Patent ID: 7567645

Claim:
An integrated head assembly for a commercial nuclear reactor having a plurality of control element drive mechanisms and a reactor vessel closure head, the integrated head assembly comprising: a lower portion including hardware for attaching the lower portion to the nuclear reactor vessel closure head; a separable upper portion that is mechanically uncoupled from the lower portion when the lower portion and upper portion are assembled and in use and further comprises means for supporting substantially the entire weight of the upper portion over the lower portion such that the lower portion does not support any substantial portion of the weight of the upper portion during operation of the reactor; a duct disposed externally of the upper portion and the lower portion, the duct extending from the upper portion to the lower portion; and a forced air cooling system attached to the upper portion and oriented to generate air flow about the control element drive mechanisms; wherein the separable upper portion and the lower portion are configured to be removable separately during refueling outages; and further wherein the upper portion comprises a plurality of upright supports having footpads such that during storage the upper portion can be set on a flat surface and supported thereon by the upright supports.