Patent Number: 042591562
Section: abstract

In a device for coupling pipelines in a pressure vessel of a nuclear reactor having a first piping section sealingly extending through the pressure vessel-housing wall and fastened thereto, and a second piping section sealingly connected to the first piping section, as well as a core container fastened within the pressure vessel, the core container having a cover, and steam separators forming, together with the core-container cover, a structural unit, the second piping section being also included with the core-container cover and with the steam separators fastened to the cover in the structural unit and, when the pressure vessel is opened, the second piping section together with the core-container cover being liftable out of the pressure vessel and being reinsertable into the pressure vessel, the first and the second piping sections being in mutual contact at coaxial sealing surface portion formed thereon at the sealed connecting location thereof, said sealing surface portions being placeable into a nominal location of sealing connection thereof through the weight per se of the structural unit of the core-container cover and the steam separators as well as through bracing forces for the core-container cover, the bracing forces being oriented in axial direction of the pressure vessel, and means for affording relative motion dependent upon thermal expansion, of the sealing surface portions within a predetermined tolerance range without impairing sealing action thereof.