Patent Number: 043127045
Section: claims

1. A releasable shut-off device for a downward leading quick emptying conduit for bulk material in the form of solid particles having a predetermined minimum cross-sectional dimension, comprising: a pair of interfitting rod combs (14,18) mounted so as to be individually movable in and out of the conduit cross-section, and equipped with structural means for moving the rods of the comb in unison, said combs being constituted and disposed so as to form, complementarily, a load-carrying wall perpendicular to the axis of said conduit in the closed position of said combs, the gaps between the rods (13,17) of each individual comb (14,18) having in every case a width less than said minimum cross-sectional dimension of said particles; and  means for individually actuating the rod-moving means of each of said combs (14,18), whereby the readiness of the device may be verified by moving each comb alone to its open position and back and whereby quick emptying of said container may be performed by moving both combs to their open positions. 2. A releasable shut-off device as defined in claim 1, in which the rods (13,17) of both combs (14,18) fit together to form a closed wall having grooves conforming in cross-section to the cross-section of said particles, which grooves run in the longitudinal direction of the rods, are provided on the upstream side of the shut-off device, and have their bottoms (15) in each case formed by the upstream sides of the rods (13) of a first one of said combs (14) and the flanks of which grooves are formed in each case by the two adjacent rods (17) of the second of said combs (18). 3. A releasable shut-off device as defined in claim 2, in which said rods (13) of said first comb (14) forming the groove bottoms (15) have a generally I-shaped cross-section (FIG. 3) and in which the respective widths of the rods (13,17) of said first comb (14) and of said second comb at the downstream side of said combs are substantially equal. 4. A releasable shut-off device as defined in claim 3, in which the rods (17) of said second comb (18) are hollow, and in which said rod-moving means of each comb include a cross-member outside said conduit, said cross-members of the respective combs being located on opposite sides of said conduit. 5. A releasable shut-off device as defined in claim 4, in which guide openings are provided in the conduit wall for the introduction of the rods of said second comb, in which device the ends of the rods (17) of said second comb (18) in the open position, as the result of different lengths and tapered ends, fill and close off said guide openings; in which device there is also provided a half-ring-shaped cover plate (28) connected to outer rods (27) of said second comb (18), said cover plate having slots (29) for the passage therethrough of the rods (13) of said first comb (14); and in which device the arrangement of rod ends and cover plate provides a largely closed duct wall half in the opposite wall region upon the opening of either of the combs of the shut-off device. 6. A releasable shut-off device as defined in claim 4, in which said first comb (14) is movable upwards out of its closed position and said second comb (18) is movable downwards into its open position. 7. A releasable shut-off device as defined in claim 4, in which the rods (13) of said first comb (14) are prolonged by small extension (26) and the opposite conduit wall is provided with corresponding cavities for receiving said extensions. 8. A releasable device as defined in any one of the preceding claims in which the rods (13,17) of comb combs (14,18) in the region of their external ends have extensions jutting at right angles out of the closure plane, which are affixed to connecting cross-members (20,21) of said rod combs (14,18), which cross-members are arranged to be driven parallel to said closure plane in a path spaced from said closure plane. 9. A releasable device as defined in any one of claims 1-7, in which each of said combs (14,18) is provided with a spindle drive (22,23) spaced to one side of the closure plane of said combs, each comb being provided with roller bearings and guide rails for guiding said combs (14,18) in the course of the closing and opening movements thereof. 10. A releasable device as defined in any one of claims 1-7, in which said shut-off device is enclosed by a double pressure container (31,32) enclosing the entire paired-comb closure system. 11. A releasable shut-off device as defined in claim 1 for a container which is a pebble bed nuclear reactor vessel in which the particles of bulk material for which the shut-off device provides quick-release capability are balls of reactor fuel which are of substantially uniform diameter. 12. A releasable shut-off device as defined in claim 11, in which the rods (13,17) of both combs (14,18) fit together to form a closed wall having grooves comforming in cross-section to the cross-section of said fuel balls, which grooves run in the longitudinal direction of the rods, are provided on the upstream side of the releasable shut-off device, and have their bottoms (15) in each case formed by the upstream sides of the rods (13) of the first of said combs (14) and the flanks of which grooves are formed in each case by the two adjacent rods (17) of the second of said combs (18). 13. A releasable shut-off device as defined in claim 12, in which said rods (13) of said first comb (14) forming the groove bottoms (15) have a generally I-shaped cross-section (FIG. 3) and in which the respective widths of the rods (13,17) of said first comb and of said second comb (18) at the downstream side of said combs are substantially equal. 14. A releasable shut-off device as defined in claim 13, in which the rods (17) of said second comb (18) are hollow. 15. A releasable shut-off device as defined in claim 14, in which the ends of the rods (17) of said second comb (18) has the result of different lengths and tapered ends, fill and close off in the open position the guide openings provided in the conduit wall for introduction of the rod, and there is also provided a half-ring-shaped cover plate (28) connected to the end rods (27) of said second comb (18), said cover plate having slots (29) for the passage therethrough of the rods (13) of said first comb (14), and in which device the arrangement of the rod ends (13) and cover plate provides a largely closed duct wall half in the opposite wall region upon the opening of either of the combs of the releasable shut-off device. 16. A releasable shut-off device as defined in claim 14, in which said first comb (14) is movable out of its closed position and said second comb (18) is movable downwards into it open position. 17. A releasable shut-off device as defined in claim 14, in which the rods (13) of said first comb are prolonged by small extensions (26) and the opposite conduit wall is provided with corresponding cavities for receiving said extensions. 18. A releasable shut-off device as defined in one of claims 11-17, in which the rods (13,17) of said combs (14,18) in the region of their external ends have extensions jutting at right angles out of the closure plane, which are affixed to connecting cross-members (20,21) of said rod combs (14,18), which cross-members are arranged to be driven parallel to said closure plane in a path spaced from said closure plane. 19. A releasable shut-off device as defined in one of claims 11-17, in which each of said combs (14,18) is provided with a spindle drive (22,23) spaced to one side of the closure plane of said combs, each comb being provided with roller bearings and guide rails for guiding said combs (14,18) in the course of the closing and opening movements thereof. 20. A releasable shut-off device as defined in one of claims 11-17, in which said shut-off device is enclosed by a double-pressure container (31,32) enclosing the entire paired comb closure system.