Patent Number: 046474242
Section: description

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, and firstly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a fuel assembly, as generally indicated by the reference character 10, which is adapted to be mechanically connected to the lower core support plate, not shown, the nuclear reactor core internals. The fuel assembly 10 is seen to include a top nozzle 12 and a bottom nozzle 14 interconnected together by means of a plurality of vertically disposed thimble or guide tubes 16 within which the reactor control or moderator rods, not shown, may be periodically disposed. The fuel rods are shown at 18 and are conventionally retained within the fuel assembly 10 by means of grid straps 20, only one of which is shown in the figure. In lieu of the centralmost guide or thimble tube 16 which is conventionally co-axially disposed within the fuel assembly 10, there is provided a latching/unlatching screw 22 which is vertically movable within the fuel assembly 10, although as shown in FIG. 1, screw 22 is disclosed as being in its lowermost vertical movement mode as determined by means of the engagement of an annular shoulder portion 24 with the upper surface 26 of fuel assembly bottom nozzle 14. The lower end of latching/unlatching screw 22 is provided with an external Acme thread portion 28 for engagement with a suitable internally threaded fixture or adapter, not shown, fixedly secured within the lower core support plate, also not shown, of the reactor internals. In this manner, when the latching/unlatching screw 22 is disposed within its lowermost mode as illustrated within FIG. 1, the fuel assembly 10 is securely mechanically latched to the lower core support plate of the reactor internals. It is seen that the lowermost region of latching/unlatching screw 22 substantially comprises a solid rod, except that an axial bore 30 is defined therein for the passage of reactor coolant therethrough. The upper regions of the latching/unlatching screw 22, however, are fabricated in the form of an integral tubular member 32 which extends from the vicinity of the bottom fuel assembly nozzle 14 upwardly to within the vicinity of the top fuel assembly nozzle 12. The lower end of tubular member 32 is provided with a hexagonally configured female socket 34 which, as will be better appreciated hereinafter, serves to receive a similarly configured head portion of an extension or latching/unlatching rod which is vertically guided downwardly within tubular member 32 for mated engagement with socket 34. In this manner, torque applied to the latching/unlatching rod is transmitted to the latching/unlatching screw socket 34 by means of their respective hexagonally configured engaged portions, whereby latching/unlatching screw 22 may be threadedly mechanically connected or disconnected from the lower core support plate adapter or fixture, not shown, depending upon the direction in which the aforenoted torque is applied and transmitted. The top nozzle 12 of the fuel assembly 10 is seen to include an annular adapter plate 36 fixedly secured in the lower end thereof and in a co-axial manner, and a coil spring 38 is seated atop adapter plate 36 and is disposed within a annular housing 40 fixedly secured to adapter plate 36. Plate 36, coil spring 38, and housing 40 all surround the upper end of guide tube 32, the latter of which is also provided a pair of diametrically opposed, vertically extending slots or grooves 42, only one of which is shown. A locking sleeve 44 is annularly disposed about the upper end of guide tube 32 so as to be interposed between tube 32 and the assemblage comprising adapter plate 36, coil spring 38, and housing 40. The lower end of locking sleeve 44 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed, radially inwardly projecting lugs 46, only one of which is shown, for slideable disposition within guide tube slot 42. A first set of annular ratchet teeth 48 are integrally provided upon the outer peripheral surface of locking sleeve 44 so as to extend vertically upwardly, and a second set of annular ratchet teeth 50 are integrally formed upon a radially inwardly projecting flange portion of housing 40 at the upper end thereof, teeth 50 extending vertically downwardly so as to be capable of mating with ratchet teeth 48. Ratchet teeth 48 are formed upon a radially outwardly extending flanged portion of locking sleeve 44, and the coil spring 38 is therefore axially interposed between this flange and adapter 36 in order to normally bias the locking sleeve 44 in the vertically upward direction. Consequently, in the absence of vertically downwardly directed pressure upon the upper end of locking sleeve 44, the ratchet teeth 48 and 50 will be engaged whereby relative rotation between the guide tube 32 and fuel assembly top nozzle 12 will be prevented. This in turn prevents relative rotation to be achieved between latching/unlatching screw 22, which is integrally formed with guide tube 32, and fuel assembly bottom nozzle 14 as well as the lower core support plate. Therefore, once latching/unlatching screw 22 has been fully threadedly engaged within the lower core support plate, retrograde threaded unlatching cannot inadvertently occur. Threaded unlatching of latching/unlatching screw 22 can of course be readily achieved by vertically downward pressure in fact being firstly applied to the upper end of locking sleeve 44 so as to disengage locking sleeve ratchet teeth 48 from housing teeth 50, such linear movement of sleeve 44 relative to housing 40 being permitted by means of the sleeve lugs 46 riding downwardly within guide tube slots 42 against the bias of spring 38. Rotational movement of the tube 32 and screw 22, relative to the fuel assembly 10, may then be performed in order to unlatch the screw 22 from the lower core support plate, not shown, so as to facilitate removal of the fuel assembly 10 from the reactor core. Turning then to FIGS. 2-4, the new and improved refueling machine apparatus of the present invention, which will enable the aforenoted latching/unlatching mechanical connections between the fuel assembly 10 and the lower core support plate, not shown, to be achieved, will now be described. The refueling machine apparatus is generally indicated by the reference character 100 and is seen to include a conventional type stationary or outer mast 102 which is vertically suspended upon a conventional refueling machine support trolley 104 by means of a vertically disposed support tube 106. Support tube 106 and stationary mast 102 are of course co-axially disposed and, in turn, the refueling machine further includes a inner movable mast or gripper tube 108 which is co-axially disposed in a telescopic manner within outer mast 102. The lower end of gripper tube 108 is provided with suitable gripper mechanisms 110 for latching or gripping the top nozzle of of the fuel assembly 10, and the movement of gripper tube 108 is controlled by means of a suitable winch drive system 112. The drive system 112 is disposed atop suitable winch support column structure 114 which, in turn, is mounted atop the suptube 106. In accordance with the particular remote-controlled latching/unlatching mechanical connection actuating system of the present invention, the refueling machine 10 is seen to further comprise a fuel assembly latching/unlatching rod 116 co-axially disposed within the gripper tube 108, and as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the upper end of latching/unlatching rod 116 is fixedly secured within a cylindrical housing 118. The upper end of housing 118 is provided with an integral, vertically extending shaft portion 120 to which is fixedly connected a winch cable assembly 122. Vertical movement of housing 118 and latching/unlatching rod 116 is therefore controlled by means of a suitable latching/unlatching winch drive system 124 which is operatively connected to cable assembly 122. The latching/unlatching winch drive system 124 is disposed atop winch support column structure 114, and may be disposed along with the gripper tube winch drive system 112 in a suitably arranged dual-winch drive system, as may be desired, and as seen in FIG. 2. As best seen in FIG. 3, the upper end of gripper tube 108 is closed by means of an end plate 126, and an idler gear 128 is rotatably supported upon end plate 126 at an eccentric location relative thereto. A spur gear 130 is rotatably mounted upon end plate 126 in a co-axial manner through means of thrust bearings 132. Spur gear 130 is seen to be enmeshed with idler gear 128, and suitable bolt fastening means 134 serve to axially retain spur gear 130 upon end plate 126 through means of flanged fixtures 136. Spur gear 130 annularly surrounds the upstanding shaft portion 120 of housing 118, and the axially extending, lower central portion of spur gear 130 projects downwardly through a central aperture 138 defined within end plate 126. In this manner, a substantially square-shaped torque tube 140 may be suspendingly fixedly supported from the lowermost end of spur gear 130 so as to extend downwardly within gripper tube 108 in a co-axial manner. Lateral stabilization of the lower end of torque tube 140 is provided by means of a plurality of equiangularly spaced, circumferentially arranged, roller mechanisms 142 fixedly secured within the sidewall portions of gripper tube 108, it being noted that only one such roller mechanism 142 is shown. It is further noted that while housing 118 has a substantially cylindrical configuration, the upper and lower ends thereof are provided with substantially square-shaped flanged portions 144 and 146, respectively, which project radially outwardly so as to engage the interior wall surfaces of torque tube 140, as also seen in FIG. 4. In this manner, relative rotation between housing 118 and its latching/unlatching rod 116, and torque tube 140, is prevented, while relative axial movement of housing 118 and rod 116 with respect to torque tube 140 is nevertheless permitted, the flanged portions 144 and 146 of housing 118 providing lateral stabilization for the upper and lower ends of housing 118 during its rectilinear translational movement within the torque tube 140. In order to impart rotational drive to the idler gear 128 and spur gear 130, such that rotational torque is in turn transmitted to torque tube 140, housing 118, and latching/unlatching rod 116, another spur gear 148 is rotatably mounted upon a sidewall portion of stationary mast 102 by means of a motor drive shaft 149 which is mounted within suitable vertically spaced brackets 150 and 152. The upper end of drive shaft 149 is connected to a reversible motor drive system, not shown. The sidewall portion of stationary mast 102 is provided with an aperture 154 through which a peripheral portion of spur gear 148 projects so as to be capable of meshing with idler gear 128 when the gripper tube assembly 108 is lowered by means of winch drive system 112 so as to perform a remote-controlled latching or unlatching operation upon the fuel assembly 10 relative to the lower core support plate of the reactor internals, not shown. A coil spring 156 is co-axially disposed about drive shaft 149 so as to be interposed between the lower bracket 152 and spur gear 148 in order to bias spur gear 148 upwardly. The spring-biasing effect upon spur gear 148 also serves to facilitate the meshing of spur gear 148 and idler gear 128 when the gripper tube assembly 108 is moved downwardly in view of the fact that should the gears not properly mesh when idler gear 128 is moved downwardly with gripper tube 108, spur gear 148 will be forced downwardly against the biasing force of spring 156 whereupon a slight rotation of drive shaft 149 will cause spur gear 148 to be properly aligned with idler gear 128 for meshing therewith, coil spring 156 then biasing the spur gear 148 upwardly to its normal position as illustrated in the figure. The drive motor for shaft 149 may be mounted upon the stationary mast at an elevational level above the water within the core cavity, or alternatively, upon the refueling machine trolley. In operation, when it is desired to remotely latch a fuel assembly 10 to the lower core support plate, the refueling machine 100 will of course be moved into its appropriate position relative to the core such that the fuel assembly 10 will be disposed above the space of the core into which the fuel assembly 10 is to be deposited or inserted. The fuel assembly 10 is of course at this time gripped by means of the gripper mechanisms 110 of the refueling machine 100, and the gripper tube winch drive 112 is actuated so as to lower the gripper tube 108, the gripper mechanisms 110, and the fuel assembly 10. When the fuel assembly 10 has been lowered such that the same is resting upon the lower core support plate, the gripper tube 108 is disposed in its position relative to stationary mast 102 as illustrated in FIG. 3. It is to be noted that at the same time, the winch drive 124 for the latching/unlatching rod 116 has also been accordingly actuated so as to maintain its relative position within gripper tube 108 as also illustrated in FIG. 3. Once the fuel assembly 10 is resting upon the lower core support plate, the winch drive 124 for the latching/unlatching rod 116 may be actuated further such that the lower end of rod 116 will be engaged within the hexagonally configured socket 34 of latching/unlatching screw 22, it being remembered that the lower end of latching/unlatching rod 116 is provided with a similarly hexagonally configured head portion, not shown. Further lowering of the winch drive 124 and the latching/unlatching rod-latching/unlatching screw assembly causes translational movement of the rod 116 and its housing 118 relative to torque tube 140, as well as similar linear translational movement of screw 22 relative to the fuel assembly 10, and particularly, bottom nozzle portion 14 thereof. Upon initial engagement of the screw 22 with the female adapter, not shown, of the lower core support plate, rotary drive is imparted to the spur gear 148 through means of its rotary drive shaft 149 and its reversible drive motor, not shown. Such rotational drive torque is of course transmitted to idler gear 128 and spur gear 130 whereby rotation is imparted to torque tube 140. As a result of the square-shaped configurations of tube 140 and latching/unlatching rod housing 118, housing 118 and rod 116 are caused to rotate whereby latching/unlatching screw 22 is caused to threadedly engage the female adapter, not shown, of the lower core support plate. Screw 22 at this time also translates relative to fuel assembly 14 until such time that the latching/unlatching screw 22 is fully threadedly engaged within the lower core support plate adapter. At such time, the screw 22 will be disposed relative to fuel assembly 10 as shown in FIG. 1, with the shoulder portion 24 of screw 22 engaged with the upper surface 26 of fuel assembly bottom nozzle 14. During this threading engagement period, rod 116 and housing 118 also translate relative to torque tube 140. It is lastly noted that in conjunction with the latching procedure, rotational movement of the latching screw 22 and its guide tube 32 will not be prevented by means of the locking sleeve 44 and the ratchet teeth 48 and 50 due to the fact that the ratchet teeth 48 will in fact ratchet over teeth 50, and when the threaded latching procedure is complete, the ratchet teeth 48 and 50 are engaged under the influence of biasing spring 38 so as to prevent retrograde rotation of guide tube 32 and latching screw 22 relative to the fuel assembly top nozzle 12 whereby inadvertent unlatching of the screw 22 and the fuel assembly 10 from the lower core support plate is positively prevented. Upon completion of the threaded latching procedure, the latching/unlatching rod 116 and its housing 118 may be raised by means of winch drive 124 to their position illustrated within FIG. 3, the gripper mechanisms 110 may be disengaged from the fuel assembly top nozzle 12, and the gripper tube assembly 108 raised by means of its winch drive 112. In performance of an unlatching operation, the precise reverse procedures are accomplished with the exception that the ratchet teeth 48 and 50 must be initially disengaged so as to in fact permit torque application to the guide tube 32 and unlatching screw 22 in the direction opposite that of the latching operation. Such disengagement of the ratchet teeth 48 and 50 can be accomplished by suitable means, not shown, disposed upon the gripper tube assembly 108 and incorporated, for example, within the gripper mechanisms 110. Once the fuel assembly 10 has been gripped by the mechanisms 110, and the ratchet teeth 48 and 50 disengaged, unlatching rod 116 may be lowered into guide tube 32 for engagement with unlatching screw socket 34. Torque is then applied to unlatching rod 116 in the direction reverse of that of the latching operation whereby unlatching screw 22 is threadedly disengaged or disconnected from the lower core support plate. Screw 22 therefore also moves axially upwardly relative to bottom fuel assembly nozzle 14, and rod 116 and housing 118 similarly move axially upwardly relative to torque tube 140. Once threaded unlatching is completed, rod 116 is of course entirely withdrawn from guide tube 32, and the rod 116 and housing 118 are raised to their positions shown in FIG. 3. The unlatched fuel assembly 10 may then be lifted out from the reactor core by means of vertical upward movement of gripper tube 108. Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the present invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.