Patent GB-954474-A (GB)
Title: Device for adjusting the position of elements, especially in a nuclear reactor tank
Inventor: JOUIN JACQUES
IPC: G21C7/30
Filed: 1963-03-25
Abstract: 954,474. Nuclear reactors. COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE. March 25,1963 [April 13, 1962], No. 11784/63. Heading G6C. A fuel or reflector element lattice for a swimming pool type nuclear reactor may be varied both as to pitch and pattern by means of individually movable cross members, each of which carries a number of elements also individually movable along the cross member. Thus, square, rectangular or triangular lattice patterns may be set up of various pitches. Cross member positioning. Each cross member 14 is carried by two carriages 16, running on rails, and includes an abutment which can be rotated by a shaft 26. The pairs of cross member carriages 16 are moved by pairs of driving carriages 18, also running on rails, and traversed by means of leadscrews 20. Each leadscrew 20 comprises two coaxial portions of equal pitch and opposite helix. Thus, for'convenience, corresponding cross members to the left and right of the lattice vertical centre line are moved simultaneously For a given angular displacement of the shaft 26, only the abutment of the carriages associated with two corresponding cross members are in a position in which they can be engaged by the driving carriages 18. Associated with the leadscrews 20 are a drive motor 22 and a position setting mechanism 24, the latter comprising adjustable micro switch stops, and a micro switch mounted on a plate which rotates with the leadscrew 20, and arranged to interrupt the supply to the motor 22. To position the cross members for forming a required lattice, and assuming an initial position in which the driving carriages 18 and cross member carriages are all grouped near the centre of the lattice to be formed, the required spacing from the lattice centre of each pair of cross members will be set up on the position setting mechanism 24. Rotation of hand wheel 114 rotates the shafts 26 in order to place the abutments of the carriages of the two innermost cross members in an engaging position. Actuation of motor 22 rotates the leadscrews 20 (having two halves of opposite helix) which traverse away from the lattice centre and engage the abutments of the two innermost cross members; these in turn may push the outer cross members before them. When the two innermost cross members have reached their required positions, the setting mechanism stops the motor 22, and the handwheel 114 is again rotated to take the innermost abutments out of engaging alignment with, and place the next innermost abutments in alignment with the traversing carriage. These steps are repeated until all the cross members have been placed in position, after which they are locked in position, by means of inflatable clamps. Positioning of elements on cross members. The positioning of the elements is similar to that of the cross members, being achieved by means of two leadscrews 32, each having two coaxial portions of equal pitch and opposite helix which move two combs 28, carried on carriages 30, thus simultaneously positioning two opposed rows of fuel elements. A second position setting mechanism 35 is used to pre-set the element spacings and a motor 40 rotates shafts 38 to raise and lower the 'teeth' of the combs to push into position and then withdraw clear of successive rows of elements. Provision is made for locking the element supporting stirrups to the cross members when they have been positioned.