of the cables pass, located near the head package for keeping the cables spaced apart from each other. The cable carrier can also include, for each cable, a mechanism for retracting a short length of cable extending beyond the connector plate, including the cable connector, towards the connector plate. It is an object of the invention to provide a cable carrier for a nuclear reactor vessel that, after disconnection of the cables from the reactor head, can be moved, with the cables, to an area remote from the reactor vessel such that an area on an operating deck around the reactor vessel is cleared. It is another object of the invention to provide a cable carrier for a nuclear reactor that affords maximum protection for the cables during refueling and maintenance operations. It is another object of the invention to provide a cabling arrangement for a nuclear reactor wherein the cables can be speedily disconnected and reconnected to the IHP. These and other objects of the invention will be more fully understood from the following description of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.